PROJECT 35 - HOME


Tools & Users - Project 35.


Getting started.


This is the main part of the software suite. Unlike some of the other applications in the Project35 suite, this is an end deployment. In the directory \project35-1.0-win, click on run_project35. This will present you with a startup screen and dialog with a choice of models from which to select. This list is populated by the names of models in the models directory. These will disappear when you click OK. Clicking Cancel will end the programme at this stage and cause the startup screen and dialog to disappear.





The parts of the screen.


The picture on the right shows an example of the screen you will see for the Desktop deployment. It will be a set of data entry forms arranged in the application according to how they were arranged in the schema. This will vary from model to model and yours will likely look similar but not exactly the same.

Along the top of the screen is a menu bar, which is described in more detail below. The section on the left is the navigation tree that allows you to move through the collection of forms. Clciking on any entry in the tree will take you to that particular form; it will be displayed on the right side of the screen. The section on the right is the main screen showing the currently edited form. These will be different from one model to another. However, there will be similar components for many instances.





Menus.


There are several menu lists that can exist with the Tablet deployment. The exact list that you will see may be slightly different from what others might see who have different use cases - it is dependent on how the forms were configured when they were being created.



Menu List What you can select and what happens
  • New - opens a blank file to start editing;
  • Open - opens an existing file for editing;
  • Favourites - shows a list of the models you have used most often in the current session;
  • Save - save file under a specified name;
  • Save As... - save an existing file;
  • Close - closes the current model (set of forms) you are working on;
  • Import from XML... - Imports a data file that is stored as an XML file;
  • Export to Final Submission Format... - Exports the current configuration file to an XML file. When this happens, Project35 checks for errors in your document before it exports your file;
  • Templates - allows you to create a new template or save an existing one;
  • Exit - exits the programme. You will be prompted to save any unsaved changes.
  • Copy - Used to select text or parts of the navigation tree in the currently edited document;
  • Paste - Used to paste text or parts of the navigation tree of some document into the currently edited one;
  • Search and Replace... - a dialog prompts you for the term you wish to find and the term you wish to replace it with;
  • Insert Symbols... - a dialog provides a list of symbols that you can select to insert into a field.
  • Font - this allows you to select the size of font your are currently reading. Choices are small medium and large;
  • Show Errors - a dialog appears that indicates where in your set for forms you have errors;
  • Show Dependencies... - a dialog appears that indicates were there are fields that depend on other fields;
  • Show Changes - Colours some symbols in the navigation tree blue to indicate records that have been altered since the last time you saved your changes to the current document;
  • Search... - a dialog helps you search for terms. There is both a simple and advanced search;
  • Clear - Removes any special highlighting in the document as a result of using other View features.
  • Describe this document... - a dialog appears so you can include information about the forms on title, author, e-mail, institution, and description;
  • Alerts... - a dialog appears that allows you to attach existing alerts bundles to the current set of forms.
  • This provides a list of the various models you have open in your current session.
  • About - provides information about Project35;
  • Schema Information... - provides information about the current schema being used;
  • Enable context help - allows you to mouse over field names and to click and get more information on that particular term, such as what kinds of values are valid.



Buttons.


On this application, you will see a variety of buttons. Not all of these will appear on a given set of forms. The buttons you see will depend on the nature of your model and how the forms have been configured. Below is a table you can use for reference if you haven't used a button before and don't know what it does.


Button What happens when you click it
This brings up a file browser dialog so you can choose a particular file to go in the field.
This removes the current form you are working on and takes you back to the one just above it in the hierarchy.
This deletes the current form you are working on.
This saves the current form in memory and moves you to the form just above it in the hierarchy. This is not the same as selecting Save or Save As... from the File Menu.
This takes you to an existing filled out form in order to make changes.
This saves the current form but does not move you off the form. This is not the same as selecting Save or Save As... from the File Menu.
This allows you to reorder entries in the tree on the left hand side of the screen. This will only move a selected entry down and only within other entries on the same level of the tree.
This allows you to reorder entries in the tree on the left hand side of the screen. This will only move a selected entry up and only within other entries on the same level of the tree.
This takes you to a form that has not yet been filled out.
This allows you to launch extensions.



Types of Fields


There are several types of fields that can appear in a Tablet deployment. This will depend on the exact nature of your model and what your use case is. Below are listed some general types of fields that could appear in your forms.


Field Types Examples
 
Mandatory - these fields will be bolded.
Optional - these fields will appear in normal font, ie not bolded.
Date - these will have some form of format in brackets. The type of format will depend on how the forms were configured.
List (3 or fewer entries) - these will appear as radio buttons.
List (more than 3 entries) - these will appear as drop down lists.

Linked to ontology terms - these will be denoted by a * next to the field name. The number of terms available will determine how they are rendered. For terms numbering less than 20, the terms are listed in one list alphabetically. for terms numbering between 20 and 40, the terms are grouped and listed alphabetically. For terms numbering more than 40, a new dialog appears with the list. In this dialog, you can search for terms.

Depending on how the forms have been configured, this new dialog may also have images to help you select terms. If the field value background is white, then you can enter your own terms that are not part of the ontology provided. If the background is grey, then you must use a term from the ontology provided. There may also be a Clear Values selection on the list that appears so that you can remove terms.



Keywords: "Project 35", "open source", XML, "data modelling", "data entry", ontology, Java, "Tablet PC", Garwood.
Copyright © 2008 Christopher Garwood and Kevin Garwood.