Field Type

Description

A rectangular box indicates a field in which you can enter text and/or numeric values. The size of the box varies according to the type of information requested. If the data entered in one of these boxes must be in a particular format, ezLaborManager checks the format of your entry when you move your cursor out of the box and displays an error message if there are any problems with your entry. This type of box is used frequently for entering times, numbers, and free-form text notes, such as explanations and descriptions.

If a appears to the right of a boxed field, any data entered in the field must represent a date. You can enter the date manually, or you can click the calendar icon to select the date from a calendar. For more information about the accepted formats for dates and for instructions on how to use the calendar lookup, see Specifying Dates.

If a appears to the right of a boxed field, your entry must be drawn from a specific list of values that are already stored in the database. If you know an appropriate value, you can enter it manually. You can also start typing the word and auto-suggest will display values based on what you are typing. If you do not know what the available choices are, you can either use auto-suggest to get a list of possible choices or you can click the to view a lookup window that contains a complete list of appropriate values. Whatever way you use to enter data into the field, once you click an item, the selected value is entered into the field. For more information, see Using Lookup Windows.

If the and buttons appear to the right of a boxed field, the field can accept multiple values, but each value must correspond exactly with an item on an associated lookup window, which can be opened by clicking the button. You cannot add items to this type of field manually. You must use the lookup window. See Using Multiple-Selection Lookup Windows for instruction on how to enter and edit information in these fields.

A series of options with round buttons (radio buttons) next to them indicates a mutually exclusive or "either-or" option. You can select only one of the options in a group. When you change from one option to another, by clicking in a blank circle, the circle for the previous selection will be cleared, since only one option can be active at a time.

A box with a indicates that the field requires one of a limited number of options, which can be viewed by clicking the . To make a selection from the list that appears, simply highlight and click your desired choice. The menu will close and the field will be populated with your selected value. In most cases, the selection will be immediately applied. For instance, if the value in the example shown here were changed to Tomorrow, the data being displayed on the page would immediately be refreshed to show information about tomorrow.

Check boxes like those shown here allow you to select multiple items and then perform a function using all of the selected items. To select each item you want to include, simply click the corresponding check box. If a check box appears in the header row, you can click it to select all of the items in the table. In this example, clicking the check box in the header row causes the check boxes for Mon, Tue, and Wed to be checked. To de-select an item, simply click its check box again. After you have selected your items, you generally click a button to perform a procedure on or with the selected items. For another example of check boxes, see Using Multiple-Selection Lookup Windows.