An item-number field is used to represent the item number of a grid row on a schedule. These values are calculated as a sequence of items based on their row’s position in the grid. This calculation assures that all item numbers in the grid are correctly sequenced even when the position of the rows are changed.
Since it is very common that rows (items) will be added, deleted, and moved in a schedule’s grid, this automatic calculation of item numbers will decrease the burden on the user. Without this automatic item number calculation feature the user would have to manually maintain the proper sequencing of the item-number values on each the schedule. And as schedule become large this would become more labor intensive.
It is quite common that the item-number for a row be suppressed. Therefore we have provided the ability to suppress the item-number of any row directly. When the item-number for a row is suppressed, its row will not be used to calculate the sequence position of the item numbers in the rows below it. Suppressing a row’s item-number is convenient when entering a header row, or a sub-item row.
For instruction on how to suppress the item number of the field click here.
The automatic calculation of item numbers is one of many productivity features targeted towards increasing the productivity of the preparer when dealing with grids.
Entry:
Since the item number field is calculated by default it is possible to override its calculation and enter a value directly into it. But we strongly advise against this. Overriding an item-number field’s calculation will disrupt the sequencing of all item numbers in the rows below it. Instead we recommend that you use the Suppress Item Number feature described above.
If the situation arises that you need a different numbering sequence than the default that is provided, please contact our technical support office and inform us of your needs. It is likely that the sequence that you desire can be added as a standard part of the program in a future release.
If you do decide to enter custom values in the item-number column of a grid, you will probably need to override the item-number of every row in that grid and then manually sequence them. You will also then be responsible for resequencing them whenever a row is added, deleted, inserted, or moved in this schedule’s grid.
Basic Entry:
To enter a value select the entire value and enter the digits of the number from the left to the right.
Note that when a field is first activated the entire value will be selected by default, so usually you will not need to worry about selecting it before entering the new value.
The entire value is selected if all of its digits are highlighted in blue. To select the value when it is not currently highlighted just double click inside the field. You can also select the value using the keyboard by first pressing the Home key, then pressing the Shift + End key combination.
To replace the current value first select the entire value, then enter the new value as instructed above.
To change only a single digit in the value, position the cursor to the left of that digit, then enter the new digit. The cursor can be positioned using either the arrow keys or a mouse click.
To empty the value, select the entire value, then press the Backspace key or the Delete key. This will result in a zero value for this field.
To restore the original value use Undo command on the Edit menu, or by pressing the Ctrl+Z key combination. This undo will revert back to the original value. Use undo again to restore the new value.
If this field is calculated then you will not be able to edit it directly. A calculated field has a different color than an entry field. When active a calculated field is gray and does not accept entries, while an editable field is white and does accept entries. For more information on editing calculated fields click here.
Navigation:
To move to the next field on this page press either the Tab or the Enter key. For more on navigating the fields of a page click here.
Grid row operations:
If this field is in a grid row, then the row operation buttons will be enabled on the Field Actions toolbar shown along the right of the screen. These buttons provide quick access to all grid row operations such as:
For more information on working with grids click here.
Field Formatting:
The formatting of this field can be adjusted by the user. All of the formatting options of a single line text field can be used for floating-point fields. These common format options include the font, text alignment to name a few.
Other:
This topic is shown when the More button is pressed on the Brief Help pane. It is also shown when a field on the page is clicked with the Help Cursor.
If the Brief Help pane is not showing then you should open and review its text for two reasons. 1) There may be custom instructions for this field that are shown only in the Brief Help pane. 2) The Brief Help pane will show text that describes the state of the active field, while the help system can not detect a field’s state.