First steps
Here you will find information for your first steps in classix applications.
- Calling up the software
- Customise the client
- Creating business periods
- Setting up user accounts
- Rights management
- Definition of units
- Basics and tips for navigating the system
- Instructions for use - working with windows
- Error messages
- Technical notes
Find out what you need to bear in mind when starting the software and get an informative overview of the basic configuration of the system.
Calling up the software
After starting the programme, the splash screen appears for a short time with information on licensing and the programme version used. The main window then opens with the login screen. Enter your user name and password here; you may also be able to select different clients. (Your access data should have been given to you by a superior employee).
You then have access to the main window. The window title at the top shows the client selected during login. Below this is the menu bar. Behind the categories displayed there are sensibly designed submenus that scroll down when you click on the terms: these can in turn contain branches. In this way, all functions of the classix applications can be conveniently accessed via the menu bar.
The toolbar is located below the menu to call up the most common functions directly. All functions can of course only be used subject to the access rights set up for the respective user.
Customise the client
Under the menu item "System - Clients", you can enter the name and address of your company. This information is used for printouts, for example.
(See also the user documentation for the " Client" module, which is accessible via the F1 help after calling up the module).
Creation of business periods
When the system is delivered, some financial years and their periods are already created. By default, the financial years are stored according to calendar years.
Each time the programme is started, the corresponding period is searched for and assigned in the system according to the date.
You can maintain the required financial period under the menu item "System - Calendar -> Financial years" or "Basic data - Financial years".
(See also the user documentation for the " Financial year" module, which can be accessed via F1 help after calling up the module).
Setting up user accounts
As long as no users are defined in the system, no user login screen opens after starting the programme. Only when the first user is created in the system do you then always have to log in to the system with a user ID.
You can create users under the menu item "System - Users". In the simplest case, users can only be created with an abbreviation and a password; if you want to create additional personal data, you can assign the user to an employee of the company ("Person" button).
(See also the user documentation for the " User" module, which can be accessed via the F1 help after calling up the module).
Rights management
Some access rights are defined when the system is delivered. If users are created and access rights are assigned to them, these users can only carry out those tasks on the system for which they have been authorised.
It should be noted that - if a user has been assigned an access right - a user may only do what has been assigned to them in their access rights. This applies in particular to access to data (security classes), which is completely blocked by assigning even just one access right. Therefore, there must always be a release for reading and/or writing data in the assigned access rights (see the "Release all classes" access right in the database).
Access rights are created under the menu item "System - Rights management", an assignment to users is made in the user management module (see above).
(See also the user documentation for the modules " Message access", "Class access" and "Object access", which can be accessed via the F1 help after calling up the module).
Definition of units
Standard units such as "m" for metres or "€" are predefined in the system. Any missing units can be added under the menu item "System - Units" or in the object inspector via system data.
(See also the user documentation for the " Units" module, which can be accessed via F1 help after calling up the module).
Basics and tips for navigating the system
All classix applications can be operated intuitively and effortlessly. Thanks to the object-orientated structure of the database, the programming and the user interface, the data is mapped in the system in the same way as it is connected in real business life.
This allows you to navigate through your data exactly as your business processes logically require. The menus are designed to be process-orientated. There are symbols or buttons for quick access where they are required. Of course, all the handy 'shortcuts' familiar from Windows applications also work. The 'Alt' (key) letter takes you directly to the corresponding menu item via the keyboard (e.g. 'Alt'-'S' takes you directly to 'System', the 'Tab' key moves you forwards between the input fields of a window and the 'Shift' and 'Tab' keys move you backwards, and so on. Therefore, you must press 'Ctrl' and 'Tab' within a text box to insert a tab jump of the text.
If it does not work as quickly as you are used to from classix, there may be four reasons for this:
- You have started a somewhat more extensive transaction, such as generating a longer list. Then you can see from the cursor that your computer is still working on it.
Open transaction without database access 
Read access to the database 
Write access to the database - The network connection is temporarily under heavy load due to other processes running via the server.
- You have inadvertently not confirmed an information or error message with 'OK', for example after an incorrect entry. This then blocks the system until it is confirmed. You will find this on the start bar of your Windows environment.
- The application is really no longer responding and must be closed manually via the Task Manager.
Double-click on list entries and you will see that you can go directly to the business process behind this data and can also branch from there as required. This allows you to quickly and easily get to the bottom of any queries.
