Basics
In this section you will understand features common to every framework control panel, i.e. sorting, paging, filtering, copying, deleting,navigation tools and search functions. Options is the area where a user can customize the look of the control panel to fit individual working styles or tasks at hand. Understanding features and customizing options will make it easier and more fun to use the control panels. All of the control panels have a similar look and features, therefore, familiarizing yourself with all of the settings available, will give you a fuller understanding of the power of the web framework and how you can utilize it to your advantage.
Control Panel Overview
The Control Panels are pages which share a common interface with similar font styles and colors. All of the settings are stored in "cookies" on your computer. They are independent from your login, so that the same login can take advantage of different settings while accessing the control panels from different computers. Common features discusses all of the information common to any of the control panels and Options refers to individual settings you would like the control panel to remember specific to your individual preferences.
Common Features
Most of the control panels use a similar look and have similar functions--common features. They use the same core component which automatically "writes" code for the web site look of the content you are typing or style, size etc. of a photo gallery or catalog you are developing. It is important to fully understand this section as it will help you to organize and take control of website functions. While not every common feature will be used at any given time, each will aid you in finding or revising information on your website.
Sorting
The gray square button on the right side of the column header name can be clicked to sort alphabetically. If the table is already sorted by the current column, then the gray button will show a little black triangle pointing to the direction of the sorting. Clicking again on the same button will reverse the sorting. Every column has it's own sorting default and order direction. Once you change sorting from the default, the latest sorting direction will be stored in the cookies to give you that preference when you return to the same control panel. Remember, storeing information in the form of cookies enables you to take advantage of different preferences on different computers, even under the same login.
Paging
Paging refers to the set of records displayed at one time on your conputer on a single Page. Through the Options settings you will be able to control the number of records shown per Page, alter the navigation between different pages, and dictate whether the navigation appears on the top or bottom of the record table. The basic navigation links to select another page are shown below:
- << Go to first page
- <<< Go to the previous page
- >>> Go to the next page
- >>| Go to the last page
You can also select the page number directly which is displayed in the square brackets on the navigation bar. When a table has a lot of pages, the entire paging block could be filled with the page number links. However, to conserve space, only several links are shown on the paging block. Again, please go to the Options tab at the right top of all control panels to adjust this number.
Again, all of these values are stored in the cookies, however, unlike the sorting values, the paging settings are common among all the tables on the same site. Consequently , if you set this number to 20 or 50, each table will display that number of pages at one time. When a table displays less than the number indicated it is because that table has fewer records to display. The [All] tab on the bottom navigation bar will display all records on that table.
Adding a new record
If the page you are on allows you to add a new record, then the New button will be shown in the header of the first (command) column. If the ID column is visible, then the word New in the first row would further indicate that you are about to create a new record. You will also see the Create button in the upper left corner to confirm that you will be creating or adding a new record. This Create button replaces the Update button shown on a control panel that has already been created. The first item you need to do is to fill in the form shown. Be sure to review the form before clicking the Create button. (If you realize you have made a mistake you would type the name or partial name of the record you have just created in the search box, click Search and when the record is displayed you can edit the record and update or save it by clicking on the Update button). Once you click the Create button a new record will be added to the table in the database in which you are working. If you need further information use the Editing an existing record button explained in the next section.
Filtering
When you are viewing filtered records, the link [Filter Off] is shown in the paging row at the bottom of the control panel.. You can navigate through other pages of the same table, or even Edit, Create or Delete records, and the filtering will still be On. Just click on the [Filter Off] link to turn off the filter, and see all the records in the current table.
Most tables let you filter records by selecting one or another. However, if the content of the table appears as a link, then most likely it can be sorted on the same page. On a rare occasions selecting linked record will filter the content of all table records even if they are on another page.
Selecting a check-box also can act as a filter, but usually it updates current record by reversing the value of the selected column.
Editing an existing record
All pages that have editing capability through the editor will display the Edit button in the command column (the first column) shown by this icon: 
When you click on this button an edit page will appear. This page has three text management bars at the top and a large text box below. If the page already has something written on it (an article) you will see that text (article) displayed. You can either change a few words or over write the entire article. If you hold your curser over the management bar icon you will see what selecting that particular icon will do within the article where you are working. The editing interface operates much like Word Pad or Microsoft Word. For more information on the text management bars refer to the sub-sections under Editing an existing record.
When you are finished editing or writing the article on the editing the form, click on the Update button in the upper left corner (command column) to save the changes. You can also click the update button at any time while you are working on the article to simply save changes to that point. When you click on Update you will automatically leave the editing page and return to the original icon bar. Here you would simply click again on the Edit icon to return to the editing form.
