Unibase by DMAC / Unibase Imaging Tutorial Movies
DMAC provides these movie tutorials to enable a trainee to go from knowing little about data entry to becoming skilled in the Unibase environment. The trainee learns about Unibase by DMAC in as simple of a way as DMAC knows.
The majority of the movies use the Menu User Interface (MUI) rather than the Graphical User Interface (GUI) of Unibase by DMAC. All the MUI movies, created by Tina Kay, cover the same material as a week of hands on training in the basics of Unibase by DMAC. The trainee can take the knowledge learned in the MUI environment and transfer it to the GUI environment. One advantage of learning in the MUI environment is that the choices are limited at any point in the teaching screen and there is only one way to accomplish a particular task. This is not true in the GUI environment.
These MUI tutorial movies are older and refer to Unibase by DMAC release 7.4i. The information still applies to the Unibase Environment. Enhancements may exist which are not discussed.
These movies are QuickTime movie (.mov) files that used to need Apple’s QuickTime in order to view them. Now they have been uploaded to Youtube, so you can view them in your browser.
The Graphical User Interface (GUI) movies were created by Rick Tarbox. Currently, the GUI movies describe the GUI record format generator which is much easier to use than the MUI record format generator.
The MUI Movies
Introduction (MUI)
What is Unibase (MUI)An overview of how Unibase is used.Tour of Unibase MenusLogging in, Main Menu, Add Operator, File Functions.Unibase StructureSubfolders under Unibase folder.More HelpAvailable Support for Unibase
Data Entry
Menu ItemsHow to Navigate Unibase MenusTop Line of Work FileLayout of Information about Location in Work FileCursor/FldRel/Rel KeysHow Cursor Keys work in Unibase and which control keys are called Field Release and Release.Reset KeyFunction Key used to reset the keyboard after viewing an error message.Auto/Duplicate KeysArchaic concepts from the days of keypunch machines that punched holes in cards, but very useful in some situations.Record/Field/Tab KeysFunction Keys that allow you to move among fields in a record or between records in a file/batch.Format Select KeyAllows a keyer to select among multiple screens/formats in a job.Location Return KeyFunction key that returns keyer to where they were before they backtrack in the file to check a prior record.Over Sign KeyOver 50 years ago, a negative number on an 80 column card was indicated by keying a minus sign over the units digit of the number. The Unibase Oversign Key performs the same function since that's what older mainframe programs expect.Correct/Insert/DeleteThese are Function Keys in Unibase Data Entry that aid in fixing keying mistakes.In Verify ModeVerification is the process of keying a completed batch of work a second time. As you key, your keystrokes are compared to the already keyed file. So long as they match, you keep key-verifying. If they don't match, an error tone sounds, a message displays, and the keyboard locks. Then you get to either fix the error or try again.Function Key HelpDisplays how different keyboards are mapped.Data Entry Help ListA menu of items that lets you decide what to do when working with a batch of records. It is presented when you press the Help Key (esc key).Search FunctionsAllows searches for specific types of records in a file.Keyboards-In PracticeHow different keyboards affect what shows up when you key in a field
File Functions
Menu ItemsManagement of the data entry filesDisplay FilesListing file names and number of records in each fileDisplay File InformationDisplaying detailed information about the file that is stored in the header of the file.Display File LogDisplay data from file log created when operator closes a file, provided a file edit program was written and attached to the job data for the file.Copy/RenameThe many ways to copy and rename selected files.Delete/Selective DeleteThe many ways to select files for delete or selective deleteFile ProtectionSetting requirements to delete, edit, sort, and display files.Dump a FileDisplaying the contents of a selected file.
Job Make
What is a Record Format?Describes the basic element of a screen on which to enter data.Paint Screen-SimpleLearn about fields (where you key data) and tags (describes what to key) to create a data entry screen.Paint Screen-Block FunctionsHow to move/replicate/delete large sections of a data entry screen.Paint Screen-Color SettingsEmphasize screen entries with different colors.Paint-Screen-Hidden Fields/Keying OrderCreate fields keyers cannot see to store data or Change the keying order of the fields.Paint Real ScreenCreate a useful data entry screen from supplied specifications.Key With ScreenTest the screen you created by actually entering data with it.Create Standard JobConnecting multiple data entry screens for keying complex jobs.Check Box Edit TourAdding additional checks on fields being keyed by choosing check box attributes.Edits-Projects, Field TypeLimit what may be keyed in a particular field by assigning a field type.Edits-Must Enter To Fill No DataSix more attributes to assign to a field with a check box.Edits-Verify, Re-Verify, UpdateCheck box attributes associated with verification and update modes.Edits-Range Checks To AttributesLImiting range of data to key and changing color of tags and fields.Edits-Value Tables To HelpUsing other Unibase files to check data keyed in a file and putting additional help about a file either on the first line of the screen of retrieving it from another file.Edits-Rcd/Rcd Auto To TabDescribing fields that may not need to be keyedEdits-Batch Balance To Aux Dup Number/TextUsing batch totals to eliminate some verification, adding field edits, changing keying order, and setting auxiliary duplication data.Edits-Added Fld to Image DataAdding a missing field to already keyed files, output a field as packed decimal, setting output placement of data, image zones.Job TestWhat happens if you enter incorrect data into a screen that uses enhanced record formats.
EZ Edit
What is EZ_Edit?The Unibase text editor used to create job field edit, file edit, output edit, and sort edit features in the AID language.Program TourViewing a sample of an operating file edit.Insert/Delete/BlockHow to make changes to an existing AID language programSearch/ReplaceHow to repair an error that occurs multiple times in a program.BuffersAccessing up to three more programs while creating/changing a fourth program.Help for EZ_Edit Function KeysHow to displaying brief descriptions of EZ_Edit functions while you are coding a program..
Programming
AID Language OverviewThe AID Language has a sentence structure with verbs, adverts, objects, etc.Types/Forms of DataTypes of data: alphanumeric & numeric Forms of data: literals, variables, arrays, fields, expressions, functionsHello World ProgramTeaches how to display constant data to the screenControl FunctionHow to alter placements of messages on the screenVerb ShowDisplay information on the screenField DisplayShowing the contents of a field from a record in the file.Output ProgramAID Program to move keyed data from inside Unibase to a file outside of Unibase so another program can process it.DevicesSpecifying location of output dataStandard Job/Actual OutputMove data from Unibase files to an external file.Conditional VerbsMake decision about what to output based on obtaining information about the data.Verb Accept/SubroutinesAsk for data from operator while program is executing and write short routines that may be incorporated into other programs.Output GenerationUsing a built-in process to write the skeleton of an output program you may then modify as needed. This may be easier than writing a program from scratch.Generator CodeLooking at the generated code.Field Edit GenerationViewing a Unibase generated field edit, which checks various fields immediately after each field has been key-entered.Non-Generated Field EditWriting a field edit from scratch without the use of a generator.
The GUI Movies
Introduction (GUI)
What is Unibase? (GUI)An overview of how Unibase is used.Data Entry WorkflowMaking human information useful for a computer.The Unibase EnvironmentAn overview of what Unibase looks like.
Wrfmouse (Record Format / Template Generation)
Introduction to WrfmouseViewing a Data Entry Screen That Already Exists.Paint the Screen-CompositionHow to create the tags and fields for a keying screen using the gui interface.Paint the Screen-Advanced FeaturesUseful Ways to Re-Adjust Field Placement on a ScreenCheck Box Edits-Display EditsInformation about how the field is displayed to the data entry operator - its length, location, and color attributes.Check Box Edits-Type EditsHow to limit the types of characters allowed in a field by specifying a field type.