The CCS Accounting Series uses 5 Entry/Edit modes in most Entry/Edit Forms. These modes are described below:

Browse Mode: This is the default mode (unless the table(s) associated with the Form are empty, in which case the Add Mode is the only available mode.) The Browse mode allows you to move from record to record, viewing the contents of the table(s) associated with a particular Form. It is a read-only mode. Movement between records (rows) is normally achieved via the Record Commands such as the NEXT RECORD. Most Forms also allow entry of a KEY value (such as an EMPLOYEE number), generally in the first column (of the first page in multi-page forms). When you enter a key value, and Press ENTER or TAB, the CCS Accounting program attempts to access the record via this lookup key. If such a record is found, the associated row(s) are displayed. Additionally, some Forms provide Alpha Search Keys. For instance, most Forms that contain the EMPLOYEE# column initiate an alpha search when you enter an alphabetical (non- numeric) value in the EMPLOYEE# field. A list of all EMPLOYEES who match the search string (wild cards are supported) is generated and displayed. Double clicking on any line item within the generated list will cause the associated EMPLOYEES Record(s) to be displayed in the main Form, and the list to be closed. Many forms also display a synchronized list of all Rows (or the first 500 or so) of a table in a List Control above or below the main Entry/Edit Form. This list can be sorted on any column by clicking the column header. By double clicking on a line item in the List, the associated row will be displayed in the main form.

Edit Mode: As soon as you alter any value in any column of any Form, the CCS Accounting program automatically places the Form in the Edit Mode. You may also use the Edit Button to initiate the Edit Mode--the results are exactly the same. The Edit mode allows you to make changes to the tables associated with the Form (or other data entities that might be supported by the form). Once you have finished making changes you can save the changes by moving to a new record, by closing the Form with the OK button, or by clicking on the SAVE button on the SIDE TOOLBAR. Pressing ESC or clicking CANCEL on the SIDE TOOLBAR or the UNDO icon in the top toolbar will cause the form to revert to its original values.

Note: Before any form saves its data, all columns (whether changed or not) are validated using the VALIDATION METHODS associated with the columns. If a particular Column fails validation, an error message will be presented indicating the column and type of error. The offending control will then receive the focus, i.e., the cursor will be placed in the control that fails validation. After correcting the column, you may attempt to save the form once again. This process of validation will continue until all columns pass validation or until you Cancel the changes. Note: On networks, the CCS Accounting Series insures data integrity by rereading the record(s) prior to a save, If any column has changed on the Datasource since the time you initiated the Edit mode, you will not be allowed to Save the Form, and the Edit mode will be canceled.

Add Mode: The Add mode causes the form to be cleared and any Default values of the forms Columns to be displayed. Clicking the ADD button does not save the Form (unless the Add mode is currently active); it clears the form and readies it for entry of new data. Once you complete the form save the changes by:

a) Clicking the ADD button This action saves the current entries (after the validation process completes, as described above). The data will be saved and the Add Mode reinstated, i.e., a new, blank record will be created for the next addition.

b) Clicking the SAVE button.This button also saves the current entries and re-instates the Add Mode.

c) Moving to a new record. This saves the entries and places the Form in the Browse mode.

d) Clicking OK on the Side Tool Bar. This Saves the Form and Closes it.

Because Add Mode creates a new, blank record after every SAVE, you will have to Cancel the blank record when you are finished adding records.

To Cancel:

Press the ESC key, Click CANCEL on the SIDE TOOLBAR or the UNDO icon in the top toolbar. The form will remove the blank record and return you to the last completed entry.

Define Mode: The Define mode is a special mode very similar to the Add mode. The main difference is how it is initiated. When you attempt to enter a key value in a Form that cannot be resolved, the CCS Accounting program will present an error message and a prompt asking if you would like to define the unresolved item, such as the one below:

Clicking YES will cause the FORM associated with the KEY to be displayed. The KEY will have been entered in the KEY column and the focus set to the next tab stop. The Key value cannot be changed, so the define mode allows creation of one Record only. Once the form is completed (or canceled) you will be returned back to the original form.

For example, let's say that you were adding a new employee, and you tried to assign him or her to a non-existent CREW 0222. The program would pop up the message box displayed above. If you clicked on "Yes," the program would create a CREW record with a Crew # 0222 and bring up the Crew Edit/Entry form so that you could complete the data for this new CREW. As soon as you saved your entries for the new CREW, the program would return you to the Employee Entry/Edit form.

Delete Mode: The delete mode, unlike the other modes above, does not place the Form in a particular mode; it initiates the delete action immediately. Upon Clicking the DELETE button on the SIDE TOOLBAR or the button on the top toolbar, a message will be displayed asking if you are sure you want to delete the selected Record(s). Clicking anything other than YES will cancel the delete request. Clicking on YES causes the program to delete the record and move to the next record (if there is one) or the previous record (if there is no next record).

Note: The delete buttons are available only when the form is in the Browse mode.

When a List Control is displayed above or below the main form that contains all (or some) of the rows in the table(s) associated with the main form, you may delete an individual record in the table by clicking the delete key after highlighting a line item. ().

Note: No "Are You Sure?" message is displayed when deleting via the delete key.

Note: The deletion of a particular record is contingent upon many data integrity methods, such as foreign to primary key relationships and user rights. Typically, you must have sufficient rights to delete a record, the data source must not be read-only, and the record must not have dependent rows in another table.

For those who must know. The CCS Accounting Series uses hidden Primary and Foreign keys. That is, the primary keys and foreign keys are not accessible via any Form within the CCS Accounting Series. Some Forms however do display the RECORD ID which is defined as an auto increment column and often used as the primary key. If displayed it is read only. KEYS such as EMPLOYEE# may be more accurately termed "lookups": they are not actually primary or foreign keys in the datasource. They generally have unique indexs that are defined and maintained for the convenience of the user and may or may not be mapped to a primary or foreign key. The association of these fields is determined by the CCSFILE_ModuleName.INI file in the DATA directory and the Fields table in the CCSCNTRL datasource.

See The Mouse verses the Enter/Tab Keys for information on moving through a form.