Chapter 3 - Using Commands, Menus, and Screens
Most VINES features, such as using StreetTalk to locate network resources, using the SETPRINT program to manage your printing, and using the SETDRIVE program to access file volumes on the network, are available through menus and screens.
All VINES menus and screens share a standard format. This chapter describes the VINES Main Menu and how to use VINES menus and screens. Also, this chapter describes how to quickly access on-screen help from your workstation whenever you need assistance.
Once logged in, you may see the VINES Main Menu, a system prompt, or a customized menu, depending on how your administrator set up your network environment.
From this display, you access the applications and resources available to you on the network.
There are two types of screens that you use while working with VINES applications:
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Menus list choices for you to select. ![]()
Data entry screens have fields in which you enter data. These screens are described in this chapter.
OS/2
If your workstation is running OS/2, the same menus and screens described in this chapter are supported for your workstation.
The OS/2 versions of VINES commands and programs display character-based screens as do their DOS counterparts. Presentation Manager versions of these commands and programs may not be available with your revision of VINES software.
To use VINES commands and programs, make sure you first open an OS/2 window, or Full-screen window. You can then run the commands and programs from the system prompt.
As you learn to use VINES, you may find it easier to use menus to access VINES functions. As you become familiar with VINES, however, you may want a more direct route to using functions.
A powerful set of VINES commands is available to give you command line access to specific menus or to activate a function immediately.
Where appropriate, this chapter notes the VINES command that is equivalent to the VINES Main Menu option being described in the next section. If you need more information, see your system administrator.
The VINES Main Menu is an interface to frequently used VINES functions such as:
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File sharing ![]()
Network printing ![]()
The StreetTalk catalog (database)
To display the VINES Main Menu, type VINES at the system prompt and press ENTER.
When the VINES Main Menu appears, the first option, Mail, is highlighted. Use UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW or enter a number to select the option you want. After you select the option, press ENTER. The appropriate menu appears.
If you do not want to select any of the options, press ESC to return to the system prompt.
Table 3-1 describes each VINES Main Menu option and the VINES command you type at the system prompt to bypass the menu and go directly to the function.
Note: Mail and all communications options are not part of native VINES base software. They must be purchased separately and be installed and configured by your system administrator.
When you use VINES functions, other menus appear that guide you quickly and easily through the functions.
Many VINES menus consist of an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion contains the list of functions that you perform on the items listed in the bottom portion. Concise on-screen instructions are provided for choosing functions, getting help, and exiting from the current display. The following is an example of a menu.
Table 3-2 describes the keys that enable you move within VINES menus.
VINES data entry screens contain fields where you type data. In these screens, some keys have special functions. The following is an example of a data entry screen. Table 3-3 describes the keys.
There are times when you must consult VINES documentation or your system administrator for help. You should always look first, however, to see what help is available from your workstation.
Help is a VINES feature that provides information about functions on a currently displayed screen. To access Help, you typically press F1. Instructions are provided on the screens where Help is available.