Program Operation

Mark/Unmark Records

Information

• It is to be distinguished between marking and activating:
  • Individual data fields are activated by clicking on them. Only one input field can be active at a time.
    • The record which contains the active data field is focused.
  • Marking is always done for entire records. * Marked records are highlighted in dark blue.
    • When you mark a parent record, you automatically mark all of its child records which are accessed by the module, even if they are currently not displayed.
  • Unmarking cancels the marking of the records, but not that of the active data field.

Procedure

Number of records	Mark	Unmark
one record	- via CTRL + mouse click or - by right-clicking and selecting the (Un)mark context menu command	- via CTRL + mouse click or - by right-clicking and selecting the (Un)mark context menu command
several records	CTRL + mouse click on the first record and SHIFT + mouse click on the last record	SHIFT + mouse click on the first record
All	- via CTRL + A or - via the Edit Mark all menu item	- via CTRL + D or - via the Edit Unmark all menu item

Displaying/Hiding of Child Data

Information

• To display or hide child records, a data field has to be defined as starting point by activating it.
  • Exception: Display/Hide using the +/- - icon in the tree structure

Note

• Via the Display parameter, the customizer can disable the display of child data.

Displaying or Hiding via Context Menu

Procedure

• Activate a certain field in the required data area.
• Select the Display command by right-clicking.
  • All child areas that can be displayed or hidden are contained.
    • For greater clarity, the data areas are displayed in a tree structure in the context menu.
    • The areas already displayed or hidden are displayed separately in the context menu.
• Select the required area.

Displaying or Hiding via the +/- Icon of the Tree Structure

Procedure

• Click on the +/-icon in the required area to show/hide all of its child areas.

Note

• The customizer determines whether a module contains the tree structure ( +/- icon) and which module areas contain the tree structure. You can find information on how the tree structure has to be customized, here.

Displaying or Hiding by Double Click

Procedure

• Activate a certain output field in the required data area.
• Double click on the activated field to display or hide all child data areas.

Displaying or Hiding via Menu Items

Procedure

• Activate a certain field in the required data area.
• By selecting the following menu items, you can display/hide the child areas of the current record.
  • View Display child area +
  • View Hide child area -
• By selecting the following menu items, you can display/hide the child areas of all records on the same level.
  • View Display child area ++
  • View Hide child area --

Copying/Moving via Drag & Drop

Objectives

• To copy the content of fields, columns, and records
• To move records
• To edit records by using arithmetical operations while copying via Drag & Drop.

PLANTA’s own Drag&Drop mimic:

• Copy: CTRL + left-click and drag to the required position while holding down the left mouse button and subsequently release the mouse button
• Move: SHIFT + left-click and drag to the required position while holding down the left mouse button and subsequently release the mouse button

Note

• If the position to which records are to be copied or moved is not visible, the bar scrolls to that area automatically when dragging with the mouse.
  • As an alternative, you can also use the arrow buttons as well as the page up/page down and Pos1/End keys.

Copying Data via Drag and Drop

Notes

• Output and input fields may be used as a source for Drag&Drop operations.
• You cannot copy to the output fields.
• The database type of source and target object determines whether you can copy from one object (field/column) to another.
  • For example you can copy from a currency field to a text field, but not vice versa.
  • If copying is not permitted, the message Unable to copy appears after you have released the left mouse button.

Field to Field

Objective

• To copy an entry from one field into another one.

Procedure

• Drag the content of the source field to the target field by pressing CTRL + holding down the left mouse button.
  • As a result, the source field is colored green and the destination field blue.
  • The cursor display is changed and the copying type is graphically displayed.
• As soon as the cursor is on the target field, release the left mouse button.
  • The source field value is copied to the target field.

Note

• The copy type Field to Field is set by default.
  • If you have changed the copy type while copying, you can change to the ­Field to Field­ type again using the Edit --> Drag&Drop-Copy --> Field to Field menu item or via shortcut CTRL + 1.
• You cannot only copy field content between records within a module but also between two modules.
  • You can copy, e.g., the resource ID from the Resource Structure module to the Resource Data Sheet module.

