Navigating iPASS
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Common Terms & Helpful Hints
The Basics:
iPASS is a 100% browser-based
application, best used with;
A.
Internet Explorer (IE) version 6.0
B.
Netscape Navigator
Computer There are no special computer
requirements to operate iPASS other than one
of the recommended browsers. Powers
users and/or users required to generate schedules, report cards, progress
reports, or other large files will require enough RAM (random access memory) to
open and print these files. IMG recommends
a computer with an Intel P3 class CPU and a minimum of 256MB RAM.
Printers - Supported
printers that have been tested are:
Hewlett Packard LaserJet Models
2100N, 4100N, 4050N, 8150N.
Monitor
Minimum recommended monitor is a 17 screen set to 800 x 600 resolution.
Mouse iPASS is best used with a wheel mouse for easy page scrolling.
Left
Mouse Button Primary option for executing functions in most
web applications;
Moves
you from field to field;
Select
the options in a pull down list;
Select
links;
Drag
scroll bars;
Drag to
highlight multiple options on a pull-down list.
Right
Mouse Button Allows options for printing a selected screen, refreshing
a screen to view data changes or move back to your previous screen.
Wheel
Mouse Use the wheel for easy scrolling within your
focused page. Be careful that you are
not scrolling within a pull-down list where you have already made a selection.
Internet
Explorer (IE) You may start and use multiple sessions of iPASS
simultaneously by clicking on Internet Explorer (IE) or pressing the
<control> key and the <N> (letter N) key simultaneously. You can move from session to session by
clicking your left mouse button on the task bar (next to the start button). See your local systems administrator for
assistance.
Cursor Blinking indicator of
where the focus is on a given screen.
User An
individual with a specific ID and Password who is given access to the iPASS application database.
Navigating Windows -
Maximize or re-size a window by clicking on the middle icon in the upper right corner that looks like one or two boxes.
Maximize a window by double clicking on the top bar.
Hide a
window by clicking on first icon in the upper right corner that looks like a
minus sign or dash in the lower part of the icon.
Re-store
a window by clicking on the box at the bottom of the screen.
Move a
window, that has not been maximized, by clicking on the top bar and dragging
it.
A window
will be hidden if you click on an open window behind it.
Close a
window by clicking on the last icon in the upper right corner that looks like
an X.
Scroll Bars -
When a
window is too large for the screen, then scroll bars may appear on the
right-side of the window and/or on the bottom of the window.
Click on
the scroll bar with the mouse and drag the bar to expose additional areas or
click on the up and down or left and right arrow boxes that appear with the
scroll bar.
Keys:
Tab The
<Tab> key moves you from field to field during data entry or
modification.
Enter The
<Enter> key can be used in teacher entry of Grades to facilitate the
process. You may also use the
<Enter> key to activate a button or icon, such as 
if you have used the <Tab> key to
get to that button/icon.
<F5>
Key On the Internet Explorer (IE) browser, the <F5>
function key on the keyboard will refresh your screen and display any changes
that may have occurred on the otherwise static screen.
Comma
(,) Used to separate student IDs when entering a string of
student IDs for batch printing and other purposes. Important Note: You can set a parameter within iPASS to define an alternative
separator, such as the asterisk (*) or hyphen
(-) key which will provide for rapid entry by staying on the numeric
keypad for entry of Daily Attendance.
Cut
& Paste - Cut data <Ctrl>
<C> and Paste data <Ctrl> <V> - You
can highlight data with your mouse by clicking your left mouse button and
dragging until you have highlighted the data that you intend to cut and/or
paste. Once you have highlighted your
data press and hold down the Control key <Ctrl> key and then hitting
<C> (the letter C) this will place the data in your clipboard and allow
you to paste it by pressing and holding down the Control<Ctrl> key and
then hitting <V> (the letter V).
Navigating the iPASS Menu:
Menu The
system of Folders, Links, Tabs and Pages that provide access to the data.
Folders The
main menu options listed on the left side of the screen., such as Biographical
System. Clicking on the + sign in
front of its folder displays a list of Links associated with the folder.
