The Main Window
When you first start up CatBase, you'll see the main window:
This is Command Central for working with your database. All functions are available from the menus at the top of the screen, and most of them are also available via the buttons. Move your mouse over each button to see a pop-up help tip describing that button's function (if this doesn't work, Tips are probably turned off. To turn them on, choose Preferences from the File menu and select the Show Tips check box).
When you click on one of the buttons, a pop-up menu appears, offering a selection of options. For example, click on the Style Sheets button and you'll see these options:
List Views
When you search for records in the database, the records that are found will be displayed in the List View. For example, click on the Find Data button and choose one of the data tables, then click on the View All Records button when the Search Dialogue window appears. The list looks like this:
- Click on one of the buttons at the top of the window to perform various tasks
- Double-click on a line to open up that record
- Drag lines up or down to change their system sort order (data tables only)
- Click on a column heading to sort on that column
- Resize the window
- View related data (where appropriate)
- Click the Done button or the window's Close button to close the window
For the data tables (the tables that you set up to manage your data) you can change the default size of the window and choose which fields will appear in the columns. To do this, go to the main window, click on the Setup button, and and choose List View Wizard from the popup menu.
Related Data
If you are viewing a data table and you have set up a relation for that table, an additional button will appear at the bottom of the list (the one labeled Show Pictures in the screen shot shown here). To view related data:
- Select one or more records in the list
- Click the Show ... button
- A new window will open, displaying the related records (if there are any)
The Data Entry Window
When you add a new record or view an existing one, you'll see the data entry window. Obviously the contents of the window vary depending upon what data you're looking at, but they all have certain characteristics in common. For example, the data entry window for the Photographers table in our Demo Database looks like this:
Button Box
All data entry windows contain a control button box:
The buttons may vary slightly depending upon which data you are viewing.
Choice List Fields
Some field labels are underlined: this indicates that they are choice list fields. A choice list field has a specific choice list associated with it: you make a selection from the list instead of entering data directly into the field. This ensures data entry consistency for data such as country names. In our Demo Database, for example, we have a few choice lists: Country, Listing Level, and Specialty. To choose an item, simply click on the field area. The associated choice list pops up:
Select an item or select Add an Item to add a new choice.
To manage your Choice Lists, click on the Setup button on the main window and choose Lists from the popup menu.
To associate a choice List with a field:
- Click on the Setup button on the main window
- Choose Table and Field Setup from the popup menu
- In the Table and Field Setup window, select the appropriate table
- Double-click on a field name, or click on the New Field button to create a new field
- In the Field Properties dialogue, select the Choice List check box and select a list from the popup menu, or click New List to create a new list
- Click OK to save your changes
Adding/modifying Fields
To add new fields or delete or modify existing ones for your data tables, click on the Setup button on the main window and choose Table and Field Setup from the popup menu.
Modifying the Data Entry Window
Click on the Setup button on the main window and choose Form Design Wizard from the popup menu.
What's Next?
