Previous Topic: The DataManager Primary Panel

Next Topic: The Panel Pull-Down

Action Bar Pull-Downs

When you start DataManager, the first panel you see is the Primary Panel. Its action bar lets you choose one of five keywords: Input, Output, oPtions, Exit or Help. When you select Input or Output, DataManager displays a list of options available for the selected action bar choice. Selecting the Input keyword on the action bar causes DataManager to display the Input pull-down shown below.

Sample Pull-Down

userid CA PMA/DataManager mm/dd/yy hh:mm:ss __ Input Output oPtions Exit Help ___________________________________ A. | Input | | | B. | _1. Input Definitions | | 2. Commit Definitions | |_________________________________| | | C. | F12=Cancel | ___________________________________ Command ===> ____________________________________________________________ F1=Help F3=Exit F4=Prompt F9=Command F10=Action Bar F12=Cancel PA1=Susp

A.

Pull-Down: When you select a keyword from the Primary Panel's action bar, DataManager highlights that keyword and its pull-down appears against the background of the Primary Panel. This is the Input pull-down.

B.

Entry Area: A one-character field where you enter the number of your option choice. In this case, enter 1 to select Input Definitions or 2 to select Commit Definitions. DataManager gives you an alternate way of choosing an option: simply tab to your choice and press Enter.

C.

Local F Keys: Some F key assignments change from panel to panel. These local F keys are shown at the bottom of each panel. Typically, local F keys allow you to scroll back and forth through lists of records.

Selecting either item from this pull-down displays a description list that lets you choose specific records. They appear on a selection list from which you can pick a record. Selecting one record from a list leads to a panel that displays detailed information about that record. This progression illustrates how DataManager works: Primary Panel to pull-down to description list to selection list to details.

Now let's look at two pull-downs you'll see frequently when running DataManager: the Panel pull-down and the Exit pull-down.