Duplicating an existing record
To duplicate and existing record you click on the following icon 
. You would want to duplicate and existing record, if you want to create a new record based on the existing record you are viewing. It can be easier to duplicate a record, than type everything from scratch. you can verify that you have a duplicate record by viewing the word New in the first row of the ID column. After you have finished editing the new article you need to give the article a new name. You do this by changing (typing) the name of the copied record under Article Title in the menu bar. You will also need to change the Menu Order number to a number that will reflect where you want the new article to appear. When you are satisfied with what you have done click Create in the upper left corner to save your new article. Create can also be used to save the new article if you plan on working on something else returning later to Update or change the articles Menu Order.
Deleting records
To Delete a record simply click on the trash icon 
This will delete a single record. You will be required to confirm that you want to Delete this record to prevent accidental deletion. Note: If the trash icon is not visible, then you are not allowed to delete records on this particular table.
Menu ID
If the ID column is visible, then the editing record number will be shown in that column in the first row. This ID can be useful if you have been editing many pages and want to view those page at the to of the ID column.
Menu Order
Menu Order is the number given your article that places it in a particular position under the Parent. This becomes extremely important when you are adding a number of sub-articles under the Parent and want one particular sub-article to appear either before or after another sub-article. For example: You may be writing separate articles for each of your products and you want to be sure to have these articles appear in a certain order. The lower the Order number the earlier it will appear. A rule of thumb might be to number each product (in the example above) 100, 200, 300 etc. or 150, 200, 250 etc., which would leave you the opportunity to add sub-articles uder each product. Depending on the product's number say 100, then you would pick 110 for the first Sub-article, 115 for the second etc.Remember these Order number within the framework can be edited at any time to make room for additional products, features, etc.
Folder
Searching
Some of the columns could be searched. Not all pages allow you to search records, but if this feature is available, then you should see the Search box at the top. The search box can be closed using the 
button on the top right corner of the Search bar. When closed, the [Search] link will be shown in the paging bar at the bottom of the control panel. Just click on search and the Search box will again be open at the top of the control panel.. The state of the search box is stored in the cookies and is global though out all the pages on the site, so if the search box is hidden on one page then it will remain hidden on all other pages as well. Clicking on the paging bar on any page will reopen Search on all control panels.
Not all columns can be searched. Record titles that can be searched appear in the combo-box of the Search box. Select appropriate "title"--Article title, folder, parent, groups or users, using that combo-box. This will allow you to search a particular column.
Using Search box activates the filtering. To view all records again, click on [Filter Off] link in the paging bar.
Search is case-insensitive. A special feature is that you don't have to type the entire word to search for it. You can just type any part of the word. For example: typing words Know or Owl or Edge will always find the record with word Knowledge.
Navigator
Sometimes it is desirable to view all the records beginning with a particular letter. To accommodate that the fastest possible way, some pages may have Navigator box. Clicking on the link with a desired letter in the appropriate row, will filter all the records and show only those that begin with the selected letter in the row with the same column name.
Using Navigator activates the filtering. To view all records again, click on [Filter Off] link in the paging bar.
Options
The settings described in this chapter are controlled through the Options page. All the settings on this page are global options, meaning they are shared among all the pages on the administrative site.
Also all of these options are stored in cookies in the computer you are using. So the next time you login to the same site, with the same computer, all of your selected options will remain the same.
Another feature is that all of these settings are independent from your login, so even if you login from two different computers with the same login, you can keep separate settings.
Reason why we have designed the site this way is that most of these global options are adjusting the behaviour that could be specific for a particular screen size. Having different setting will let you have most effective options for each monitor.
White Style
The system has 2 color schemes. By default the White Style is used, but it can be changed at anytime through the Options page.
This check-box is enabled by default, providing the color theme of blue boxes on white background.
White color is the brightest color in the color spectrum. Despite the fact that the default background of most programs in computers and most web sites has white background, Lev Shamilov thinks this is very bad for your eyes. Reason why most programs processing documents have white background, is because the developers of those programs wants to make an illusion and the look of a white paper. But having a monitor glowing white color at your face is nothing like watching at the white piece of paper. The paper does not produces light. It only reflects it, where monitor is actually producing the light right in front of you.
Working on the monitor with lots of white colors is like watching a light bulb whole day long. Good luck trying doing that for awhile, without damaging your eyes.
Having extensive experience working with the computers, Lev Shamilov have selected a set of colors that he personally feels are best suitable for viewing for an extensive period of time. These warm colors are the least damaging to your eyes and will prevent you from getting tired from working on the computer, at least from working on this site.
