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Common UI Behaviors

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==Common UI Behaviors==
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We strive to create a very consistent user experience across all aspects of the RT product.  To this end, the interface behaviors are kept as consistent as possible in order to reduce the amount of any learning curve necessary so that what you learn on one window can be applied to all other windows.  The following outlines some of these behaviors.

===Accessing the Help System===

Pressing the F1 key will take you directly to the documentation related to that particular window by launching the default web browser registered with your system.  (This does require that a default web browser be correctly configured.  This is the default on all Windows installation; but can be disabled.  If disabled, this feature will not work.)

===Esc Key===

Pressing the Esc key in most windows will closes that window. 



===Tabs===

Many windows contain enough information that having it all displayed at one time would either be confusing and/or overwhelming; so we've grouped similar information together and placed them into seperate tabs.  

You can switch to different tabs by clicking on the tab name portion of the tab:

<center>[image||{UP}Common/tabs4.gif]</center>

There are cases, especially when creating new entries, that fields on these tabs may be incomplete (or invalid) and to assist in discovering these we provide an attention glyph to make this situation immediately visible without having to go through every tab.  

We do recommend going through every tab, especially in the beginning, to double check that all fields are what you are expecting.

===Field Validation===

Nearly every field in RT is validated to be as correct as we can possibly determine.  Whenever a field value appears to be invalid (or incomplete), a red exclamation glyph will be positioned near the field that contains invalid (or incomplete) information.

====Blocker====

<center>[image||{UP}common/tabs5.gif]</center>

Hovering over the red  round exclamation glyph to see a short explanation of why the value is invalid (or incomplete).

====Warning====

The warning glyph is in place to let you know that you may want to check this issue out before clicking Ok or saving.

<center>[image||{UP}common/warning2.png]</center>

Hovering over the yellow triangle warning glyph to see a short explanation of why the value is invalid (or incomplete).


====Informative====

The Informative glyph is in place to let you know that something is not set to the usual parameters. 

<center>[image||{UP}common/warning1.png]</center>

Hovering over the blue glyph to see a short explanation of why the glyph is there.


===Context Menus===

To help reduce on "screen noise", we utilize context menus for less often but yet still very important activities.  Additionally, just as the word context implies, the options will only be available based on the current context of what you are interacting with.

<center>[image||{UP}Common%2fcustomer_copy_context_menu.png]</center>{br}
Nearly every list containing one or more item will have an associated context menu.  To access the context menu, select the item you wish to interact by left clicking.  Once selected, use the right mouse button to click on the item which will bring up the associated context menu.  Select the desired activity from the list of available actions.

Note: Actions available will vary drastically depending on the type of item and the actions currently available at any particular time.



===Standard Field Editors===

There are several types of fields in RT that are common types of information such as dates, times, lengths, postal codes, phone numbers, email addresses, etc.  Each of these are validated for correctness (as best we know).  Additionally, many of these provide short-circuits that ease the data entry process.

* '''Time'''{br}Any fields containing time information are displayed as hh:mm:ss (24 hour clock).  Typing in hh:mm:ss (24 hour clock) works as expected.  There are a ton of short-circuit methods available in the time entry field as we have attempted to allow you to pretty much type anything that looks even close to a time and it will attempt to translate it automatically.  Examples include (following is formatted as entered value without quotes -> result): "2" -> 02:00:00, "2p" -> 14:00:00, "2a" -> 02:00:00, "2-" -> 02:00:00, "205+" -> 14:05:00.  Special characters recognized are am, pm, AM, PM, A, a, P, p, plus (+), minus (-).  The A, a, AM, am and minus (-) characters are interchangable.  The P, p, PM, pm and plus (+) are characters are interchangable.  The Hour can be one or two digits and is always required (assumed).  Minutes is optional, but if used, must be two digits.  Seconds is optional, but if used, must be two digits.  Colons and spaces are optional.
* '''Length'''{br}Any fields containing length information are displayed in a mm:ss format.  Obviously you could type the length in using this format, however, there are several shortcuts that you can use.  Values entered without the colon character are automatically recognized as a number of seconds and reformatted automatically.  You can also use the letter m to quickly enter a length of whole minutes.  For example, "2m" (without quotes) will be translated as 2:00.  Seconds can be one or two digits and is always required (assumed).  Minutes, if used, must either include the colon seperator or the letter m (if whole minutes).

===OK, Cancel, Apply===

Many windows contain three buttons located in the bottom right portion of the window allow you to commit or cancel any changes that you've made.  Buttons are enabled/disabled depending on the current change state and/or validity of the changes.

<center>[image||{UP}Common%2fok_cancel_apply.png]</center>{br}
__OK__

Press the OK button to save your change(s) and close the window.

__Cancel__

Press the Cancel button to abort any change(s) made and close the window.

__Apply__

Press the Apply button to save your change(s), keeping the dialog open for further review/change(s).

===Exception===
Upon any exception you will be booted from the RadioTraffic software.
The Exception window looks like this:
[image||{UP}Common/Except2.png]

Just let us know what you were trying to do. And Appreciate all the info you can give. 
And you should be able log right back into RT.  

If you continue to get these exceptions then please call Support at 1-888-239-8878.

===Retry/Cancel===

[image||{UP}Common/Except3.png]

This window can pop us for numerous reasons and those reasons will be specified in the box.


===Splitter Bar===

Quite a few windows in RadioTraffic have a Splitter Bar. This is a bar that splits the left and right panes in parts. While some splits are unmovable, the splitter bar is movable. To recognize the splitter bar is the 3 small lines in the middle of the bar halfway down the bar. With the mouse hovering over the bar and dragging with the left click of the mouse you can move the bar left and right as you like. Sometimes the splitter can be moved too far left or right and make the window look somewhat broken. You can just grab the bar and move it back to a position you like.

<center>[image||{UP}Common/Contract13.gif]</center>
 
If you want to place it back in its original position, Use the Reset tab under View in the Main Menu. 


===Archive/Trash===

'''Archived'''

"Archived" is the "we aren't sure we want to trash it but would like it 'gone'" so that it is no longer in the workflow; meaning that anything archived will no longer be available for "future assignment". In other words, one might want to be able to see it in your daily work and also have the ability to see that has been archived. Therefore archived items will be everywhere they are supposed to be but with an "(Archived)" after them. In their base settings, you can still turn them visible/invisible with the archive feature checkmark. 

'''Trashed'''

"Trashed" is Radiotraffic's delete feature, this way things can be removed from your daily routine and possibly be retrieved for reuse. We are in the process to make sure that if anything is "Trashed" it is removed from the daily workings and should only be seen in its base settings AND with the "Trashed" ability check marked. 

For [Reports], this is different, As something that you have trashed may and will show up in a report. For when you do see an item that has been trashed, in a report, it will show as *Trashed(###)*. The number in with "Trashed" is a reference number.

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Common UI Behaviors
