Navigating Viewpoint V6

Function Keys

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Table of Contents

About this Course 3

F1 Online Help 4

F2 Rename Folder & Edit Cell 4

F3 Field Properties 4

F4 Lookup 6

F5 Setup 8

F6 Calculator 9

F7 Calendar 10

F8 Hot Key 10

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About this

Course

Course Description

Welcome to the Viewpoint Navigation course!

This course will provide you with the fundamental navigation knowledge and skills necessary to

work within the Viewpoint system.

Course Objectives

After completing this course you will have a better understanding of how to navigate within

Viewpoint.

After completing this lesson, you will:

• Know what your keyboard’s function keys will do in Viewpoint

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Function Keys

Certain tasks that are performed within the software can be accomplished using the Function keys, also

known as the F-keys, on your keyboard. There are eight active F-keys available in Viewpoint.

F1 Online Help

Use this function key to access help topics for any module in the Viewpoint software. There are three

levels of help functionality.

1. Module level – Help topics contain concepts and information pertaining to the module as a

whole. Access this level by using the ‘Module Help’ option from the Help menu in a form.

2. Form level – Help topics contain concepts and information specific to the form you are in.

Access this level by selecting the ‘Form Help’ option from the Help menu in a form.

3. Field level – Help topics contain information about the purpose of a field within a form and

what should be entered in it. Access this level by pressing [F1] or by selecting the ‘Field Help’

option on the Help menu while your cursor focus is in a field.

F2 Rename Folder & Edit Cell

Press [F2] to rename a custom subfolder in the Main Menu.

F3 Field Properties

This function key opens the Field Properties form for the field holding your cursor focus. You can also

access the Field Properties form via the Tools menu, by clicking the Field Properties Toolbar button

( ), or via the shortcut menu by right-clicking the mouse while the cursor focus is in the field. There

are four tabs on the Field Properties form. (See Figure A)

1. User Overrides – User overrides are specific to your user id. They allow you to set default,

display, and validation settings for a field.

2. System Overrides – System overrides affect all users in the system. Only a user who has been

designated as a Form Administrator in the VA User Profile form can make changes to the System

Overrides tab. On this tab you can set overrides to default, display, setup, custom field, and

validation settings.

3. Property Values – This tab is for display only and allows you to see the properties for the

selected field, including column name, control type (e.g. text box, check box, etc.), data type,

default value, grid column sequence, input length and mask, and related view among others.

4. Lookups – The Lookups tab allows you to edit lookup information. You can assign a lookup to a

standard or custom field, change a lookup’s parameters, set the load sequences for multiple

lookups, and set whether a lookup is active or inactive. You must be a Form Administrator to

make changes to this tab. Lookup settings affect everyone in the system.

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Note: You can reset your field properties back to the standard settings at any time by clicking the ‘Reset’

button on the applicable tab.

Figure A. Field Properties form

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F4 Lookup

This function key allows you to access the Lookup window from fields that require a valid input; that is,

values that are set up and stored in a specific table within the software. Examples include a Job code,

Phase code, Vendor number, Contract number, or Material number. (See Figure B)

Figure B. F4 Lookup of valid Vendors when focus on Vendor field

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You can filter the Lookup results to find what you need by using the filter bar at the top of the grid. Enter

a specific value in the filter bar to narrow down your results. (See Figure C) You can also use comparison

operators (<, >, =, >=, <=) or wildcards (% or *) to refine your search. (See Figure D)

Figure C. Lookup results filtered to return all Vendors with a Sort Name starting with “Cascade”

Figure D. Lookup results filtered to return all Vendor numbers greater than or equal to 1500

Filter Bar

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F5 Setup

The F5 setup key allows you to access the setup form from fields that require valid data; that is, values

that are set up and stored in a specific table within the software. Examples include a Job code, Phase

code, Vendor number, Contract number, or Payment Terms. You can also access the setup forms by

selecting the ‘Field Setup’ option from the Tools menu or by clicking the Setup button ( ) on the

Toolbar. When you press [F5] with the focus in a field, the related setup form opens. (See Figure E)

Figure E. Pressing [F5] while focus is in Payment Terms field opens HQ Payment Terms form

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F6 Calculator

This function key opens the Calculator from any field on a form. (See Figure F) You can also access the

calculator by clicking the Calculator button ( ) on the Toolbar, by selecting the ‘Calculator’ option on

the Tools menu, or by right-clicking with your mouse to bring up the shortcut menu.

Figure F. Calculator

Calculator Tips

• The [Enter] key is used only to total your calculations.

• A subtotal is generated after each operator is entered. For example, if you enter 100 [+] 50 and

then hit [+] again, the display will show a subtotal of 150. You can continue in this manner until

you hit [Enter].

• Press [0+Enter] to begin a new calculation. Press it twice if you are still in the middle of your

previous calculation.

• When you are finished with your calculation, you can return the value to the currently active

field by clicking the ‘Return Value to Field’ button. If using the keyboard, you will have to tab to

the Return Value to Field button on the calculator, then press Enter.

• Press [Alt+F4] to close the calculator using the keyboard.

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F7 Calendar

This function key opens the Calendar when you are in a date field on a form. You can also access the

calculator by clicking the Calendar button ( ) located to the right of the date field. When the calendar

displays, it automatically defaults to the current month and shows the current date in a box. The input

date, which may or may not be the current date, is highlighted in gray. (See Figure G)

Figure G. Calendar

F8 Hot Key

This function key is called the Hot Key. It allows you to open a designated form from within any other

form in the software without going through the Main Menu. The Hot Key does not from work within the

Main Menu. Once you exit the Hot Key form, you are returned to your original form. There are two

ways to designate a F8 Hot Key form.

• From the Main Menu, go to the Options menu and select ‘User Options’.

• Select the form you want as your Hot Key form and right-click on it with your mouse. Select the

option ‘Select as F8 Jump-to Form’.