The "magic" of a database is performed by a separate program known as a database engine. In order for Keep Up to communicate with its database engine, special controls are routinely used. Two database controls used in many areas of Keep Up are the Database Navigator and the Database Grid. Other controls frequently used in Keep Up are also explained.
Database Navigator
You will encounter the database navigator in many areas of Keep Up. Depending on its purpose, it may not have all the buttons you see in the figure above. The table below summarizes the function of each button on the database navigator.
Database Navigator Button Functions
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Moves to the first record.
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Moves to the record prior to the currently selected record.
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Moves to the record after the currently selected record.
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Moves to the last record.
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Inserts a new record.
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Deletes the currently selected record.
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Posts (saves changes to) the currently selected record.
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Database Grid
Database grids are used in many areas of Keep Up. Each row in the grid displays one record in a table. Each column in the grid displays one field. In order to make your work easier, you should know about a few characteristics of database grids.
| · | Moving off the last record by using the down arrow or by tabbing when in the last cell will create a new record. This means you don't always need to use the database navigator to create records. If you unintentionally create a new record, you can cancel the record by pressing the Esc key.
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| · | If you move off a record that you have edited, your changes are automatically posted (saved in the database), so you don't always need to click the post button on the database navigator.
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| · | Once you are working inside a database grid, the tab key takes you from cell to cell. You cannot use the tab key to move to another control in the window. To do that, you'll have to use the control's keyboard shortcut or your mouse.
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| · | If you enter data into a field that doesn't meet the database's requirements, and you attempt to post the record, you will receive an error message. Examples of this are leaving a required field blank, or making an incorrect date entry. You must either cancel your changes by pressing the Esc key or correct the entry and then post the record.
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| · | You can tell what mode a record is in by examining the symbol at the left of the row.
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 This symbol indicates that the record is in edit mode. Your changes have not yet been saved.
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 This symbol indicates that a new record has been created. Your changes have not yet been saved.
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 This symbol indicates that the record is up-to-date. No changes are pending.
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Arranging Record Order
You might want to change the order that items appear in a grid. Most grids in Keep Up have a pair of buttons below them that allow you to do this. Click the buttons to move the currently selected item up or down in the grid.