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505 lines
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505 lines
16 KiB
<!--
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<!DOCTYPE chapter PUBLIC "-//KDE//DTD DocBook XML V4.2-Based Variant V1.1//EN" "dtd/kdex.dtd" >
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-->
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<chapter id="basics">
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<title>
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&kexi; Basics
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</title>
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<sect1 id="doc-vs-project">
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<title>
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&kexi; Databases
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</title>
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<para>
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Many applications such as OpenOffice.org or Microsoft Excel create
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files which are called <firstterm>documents</firstterm>. &kexi;
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creates files too, but we refer to them as <firstterm>&kexi;
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database files</firstterm>, or simple <firstterm>database
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files</firstterm> here. &kexi; database files usually have the
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extension <filename>.kexi</filename>.
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</para>
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<!-- TODO: Picture of Kexi database icon? -->
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<para>
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In addition to storing your databases in database files, &kexi;
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can also use databases on <firstterm>database
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servers</firstterm>, which is why we refer to them as
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<emphasis>database files</emphasis>, and not simply as
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<emphasis>databases</emphasis>.
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</para>
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<para>
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The term <firstterm>&kexi; project</firstterm>, or simply
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<firstterm>project</firstterm> is also used to refer to a &kexi;
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database, regardless of whether it is stored in a file or on a
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database server.
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</para>
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</sect1>
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<sect1 id="new-database">
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<title>
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Creating a New Database File
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</title>
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<procedure>
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<step>
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<para>
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Run &kexi;, or if it is already running, use
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<menuchoice>
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<shortcut>
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<keycombo action="simul">&Ctrl;<keycap>N</keycap></keycombo>
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</shortcut>
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<guimenu>File</guimenu><guimenuitem>New</guimenuitem>
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</menuchoice>.
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</para>
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</step>
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<step>
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<para>
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Click the <guibutton>OK</guibutton> to confirm the
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creation of the project.
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</para>
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</step>
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<step>
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<para>
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Enter a name for your project, and click <guibutton>Next</guibutton>.
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</para>
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</step>
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<step>
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<para>
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Use the file browser to choose a folder where you would
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like to save your database file. You may change the file
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name in the <guilabel>Location:</guilabel> box if you dislike
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the one that is suggested.
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</para>
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</step>
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<step>
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<para>
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Click <guibutton>Create</guibutton>.
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</para>
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</step>
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</procedure>
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</sect1>
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<sect1 id="main-window">
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<title>
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The &kexi; Main Window
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</title>
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<para>
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The <guilabel>Project Navigator</guilabel> and
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<guilabel>Properties Editor</guilabel> are shown in panes on
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each side of the child window. These can be resized or hidden
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as required. A pane can be hidden by clicking the small cross
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at the top of the pane (just below the toolbar).
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</para>
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<para>
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Database objects (tables, queries, etc.) listed in the <guilabel>Project
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Navigator</guilabel> can opened by clicking (or
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double-clicking, depending upon your global &kde; settings) on their names.
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</para>
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<sect2 id="main-application-elements">
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<title>
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Main application elements
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</title>
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<!--
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<br><img src="img/04_06_00_main_window.png">
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<br>Kexi's main window<br><br>
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-->
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<itemizedlist>
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<title>
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Main elements of &kexi; application's window are:
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</title>
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<listitem>
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<para><emphasis>Menubar</emphasis></para>
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<para>
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contains available commands for the application.
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You will find detailed description of any of the commands in the appendix.
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<!-- @todo: point to the appendix (link) -->
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</para>
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</listitem>
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<listitem>
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<para><emphasis>Toolbar</emphasis></para>
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<para>
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contains most frequently used commands.
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</para>
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</listitem>
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<listitem>
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<!-- @todo: link to the various chapters from the listitems -->
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<para><emphasis><guilabel>Project Navigator</guilabel>'s pane</emphasis></para>
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<para>
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contains a list of any object (tables, queries, forms, ...) created
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within the currently opened database project. The navigator also contains
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small toolbar with most usable commands related to the database objects.
