Data entry forms

The system maintains a default data entry form, based on the .FDT. Other forms can be produced in which only certain fields are included while the other properties of the form are taken directly from the FDT

Creating the data entry form (FMT)

Allows additional data-entry forms to be created which can be selected from the Worksheet menu in the upper part of the ABCD window.

Creating a new data entry form:

Select from the list of fields those which will be part of the form. To select fields:

Double-click on the field concerned
Click on a field then extend the selection with the keyboard keys [Shift] or [Ctrl-Shift] then click on the right pointing arrow
To copy all fields in the data entry form, click on the double right-pointing arrow

To delete fields from the data-entry form :

double click on the field concerned
Click on a field then extend the selection with the keyboard keys [Shift] or [Ctrl-Shift] then click on the left pointing arrow
To delete all fields in the data-entry form, click on the double left-pointing arrow

The fields eliminated from the form will return to the list of fields

Use the buttons or to reposition the fields in the data-entry form.

Use the link Preview to display the data-entry form in construction.

When finished, continue by saving the form after specifying the name of the file to save in the field name and put a brief description of the new format in the field description. The name of the format can only contain letters, numbers and the character _. It should always start with a letter. Spaces are not allowed nor special characters. The description should be reasonably short in order to be shown correctly in the Worksheet menu in the upper part of the ABCD window.

Modifying an existing data entry form

Select the format which you want to edit from the list shown and then click on Edit. The window will be filled with the information of the form Selected fields. Follow the instructions mentioned earlier to add or delete fields in the form.

Delete an existing data-entry form

Select the format which you want to delete from the menu shown and then click on Delete.

The edited formats are stored in the folder def of the database folder, with the extension .fmt. The list of available forms is kept in the file format.wks in which each form takes one line and the character | separates the name from the description.

Example of a data entry form file:

H||Principal entries|0|0|||||||||||
100
110
111
240
242
245
246
250
260
300
310

As can be seen, the created data-entry form includes the lines of the FDT of the type H (heading) or L (Line divider) and the tags of the selected fields. This means that the changes made in the FDT after the creation of the data-entry form, will be present when the corresponding form is selected.

The file format.wks is read to re-fill the Worksheet menu shown. When creating or deleting a form, the Worksheet menu in the upper part of the ABCD window will be updated automatically.