What's in this Section...

Once the Manager configuration (WinMgrCfg.exe) wizard has been run successfully or, more frequently, logon has been completed, the Manager will open the software to the Main Menu window. This display will take the form of a Tree similar to Window's Explorer. There are two layouts available depending on the privileges assigned to the user. The two images below illustrate the two layouts of the Main Menu.

Main Menu Screen Layouts

The Manager software makes a distinction between two screen 'layouts'. A screen layout is the display of what functions appear as buttons on the screen and are made available to the user. A supervisor will have additonal privileges and, therefore, additional buttons that appear on the screen.

User Window Layout

The window to the right displays the user's window layout. The buttons on the right allow the designer to carry out all the design, authoring, and debugging functions. Three special buttons, the Super, Admin, and Magnifying Glass, are not visible in the display because they are reserved for a supervisor or administrator. The missing buttons allow the supervisor to carry out such functions as create new instruments, add and delete modules, and assign permissions to users.

Supervisor Window Layout

If the user has supervisor or administrative privileges, three additional buttons appear in the Main Menu window. These buttons enable the administrator or supervisor to carry out special functions like create new instruments, add and delete modules, and assign permissions. The Super button allows the supervisor to access and clean up database tables, write diagnostic routines, define sections, etc. The Admin button allows the supervisor to define user groups, establish user and instrument permissions, create new instruments, and a variety of other functions. The ‘Magnifying Glass’ button allows the supervisor to view and manage database tables. This manual discusses these functions in the Super Button, Admin Button, and ‘Magnifying Glass’ sections of this chapter.

Selecting an Instrument and a Module

An instrument and module must first be selected before any of the functions can be performed. Once a module is selected the Manager must be connected to it to perform work on it. An explanation of how to select and instrument and module in each of the modes is discussed below. Once connected to a module the Manager will open to the last connected instrument and module in all subsequent sessions. To change module, follow the steps outlined below.

When the Manager opens it displays the groups (red book), the instruments (key beneath a group, if applicable), and modules (blue-green book) in the tree. The module to which the Manager is currently connected is displayed as an open blue-green book. Pluses (+) and minuses (-) to the left of the groups and instruments indicate whether there are subordinate elements in the tree to be displayed (+) or not (-).

To select an instrument and module,

• find the module in the tree;
• highlight it; and
• press the Connect button.

When a successful connection to a module has been made, the buttons that in the window layout will appear active, i.e, their text will appear in black (vs. gray).

Activating Manager Functions

To activate a Manager function or subfunction

Left-click on one of the buttons, for example, Design, to view its subfunctions; Move the cursor to highlight one of the secondary functions in the pop-up menu; and Left-click on that function. The function most often selected is Design in order to begin the Authoring process by creating or updating records, and the subfunction most often selected under Design is Questionnaire.

Opening the Questionnaire File

When the Questionnaire button is clicked the Manager will open the module selected to either the first record in the file or to a blank record if the file is empty. Below is a discussion of both possiblilites.  

Sample First Record in a File

This figure shows a sample first record in a file. Every question record resembles this format to some extent. Apart from the navigation bar, the edit screen consists of fields that must be filled in.

Depending on the choice selected from the drop down menu in the QType field (e.g., Dummy Record, Keyword Codes, etc.) a combination of other fields will appear in the record that must then be filled in.

This figure below shows a blank record in a file that is empty. IMPORTANT: Do not begin editing this record!

To create a new record first, press, the button in the navigation bar before entering information in the record.

To begin adding information to a blank record, the fields need only to be filled in. The choice made in the QType field will alter what the fields that appear on screen. It is a good idea to choose the QType first, to view the other fields that will appear. Most of the fields that appear are mandatory fields that must be filled in.

TIP: To view brief information about a field, immobilize the cursor over the white part of the field and a tool tip box will appear with a brief explanation about the field and whether it is a required field.

Next Steps

Any of the functions may be selected by left-clicking on one of the buttons When a function is selected its sub-functions, if applicable, will appear on-screen in a pop-up menu. Left click on one of the functions below to go to the discussion of that function.

Setup Design Docs Reports DataXfer Diag Tools

If applicable, Super Admin Magnifying Glass