Field to Column

Information

• It is distinguished between data logical and layout related columns.
• A column related to the logic of the data comprises the same data field in all records of a data area.
  • In the horizontal layout, a visual column is equivalent to a data logic column.
    • Compare: columns in Microsoft Excel.
  • In the vertical layout, a line is equivalent to a data logic column (a record is a column here).
  • In forms there are no visual lines or columns. A data field in all form records is equal to a data logic column.
• The following examples are explained on the basis of a module with a horizontal layout.

Objective

• To fill the marked fields in a column with a particular value.

Procedure

• Mark target records.
• Define the copy type via the Edit --> Drag&Drop Copy Field to Column menu item or by using the CTRL+ 2 shortcut.
• By pressing CTRL and holding the left mouse button drag the content of the source field to the destination column.
  • The cursor display is changed and the copying type is graphically displayed.
• Release the left mouse button as soon as the cursor is over the target field.
  • The source data field value is copied to all data fields of the destination column for all marked records.

Notes

• The destination column can be the column of the source data field or another one.
• On projection data fields, Drag&Drop Copy Field to Column behaves just like Drag&Drop Copy Field to Field.

Column to Column

Objective

• To copy the contents of the fields from one column to another

Procedure

• Mark target records.
• Define the copy type via the Edit Drag&Drop Copy Column to Column menu item or by using the CTRL + 3 shortcut.
• By pressing CTRL and holding the left mouse button drag the content of the source column to the destination column.
  • The cursor display is changed and the copying type is graphically displayed.
• Release the left mouse button as soon as the cursor is over the target field.
  • The source column field value is copied to all data fields of the destination column for all marked records.

Note

• On projection data fields, Drag&Drop Copy Column to Column behaves just like Drag&Drop Copy Field to Field.

Copy Operators

Information

• You can use Drag&Drop with arithmetical operations for all copy types Field to Field, Field to Column and Column to Column.
• The following example describes the copy type Field to Field with the Addition operation.
• The procedure for other copy types and other copy operators is identical.

Objective

• To copy a value from a source data field to a destination column and change the value at the same time.

Procedure

• Mark target records.
• Define the copy type via the Edit Drag&Drop Copy Field to Column menu item or by using the CTRL + 2 shortcut.
• Select an operator via Edit Copy operator ( e.g. + (Addition)).
• By pressing CTRL and holding the left mouse button drag the content of the source field to the destination column.
  • The cursor display is changed and the copying type is graphically displayed.
• Release the left mouse button as soon as the cursor is over the target field.
• The message box with the entry Add: appears. Enter the required figure and confirm the message by clicking on OK.
  • The value calculated on the basis of the selected operator and figure is entered in all field of the destination column for all marked records.

Copying/Moving Records via Drag and Drop

Information

• The positioning logic is the same for both methods. The only difference is that
  • a new record is created while copying and
  • the same record is moved to the other position while moving.
• When we speak about copy/move
  • A source
    • is a record that you want to copy or move.
    • is colored green during copying or moving.
  • A destination
    • is a destination position (a position to which a source record is to be moved) , a position below, above or on a record.
      • The position below (above) the copied record/record to be copied is visualized by a dark blue line and three black arrows to the bottom (to the top).
      • The position on the target record is colored light blue (the whole record is colored light blue).

Details

• You can use the Copy/Move function to structure records.
• An illustration of the copying/moving procedure, can be found in the following sections:
  • Structure by moving
  • Move without structuring
  • Structure by copying
  • Copy without structuring

Notes

• Drag&Drop copying/moving of records between modules is not permitted.
• Structuring records is not allowed for all modules.
  • If structuring is not allowed, records you want to structure are simply moved or copied.

Procedure

• To be able to follow the instructions below, insert 8 new tasks in the Schedule module and name them from "Task A” to "Task H".
• Save and click on the Create WBS code button.
• Result:

Moving

Notes

• In the customizing settings the movement of records can be permitted or prohibited.
  • If moving is not allowed, the following message appears after you have released the left mouse button: Cannot perform move.
• It is not possible to move a parent record to its child record.
• The source record is always copied/moved with all its child records.