You can move, enlarge or reduce the size of the windows as you wish or keep them as an icon bar at the bottom for later reference.
This list could go on and you will also find things that can be added here yourself. Feel free to play with the system, you won't break anything! Detailed instructions on how to use the window navigation can be found below.
One more thing: When you enter data, it is better to press the 'Save' button more than less. If you close a window without having used it, you risk losing the data you have just entered.
Of course, as in other programmes, there is extensive help available via the 'F1' key. However, if you have any further questions or do not know what to do, press 'Alt (+ shift)'-'S' and 'v' in the main menu. This will take you to the classix version info and you will also find our telephone number. Here you will receive competent help and advice from our friendly staff.
You can close the individual classix windows via the 'Back' button, as well as via the 'x' in the top right-hand corner of the window or simply with the key combination 'Alt'-'F4'. Sometimes these options are not all available together. The 'Exit' button of the main menu closes the entire classix application.
Instructions for use - Working with windows
General dialogue
After calling up a menu item or selecting a symbol, a window appears in which you can edit the corresponding data.
Like the main window, the individual application windows also have a menu bar and toolbar.
You can have several windows open at the same time and position them on your screen and adjust their size as required.
Within the windows, you can also use the letter shortcut to call up any menu items or buttons. Use the keyboard to make the necessary entries in text fields and make your selection in the selection fields.
| Selection field | Function |
|---|---|
Extends the list of options   | |
| Fields marked with a dot are switched alternatively, i.e. you only ever select one of the options offered. (radio button) | |
|
| For rectangular fields that are activated with a cross, there are usually several options to choose from at the same time. (checkbox) |
System tray (info area)
This allows you to control the open windows and optionally supports drag & drop.
The corresponding menu with the application functions appears by clicking on the icon.
Moving a window
To move a window, position the mouse pointer on the title bar, hold down the left mouse button and move the window (mouse) - as soon as you release the left mouse button, the window remains in its current position.
Adjusting the window size
By changing the size or shape of a window, you can view several windows at the same time or define how much of the content of a window should be displayed.
To adjust the window size, position the mouse pointer on an edge or corner of the window - it changes its shape to a double arrow. Hold down the left mouse button and drag the frame in the desired direction.
The buttons in the top right-hand corner of the window offer further options:
| button | function |
|---|---|
| Reduces the window to a button at the top of the taskbar; when applied to the main window, it is placed on the taskbar. (minimise) | |
| Enlarges the window to the entire desktop. (maximise) | |
| Resets the window to its previous size. This button is displayed after you have maximised or minimised the window. | |
| The window is closed without saving any changes. If you want to save the change, you must first press the Save button or the floppy disc icon. |
Tooltips
Tooltips appear when you place the mouse pointer over an element (button, input field, ...).
They are used to provide you with additional information about the function and handling of the element.
Drag&Drop
Drag&Drop allows you to insert objects at a specific position by dragging them with the mouse.
The drag & drop function in ClassiX® offers you special insertion modes:
| Mouse cursor | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
 | Cancel | For logical reasons, it is not possible to drop the object at the specified position. |
 | Move | The object is moved. |
 | Copy | The object is copied. |
 | Move+Sibling | An object is moved and simultaneously sorted into a specific position at the destination. |
 | Copy+Sibling | An object is copied and simultaneously sorted into a specific position at the destination. |
 | Multiple Move | Multiple objects are moved. |
 | Multiple Copy | Multiple objects are copied. |
Scroll bars
The scroll bars appear on the right and bottom edge of a window object as soon as its content can no longer be displayed in full.
The scroll bars are operated with the mouse. If you click on one of the arrows at the end of each bar, the displayed content moves up or down by one line or to the side.
Your current position is determined by a rectangle, the size of which depends on the content displayed. If you drag this rectangle to another position with the mouse, the display of the document content changes accordingly. By clicking on the scroll bar above or below the position rectangle, the display scrolls the entire window content up or down.
The Pos1 or End button takes you to the first or last entry. The Page up and Page down buttons allow you to scroll through the entries.
Context menus
Context menus contain commands that can be applied to the current selection.
You can call up an existing context menu by right-clicking on a specific element.
Tree
Thetree view enables the clear visualisation of hierarchical relationships between objects.
