Keys and their function

Keys listed here produce similar results wherever they are used.

Keys

Description

ESC ESC

Pressing the ESCape sequence will always go backwards, having a cancelling effect. The ESC key must always be pressed TWICE. Screen prompts for ESC may show as ESC or ESC ESC. Both mean 'press ESC twice'.

The F1 key is used as a GO TO EDIT PROMPT key in file maintenance programs and LIST FROM TOP in entry programs such as invoicing and entering transactions. F1 is also used to accept ROA's (Received on Account) at the PRINT INVOICE/ WORK ORDER prompt (With Accounts Receivable option installed).

The F2 moves AHEAD. In maintenance programs the key is used to WRITE the record to disk making your entry and/or changes permanent.

In sales and/or work-orders F2 is used to start a new customer and/or to move 'ahead'.

NOTE: The availability of ESC and F2 functions is not always shown by prompts to make the screen more readable but are normally there to take you BACKWARDS or FORWARDS as desired.

F3-F12

F3-F12 keys have various tasks associated with them, dependent on the actual program. Screen prompts and help screens will explain their functions. Please watch for screen prompts displayed at the top and/or bottom of your screen.

If some function keys are 'dedicated' throughout a task, such as when doing work-orders, they will be listed at the beginning of the section explaining the task.

UP-ARROW

UP-ARROW: is used to get the previous item at Part Number and Edit prompts or to go to the previous field if entering or editing a record. The up arrow is also used to scroll up one line at a time in view windows.

DOWN ARROW

DOWN-ARROW: is used to get the next item or to go to the next field. The down arrow is also used to scroll down one line at time in most view windows.

RIGHT and LEFT ARROWS

RIGHT and LEFT arrows are used as editing keys when entering data to allow for easy positioning of the cursor.

The RIGHT and LEFT arrows are also used to scroll sideways information contained in windows that are 'wider' then the screen.

PgUp/PgDn

The Page-Up and Page-Down keys are available in most view windows to scroll a page at a time.

HOME

The home key is used to list from the beginning of a work-order/invoice or other view-type listing.

END

The END key is used to erase to the end of an input line when entering data, ie. if you are over typing existing data and your new information is shorter, use the END key to erase the unwanted data.

DEL

The DEL key on your keyboard is used to delete a the character at the cursor position.

CAUTION: UNIX sometimes uses the DEL key to interrupt or cancel a command or program.

Deletions

Deletions must be done with some discretion. When the requested 'delete' has irrevocable consequences, such as when deleting a customer record, you will be asked for confirmation-do you really want to do this?

When deleting a single character-you press the delete key and it's gone.

Delete

Key

How to / Does this

Item Deletion, deleting a record

* (shift/8)

The Delete command is indicated on the screen as an Asterisk(*)

Instead of entering your edit letter, enter the * and the system will check whether a deletion is possible.

A deletion may not be possible if quantities or dollar amounts are not ZERO. In Inventory, for example, the item cannot be deleted until the quantity in stock, quantity on order and quantity on back-order is zero.

Delete a single character

DEL or Ctrl/D

To delete a single character the backspace, Ctrl/D or DEL keys may be used.

Variations exist.-Watch for screen prompts, use the ? help for specifics.

ARROWS

LEFT/RIGHT arrows: The left arrow may be used when backspace is required. In a local edit mode, the left and right arrows may be used to position the cursor to the exact area to be edited. When entering or editing alphabetical data such as name and address, the system is in a local edit mode. To replace a character you simply over type the existing character at the cursor position.

Deleting a line from an invoice or work/repair order

While the '*' is used in file maintenance programs different methods are used when doing a work-order/invoice.

A 'D/' is entered to delete a part or work description.

CAN

Typing CAN instead of entering a part number at the part number prompt is used to cancel the current invoice or repair/work order.

Insertions

Insertions in this context are not to be confused with inserting part numbers into the inventory master file or adding/inserting a customer record in the customer master file.

Inserting means to insert some text-either a single character or a line in a labor paragraph for example.

Command

Key

Description

Insert a line

When working with a block of text is your task, such as when you are writing or adding to a labor description paragraph the F1 key is used to INSERT a blank line.

INSert key

Insert a single character

To insert a character, position your cursor and press the INS key on your keyboard or keypad.

The completion of a line edit or Line Entry is always indicated to the computer by pressing the ENTER/RETURN key.

If you decide not use changes you have just made you can cancel the editing done in the Line Edit Mode by NOT pressing the ENTER key. Instead press the UP or DN arrow and the line will be restored to its original content.

To cancel all changes made to a data record, use the ESC sequence.-Remember, to save the changes you have just made you must press the F2 key. F2 'SAVES'.

When over typing an edit line, any unwanted characters have to be "blanked" out. Press the END key to delete to the end of the line.

The dots (.) at input prompts are used to indicate the length of the field. All extra dots to the right of the data entered will be removed by the system.

An exception to having to blank out unwanted characters is when true numeric data is entered, ie. dollars or quantities. In those fields over type with the desired character and press ENTER.

Hands on

There is no substitute for actual hands-on experience. May we suggest you set up a test account and a few test partnumbers to gain that hands on experience without danger of corrupting real data.