Structuring by Moving

Creation of Child Records

Tasks 2 and 3 are to be subordinated to task 1.

• Mark tasks 2 and 3 and drag them to task 1 by pressing SHIFT and holding down the left mouse button.

• Release the left mouse button.
• Result: Tasks 2 and 3 are moved below task 1.

Task 4 should also be a child of task 1 and should be positioned under task 3.

• Drag task 4 below task 3 so that a dark blue line appears below task 3 by pressing SHIFT and holding down the left mouse button.

• Release the left mouse button.
• Result:

• Save and click on the Calculate schedule button in the toolbar.
• Result: Task 1 is marked in bold and hence visualized as summary task.

• Click on the Create WBS code button next to the project name.
• Result: The new structure is displayed.

Outdenting

Task 1.1 is to be outdented (it is no longer to be a child of task 1).

• You can outdent the task by moving the child record above or below the required parent record. A parent record can be the parent record of the required child record or every other parent record, depending on the position to which the child record is to be moved.
• The task is placed at the position to which it is moved with the mouse.

• By pressing SHIFT and holding the left mouse button, drag task 1.1 above task 3 so that a dark blue line appears above task 3.

• Release the left mouse button.
• Result: Task 1.1 is positioned on the highest level above task 3. Thus, it is no longer a child of task 1.

• Save and click on the Create WBS code button next to the project name.
• Result: The new structure is displayed.

Moving without Structuring

Task 1.2 should be positioned above task 1.1.

• By pressing SHIFT and holding the left mouse button, drag task 1.2 above task 1.1 so that a dark blue line appears above task 1.1.

• Release the left mouse button.
• Result:

Summary task 1 with its children should be positioned below task 6

• By pressing SHIFT and holding the left mouse button, drag task 1 below task 6 so that a dark blue line appears below task 6.

• Release the left mouse button.
• Result:

• Save and click on the Create WBS code button next to the project name.
• Result: The new structure is displayed.

Copying

Notes

• When records are copied, the IDs of the target objects are newly created.
  • Other IDs in the destination records may be adjusted too.
• Values of the output fields are not included when copying.
• Values of the input fields of the source object, also those of hidden input fields, are not included when copying.
• Only the visible records are copied. I.e. if you copy a record that has some of its child records hidden in the module via filter criteria, only the visible child records are included.

Structuring by Copying

Information

• In order to copy entire records, the following setting must be made:
  • Select Edit Drag&Drop-Copy Record/s in the menu bar or use the CTRL + 4 shortcut.

Copies of tasks 3 and 4 are to be created and to be subordinated to task 1 at the same time

• Mark tasks 3 and 4 and drag them to task 1 by pressing STRG and holding down the left mouse button.

• Release the left mouse button.
• Save and click on the Create WBS code button.
• Result: Tasks 1.1 and 1.2 have been created automatically with data from tasks 3 and 4 and have been assigned to task 1.

Furthermore a copy of task 5 is to be created and to be subordinated to task 1 as well.

• Drag task 5 below task 1.2 by pressing CTRL and holding the left mouse button.

• Release the left mouse button.
• Save and click on the Create WBS code button.
• Result: Task 1.3 has been created automatically with data from task 5 and has been positioned below task 1.2.

• Save and click on the Calculate schedule button in the toolbar.
• Result: Parent task 5 is displayed in bold.

Copying without Structuring

Information

• In order to copy entire records, the following setting must be made:
  • Select Edit Drag&Drop-Copy Record/s in the menu bar or use the CTRL + 4 shortcut.

A copy of summary task 1 should be created and positioned below task 6 too.

• By pressing CTRL and holding the left mouse button, drag task 1 below task 6 so that a dark blue line appears below task 6.

• Release the left mouse button. If CTRL is released too soon, the record is not copied.
• Save and click on the Create WBS code button.
• Result: Task 7 is created with the data from task 1 and positioned below task 6.

A copy of task 5 should be created and positioned below task 1 too.

• By pressing CTRL and holding the left mouse button, drag task 5 above task 1 so that a dark blue line appears above task 1.

• Release the left mouse button.
• Result: A new task has been created with the data from task 5 and has been positioned above task 1.

