[BB]

BlackBook v1.00c for OS/2

by Viêt-Tâm Luu


User's Guide


Copyright © 1996 Viêt-Tâm Luu.

This document may be freely distributed, but it may not
be modified (with the exception of conversion to other
formats) without the expressed consent of the author.


This document was created for viewing with IBM WebExplorer 1.03 or later. It will still be readable using other HTML viewers, but some parts may appear missing or formatted incorrectly.

3. The BlackBook Interface

3.1. Main Window

[BlackBook Main Window]

The BlackBook main window interface consists of two main parts: the record list and the record notebook. The record list is a list of all the records entered into the database; the record selected within it is called the current record. The record notebook displays the data for the current record and lets you modify that data.

The current record's data is laid out over three notebook pages. The first, labeled ``Information,'' contains the person's name, birthdate, photo, and the record's action buttons. The second, labeled ``Address,'' holds the person's addresses, phone numbers, E-mail and WWW home page information. The third page, labeled ``Notes,'' contains a large text area for any additional notes and text you wish to attach to a record.

Chapter 4 explains the fields and action buttons in a BlackBook record in further detail.


3.2. Menus

BlackBook's main window sports a main menu bar with four menus: File, Edit, Record, and Help. The following is a tree representation of BlackBook's menu structure:

[BlackBook Menu Structure]

Below are descriptions of each menu item:

File Menu

New: Creates a new BlackBook database.

Open...: Opens an existing BlackBook database.

Save: Saves the current BlackBook database. If the current file is new and has no filename, you will be prompted for one.

Save as...: Saves the current BlackBook database under a new name, or as a different file format (not supported).

Setup...: Opens the BlackBook configuration dialog.

Exit: Quits the BlackBook application.

Edit Menu

Cut: Copies the current record into the clipboard and removes it from the database.

Copy: Copies the current record into the clipboard. The clipboard format is internal to BlackBook, and copied records cannot be pasted into other applications.

Paste: Works only if a BlackBook record has been cut or copied into the clipboard, and only if not in read-only mode. If the current record is a new record, the clipboard record's contents are pasted into the current (new) record; any data entered in the current record is lost. Otherwise, a record with the clipboard record's contents is created as a new record (it is up to you to add it to the database).

Search: Opens the BlackBook Search tool, to search the database for records matching a number of search criteria.

Read-only: Toggles read-only mode. In read-only mode, fields in database records cannot be changed or edited. Furthermore, records cannot be created, deleted, copied or pasted.

Record Menu

New record: Creates a new (blank) record. Available only if not in read-only mode.

Delete record: Deletes the currently-selected record. Available only if not in read-only mode.

Show/Hide record name: If the record name window is hidden, it is displayed (shown). Otherwise, it is hidden. The record name window lets you view and/or modify the name under which the record is listed in the record list. If the window is visible, this menu item displays "Hide record name"; if the window is hidden, "Show record name" is shown.

Help Menu

User's Guide: Opens the HTML viewer specified in the

3.3. Record Name Window

[Record Name Window]

The BlackBook Record Name window is not visible when BlackBook is started. It is automatically shown (if not already visible) when a new record is created. It can also be made visible using the Show Record Name menu item (in the Record menu). It can be hidden (rendered invisible) using the hide button in its frame, using the ``Hide'' button in the window, or using the Hide Record Name menu item.

When not in read-only mode, you can modify the contents of the ``Record name'' field. Any modifications are only saved (and updated in the record list) when you press the ``Set'' button; otherwise, modifications you make will be discarded. When creating a new record, you must set the record name (or else the new record cannot be added to the record list), which can contain any non-blank text.

The record name is typically the name(s) of the person about whom the record holds information, but can be any other text you find convenient (such as a company name, etc.). Duplicate record names are allowed on the record list, but these should generally be avoided to prevent confusion.


[Contents | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Appendix A | Appendix B | Appendix C]