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SchoolNet 3.0 - Utilities / Menu Editor

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The Menu Editor utility allows for the customizing of SchoolNet menus, such as adding or removing sub-menus, editing the names of sub-menus, adding or removing icon buttons that launch applications, adding or removing reports, etc. Changes made with the Menu Editor affect all SchoolNet users connected to the same network server. Changes may not take effect until a user has closed and reopened the menu affected.

SchoolNet Menu Structure

The SchoolNet menu structure has four general levels (Fig. 1):

Level 1 - Main Menu (or "Shell")
After login, the first menu appearing is the SchoolNet Main Menu or "Shell." The name of the school site that is logged on will appear in the title bar at the top of the menu. This menu normally contains a collection of icon buttons for launching other menus called "Button Menus". The Menu Editor allows these icon buttons to be added or removed from the Main Menu as needed, button captions and images to be edited, the sequence (from left to right) to be edited, and the number of button columns to be defined.

Level 2 - Button Menu
A Button Menu is a sub-menu, that is, a collection of icon buttons that launch other menu items, such as Applications, List menus, or other Button Menus. A Button Menu is created for each program module that has been incorporated into the district network at the time of SchoolNet installation. A program module is a collection of related SchoolNet applications and reports. Each application or report is launched by an icon button placed within a Button Menu. A complex program module may also use Button Menus nested within Button Menus. The Menu Editor may be used to edit the title of a Button Menu, add or remove Application icon buttons, edit button captions and graphics, change the sequence of the buttons (from left to right), or define the number of button columns. Furthermore, new Button Menus can be created from scratch and populated with customized collections of icon buttons.

Level 3 - Application or List Menu
A Button Menu is a collection of Application icon buttons and/or List Menu icon buttons:

• An Application icon button will directly launch a FoxPro Application (including reports) or other executable programs.
• A List Menu is a type of sub-menu. It can be used instead of a Button Menu in order to save space. A common use for a List Menu is to assemble a selection list of related reports. An icon button for the List Menu is given the caption "Reports" and placed in the Button Menu of the appropriate module. The Menu Editor enables the user to create List Menus, assign them to modules, add or remove entries from the list, rename entries, or change the sequence of the list.

Level 4, Report
A Report is a type of application in that it can be launched directly from an icon button, if preferred. When launched in this manner a Report will take the position of third level in the menu structure. However, since there are so many reports available, they are usually accessed through the intermediary List Menu to save space. Thus they become a fourth level in the SchoolNet Menu structure.

Menu Flowchart:



Fig. 1

Steps:

1. Open Menu Editor

Click on the System icon button in the SchoolNet Main Menu. From the System Menu launch the Utility icon button. From the Utlilities Menu click on the Menu Editor icon button.

>>

The opening screen of the Menu Editor displays the attributes in read-only mode of the first Menu Item defined in a list, sorted alphabetically by the Parent field (Fig. 2).


Fig. 2

2. Add A Menu Item
A menu item can either be a 1) a Button Menu, 2) a List Menu 3) an Executable, or 4) A FoxPro Application. Each menu item will be assigned its own icon button (with the exception of menu items that are defined as selections in a List Menu). Each menu item is a subset or "child" of another menu item. Therefore, before a menu item is created the "parent" menu item must be present. For instance, the parent of a Button Menu could be the Main Menu or another Button Menu. The parent of a FoxPro Application could be a Button Menu or a List Menu, and so on.

The Main Menu is at the top of the hierarchical structure and will be created during the installation and configuration of SchoolNet. Button Menus for each SchoolNet program module are then created and their icon buttons are added to the Main Menu. Icons for launching Applications, List menus, or other Button Menus are usually placed within the appropriate menus of each program module.

2.1 Activate the entry mode
Click on the Add command button to activate the entry mode. A blank menu editor form appears.


Fig. 3



2.2 Determine parent menu
This is the most important first step. Select a parent menu code from the drop-down list in the Parent field.



