StoreReport does not currently use a GUI environment. GUI is too slow for effective Internet access. Someday when the speed of the Internet becoimes acceptible for the average user, we will make our system available through a GUI screen. The program is served in a Java applet through web browsers however - so it's anything but 'green screen'. Having a mouse is of no real advantage in an accounting program and you will find it easier to train your operators in our current environment.

AS/400 keyboards typically have two rows of function keys F1 - F24. Personal computers normally have one row F1 - F12. Our system uses all twenty-four function keys. Since function keys F13 - F24 aren't found on most personal computer keyboards, an explanation is necessary. If you have only twelve function keys on your keyboard, press the Shift key and a function key together and the results will be that the value of the function key is increased by 12. Note: Sometimes you may encounter 'Cmd' instead of 'F'. These terms are interchangeable. In other words. "F13" and "Cmd13" refer to the same function.

Shift F1 = F13
Shift F2 = F14
Shift F3 = F15
Shift F4 = F16
Shift F5 = F17
Shift F6 = F18
Shift F7 = F19
Shift F8 = F20
Shift F9 = F21
Shift F10 = F22
Shift F11 = F23
Shift F12 = F24

In 1990, IBM decided to enforce some standards call "System Application Architecture." Most personal computer programmers, being the gunslingers that they are, ignored many of these standards. The lack of standards between vendors is one of the debilitating problems we have in training and using electronic communications. One standard seems to have stuck however, and that is the standard of what happens when you press a certain function key. Here is a list of functions and how we attempt to adhere to these standards. Only the ones of significance are noted.

F3 - Usually the abort key. It is usually used to exit some application completely.
F4 - The search or prompt key
F5 - Used to evoke some action
F6 - The print key
F7 - Back up one step
F9 - Roll back
F10 - Roll forward
F12 - Exit a screen or routine
F14 - Save
F16 - Display a menu
F19 - Shift to the left
F20 - Shift to the right
F23 - Delete

Other keys that have special meaning are:

Enter key: This key is used to enter a completed screen of information. Depending on your keyboard, the Enter key may not be the key marked 'Enter'. On standalone PC's this key is usually marked correctly. But when attached to an AS/400 using 5250 emulation, the Enter key might be the 'Ctrl' key in the lower right-hand side of the keyboard.
Num Lock : On a PC this key allows you to enter numbers on the numeric keypad.
Backspace : Deletes on character to the left
Page Up : Scrolls the page towards the top of the page
Page Down : Scrolls the page down towards the bottom of the page.
+ Key - Field + : Used to enter a positive number are to enter text and clear off the rest of the line.
- Key - Field - : Used to enter a negative number.
Insert key - Used to insert characters in a line.
Home key - Moves the cursor to the far left hand position of a field.
End key - Moves the cursor to the end of the line.
Tab key - Moves forwards or backwards between field on the current window.

The Field+ and Field- keys are of special importance. They allow you to run the numeric keypad exactly like a ten-key calculator. (i.e. 123(+) or 123(-)). You will find entering numbers extremely fast - even on the Internet.