Left Style
Also, by default the menu of the control panel appears at the top of each page. Depending on the size of your monitor it maybe more desirable to change the menu to A Left Style. For instance if you have a smaller monitor, then you need to conserve the space of your browser. However if you have a wider screen, you can move the menu to the left side by selecting Left Style, so that the more lines of text can fit on a single page.
By default is not selected. Selecting this check-box will show menu on the left side of each page. Selecting this option will save the space on your browser vertically, by removing the menu from the top, but will take approximately 200 pixels from the left side.
Lately there are lots of wide-screen monitors are available. Selecting this option will let you take advantage of those new monitors, however if you have small monitor or a Lap-Top and if you want to avoid horizontal scroll-bar on some pages, we suggest you to De-select this option.
Method GET
By default most pages send their values using method GET, meaning the values are sent in a series of variable-value pairs in the URL at the Address bar of your browser.
This method has some advantages, such as avoiding extra confirmation when you want to refresh page, but the disadvantage is that all the values are being shown in the address bar, which means they are visible in the address bar and can be traced in some browsers afterwards.
Deselecting this option will switch to another method POST. Method Post does not send values in the form of URL, but in some cases, using refresh button it may ask you if you want to resend information to the page again, basically slowing down your interaction with the web page by waiting for an extra input on your part.
If you are not sure what all this means, just leave this option checked by default.
Debug Mode
Selecting this option switched this site to the debugging mode, showing some extra information, but preventing from saving some data in the database.
This option should be always unchecked, as it is by default.
Show Option
Some pages will show the options box at the end of the page. Deselecting this option will prevent the option box from showing up.
To conserve the bandwidth and increasing the speed we suggest you to deselect this check-box.
Show Legend
Some pages may show you a simple legend box describing some of the icons on this site. Once you learn the purpose of those buttons, you no longer need the Legend Box, therefore you can deselect it to conserve the bandwidth and increase the speed of your work.
Top and Bottom Paging
By default only Bottom Paging is selected, meaning the list of links to other pages with the records on the current table will be displayed at the bottom of the database table. The paging bar may also have some other links displayed, depends on the various other settings.
You can have the same paging bar appeared at the top of the database table or at the bottom or in both places, or even completely disabled at all (not sure how usable that would be).
Just select or deselect these two check-boxes anyway you want.
Page Size
The number of records shown on a single page at ones is the Page Size. If you have a larger monitor, you can increase this number so that more records will be shown at the same time.
Pages
When a table has lots of records the paging bar will show links to other pages. Obviously more links shown at the same time will let you select another page with a single click (jumping to another page), but if the table has thousands records, then you may get hundreds of those links in the address bar. Obviously this could be overwhelming and unnecessary.This paging block (a section of the table with the links to other pages, can be show at the top or at the bottom of table or even in both places at the same time. Just select or deselect Top Paging and Bottom Paging check boxes on the Options page. Options Page size.
Adjusting this setting will let you chose the optimal number of those links shown on a single page.
Expiration
All the options settings are stored in the cookies at your computer. Everytime you visit this site, the values of those cookies is being refreshed. These cookies has expiration value which can be adjusted using the Expiration option.
By default 180 days is used, so if you comeback to this site within 6 months then all of your settings will remain the same (assuming that the cookie have not been removed from your computer during this period).
You can enter any number of days from 1 to 3650 (approximately 10 years).
Time Out
If you leave your computer running with the browser opened with one of the pages on the Administrative Control Panel, someone else can use your computer to gain unauthorized access to this site. Therefore, the site has timeout setting which will force you to relogin to this site again, if you have not had any activity after certain period of time.
The value is listed in minutes.
By default the 20 minutes timeout is selected. So if you have not been active for more than 20 minutes, then you will have to relogin again.
The maximum allowable value is 1440 minutes which equal to 24 hours.
Contact List Style
Some of the pages have combo-box allowing you to select a contact person. This option will let you select what information would have to be populated into that combo-box.
Available values:
- Abbreviation - the alpha-numerical customer ID or the account number
- Email
- First Last; Company names - meaning the first name then a single space then the last name then semicolon and a single space then the company name
- Last, First; Company names - meaning the last name, then comma and space, then the first name, then semicolon and space then the company name (the usage of commas, spaces and semicolons is similar, so we will not described as detailed anymore)
- Company; First Last
- Company; Last, First
- Company
- Last, First
- First Last
Buttons
Save will obviously save the selected values in the cookies.
Reset will remove the cookies and therefore reset all the values to its default settings.