The menu code of MAIN (or something similar) represents the Main Menu and will always be present in the list by default. Most Button Menus for program modules are subsets of this parent. If the menu item to be added is an application, then the parent will likely be a Button Menu with the code name similar to the program module the application is related to (though not required). For instance, all attendance applications will have the Attendance Menu as their parent. Furthermore, Attendance reports will likely have the Attendance Reports Menu (a List Menu) as their parent menu. If an appropriate parent menu does not yet exist, it must be created before proceeding.

2.3 Select type
In the Type of Item box select one of four types: Button Menu, List Menu, Executable, or FoxPro App.



• Button Menu -
  a container for grouping icon buttons that launch applications or other menus.
• List Menu -
  a window that can contain a of list application names (including Reports). Each application can be launched directly from the list without the use of an icon button.
• Executable -
  external, self-executing program, not reliant on the FoxPro program.
• FoxPro App(lication) -
  an application that must be run within the FoxPro program. Most SchoolNet applications are of this type, including Reports.

If the new menu item type is a FoxPro Application (including reports) or an Executable (external, self-executing program) t



2.4 Assign item code
Enter an alphanumeric code for the menu item to be added. If the new item is a Button Menu or List Menu, its code will appear in the Parent selection field after the item has been saved. In these cases, use a code that is descriptive of the program module that the menu relates to. If the item is an Executable or FoxPro App., use part of the executable file name to create the item code.



2.5 Assign a sequence number
All menu items (with the exception of those with List Menus as their parent) will have an icon button assigned to them. Icon buttons can be ordered in sequence from left to right in their parent menu. Enter a number in the Sequence field to designate a sequence position for the new icon button.



If another menu item has the same sequence number, that number must be changed using the edit mode in order for the new item to occupy that sequence position. If no sequence number is entered the menu item will automatically be placed first in the sequence.

If the item has a List Menu as a parent then the sequence number will assign it a position in the selection list.

2.6 Enter a description, caption, and hotkey
Enter in the Description field the name of the menu item that is to appear on the title bar of the item when it is opened, whether it be a menu, an application or a report. In the Caption field enter a short name to appear on the icon button. In the Hotkey field enter one letter that is part of the Caption. This letter will be underlined in the caption on the icon button, indicating the ALT+* hotkey combination to use for selecting the icon button (as an alternative to using a mouse click). Make sure there are no duplicate hotkeys within the same parent menu.



Note: The Caption and Hotkey fields are not applicable if the parent menu of the item is a List Menu. This is because items that are subsets of List Menus will appear as selections in a list and not be assigned icon buttons or hotkeys. However, in order to save the menu item, at least one character must be entered in each of these fields as a placeholder.

2.7 Assign icon graphics file
In the Icon field enter the name of the icon graphics file to be used for illustrating the icon button (file extension not required). If no file name is entered the icon button will be blank, displaying its caption only. Icon graphics files are usually found in the SNETCS\DATA\ICONS directory on the hard drive of the network server. These are *.ico file types and cannot be viewed directly by the Menu Editor. A separate icon editor program is required to view the images. Select one to assign to the new item. If you do not have access to an icon editor and do not know the name of the image you are looking for, try finding the file name by checking the Icon field of another menu item, or consult the System Administrator.

Note: Do data is required in the Icon field if the parent menu if the item is a List Menu. This is because items that are subsets of List Menus will appear as selections in a list and not be assigned icon buttons.

2.8 Assign a path
(Under Construction)



2.9 Enter the executable file name of the application
If the new menu item type is a FoxPro Application (including reports) or an Executable (external, self-executing program) the full file name of the program, including its extension, must be entered accurately in the Executable field. In order for the program to run this executable file must have been copied to the hard drive of the network server. Consult the System Administrator for the correct file name.



If the menu item is a Button Menu or List Menu there will be no program file accessed. Any descriptive name can be entered. At least one character must be entered as a placeholder, such as an asterisk *, before the item can be saved.

2.10 Define Button Columns
Enter the number of columns to appear in the menu in the Button Columns field.



This attribute only applies if the item type is a Button Menu.

