Section 3: Navigating and Data Entry > Tools

Using the Windows Clipboard

A number of standard Windows clipboard functions may be used to assist in data entry including copying data between entry fields or even between programs. The general process is to copy data from an entry field to the Windows clipboard and then to paste that data from the Windows clipboard to another entry field, either in the same program or in a different program.

Undo

Click the  button on the toolbar, select Edit  Undo from the main menu, or press the Ctrl+Z key combination to undo whatever changes have been made to the active entry field. If no changes have yet been made to the active entry field or if the field type does not support undoing then the menu option will be disabled.

Cut

Click the  button on the toolbar, select Edit  Cut from the main menu, or press the Ctrl+X key combination to cut selected data (i.e. highlighted by the cursor) from the active entry field to the Windows clipboard, thereby removing the selected data from the entry field. If there is no data selected in the active entry field then the menu option will be disabled and moving the mouse over the toolbar icon will display a “Not Available” message in the tool tip.

Copy

Click the  button on the toolbar, select Edit  Copy from the main menu, or press the Ctrl+C key combination to copy selected data (i.e. highlighted by the cursor) from the active entry field to the Windows clipboard without removing the selected data from the entry field. If there is no data selected in the active entry field then the menu option will be disabled and moving the mouse over the toolbar icon will display a “Not Available” message in the tool tip.

Paste

Click the  button on the toolbar, select Edit  Paste from the main menu, or press the Ctrl+V key combination to paste selected data from the Windows clipboard to the cursor position of the active entry field. If data was selected in the destination entry field (i.e. highlighted by the cursor) then it will be replaced by the contents of the clipboard. If there is no data in the Windows clipboard that matches the type of entry field (e.g. there is text on the clipboard but the destination entry field is expecting a number) then the menu option will be disabled and moving the mouse over the toolbar icon will display a “Not Available” message in the tool tip.

Delete

Select Edit  Delete from the main menu, or press the Del key to delete selected data (i.e. highlighted by the cursor) from the active entry field. If there is no data selected in the active entry field then the menu option will be disabled.

Select/Deselect All        

Select Edit  Select/Deselect All from the main menu, or press the Ctrl+A key combination to alternate between selecting the entire contents of the active entry field, or moving the cursor behind the last character in the entry field. If there is no data in the active field then the menu option will be disabled.

Clipboard Tips

      On entry screens that support communication tools, click the  button on the form, select Communication  Copy Address to Clipboard from the main menu, or press the Ctrl+K key combination to copy the formatted contact address to the Windows clipboard so that it may be pasted into another application (see Copying a Formatted Address to the Windows Clipboard). The country will only be included in the formatted address if it is different from the country entered on the business location address of the currently logged in user (see Business Locations).

      When faxing using a fax printer driver (see Communication Options - Fax Tab), the appropriate fax number will automatically be copied to the Windows clipboard where possible. The user then just needs to paste the number when prompted by the fax printer driver (see Faxing a Form, and Faxing a Report).

      To attach a file to a record, copy the path to a single file onto the Windows clipboard and then paste it into the attachments file list area of the record being edited. If the text in the clipboard is validated as being a path to a real file, then that file will be attached (see Attaching a File).

      To attach a hyperlink from the Internet to a record, copy the complete URL from the address bar in your web browser program to the Windows clipboard, or right-click on an Internet hyperlink and select Copy Shortcut (or the equivalent command) from the popup context menu. Then paste the hyperlink into the attachments file list area of the record being edited (see Attaching an Internet Hyperlink).

      Right-clicking some entry fields will also display available clipboard functions in a context menu, even if there are no main menu options available from that entry window (e.g. in a dialog window).

      The cut, copy and paste Clipboard functions always appear in the same order on the toolbar and the Edit menu. Their corresponding quick keys are also next to each other in the same order on the keyboard. An easy way to remember the quick keys is that the X looks like a pair of scissors for cutting (" without the finger holes), the C is the first letter in the word Copy, and the V looks like the tip of an inverted glue bottle used for pasting.

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Communication Tools