The main display

The main display of the issues program consists of a window header/footer, a menu bar, a tool bar, a large scrolling list as shown below.




You choose commands from either a menu, tool bar button, or shortcut keys (shown with menu items). The tool bar buttons provide convenient access to the more frequently used functions.

Header/footer

The window header will contain the program name. It may also contain the issues group name. The left footer of the display gives some simple metrics about how many issues are known to the system¹, and how many of those are actually represented in the scrolling list. The right footer will display the version number of the release of Razor you are using (not as shown above).

Menu bar

The menu bar contains the menus File, View, Reports, Commands, Database, and Groups.

• File contains the file-related commands New Issue, Print setup..., and Exit.
• View consists of a collection of view manipulation and selection commands, such as selecting/deselecting all items in the list, showing/hiding the tool bar, and various filtering/sorting options.
• Reports consists of a menu of site-specific, customizable reports scripts that operate items selected in the issues list.
• Commands² (optional) consists of site-specific commands.
• Database³ (optional) consists of site-specific databases.
• Groups⁴ (optional) consists of a list of issues groups available for this database. If additional issues groups⁵ have been created for this database, the Groups menu will be available on the menu bar. Selecting from the Group list will access that group and update the title bar.

Tool bar

In order to simplify access to some of the more useful functions, the issues program shows a small toolbar on the main display. The buttons provide quick access to themes discussed later in this chapter, but a quick overview here may eliminate confusion later.




As you move the cursor over each of the above buttons, the right footer will provide a reminder of the function of each button.

If you are also using the Razor program for version control, you may also have a `Drag and Drop' icon on the far right of the toolbar.⁶

Main list

By default, the scrolling list displays each issue contained within the indicated group. Each line on the scrolling list represents a separate issue in the database, and consists of three sections; a collection of glyphs offering information about the settings on the issue form, the issue number itself, and a one line text summary.

¹ "Filtering the collection" on page 63 has details on how to limit the issues list.
² Your configuration may not include a Commands menu. See "Running commands" on page 72 for more details.
³ Your configuration may not include a Databases menu. Refer to "Subscribing to databases & issues groups" on page 73.
⁴ Refer also to "Subscribing to databases & issues groups" on page 73.
⁵ Refer to "Making additional issues groups" on page 35 for details.
⁶ At least one issue must be selected to enable drag-and-drop. See "The drag-and-drop method" on page 90.