2.11 Save menu item
After all attributes are entered click on the Save command button to save the new menu item. The new item will not appear on the local terminal until SchoolNet is logged off and reopened.

3. Add a Report
New reports may become available from time to time. Reports are menu items commonly accessed through an icon button named "Reports" found in the button menu of each program module. The Reports icon button opens a List Menu of available reports for the current module.

Fig. 4 - sample List Menu

Before a report can be added as a menu item in a List Menu, the program file of the report must on the hard drive of the network server. That report must then be added to the appropriate menu before it can be accessed by users. It can also be removed from the menu system at any time while still retaining the program file on the server (See Step 5, "Delete a Menu Item").

The following steps are reiterating Steps 2 - 2.11, "Adding a Menu Item", but with special attention to Reports:

3.1 Activate the entry mode
Click on the Add command button to activate the entry mode (as in Step 2.1).

3.2 Determine parent
Determine the parent List Menu of the report to be added and select it in the Parent field. The first part of the code for the appropriate parent List Menu will normally match the name of the SchoolNet program module it is associated with. The suffix on the code will usually have the letters "RPT" to indicate that the menu is a report selection list. For example: the code of a parent List Menu for an Attendance report may read "ATTDRPT". If there is no appropriate parent List Menu for selection in the Parent field, one must be added before proceeding.

3.3 Assign attributes
Once the parent List Menu is established, continue filling out the rest of the report's attributes as follows:

Field Name	Report Attributes
Sequence	Enter a number to signify the position the report name will appear in the List Menu. If no number is entered this value will default to zero, which will cause the report to be listed as first in the sequence.
Type of Item	Select "FoxPro App"
Item Code	An alphanumeric code is required. Suggestion: use the Executable file name (without the file extensions) as the item code.
Description	Required. Enter a name for the report, as you want it to appear in the List Menu. This same name will also appear in the title bar of the report's criteria selection screen.
Caption	Required, even though no icon button will be assigned to this item. Suggestion: enter the same name as the Description field above or enter an asterisk * as a placeholder.
Icon	Not applicable. No data required in this field.
Hotkey	Required. Enter a letter to be used to activate a ALT+* hotkey combination for opening the report (instead of using a mouse click). Make sure that no two reports in the List menu will have the same hotkey.
Path	(Under Construction)
Executable	Required. Enter the program file name of the report as it appears on the district server.
Button Columns	Not applicable

4. Edit a menu Item
To maintain menu integrity, use caution when making changes to menu item attributes. Changes made with the Menu Editor affect all SchoolNet users connected to the same network server. Changes may not take effect until a user has logged off and logged on again. See Step 2 for standard protocol in assigning attributes

4.1 Find a Menu Item
There are two ways to find a menu item record: 1) Use the VCR buttons at the bottom of the screen to scroll forward or backward through the item records until the target record is located. 2) Click on the List command button to view a list of menu items (sorted alphabetically by the Parent field). Select (highlight) a menu item from the list. Click on the Select command button to go to that record.


Fig. 5



4.2 Activate the Edit mode
Click on the Edit command button to activate the edit mode of the target record, signified when the gray fields turn to white.

4.3 Edit data
Use the TAB key to move from field to field.

4.4 Save Changes
Click on the Save command button to save changes.

5. Delete a Menu Item
The delete procedure only removes menu items from the screen, it does not delete program files (such as applications or reports) from the network server hard drive.

5.1 Find a Menu Item to Delete
The record of a menu item must be opened in the read-only mode before it can be deleted (Fig. 1). There are two ways to open a record: 1) Use the VCR buttons at the bottom of the screen to scroll forward or backward through the item records until the target record is located. 2) Click on the List command button to view a list of menu items (sorted alphabetically by the Parent field). Select (highlight) a menu item from the list and click on the Select command button to go to that record.

5.2 Delete
Click on the Delete command button. In the dialog box that appears, answer "Yes" to confirm the deletion, or "No" to cancel.

4.6 Exit Menu Editor
Click on the Quit command button to exit the Menu Editor and return the Utilities Menu.