1. Use the Function Keys
F2 Presents a pick-list where appropriate or special picker (shift-F2)
F3 Inserts today’s date or the time (shift-F3)
F4 Temporarily logs you out of Jobstream
F5 Presents a search form
F8 Presents the client list
F9 Presents the address book
2. Use the Return Key
When completing a form, rather than filling it in with the keyboard then using the mouse to hit the OK button, finish by hitting return on the keyboard.
3. Make More Use of the Keyboard
Visual Jobstream is Windows compliant and therefore allows you to use the keyboard to do all manner of things. To drop down menus hold down the ALT key and hit the underlined letter from the item you want. To cycle through windows in Jobstream use CTRL + TAB etc. See your operating system manual for a complete guide to Windows keyboard shortcuts.
4. Don’t Use the ‘Picker Buttons’
If you know what value you want then type in the number or the first few letters of the name - enough to uniquely identify it - into the field, then hit return.
5. Use the Search Facilities
While presented with a list of clients or addresses, instead of scrolling through all of the records you can locate the one that you want by typing the name you are looking for. This automatically presents a search form with the text appearing in the appropriate place.
6. Resize the Columns
If there are too many columns or if they are too wide then they may not all be visible in a Window but you can resize them to the dimensions that you want. Try waving the mouse pointer between the column headings and then dragging left or right to make the column narrower or wider. Please note that in the accounts browser you can modify the selection of columns available through the view menu.
7. Use the ‘Other Mouse Button’
To get a context-sensitive menu of most available options try using the right mouse button (apologies to those of you who are left handed - for whom this may be the left button).
8. Are Things Highlighted?
In a browser check the colour of the selector bar to see if it is in focus or not. Also check the appearance of buttons - they have a dotted line around the word and icon when highlighted.
9. Multitasking in Visual Jobstream
Visual Jobstream allows you to open up many windows at once which means that you can review a client record while bookkeeping and updating the exchange rate table. Use this facility sensibly - don’t try to do too many things at once (e.g. close a period, run a portfolio valuation report, add three accounts and delete a client all at the same time).
10. Multitasking in Windows
All Windows applications use you computer’s memory. If you have many applications open at once then they will compete for memory and there may not be much available to any one application. Therefore it is advisable to close down other Windows applications if you are not using them.