Figure 2-1: Multiple Document Interface with Docking toolbars.
Data Flask uses a multi-document (MDI) interface for spreadsheets and scripts, supports docking for toolbars, and provides customization features for menus and macros. Show in figure 2-1 below, the Data window provides an interface for selecting data. Where data is associated with a filename, such as a .txt file for text, or an .mdb file for an Access database, the File tab in the Data window, or the File Open menu pick, can be used to open the file.
Figure 2-1: Multiple Document Interface with Docking
toolbars.
Agents may create a window in the Data toolbar
(figure 2-1) to provide for advanced data selection and management
features. Data Flask 1.0 includes an OleDb agent, and a Desktop
agent. TheOleDb agent adds a data tab, which
would allow you to browse and select registered OleDb Providers,
such as a local Sql server. The Desktop agent, which works
with text files, does not add a data tab. Additional data tabs will
appear as new agents become available.
Context sensitive Help is available by pressing F1. When selecting from the menu, a description of the item beneath the mouse pointer is shown in the status bar. Data flask logs error messages and progress messages in the Results tab of the History window.
Right-clicking, or pressing (Shift-F10) in most windows will activate a context menu.
Figure 2-2: Grid context menu.
Context menus in the Data window and the Command line (History)
window are especially important because some of the commands found in
those context menus do not exist in the main application
menu. For example the OleDb agent provides a command (figure
OleDb-3) to load a connection string from a .udl file.
Menus, Toolbar buttons, and Keyboard Shortcuts are customizable. You may create your own toolbars, or assign a new key combination to any command. This feature is especially useful when assigning script macros.
Figure 2-2: Customizable Keyboard Shortcuts.
To create a new toolbar, select Tools/Customize/Toolbars/New Toolbar. You should see a new toolbar appear in a small, undocked window. Next select the Commands icon from the Customize dialog. All commands from all menus, and any Macros that you may have added are available from the Commands tree list. Select the command that you want to place into your toolbar by click-dragging it onto the new toolbar. The Modify Item button allows you to control modify or remove the default text and image for the new button.
Whenever the Commands icon is selected from the
Customize Dialog, menus and toolbars enter a customization mode.
While in customization mode, you may use the Modify
Item button to add new menu items, delete existing ones, or
change appearance
of the menus or toolbar item. If you wish to remove customization
from any standard menus or toolbars, you can select Reset
or Reset All from the Shortkeys or Toolbars page of
the Customize dialog.
Technote: Customization is saved into the Current User (HKCU) registry when the program exits. If you want to remove all customization, including any Macro assignments, you may select Reset Settings and Customization from the Windows Start/Programs menu. The Reset link runs Flask.exe with the /unregister flag.
Data
Flask Copyright © 2006 Interscape
Corporation