Links Direct
connections to procedures, pages or a set of Tabs.
Tabs The
headings at the top of a Page that provide access to additional, related
Pages.
Pages A
specific screen display of data.
Pull-down Lists:
Allow you to select options
which are available from a defined table.
Selected items will be highlighted.
Single Selection Lists - Allow you to select only one value and will initially display only a single value.
Multiple
Selection Lists - Allow you to select any combination of values
and will generally display three (3) or more values.
If you are selecting multiple
values from a long list in of items:
A. Click-on the first item you wish to include and drag the mouse down to select the additional, consecutive values that you want.
B.
Click-on the first item that you want, hold down the
<Shift> key and select the last item that you want to include and all
inclusive item will be selected (highlighted).
C.
Click-on the first item that you wish to include, hold
down the <Ctrl> and click-on and other items that you wish to include.
D.
Hold down the <Ctrl> key and click-on any previously
selected item to de-select that choice.
Helpful Hint!
If you are selecting a single value from a long list
of items, you can type the first character of the value you want and move
directly to that position on the list.
Example: The pull-down is a list of states. Type the letter M <M> and move to the first state that
starts with the letter M (Maine), type the letter M a second time to move to
Maryland and a third time to move to Massachusetts.
Icons:
Home Icon Moves you back to your
original iPASS main menu.
Back Icon Moves you back to previous
screen.
Print
Icon Allows you to print the screen that is in focus. Please note that additional options are
available within the windows print dialog box that will appear. You may send output to any of the printers
that appear in the pull down list, choose number of copies, etc.
Logout Icon Securely ends your iPASS session.
Question Mark Icon Access on-line
documentation.
Buttons:
Writes/saves data to the
database.
Queries the database based on
selected filtering criteria.
Aborts data changes from being
saved to the database.
Resets search/filter screens to
default status.
Brings up a screen to create a
new record.
Note: There
are several places in iPASS where data can be added, but there is no button.
This occurs mainly in the definition of tables. In these areas, there are three empty fields
at the bottom of the list where additional values can be entered. Once you have submitted one, two or three
entries, three additional empty fields will appear.
Other options:
Check-boxes These
are used in many iPASS programs to allow you click-on and include records
for processing or to identified records that are to be deleted.
Check
All / Clear All options Use this function to select all records on a
filter screen and process all or de-select your exceptions. You may also use the Clear All and then
check the few records that you wish to process, thus minimizing keystrokes.
Previous
(Page) / Next (Page) options Use this function to select
all records on a filter screen and then de-select your exceptions to minimize
keystrokes.
Reports:
iPASS produces the following
types of output;
Standard
reports and labels are available in one or more of the following
formats:
A.
Microsoft Word (version 97 & 2000)
B.
Microsoft Excel (version 97 & 2000)
C.
CSV comma separated value
D.
RTF rich text format
E.
HTML hyper text
F.
Text
When these reports are
generated, they are sent directly the <My Data> folder and the <My
Reports> menu item of the User who created them. They are available there to be viewed, printed, saved or filed. They may also be e-mailed directly to you or
someone else. These reports remain in
<My Data> <My Reports> until they are deleted by you. NOTE: You should regularly delete old
reports that are no longer needed.
PCL
Documents include Report Cards, Transcripts, Progress Reports and Course
Request Verifications. These reports
are send directly to a system-defined printer and are not available in <My
Data> <My Report>.
Label
formats supported by iPASS include:
Avery 5160 1 x 2 5/8 Address labels
Avery 5163 2 x 4 labels for Permanent Record cards
Avery 5164 3 1/3 x 4 labels for Permanent Record cards
Avery 5536 file folder labels
Tools
Button When you are viewing a report using Internet
Explorer (IE), you can select the Tools Button to insert a Microsoft Word toolbar.
Helpful Hint!
In pull-down lists when creating a report, ALL values
are included by default and do not need to be selected/highlighted. Select/highlight specific items to limit and
narrow the number/types of records to be included in the report.