A GUIDE TO USING FLEXIDATA 2
This program enables you to create a database and produce various information charts. Data files created in other programs may also be imported. This guide ignores the large choice buttons that appear in the centre of the screen when you first load the program or create a report - you can use these instead of the menus.

DATA EDIT SCREEN
TO MAKE A NEW DATAFILE:
  1. Select Data/New datafile
  2. Type a title (filename) and press [Enter]
  3. Type a fieldname and press [Enter]
  4. Select from the data types shown ("multichoice" is useful to restrict the choice of data entries, as is setting the maximum and minimum values for numeric data).
  5. Type the units for numerical data if wanted and/or press [Enter]
  6. Type an explanation of the field if wanted and/or press [Enter]
  7. Select Add another field by pressing [Enter] and so on ...
  8. When all required fields have been entered select Start entering the data
  9. Type in data pressing [Enter] or pointing and clicking with the mouse after each entry.
TO LOAD AN OLD DATAFILE:
  1. Select File/Open/Data or click on the button in the tool bar.
  2. Select a filename from the list provided and press [Enter] or point and double-click with the mouse.
TO EDIT THE DATA: Select Data/Edit, then move to and change any entry by first pointing and clicking a mouse button.
TO INSERT or REMOVE WHOLE RECORDS:
  1. Place the cursor where you want the new record to go or on the one you want to copy or delete.
  2. Select Record/Insert, Copy, or Delete as appropriate.
TO SORT THE RECORDS:
  1. Select Record/Sort
  2. Select Choose field 1
  3. Select a fieldname from the list on which to sort the records.
  4. Select Yes to confirm.
TO EDIT THE FIELDS: Select Field/Edit and select a fieldname from the list provided or simply right-click with the mouse on the field name at the top of the column on the screen.
TO INSERT A NEW FIELD:
  1. Select Field/Insert which produces a list of the current field names.
  2. Drag <- new field -> into the position required and select OK.
  3. Type a fieldname and select other properties as required.
TO REMOVE A FIELD Select Field/Delete and select a fieldname from the list provided, followed by Yes to confirm.
TO SAVE THE DATAFILE:
  1. Select File/Save/Data, or click on the button in the tool bar:
  2. Type your filename (if necessary) and press [Enter]
TO PRINT THE DATAFILE: Select File/Print and you will have a choice of printing either the field information or two ways of presenting the data. Table layout is the normal one for most purposes. You can also click on the button in the tool bar to print the current display:

REPORT (INFORMATION PAGES)
TO DISPLAY ITEMS:
  1. Select Report/New page
  2. Select Insert/Text, Table, Graph, Frequency table or Statistics, or select using the buttons in the tool bar:
  3. Select fields and/or types of display items(as provided)
  4. Repeat Insert to add more display items on the page
  5. Repeat Report/New page to add more pages if needed, or click on the button in the tool bar:
TO CHANGE PAGES: Select Report/ Page 1, Page 2, etc. or select using the buttons in the tool bar:
TO DELETE A PAGE: Select Edit/Delete page followed by Yes to confirm.
TO PRINT : Select File/Print then choose from Item, Page or Report (all pages), or click on the button in the tool bar to print the current page:
TO SAVE:
  1. Select File/Save, then choose from Data, Report (all pages) or Selection (of pages), or select File/Save all. You can also click on the button in the tool bar to save everything:
  2. Type your filename (can be the same name as the datafile) and press [Enter]

DISPLAY ITEMS

THE FOLLOWING APPLY TO THE ACTIVE DISPLAY ITEM ONLY (activated by pointing at it and clicking the left mouse button - the border of the item turns red)
TO FORMAT AN ITEM: The format menu contains many options to help you change the appearance of an item - the options vary depending on the item.
TO SORT THE RECORDS:
  1. Select Format/Sort
  2. Select Choose a sort field 1
  3. Select a fieldname from the list on which to sort the records.
TO SEARCH THE RECORDS:
  1. Select Format/Query
  2. Select Start a new query
  3. Select a fieldname from the list on which to base the search then set the conditions required to be matched as prompted.
TO RESELECT THE FIELDS: Select Format/Fields
TO ADD A TITLE: Select Format/Edit/Show filename or Show query, ...etc.
TO MOVE AN ITEM: Point at screen item with mouse, press the left button and drag the item around the screen as required.

To move or copy items between pages or to other programs select Edit/Cut or Copy then change the page and select Edit/Paste or select from the buttons in the tool bar:
TO RESIZE AN ITEM: Point at the red line boarder or corner of an item with the mouse, press a button and drag to obtain the desired shape and size.
TO DELETE AN ITEM: Select Edit/Delete or click on the button in the tool bar, and select Yes to confirm.
TO PRINT AN ITEM: Select File/Print/Item (or the button in the tool bar if only one item on the page).

Page last updated 23/05/2003 © Copyright, I.D.Lee, Didcot Girls' School.
All rights reserved. The original material provided on this site may not be copied or redistributed without written consent from the school.