1. Greg Schmidt
FOM 3868
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Tips n' Tricks, Get the Most Out of
Colleague

2. Objectives:
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
• Identify the possible databases available to a user when
logging into Colleague or Benefactor
• Use UI Menu Bars and Toolbars
• Access forms using multiple methods
• Navigate UI forms using a mouse
• Navigate UI forms using Quick Keys
• Browse reports prior to printing or exporting
• Defaulting Printers
• Eliminating Background Execution screen
• “Enhancing” Colleague processes
• Creating Shortcut Lookups

3. What Stays the Same
Even though the look and feel of your system may have
changed, the underlying software has not. Specifically,
• Many Datatel delivered function keys
• Wildcard searching
• Data entry shortcuts
• Online Help
• Any forms you have customized
with the Envision Toolkit
• Functionality within forms

4. Entering User ID, Password

5. Main Menu

6. Menu Details - File

7. Menu Details - Apps

8. Main Menu - Favorites

9. Main Menu - Icons
• Save = F10
• Cancel = Shift + F8
• Save All – Like F9
• Cancel All – No similar Function
Key
• Help = F1 and Shift + F1 and
Shift + F2
• Show/Hide Tree – No similar
Keys
• Record Delete = Shift + F10

10. Quick Access
• Enter Mnemonic press Enter
Key.
• Select from Dropdown list,
click Go.
• Accessible within screens

11. Main Menu
• Menu works like Windows
Explorer
• Selecting sub/folder on left
displays contents on right
• Can launch Mnemonic from
either pane

12. • Forms
• Inquiries
• Reports
• Processes

13. Form Layout
• General Info Bar
• Date Field with Windows
Calendar
• Multivalued field w/ scroll
• Detail field – F2 Key
• Required fields highlighted –
can create your own

14. Form Layout
• Tabs
• Number fields with
calculator
• VAL codes
• Inquiry only field

15. Selecting Records from Resolution
Screens
• Click on the box next to the
record you want to work with
and Save (F10 or Icon)
- OR –
• Type in the Sequence number
and press Enter Key
• Can select multiples in most
cases

16. Reports
Import to Desktop
Close
First Page
Previous Page
Page X of Y Pages
Network Printer
Local Printer
Last Page
Next Page

17. Simple Enhancements
• Printer Definitions
• Eliminating Background Execution
• Creating Shortcut LookUps
• “Enhancing” Processes

18. Printer Definitions
• Define your Printer for a
specific purpose.
• Default whether the Output
Device is Print Spooler, or
Hold/Browse Output

19. Eliminate Background Execution
• Change “Executable as a
Phantom?” from Yes (the
default on all forms) to No.
• The screen Execute in
Background will not show.
• Do for all reports where you
will never want to execute in
background.

20. Create Shortcut LookUps
• By Data Table
• Use UTRE to create or modify
LookUp Shortcuts.
• Modify the way resolution
screens sort.

21. “Enhancing” Processes
• Modify the way a process
selects records.
Default BPOC
Modified to Exclude Reqs
with REQ.PRIORITY of “B” for
Blanket Orders

22. “Enhancing” Processes
• Add Sort fields to reports
• Make Fields required on sorts
• Create or modify fields to
break upon
• Modify the sorting defaults for
reports and processes
• R18 Mnemonic in ToolKit as
PGLS. Remember to GEN!

23. Questions???