This section states how to select menu options using the keyboard and mouse,
which function keys are accepted and their meaning, how to enter information
into an edit box and deal with messages that appear during operation.
3.1
Selecting Menu Options
All program actions are performed by selecting menu options, these are
grouped into related areas. Each area can be seen on the horizontal menu bar.
Sub menus break these areas down further. All of these are selected with a
mouse click or by the highlighted letter/bar.
3.2
Selecting Non Menu Options
Some function requests are displayed on the bottom line of the screen and can
be accessed with the use of the function keys. All the function keys and
their actions are listed here.
F1 Search the help file for information about the currently highlighted item.
F2 Save/set current information.
F4 Quits a menu, edit box, question box or moves to EXIT group.
F5 Switch to the next match, dual matches only.
F7 Prints the current screen.
F8 Prints the information in a display box.
Shift-F1 Selects match 1 when during dual or triple match use.
Shift-F2 Selects match 2 when during dual or triple match use.
Shift-F8 Ejects the current printable page from the printer.
3.3
Entering Information
Whenever results need to be entered, a request needs to be confirmed
or details need to be changed an edit box will be presented to the
operator.
An edit box contains one or more edit fields. Fields are arranged as
rows and columns. An edit field can be as small as one character or
many rows and columns. The default entry mode is insert, type-over
mode can be selected by pressing the Insert key. All edit fields are
limited to the width seen on the screen. Whenever an edit box
appears the suggested, default or previously entered text is filled, it is
left to the operator to choose what is then entered. Numeric information
can be entered from the numeric keypad if the Number Lock is on.
Different fields expect different types of information, eg. a time,
distance or text. If the wrong type of information is entered, eg. a
time instead of a distance or height, this will be detected and allow an
option to correct the information.
3.4
Messages
The operator is informed about what is happening through the use of message boxes.
There are four types of messages, Message, Print Message, Display box and Error
Message.
3.4.1
Message Box
Message titled boxes inform the operator that something has happened. A Message
box will be shown for about 7 seconds, it is then removed. Messages can be
removed more quickly by pressing any key or single clicking on the mouse right
button. Where the result of a request or function can be seen elsewhere no message
will appear, ie. changing the time.
E.G. Confirmation of 100M A-string result entry.
Confirmation that the a Senior Mens match file has been saved.
3.4.2
Print Message Box
Print messages appear when the operator requests something to be printed.
This message is only displayed should the computer be performing very slowly
and will clear when the print action has finished.
3.4.3
Display Box
Display boxes appear when the operator wants to display a particular piece of
information on screen. All the information will be displayed on screen if
possible. If there is too much information to fit on screen then the display
box will allow the operator to scroll up and down the box using the indicated
keys. Display boxes allow the operator to print the information. All display
boxes will clear after about 2 minutes.
E.G. Typical display for the remaining events.
3.4.4
Error Message Box
Error messages should not normally occur. Situations such as a disk file error
would cause this message to occur. This message can indicate a critical point
in match operation if the current match file(s) has been corrupted.
In some circumstances the program will create a log of the error in a file
which can be referenced after the error message has been cleared.
Should any other type of error occur which prevents the program operation, a
note should be made of any resulting message and appropriate documentation
consulted. Action external to the program will probably be required. The
operator may be advised of about how to continue. Error Messages can be
printed if desired and must be cleared by the operator.
See: Appendix D3, D4
3.5
Question Box
Question boxes appear at certain points during normal operation to allow for
entry of a track wind readings or when certain entered information is not
correct. The suggested answer is displayed, but the operator must make the
decision.
In all cases the box should be answered with "Y" or "y" for YES, any other is taken
as a NO. A non-yes answer will not update/save information or perform the function
which the question relates to.
E.G. The wrong type of information has been entered, a question is asked.