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</para>
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</listitem>
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<listitem>
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<para><emphasis><guilabel>Opened database objects</guilabel> area</emphasis></para>
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<para>
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a central area of the application taking most of the screen space.
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For IDEAl user interface mode it contains switchable tabs with
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windows that are always maximized. For Childframe user interface
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mode it contains floating windows.
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</para>
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</listitem>
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<listitem>
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<para><emphasis><guilabel>Properties</guilabel> pane</emphasis></para>
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<para>
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contains a list of properties of currently activated database object.
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For certain objects (⪚ form's widgets) it can have several tabs.
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</para>
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</listitem>
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<listitem>
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<para><emphasis>Taskbar</emphasis></para>
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<para>
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contains a list of currently opened windows with database objects.
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For IDEAl user interface mode, it is available as a number of tabs.
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For Childframe user interface mode, it is available as a number of
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buttons, behaving just like your operating system's taskbar.
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</para>
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</listitem>
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</itemizedlist>
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<sect3 id="project-navigator-pane">
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<title><guilabel>Project Navigator</guilabel> pane</title>
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<para>
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The <guilabel>Project Navigator</guilabel> pane is one of the most frequently used elements
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of the &kexi; main window. The pane contains a list of all objects
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created within the currently opened &kexi; database project. The objects
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are split into groups: tables, queries, forms.
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</para>
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<para id="project-navigator-pane-toolbar">
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The <guilabel>Project Navigator</guilabel> pane also contains a <emphasis>small toolbar for most
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frequently used commands</emphasis> (from left to right): <guilabel>Open
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selected object</guilabel>, <guilabel>Design selected object</guilabel>,
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<guilabel>Create a new object</guilabel>, and <guilabel>Delete selected
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object</guilabel>.
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<!--
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<img src="img/04_06_01_nav_mini_toolbar.png">
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<br>A toolbar in the Project Navigator pane<br><br>
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-->
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</para>
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<para>
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For each object on the list a context menu is available using the &RMB;.
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For example, this is context menu for the <emphasis>persons</emphasis> table.
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<!--
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<br><img src="img/04_06_01_context_menu.png">
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<br>Project Navigator pane's context menu<br><br>
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-->
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<!-- TODO Commands of this menu is documented in <appendix>
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See also a list of available shortcuts in <a href=
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"ab_00_00_shortcuts.html#nav_panel">Appendix B.2. Project Navigator
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pane <! - - TODO (js) APPENDIX number - - ></a> .
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-->
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</para>
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<para>
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Double clicking with the &LMB; on the object's name on the list allows to
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open the object in Data View. If the object's window was alread opened,
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the action just activates the window without switching it's view mode.
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</para>
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<para>
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Note that your operating system or window manager can be set up to handle
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single clicks instead of double clicks. In this case it is enough to single
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click on the object name to open its window.
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<!-- TODO (js) but then how to select an object without opening it? -->
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</para>
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</sect3>
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<sect3 id="database-object-windows">
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<title>Database object windows</title>
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<orderedlist>
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<title>Opening an object's window</title>
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<listitem>
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<para>
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Select the object in the <link linkend="project-navigator-pane">Project Navigator
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pane</link>.
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</para>
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</listitem>
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<listitem>
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<para>
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<!-- <img src="icons/edit.png" class="icon"> -->
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Click the <guibutton>Open</guibutton> button on the <link
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linkend="project-navigator-pane-toolbar">Project Navigator pane's toolbar</link>.
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</para>
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</listitem>
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</orderedlist>
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<itemizedlist>
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<title>Commands related to object windows</title>
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<listitem><para><emphasis>Closing an object window</emphasis></para>
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<para>
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When the IDEAl user interface mode (the default) is used, each window has
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its own tab. Place the mouse pointer on the icon on the tab. A
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<!-- <img src="fileclose.png" class="icon"> --> <guibutton>Close</guibutton> button will become
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visible. Click it to close the tab.
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</para>
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<para>
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In the Childframe on the right hand of each opened window there are
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buttons you can use to control the window. Click the first one on the
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right hand to close the window.
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</para>
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<para>
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Alternatively, regardless of the user interface mode you are using,
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you can select <menuchoice><guimenu>Window</guimenu>
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<guimenuitem>Close</guimenuitem></menuchoice> from the Menubar.