You can easily navigate through the tree structure using the numeric keypad.
| + | Open the selected node |
| - | Close the selected node |
| * | Open the selected node and all subordinate nodes |
| / | Close the selected node and all subordinate nodes |
Note: To minimise the time required to build the tree, expansion characters (
) are sometimes set, even if no subnodes exist - in this case, the expansion sign would simply disappear when clicking without adding subnodes.
List window
- Search/Filter
- Sorting
- Adjust column width
- Column order
- Selection/Select
- Interaction
- Standard buttons
The core area of a list window is the "table", in which the corresponding data is listed.
Double-click on list entries and you will see that you can go directly to the business processes behind this data and can also branch out there as required. This allows you to quickly and easily get to the bottom of any queries.
Search/filter
So that your computer is not unnecessarily overloaded, tables with a lot of data are still empty when the window is opened. To display the data, you must enter a specific search term or number (item/order number) in the corresponding input field above the table. However, you can also simply press the Enter key to display the data unfiltered.
Multiple search:
Many list windows allow multiple searches, recognisable by the symbol 
in the toolbar.
| Blue text | Search fields for single and combination search |
| Black text | Search fields for single search |
| Search start: | Enter (Starts single search for data in the field) |
| Start search with | Start search for all combined fields (trigger multiple searches) |
 | Direct search for the field |
Sorting
By clicking on one of the column headings, you can choose between ascending or descending sorting of the column contents, which is indicated by the arrow appearing next to the column heading:
Sorting across several columns is possible by clicking on the column headings in combination with the Ctrl key.
Adjust column width
When the mouse pointer reaches the area between 2 column headings, it changes to a vertical line with two horizontal arrows. When this happens, you can change the width of the column to the left of the pointer by moving the pointer to the left or right while holding down the left mouse button.
However, if you double-click in this position, the left-hand column is made wide enough for all column elements to fit exactly into it, i.e. as wide as the widest column element.
You can adjust the column order by dragging and dropping the column headings.
Selection/Select
Use the Shift or Ctrl key and the left mouse button to select contiguous or isolated areas.
Without a key combination, clicking on an element always first cancels all existing selections and then selects the element under the mouse pointer.
You can also navigate within the list using the arrow keys; the space bar allows you to (de)select the current list entry.
Interaction
Double-click list entries and you will see that you can go directly to the business processes behind this data and can also branch out there as required. This allows you to quickly and easily get to the bottom of any queries.
Input window (editing window)
The input window can be used to create new data or edit existing data.
Input and text fields
If the mouse pointer is positioned over a text or input field, it takes the form of a vertical line with two horizontal boundary lines. A flashing vertical line within the field indicates that the cursor is ready for input and also indicates the current position.
If there is no vertical line in the field to be edited, you must activate the field by simply clicking on it.
Multilingualism:
Our applications offer the option of choosing between different languages during runtime. The language can be changed using the buttons with the country flags. All language-dependent elements (menu labelling, buttons, etc.) are adapted directly to the selected language.
The PageUp and PageDown buttons on the keyboard can be used to switch between the different languages. If the language has been changed via the keyboard, the input field allows the alternative text to be entered directly in the corresponding language.
Register
Tabs simplify the display of complex contents of subject areas.
By clicking on the corresponding tab, you can navigate elegantly between the individual data areas.
Selection window
Allows you to select an object from a list display, the window is automatically closed after confirmation via 'Select'.
Options window
The options window provides access to the most important settings that control the behaviour of the respective list or input window. These changed settings can apply temporarily for the current programme session but can also be saved as a default setting for the logged-in user.
Dialogue window
A dialogue window may appear while you are working with the application.
The system displays dialogue windows to provide you with information, e.g. messages or specific information about your current actions.
To continue working, you must close the dialogue by selecting or (if available).
Error messages
If an error message occurs repeatedly while working, please contact your KeyUser or classix Support directly.
For better reproducibility, you should describe the individual steps up to the error message and send a screenshot of the error message.
Before you take the screenshot, please press "Yes" so that a detailed display appears, which makes it easier to find the error.
A screenshot can be copied to the clipboard using the Print key (= whole screen) or Alt Gr + Print key (= current window) and pasted into the email or Word document using Ctrl+V.
Technical notes
Customisation of the display under Windows
By adjusting the DPI settings, the window contents and data can be displayed larger under Windows:
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