Mini-Edit Main Screen

This window is complex, so its controls are covered in three pages.  The next two sections describe the Primary Control group (used to manipulate entire tables) and the Record Control group (used to manipulate individual records in the current table). These page in turn delve into the practical use of the tool and it abilities.

Most of the operations of the tool deal with first selecting a single database file to operate on, which is then loaded and then one of its tables is displayed in a summary fashion.  Most operations deal with selecting a single record from the list and then operating on it further as needed using the indivdual record controls (see above link).  Various bulk exporting functions as well as transfer operations on entire tables (sets of records) are also provided (see the primary control group above).

The first time you run Mini-Edit the tool will ask you for a short set of information about yourself such as what user name you want to use.  This can be repeated and the values changed at any time by pressing the User button above.  If the values saved are the initial default values, the machine will prompt you for real values every time it is first run. 

Open File The file open button. The tool defaults to active state but with no file open when started (unless you double-click an ITS file, in which case that file is opened). Various controls are dimmed until a file is opened to operate on. The tool prompted the user to select a file to open. [Top]

Log-Status Display The running log and status is displayed in this area. The log is always available for review at any time by pressing the Log button on the main screen. The size of the log area will expand to present a view which obscures the data grid area when longer operations are being performed (such as opening a file or extensive conversion operations). A progress bar appears at the bottom of the log during longer operations. The log also provides insight into operations of the tool when firing off other programs, or if some needed file can not be found. Which user identity was loaded and any checks performed for more current data are reported (at this time no internet checking for updates occurs). When examining an entry in the data grid, the log view provides a snapshot summary view of the text or codes associated with that entry; see the Snapshot View control in the Main Window section for control of this. [Top]

Exit button The exit button provides a way to close the tool and close all open database files (any pending un-saved changes would be lost). Any connections to other tools launched under automation will be lost, although those tools will typically remain active until closed in their own environment. Exit can also occur by clicking the top right button in the window frame. [Top]