• Save and click on the Create WBS code button.
• Result: Due to its top position, the new task becomes task 1.

Saving Data

Information

• Data can be saved
  • via the Save button in the toolbar or
  • using the shortcut CTRL + S or
  • via the Edit Save menu item

Details

• If you have changed data in a module and you want to close the module without saving or you want to reset the changes made, the following message will be displayed: Save? Some data has been changed.
• If some of the records are still invalid (e.g. blank lines) at the time you are saving, the following message will be displayed: Mark invalid records?
  • If the message is confirmed with Yes, the respective records are marked. These records can be edited or be deleted via the Delete menu item or via the delete button in the toolbar.
  • If the message is confirmed with No, the invalid records are not marked.

Highlighting of Saved and Unsaved Module Changes

Information

• If you change data in a module, an asterisk (*) is displayed next to the module title and changed fields are colored light blue.
  • By means of the *, you can see which module of a panel still contains unsaved changes at first glance.
• If you save, the asterisk disappears and the changed field is colored dark blue.
  • If you save once more in the same module, the fields coloring disappears.

Details

• If the same data is shown in two modules and you perform changes on different records, you can see the changes in both modules. If you save in one module, only the changes in this module are saved.
  • Example:
    • You perform changes on the project name of project 1 in module A and on the project name of project 2 in module B. Both changes are visualized in both modules.
      • In module A, the project name of project 1 is highlighted in light blue, in module B, only the project name of project 2 is highlighted.
    • If you now save in module A, the project name of project 1 is only saved and highlighted in dark blue in both modules.
    • In module B, the unsaved change on project 2 is still highlighted in light blue. The project name of project 2 is only saved and highlighted in dark blue in both modules after you have saved in module B.

Deletion

Information

• Deletion takes effect without saving.
• Whether you can perform deletion in general, and in which data areas you can perform deletion, depends on the module customizing.

Procedure

• Mark the required record and click on the Delete button in the toolbar.
• The following message appears: Delete marked data?
  • If this messages is confirmed with Yes, the record is deleted.
  • If the message is confirmed with No, the deletion procedure is canceled.
• If the record to be deleted contains dependent (child) data, they will
  • either be deleted without query.
  • or with the Delete dependent data? query, depending on what the customizer has specified.
    • If this messages is confirmed with Yes, the parent record is deleted with all its child records.
    • If the message is confirmed with No, the deletion procedure is canceled.
• If records to be deleted contain actual postings, the following message appears additionally: Actual postings available. Do you really want to delete?
  • If this messages is confirmed with Yes, the parent record is deleted with all its child records and actual postings.
    • Attention: Only authorized users may delete postings.
  • If the message is confirmed with No, the deletion procedure is canceled.
    • Attention: Every posting record is to be confirmed with No. If there are several posting records, you have to confirm every record with No.

Note

• You can remove an invalid record as described above. It is not deleted in the true sense, because it has not yet actually been saved in the database.

Data Synchronization

Information

• If the same data is shown in several modules opened within the same session and
  • you perform any changes on data in one of the opened modules,
    • the changes are immediately visible in all modules.
  • you delete some records in one of the opened modules,
    • the deleted records are no longer displayed in all modules.
  • you create new records in one if the opened modules,
    • the newly created records are not immediately visible in all modules, and are only visible after you have clicked on the Close/Reset button.

Context Menu

Buttons

Information

• Buttons in the PLANTA system are
  • module buttons for executing different actions or refreshing data or
  • buttons in dialog or message boxes.
• To activate a button,
  • click on the button displayed on the monitor with the cursor or
  • focus the button with the TAB key and press ENTER or SPACE (for module buttons) on the keyboard.

Tooltips

Information

• In PLANTA project there are 2 types of tooltips:
  • Automatic tooltips are automatically displayed on the headings which are cut due to insufficient field length. In such a case, the tooltip displays the entire heading.
  • Tooltips stored by the customizer. They contain help texts or explanations for the affected field. Such tooltips can be stored on both, fields and bars.

See also: Field Types, Rights Control, Multilingualism, Getting Started