C01:BASIC HANDLING

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MENU

1. OPERATION
2. DATA SELECTION
3. FAQ

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 1. OPERATION

This chapter explains:

▪ How to log into abas ERP
▪ How the command overview is structured
▪ Which data types are used
▪ How data types differ
▪ How to adjust the command overview
▪ Which screen/field types exist
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1. OPERATION - LOGIN

You must log in before you can start working with abas ERP.

②
③

① The menu bar provides functions which are grouped by File, Options, Language, Info and Help. Under Options you can, for example,
adjust the font type and size.

② Here you select the required client, e.g. productive client, demo client or development client.

③ Here you enter the password which you use for authentication in abas ERP. A user name is not required. P4
1. OPERATION – COMMANDS OVERVIEW

After a successful login, the abas ERP command overview will open.

①
① Using the tool bar, you can customize the appearance of screens, e.g. the number of
entries in the command and object history, as well as the color of backgrounds and tables.
②
② Using the tabs, you can switch between your user- and working group-specific command
overview and the standard command overview.

③ ③ In COMMANDS, you can find the folders for the available function areas in abas ERP, e.g.
master files, sales, purchasing or production. The folders contain subfolders or commands.

In daily working you will only require a certain selection of commands. You can
adjust the command overview under the tab bar and, for example, create a
customized command overview under a tab which only contains the commands
which are relevant to you.

For more information please refer to the chapter – Administration.

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1. OPERATION – COMMANDS OVERVIEW

You can recognize the action which is started by a command by the icon:
Empty data record A command with this icon opens a screen in Empty mode. You can
open an individual data record.
Create new data record A command with this icon opens a screen in New mode. You can
create a new data record.

Copy data record If you click on this icon, a screen will open in Copy mode. If you
select a data record, this data record will open in Copy mode.
View data record If you click on this icon, an object selection corresponding to the
defined command properties will open in View mode.
Edit data records If you click on this icon, an object selection will open in Edit mode.
If you select a data record, this data record will open in Edit mode.
Object selection If you click on this icon, an object selection will open. You can
enter criteria for the selection of data records.
Infosystem If you click on this icon, an infosystem will open. You can create
evaluations.
Type command If you click on this icon, a program or a function will be executed,
for example, running scheduling.
ASCII command If you click on this icon, an ASCII program will be run.
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1. OPERATION – COMMANDS OVERVIEW

To search in the command overview, you have the following options:

• Use Ctrl+F / Edit --- Find…
• The Search for command window opens.
• Enter the name of a command.
• Click OK.

Result: All commands which contain the name entered will be found. You can see all results one after the other by pressing the F3 key.

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1. OPERATION – COMMANDS OVERVIEW

Here, in the User tab page, you can create a customized command overview and collect the commands that you use frequently.
Here, you can create customized commands or copy existing commands. The command overview under the User tab is user-specific.

It is only visible to the user who created it. Other users cannot use this command overview.

Use “CTRL+S” to save the Menu or right click – Save.

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1. OPERATION – COMMANDS OVERVIEW

Also you can change the name of the command,

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1. OPERATION – DATA TYPES

In abas ERP objects are differentiated in master files and transaction data.

Master files have the following properties:

• They are static
• They are usually stored on a long-term basis
• They are often used by multiple application areas
• They are the basis for transaction data
• They are often the criteria for analytical evaluations

Transaction data have the following properties:

• They are dynamic
• They have a time reference (validity date)
• They are stored on a short-term or medium-term basis
• They are only used by a few application areas
• They often provide the facts for analytical evaluations

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1. OPERATION – DATA TYPES

abas ERP differentiates between filed and active data records. Completed transaction data records are filed automatically.

You can recognize a filed data record by the prefix +. The prefix + is placed before the identity number or the search word in the Object
history selection list in the screen. Filed data records cannot be edited.

If you click the Edit button in the screen of a filed data record, a message stating that you cannot restore filed data records will be displayed.

For example，an invoice is filed automatically if it was posted.

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1. OPERATION – SCREEN

Database screens are divided into different areas (bars), which display different information or which contain different action options.

① You see the buttons in the tool bar which you use most in daily working, e.g., Save, Reject, Infosystem, Print, Action and Home.
On the outer right you determine the mode using the New, Copy, View and Edit buttons.

② The function bar includes screen-specific functions which can exclusively be executed for the data records of the screen, e.g. the Send
Email button. You can use these functions regardless of which page you are on.

③ Screen content, a screen contains up to 8 different field types: Labels, Buttons, Free text fields, Control fields (Check boxes, Boolean
fields), Selection lists, Date fields, Reference fields, Number fields.
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1. OPERATION – SCREEN

The tool bar contains the tools which you use most in daily working:

Saving the opened data record.

Closing an open data record without saving.

Viewing a list with infosystems which are linked to the database object. Starting an infosystem from the list.

