What to the Function Keys Do?
- F1 - Help If available this function key will access the on-line help screen.
- F2 - Talk Split screen 'chat' program, can be used to hold a conversation with another logged in user.
- F3 (^B) - Till If the user has permission this will open the till drawer manually without having to go through the cash routine.
- F4 (^G) - Change user I.D In normal cases the veterinary surgeon using the system will log onto the system and continue using the same terminal for the duration of the surgery. If a surgeon is moving from terminal to terminal he/she should press F4 (or <CTRL> <G>) and enter his/her User ID
- F5 (^T) - Send a mail message to another user This will access the routine for sending a message to another user on the system. The user to whom you are sending the message need not be logged onto the system - however, the user's name must be valid.
- F6 - Operating system shell This will drop you into the operating system allowing you to perform any commands as required. To return to the vet system either press ^D (Unix) or type 'exit' (MSDOS). When you are returned the screen may be messed up depending on what took place.
- F7 (^N)- Phone directory This accesses the telephone directory, allowing you to look up phone numbers. When pressed you will be asked:
- F8 (^O) - Calculator A simple one line calculator. If you want a 'nicer looking' calculator than add scosh calculator to one of the shifted function keys (see below).
- F9 (^P) - Printer When F9 or ^P is pressed the prompt line will display the current printer giving you the option to change it as required.
- F10 (^F) - Clock The current time will be displayed on the prompt line. Press F10 again to re-display the prompt line. If you are in a client's card the screen will display how long you have spent with this animal.
- F11 (^Y) - User activity Allows the user to find out what other users are doing. All workstations are listed by number, together with the login name, when they logged on, the length of time they have been logged on for, and which program of the Premvet 5 system they are running.
- F12 - Calendar Pop-up calendar, this is based on your user I.D. so is unique to individuals - great for as simple do-do list and reminder. Farm visits and DayBooks - see scosh calendar below.
- ^Z - Stock Order File This key does not have a function key equivalent, it calls up a scratch file that can be used to note done what items of stock you are short off. An option on the stock ordering menu prints it out.
Shifted function key set-up
You can configure the shifted function keys to run Operating system commands. There is a menu option on the Utilities menu called 'F'unction key set up.
You can add here any O.S. command, batchfile you want.
Some uses are:
- If you are using Cross updating we recommend you add:
xshow- Show the status of XUD
uustatus- Show uucp status - If you use attachments, one practice has a little script that adds
scanned images into the correct locations.
- Some people are using the calendar function of scosh to handle farm
visits and daybook functions - so use
scosh calendar - The E-Mail option on scosh is a little more friendly that the basic
/bin/mail - so add that
scosh email - Access to the BSAVA formulary use
lynx http://bsava - To emulate the PracticeMaster ^Z (Price lookup) option use
pvprice
Any program or script you run on a regular basis can be added to a shifted function key.