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</para>
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</listitem>
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<listitem><para><emphasis>Window buttons for Childframe user interface
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mode</emphasis></para>
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<!--
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<para>
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<br><img src="img/04_06_02_window_buttons.png">
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<br>Window's buttons<br><br>
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</para>
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-->
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<para>
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The other buttons (from right to left) can be used to: maximize, minimize
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and undock the window.
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</para>
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<para>
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There's a small icon on the left side of the title bar which can be clicked
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to show a context menu with commands related to the window.
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</para>
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<!--
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<para>See also Docking and undocking of the windows.</para>
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-->
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</listitem>
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</itemizedlist>
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</sect3>
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<sect3 id="property-editor-pane">
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<title><guilabel>Property Editor</guilabel> pane</title>
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<para>
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In the <guilabel>Property Editor</guilabel> pane you can change properties of the object
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displayed in the active window. Depending on the context, the pane is
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consisted of one or more tabs. The first, always visible tab, Properties,
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contains the list of available properties.
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</para>
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<!--
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<para>
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<img src="img/04_06_03_prop_panel.png">
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<br>Property Editor<br><br>
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</para>
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-->
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<itemizedlist>
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<title>Rules for using the Property Editor:</title>
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<listitem>
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<para>Each row contains a single property.</para>
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</listitem>
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<listitem>
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<para>You can use the mouse or the keyboard to change values of particular
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properties.</para>
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</listitem>
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<listitem>
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<itemizedlist>
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<title>Most frequently used types of property values are:</title>
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<listitem>
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<para><emphasis>a number;</emphasis> you can enter the value directly
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or increase or decrease its value by clicking with the &LMB; on the arrows.
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<!-- <img src="img/04_06_03_prop_arrows.png" class="icon"> -->
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</para>
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</listitem>
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<listitem><para>text</para></listitem>
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<listitem><para>drop down list of values</para></listitem>
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<listitem><para><emphasis>Yes/No;</emphasis>
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you can toggle the value by clicking on the button;
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<guibutton>Yes</guibutton> (<emphasis>true</emphasis>) means that the button is
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toggled on, <guibutton>>No</guibutton> (<emphasis>false</emphasis>) means that
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the button is toggled off.
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<!-- see the above figure -->
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</para>
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</listitem>
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</itemizedlist>
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</listitem>
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<listitem><para>
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There is no need to confirm a changed value: changes are visible immediately
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after moving to a different row of the Property Editor's list or by pressing
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the <keycombo><keycap>Enter</keycap></keycombo> key.
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</para></listitem>
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<listitem>
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<para>
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Names of the recently changed properties that not yet were stored in the
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database are marked with bold text.
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</para>
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</listitem>
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<listitem>
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<para>
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After changing the value of a property, a special <guibutton>Undo changes</guibutton>
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button appears on the right side of the Property Editor's list.
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<!-- <img src="img/04_06_03_prop_undo.png" class="icon"> -->
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By clicking it you can revert the value of the property to the original value
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that was loaded from the database upon opening the database object. The button
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is only visible when the property is actually highlighted.
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</para>
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</listitem>
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</itemizedlist>
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<itemizedlist>
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<title>The Property Editor pane is empty if:</title>
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<listitem><para>no single database object's window is opened, or</para>
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</listitem>
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<listitem><para>
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the active database object's window does not offer properties; it is usually
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the case when it is opened in Data View instead of Design View
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</para>
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</listitem>
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</itemizedlist>
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<!--
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<para>
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See also the list of keyboard shortcuts available for the Property Editor
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pane in appendix Property Editor pane.
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</para>
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-->
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</sect3>
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</sect2>
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</sect1>
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<sect1 id="project-opening">
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<title>
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Opening an existing &kexi; database file
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</title>
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<itemizedlist>
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<title>
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To open an existing &kexi; database file:
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</title>
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<listitem><para>
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select it in the <guilabel>Open Existing Project</guilabel>
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dialog; or
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</para></listitem>
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<listitem><para>
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open it by clicking on the .kexi file icon.
