The User Defined Fields and Screens
option allows you to create additional input fields.
It also allows you to modify or rearrange your input
screens to suit your practice needs. The default screens
in the Abacus databases are designed to meet the needs
of most types of practices. The user defined options
allow you greater flexibility in setting up your practice
to be the most useful and efficient for you.
You can add fields and modify the input
screens for Names, Events and Matters. In the following
example we will be working with the Names database.
The process is EXACTLY THE SAME in all three databases.
A default Names screen looks something like this: |
 |
Under some circumstances, you may
want or require additioinal input fields. With the User
defined Fields and Screens option, you can create them.
If you are on a network, all other
users have to be out of Abacus to access Database Structures.
Click on File|Setup|Database Structures. You will see
the following screen:
|
 |
| This is a list of the existing fields
for Names. If you wanted to add fields to another database,
you would click the down arrow below the words Database
to Edit and select the database you wanted to add fields
to. Adding fields is very easy. Click on Add. You will
see the following screen: |
 |
Field Name. It can be up to eight characters
with no spaces
Field Type. There are four types: Character (letters or
numbers), Numeric (numbers only), Logical (yes/no or true/false),
and date (looks like this: 01/10/98)
Field Length. How long do you need the field to be?
Max Decimal Will automatically put a decimal point if
your field is numeric. 0 is no decimal point.
Display Name When you add the field to the screen, this
allows you to make the displayed name of the field longer
or more descriptive than the eight character field name.
Description This field can be used to describe what the
field is to be used for.
|
| There are other field options that
are best left to advanced users. If you are not familiar
with Clipper or Dbase language, DO NOT modify those
columns. You can cause yourself problems. The areas
already covered in this document are sufficient for
99% of your field and screen needs. Once you have typed
in all the information you need, click on Save. |
Once you have added all the fields
you want, click on Finished. You will see the following
screen: |
|
| If you are finished adding fields,
click on Execute changes and create new databases. Your
new fields will now be added to the database. NOTE: Your
new fields will NOT automatically show up on your screen.
You have to add then to your screens (covered in User
Defined Screens document). |
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