Selecting functions to manage tasks, notes, documents or emails.

Printing the data record which is displayed in the screen.

Moves the command overview to the foreground

Creating a new data record.

Copying a data record which you have opened or specified.

Attention: If you have selected the mode and save, a new data record will be created.
Opening a data record for viewing. The data record cannot be edited.

Opening a data record for editing.

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1. OPERATION – FIELDS

Screens can include further fields which are not in the diagram:

Date field You can enter a date in this field. You have the following options:
You can select the date using the calendar view. To do so, click the adjacent button.
Alternatively, you can enter the following codes in the field:

. = current date
-n = minus n days in the past
+n = plus n days in the future
Number field It is only possible to enter numbers, whole numbers and also floating point numbers.

Check box Using this field you can choose an option which either applies to a data record or doesn't (yes/no question)

Reference field Permits a data record selection from a predefined list. This data record is assigned by selecting
a data record. You can either click on the button, or enter the identity number or search word.
Button Call functions or open additional screens.

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1. OPERATION – FIELDS

The field information provides details on the field in which you have positioned the cursor.

The field information provides the following details:

• Data record ID
• abas internal field name
• Field type
• Field length

Proceed as follows to use the field information:

Open a screen.
Click on a field.
Use Alt+Return / Right click of the mouse --- Info.
The abas ERP window opens.

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1. OPERATION – INFOSYSTEM

You create evaluations in an infosystem. You can output these evaluations directly on the screen, on printers or other devices. An infosystem
searches and processes the master data or transaction data.

①
① Using the Start button, you load data into the screen.

② Selection criteria are entered in the header section as a filter

② and therefore limit the object amount.

③ You can see the data records which match the selection criteria
in the table section.

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1. OPERATION – TABLES

In tables you get an overview of information about a data record, an evaluation per infosystem or the results of an object selection.
Furthermore, you can record further details (e.g. production list) about a data record (e.g. product)
① ② ③

① Insert rows / Delete rows

② Adjust column width

③ Call infosystem / Print selected row

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1. OPERATION – TABLES

Often it is not possible to display all fields in the table row. The line zoom displays further data for a table row. To open the line zoom,
double-click on a table row.

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1. OPERATION – TABLES

You can select the first line of the table and press “Shift” button with a click on the last line to select the rows. Afterwards, you can drag and
drop the lines to excel, or right click “copy selected rows”, and paste in excel.

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1. OPERATION – SHORTCUTS

An overview of the most important keyboard shortcuts:

Keys Effect
Alt+Return Displays the properties of the selected command or of the active field
F1 Opens the Online Help
F7 Creates a new data record if the cursor is positioned in the reference field
F8 Copying a data record
F11 Displays a data record
F12 Processes a data record
F6 Opens the command overview
Ctrl+S Saves the data record or saves changes in the command overview. Saving changes in the command overview is only
possible in the user or working group command overview (if the respective permissions are granted).
Ctrl+F Opens the search window
F3 Displays the next search result (in connection with <Ctrl>+<F>)

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1. OPERATION – SETTINGS

In the settings, you can choose if you would like to see the login
user ID and which client you logged in. Also the symbol title
display mode.

②
①

①
②

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1. OPERATION - EXERCISE

Create your personal command overview. It should appear as the command overview which is shown above.
Ensure that this customized command overview is saved.

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 2. DATA SELECTION

This chapter explains:

▪ how to select data using the Object history selection list
▪ which characteristics the object selection has
▪ the connection between the Object history selection list and the object selection
▪ how selection bars and characteristics bars are structured
▪ which selection options are provided by the reference fields

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2. DATA SELECTION

OBJECT HISTORY SELECTION LIST

The object history is a selection list which displays the last called data records. Furthermore, you can select these by using the Object history
selection list. The Object history selection list can be found in the tool bar of all database screens.

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2. DATA SELECTION

SELECT DATA RECORDS ACCORDING TO IDENTITY NUMBER

Alternatively, you can select data records according to the identity number.
1. Click in the field of the Object history selection list.
2. Enter the identity number of a data record.
3. Press Return to confirm your input.

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2. DATA SELECTION

SELECT DATA RECORDS ACCORDING TO SEARCH WORD

Alternatively, you can select data records according to the search word.
1. Click in the field of the Object history selection list.
2. Enter the search word of a data record.
3. Press Return to confirm your input.

An object selection will open if there are multiple data records with the same search word.
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2. DATA SELECTION

SELECT DATA RECORDS USING THE MATCH CODE

If you know neither the identity number nor the search word, alternatively select data records using the object selection.
1. Click in the field of the Object history selection list.
2. Enter the match code.
3. Press Return to confirm your input.

