The Lost Business Competitors set-up form is accessed via Miscellaneous Options / Lost Business Competitors and is used to create, edit and delete Lost Business Competitor records.
The form is split into three areas. These are the Titlebar, the Competitor Record Table and the column of Command Buttons at the bottom of the form.
In addition to displaying the form name the Title Bar provides a number of useful buttons.
This form displays a record table of all the current competitor records that have been set up. This table is user-defined and may be added to on a regular basis.
The first column in the table displays and allows input of a ten character alphanumeric competitor code e.g. DIA.
The second column in the table displays and allows input of a free format fifty character alphanumeric competitor description. e.g. Dial Group.
The list displays up to a maximum of twenty five competitor records at any one time. To view the remaining competitor records the Scroll Bar immediately to the right of the second column can be operated in a number of ways:
To edit the competitor record table a single-right-click of the mouse in either of the two columns displays a small menu box with the following options:
- Edit Row
Allows the current competitor description to be edited. Alternatively, single-left-click into the row, enter the appropriate data and use the Tab key to move to the next column.
- Insert Row
Inserts a blank row above the selected record so that a new competitor code/description may be added.
- Delete Row
Deletes the selected competitor record.
- Copy
Enables the competitor name for one record to be copies to other records to speed data entry.
- Filter
Presents a Selection Criteria Box which enables selection of only those records meeting the selection criteria. The following mutually exclusive selection criteria option buttons/fields are available:
- Equals
Searches the Competitor Name column for a description matching that entered in the data entry box at the bottom of the form. Any records equaling the criteria are displayed.
- Not Equal
Searches the Competitor Name column for a description matching that entered in the data entry box at the bottom of the form. Any records equaling the criteria are not displayed.
- Greater Than
Searches the Competitor Name column for any records with a text character string which is alphabetically higher than the character(s) entered in the data entry box at the bottom of the form. Any records greater than the criteria are displayed.
- Less Than
Searches the Competitor Name column for any records with a text character string which is alphabetically lower than the character(s) entered in the data entry box at the bottom of the form. Any records less than the criteria are displayed.
- Contains
Searches the Competitor Name column for any records with a text character string containing the character(s) entered in the data entry box at the bottom of the form. Any records meeting the criteria are displayed.
- Range
Searches the Competitor Name column for any records with a text character string which is alphabetically equal to or between the character(s) entered in the two data entry box at the bottom of the form. Any records meeting the criteria are displayed.
- No Filter
No filter is applied to the record search. The Reset command button also activates the "No Filter" option.
A number of command buttons are available. Some buttons are context sensitive and are greyed-out and only become available dependent upon the particular process that is being accessed. The full list of command buttons is as follows:
Exits the Lost Business Competitors form and returns to the Miscellaneous Options menu.
Provides online access to a context sensitive Help form.
Sorts the records by the chosen keypath. Upon selection, a Keypath List Box is displayed from which the appropriate keypath (if there is more than one) is selected.
A checkbox that, when ticked, sorts the records in descending order.
Redisplays the records on the form with any new modifications.
A checkbox that, when ticked, automatically redisplays all records on the form after an amendment.
Restricts a Sort by allowing entry of a text string from which to start.
Restricts a Sort by allowing entry of a text string at which to finish.
The purpose of this field is to allow the display of a user-defined selection of fields for every record. This is intended to reduce data entry errors. IT is not really applicable to the Lost Business Competitor record form.
Selection of this button displays a further form that provides an Ad-hoc Report Generator for the creation of quick query reports to form. An enquiry is formulated by completing a simple set of verbs and field names. A saved formulated query can be retrieved for future use.
Displays each field in a record by row, with the field name in the left-hand column and the field data in the right hand column. Within this option, records may be created, amended or deleted.