User's Guide To Parent-Teacher Hotline

Introduction
How This Manual Is Organized
How Each Chapter is Formatted
Graphic Conventions Used in this Manual
If You Have Problems
- Before You Call
- Calling Technical Support
Summary

Chapter 1: Introduction to This Manual

Introduction

We designed this manual for ease of use by you, the Center Owner. If you take the time to sit and read through this manual, we promise that you'll save time in the long (and the short) run. Think of this manual as the road map to your Parent Teacher Hotline application. You can plan your trip to save time, effort, or both. So take the time to read through this manual, it won't take as long as you think and it'll save you a bunch of time later.

This manual is structured so that you can read through the first few chapters and start understanding the workings of the program, while the rest of the manual fleshes out the details and nuances of the program. This manual discusses what you need to do to:

• Design and build a working Parent Teacher Hotline system

• Edit and modify your system

• Use Advertising

• Use the Remote Access feature

How This Manual Is Organized

The chapters in this manual are divided into three sections:

Section

Chapters

Purpose

I.

2, 3 and 4

This section includes an explanation of the purpose of the application and help you interpret and understand the system's appearance and structure.

II.

5, 6, 7, 8, and 9

This section shows you how to work with the system, adding, building, configuring and editing the system structure. This section also includes advanced editing functions and features.

III.

10 and 11

This section teaches you to use the Remote Access feature and explains the features and functions of Branch Administration.

How to Study the Introductory Chapters

The three introductory chapters acquaint you with the concepts of the Parent Teacher Hotline application and the application window. You may read them at any time, with or without using the computer.

Chapter 2 introduces you to the concepts and principles of the application and what it does, how to start and exit the application, and how to use the application's On-Line help.

Chapter 3 discusses the menus and the tool buttons used in the application window, as well as the window controls.

Chapter 4 introduces you to the system editor, the system's structure, and how the elements of the system work.

These important chapters lay the foundation for your work with the application, giving you the what's and the why's of the application. When you complete these chapters, you'll understand what the application does and how it works.

How to Study the Procedural Chapters

The seven procedural chapters show you exactly how to design, build, edit and modify the system. You need to be at your computer as you read these chapters.

Chapter 5 shows you how to work with the system. This includes modifying and editing the system, as well as adding to and deleting from the system.

Chapter 6 shows you how to perform specific operations that modify the system's structure. These procedures allow you to turn the example system we shipped to you into your own ready-to-run system.

Chapter 7 details the procedures for printing the two system reports.

Chapter 8 shows you how to advertise in the application. This includes making Advertisements as well as managing Ads in your system.

Chapter 9 describes the advanced application procedures. These features allow you to customize and master your application. Although not all of these procedures are necessary to run your application, they allow you to continue to learn and master the application.

Chapter 10 demonstrates the function of the Branch Administrator Remote Access. This chapter shows you all of the commands available to them (the Branch Administrators) and how the commands are used.

Chapter 11 details the processes and procedures for editing your Parent Teacher Hotline application from any touch tone phone. This is commonly referred to as Remote Access.

These chapters give you the hands-on skills you need to become comfortable using the Parent Teacher Hotline application. When you complete these chapters, you have performed all of the procedures necessary to use the application efficiently.

How to Study the Appendices

The appendices provide you with additional reference help. The table that follows describes each appendix:

Appendix

Title

Purpose

A

Installing the Application

How to add the Parent/Teacher Hotline application to your computer if you did not buy a ECS computer.

B

Branch Administrator Instruction Sheets

Provides detailed instructions for Brach Administrators' Remote Access. These instructions may be copies for use by your Branch Administrators.

C

Teacher Mailbox Instruction Sheets

Provides detailed instructions for Teachers' Remote Access to their mail boxes. These instructions may be copied for use by your Teachers.

D

Advertiser Remote Access Instruction Sheets

Provides detailed instructions for Advertiser’s Remote Access to their advertisements. These instructions may be copied for use by your advertisers.

E

Key Combinations

A listing of the key combinations you may use to perform certain functions and operations.

F

Glossary of Terms

Provides definitions of specific and technical terms.

How Each Chapter is Formatted

All the chapters of the manual have a similar organization. As you study these chapters, notice that each one is divided into five main parts:

• Introduction

• Concepts

• Procedure Overview

• Detailed Directions

• Practice and Review

Introduction

The introduction to the chapter explains what you will learn in each chapter. It also provides definitions of terms that are used the chapter.

Concepts

The concept section of the chapters discusses the concepts you will be using and learning.

Procedure Overview

This overview is a description of the information presented in the chapter. The overview serves two purposes:

1. It provides a quick reference after reading the chapter.

2. Experienced computer users may find that it provides them with all the information needed to successfully use the Parent Teacher Hotline application.