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</para></listitem>
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</itemizedlist>
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<sect2 id="window-open-existing">
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<title>
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Opening a database file in the <guilabel>Open Existing
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Project</guilabel> dialog
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</title>
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<itemizedlist>
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<listitem><para>
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Run &kexi;. <!--(see <a href="04_02_00_running_kexi.html">Running Kexi</a>).-->
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You should see <guilabel>Choose Project</guilabel> startup dialog.
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Choose <guilabel>Open Existing Project</guilabel> tab.
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You will see the following dialog:
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<!-- image: <img src="img/04_04_01_startup_open_existing.png"> -->
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</para></listitem>
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<listitem><para>
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From <guilabel>Current location</guilabel> drop down box, pick a folder
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containing a file you are looking for.
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</para></listitem>
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<listitem><para>
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You can either pick a file or enter its name in the
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<guilabel>Location:</guilabel> box.
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</para></listitem>
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<listitem><para>
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Click <guibutton>OK</guibutton>.
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</para></listitem>
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</itemizedlist>
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<sect3 id="open-existing-notes">
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<title>
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Notes
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</title>
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<itemizedlist>
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<listitem><para>
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By default the <guilabel>Filter:</guilabel> drop down list has
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<guilabel>Kexi Database File-Based Project</guilabel> selected.
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In case the file you are looking for has an other extension,
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you can change the selection of the <guilabel>Filter:</guilabel>
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drop down list to <guilabel>All Files</guilabel> to display
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all available files (regardless of an extension).
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</para></listitem>
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<listitem><para>
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If you have selected a file of an external type, like a MS Access .mdb
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file, &kexi; will provide you with the option to import the file.
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<!-- todo an advice to read "importing" chapter will be placed here -->
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</para></listitem>
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<listitem><para>
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If you have selected a <emphasis>connection data</emphasis> file
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(with .kexic extension) or a <emphasis>shortcut to a project on
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database server</emphasis> file (with .kexis extension), &kexi;
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will display appropriate dialogs.
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</para></listitem>
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</itemizedlist>
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</sect3>
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</sect2>
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<sect2 id="open-icon">
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<title>
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Opening an existing &kexi; database file by clicking on .kexi file's icon
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</title>
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<para>
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Click file's icon using your file manager or desktop.
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&kexi; will open this database project automatically.
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</para>
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<!-- <img src="icons/mime-kexiproject_sqlite.png" class="icon"/> -->
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<sect3 id="open-icon-notes">
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<title>
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Notes
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</title>
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<para>
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<emphasis>Note about database files accessed remotely.</emphasis>
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You may want to open a database file that is located on a remote
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source (⪚ a web or FTP server or a MS Windows network share).
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K Desktop Environment allows you to open files from remote sources
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directly in applications and to save changes back to the source, but
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this is not the case with database files. By clicking on a database
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file located on a remote source, a copy of the file will be
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downloaded to a temporary directory on your computer and all your
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changes will be made to this local file. The remote original of
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the file will remain unchanged, so it's recommended to copy
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(download) the file to your computer first, then open the file and
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copy it back to the remote source if you want to make it up to date.
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</para>
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</sect3>
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</sect2>
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</sect1>
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<sect1 id="using-help">
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<title>
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Using built-in help
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</title>
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<itemizedlist>
|
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<title>
|
|
The following ways to get built-in help in &kexi; are available:
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</title>
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<listitem>
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<para><emphasis>The Handbook in form of electronic document.</emphasis></para>
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<para>
|
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The Handbook is available by pressing <keycombo><keycap>F1</keycap></keycombo>
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key or selecting <menuchoice><guimenu>Help</guimenu><guimenuitem>&kexi;
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Handbook</guimenuitem></menuchoice> from the menubar.
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</para>
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</listitem>
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<listitem>
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<para><emphasis>What's This? hints.</emphasis></para>
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<para>
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Select <menuchoice><guimenu>Help</guimenu><guimenuitem>What's
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This?</guimenuitem></menuchoice>from the menu bar and click on
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an area of the application to get hints about it.
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</para>
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</listitem>
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</itemizedlist>
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</sect1>
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</chapter>
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