? = A character
* = Any character
^ = End（SHIFT+6）

e.g. :
CPU?3*0^ = starts with “CPU”, The fifth letter is “5“, “0”at the end.
If there is no “^”, it means ending with the character of any length！！！

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2. DATA SELECTION

SEARCH WORD MATCH CODE

• B! = Search the records with first character started from B to Z
• !B = Search the records with first character started from A to B
• B!D = Search the records with first character started from B to D

ID NUMBER MATCH CODE

• 10001! = Search all the records from ID number 70001
• !10004 = Search all the records up to ID number 70004.
• 10002!10004 = Search all the records from ID number 70002 to 70004

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2. DATA SELECTION

OBJECT SELECTION
The object selection is a screen in which you can define search criteria and mechanisms to restrict the selection. The object selection is
especially useful if you want to select a data record for which you neither know the identity number nor the search word.

The object selection opens automatically in a screen in the following cases:

• If you click in the empty selection list Object history and press the Return key.
• If you enter a question mark or an exclamation mark in the Object history selection list.
• If the search word entered does not output a clear search result.

① Selection criteria can be defined for the search.

②
② Using operators, the effects of the selection criteria can be defined.
①
③ The selection results are displayed.

③
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2. DATA SELECTION

SELECTION CRITERIA

② ④
① ③

① You can select between an ascending (forward) or descending (backward) sorting.

② Define if active, inactive (filed) or both types of data records are to be included in the search.

③ Determine the linkage of the selection criteria:

• AND means that all criteria must be met.
• OR means that at least one criterion must be met.

④ Define if table rows (items) of a data record should be output.

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2. DATA SELECTION

SELECTION CRITERIA
Using selection criteria you determine in which variables you search and which search terms you use.
The operators determine how the search term is interpreted by the selection. You can, for example, exclude
certain hits from the selection.
Operator Meaning
Normally Selection with a range from <search term> to <search term>
Empty Field is empty
Filled Field is filled
Equal Exactly <search term>
Unequal Everything except exactly <search term>
Contained Includes <Search term>
Example: <S> = searches for all entries which contain an . S
Matchcode Includes <Search term>
The search term can contain placeholders using which you can define the search range.
Example: <^S???> = searches all entries which begin with S and have 4 characters. ^ stands
for the beginning, ? stands for any character.

IC Ignore case n Negation of the operator

W Whole word ex The matching search argument is excluded from the hits
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2. DATA SELECTION

DYNAMIC SELECTION BARS

Using the dynamic selection you can expand the standard selection or an individual selection bar with selection criteria.

②
①

① Here it is possible to make a selection between a standard selection bar or individual selection bars.

② Select the selection criteria here.

③ You see the expanded object selection here. P32

2. DATA SELECTION

DYNAMIC SELECTION
You also have the options to type in the field name and match code in the Object history selection list

• %,, Start the dynamic searching command

• ； Variable Separator
• = Variable on the left，value on the right
• ` Field Empty
• <> Not equal
• / Contained
• !200 not bigger than 200
• 100！Not smaller than 100
• 10!20 from 10 to 20

e.g.：Search product informations include search word, price group and index is not empty.

%,,such=;vprg=;index<>`;

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2. DATA SELECTION

DYNAMIC SELECTION BARS

You also can save the dynamic selection search to your user command tab if it’s a frequently use search.
1. Click “Command”, choose the option add to the command overview with selection criteria or without.
A windows will open ask the name of the command you like to name it.
2. Click “Ok”.
3. In your User tab, you can see this search command.

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2. DATA SELECTION

DYNAMIC SELECTION BARS

Same with the screen table lines, you can drag and drop the search result to excel or copy and paste.

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2. DATA SELECTION - EXERCISE

1. Search product which identification number are from 10010 to 10020, the second letter of the search word is B,
the sixth letter is T.

2. Search product which search extension contain letters “LED”.

3. Create Dynamic search for product then add to User-specific command tab.
- Product Number （from 10008 to11000）
- Search word include “ABAS”
- Sales price not equal to zero
- Price group are not empty

4. One of your marketing colleagues complains about the slow feedback on the last marketing campaign via email.
There was very little feedback to the email campaign. The marketing employee blames the ERP system from which
the contact data are taken. You presume that the data are maintained badly. To see if your presumption was
correct, create an evaluation in the object selection with the following criteria:
- Customer name
- Email address of the customer and the contact person

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 3. FAQ

This chapter explains:

▪ FAQ errors

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2. FAQ

Data record locked, someone else is editing the same file as you are attempting to edit. Maybe a customer master file or a
sales order. Or it’s a deadlock, ask your IT administrator the terminate the process.

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2. FAQ

Diagram display application not installed in your PC, contact your IT administrator for the file of installation.

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2. FAQ

Concurrent abas licenses quantity exceeded. Contact your colleague to logout if you would like to login.

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2. FAQ

Internet connection err, can not reach the server, contact your IT administration.

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