Detailed Directions

We include a Detailed Directions portion of each procedural chapter for the less experienced user. This section provides step-by-step instructions for using part of the Parent Teacher Hotline application. Although the new computer user will want to study this entire part, it later becomes a valuable problem solving tool for any level of experience.

Practice and Review

This section is a tutorial. It provides practice and review information which you use to gain hands-on experience with the Parent Teacher Hotline application.

Graphic Conventions Used in this Manual

Windows applications allow you to use either a mouse or the keyboard to move about the screens or to select options. When you see an instruction like this: j+ l, you are being shown keys on your keyboard or are being instructed to press keys on your keyboard.

Undisplayed Graphic

When you see a button in the left margin, you are being told that clicking the button starts the action or procedure under discussion in the adjacent paragraph.

Remember, once you delete a Client Form, it's gone forever (unless you re-enter it).

When you see an italicized note in the left margin, we are providing a warning or other useful information that relates to the discussion in the adjacent paragraph.

If we want you to type some information in a field, we show the information you need to type in the following style:

Information

If a period (".") follows the information, do not type the period.

If You Have Problems...

This section contains the number for Technical Support, as well as some procedures for you to follow before you make a call to Technical Support. You should carefully read the appropriate chapters in this manual to attempt to solve your problem before you call for technical support. However, we do understand that the manual may not provide an answer, so please call. We will gladly help you.

Before You Call

Before you call Technical Support, there are a few things you can do to help our Technicians provide you with prompt and efficient service:

Know the name and the version number of the program with which you need help. You can get this information from the label of the install disks, or by selecting the About option from the Menu bar of your program. Problems and their solutions vary from version to version.

You need to know your computer well enough to tell the technician about your computer's hardware.

Prepare a description of your problem, such as what you were doing when you encountered the problem. It may also be helpful if you write out the steps that you took to get the problem. The more detail you can provide, the better the chances are that our technicians can identify the cause of the problem.

Write down the exact wording of any advisory messages you encounter. Our technicians can trace and solve most problems using these messages. These messages are oftentimes the key to proper diagnosis.

Be at your computer when you call! Technical Support walks you through the steps that created the problem, and also shows you the correct way to do what you want to do.

These steps may sound time consuming (5 to 10 minutes, usually), but they are necessary to ensure proper diagnosis. They may also help you to understand the way your computer works. After you've properly prepared for the call, it's time to call Technical Support.

Calling Technical Support

If you encounter any problems during the installation or running of your program and you cannot resolve the problem by reading this manual, call our Technical Support Department at:

(615)-874-9495
Weekdays--8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST
Saturday--9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST

Summary

Our manuals are structured to let you begin using your application almost immediately. Reading and using your manual shortens your journey to mastery of the Parent/Teacher Hotline application.

The Introductory Section explains the purpose of the application while helping you to understand the application’s appearance and structure. The Procedural Section teaches you to add, build, configure and edit your system structure. The last section explains how to use the Remote Access features of the program.

Now that you know how the manual is structured, it is time to proceed to Chapter 2 and learn the concepts and principles of the Parent/Teacher Hotline application.

Section	Chapters	Purpose
I.	2, 3 and 4	This section includes an explanation of the purpose of the application and help you interpret and understand the system's appearance and structure.
II.	5, 6, 7, 8, and 9	This section shows you how to work with the system, adding, building, configuring and editing the system structure. This section also includes advanced editing functions and features.
III.	10 and 11	This section teaches you to use the Remote Access feature and explains the features and functions of Branch Administration.

Appendix	Title	Purpose
A	Installing the Application	How to add the *Parent/Teacher Hotline* application to your computer if you did not buy a ECS computer.
B	Branch Administrator Instruction Sheets	Provides detailed instructions for Brach Administrators' Remote Access. These instructions may be copies for use by your Branch Administrators.
C	Teacher Mailbox Instruction Sheets	Provides detailed instructions for Teachers' Remote Access to their mail boxes. These instructions may be copied for use by your Teachers.
D	Advertiser Remote Access Instruction Sheets	Provides detailed instructions for Advertiser’s Remote Access to their advertisements. These instructions may be copied for use by your advertisers.
E	Key Combinations	A listing of the key combinations you may use to perform certain functions and operations.
F	Glossary of Terms	Provides definitions of specific and technical terms.

	When you see a button in the left margin, you are being told that clicking the button starts the action or procedure under discussion in the adjacent paragraph.
Remember, once you delete a Client Form, it's gone forever (unless you re-enter it).	When you see an italicized note in the left margin, we are providing a warning or other useful information that relates to the discussion in the adjacent paragraph.