Contents
Chapter
Chapter
|
|
|
|
| Index | Table of Contents |
previous Chapter |
next Chapter |
This chapter explains how to start and operate RAINS.
The RAINS Model
and it's modules are described in 'Basics of the
RAINS Model'.
If you have questions about the help system or
about its notations, please refer to 'Using
this Manual'.
The installation of RAINS is explained in 'Installing the RAINS Model'.
After successful installation of the diskettes, the major RAINS routines are located in the target directory you have specified at the installation, e.g., in c:\RAINS7. All necessary data files are stored in a variety of subdirectories.
Under Windows95 RAINS can be loaded and run by
If you are familiar with the Windows95 operating system, you may skip most of this chapter.
While running EMCO, DEP of OPT, a main window will be displayed showing a title bar, the main menu, a toolbar, and the status bar. This main window serves as a typical window and resembles other windows that shall be opened on selection of the main menu options. The following describes ways for maneuvering from window to window and for moving through the menus using keyboard or mouse.
Normally each window contains borders, title bar
(top-center), MINIMIZE and MAXIMIZE buttons (at the top-right, characterized by
and
respectively), the CLOSE
(or EXIT) button 
and the
SYSTEM button (top-left, shown with the RAINS icon ).
The SYSTEM button is used to select a window or system-specific command associated with the window (e.g., size, move, minimize and maximize). Clicking the SYSTEM button once, a pop-up menu with the available options will be displayed. Clicking the SYSTEM button twice will close the window.
The main menu is located under the title bar in the center of the window, listing all available options. In this main window the status bar at the bottom provides brief information about the active scenario, the currently selected area, etc..
The toolbar below the menu provides various frequently used selection facilities, e.g., the selection of the country and the emission scenario.
The highlighted title bar and broad and bright borders distinguish the currently active window from other windows. The current window is the window in which you are presently working or the window which is on top of the other windows. At any given time there can be one and only one current window. Pointing and clicking (using a mouse) over a window makes that window to a current window.
To close or exit from any window either press <Alt>+<F4> or select the Close-option from the system menu. To exit from the RAINS program (i.e., from the main window), press either <Alt>+<F4> or select the option Exit provided under the File option of the main menu.
Principally you can open as many windows as you wish and keep them open till you need them or until you exit from the program. The only restrictions on the number of open windows is established by the available computer core memory, particularly if you are working on a machine with only 8 MB core memory. Hence it is recommended as a good practice to keep the number of open windows low.
NOTE: This is a very basic introduction into the use of windows operating systems. Read this only if you have never worked with Windows or Windows 95.
Accessing a (Main) Menu :
To access a menu associated with the current window either click on the desired option with the left mouse button or press <Alt> + keyboard shortcut or <F10>.
Changing Field :
To move from the current field to another selectable window field using a mouse, simply click on the new field. To move to the next field using the keyboard, press <Tab>. To move to the previous field using the keyboard, press <Shift Tab>.
Changing Windows :
To move from the current window to another, either click on the required window with the mouse or press <Alt F6> till the required window is the current window.
Closing a Window :
If the window includes a SYSTEM button, then select the "Close" option from the SYSTEM menu, or double-click the SYSTEM button. Otherwise, press <Alt F4> to close a window. If you are working with Windows95 you can also close a window by pressing the CLOSE button
Maximizing a Window :
To increase a window to its maximum size, either select the SYSTEM menu's "Maximize" option, or click the MAXIMIZE button or press <Alt +>.
Minimizing a Window :
To reduce a window to its minimum size, either select the SYSTEM menu's "Minimize" option, or click the MINIMIZE button or press <Alt ->.
Moving a Window :
To move an entire window, either position the mouse cursor on the window's title bar and, pressing the left mouse button, drag the window to the desired place, or press <Alt F7> while the window is current and drag the window with the arrow keys and press <Enter> to position the window. If the window has an associated SYSTEM button, you can select the "Move" option from the system menu and then drag the window using the arrow keys.
Restoring a Window's Size :
To restore a window to its original size, either press <Alt F5> or select the SYSTEM menu's "Restore" option or click the RESIZE button.
Sizing a Window :
To size a window using a mouse, position the mouse cursor on the border of the window so that the cursor changes to a double arrow and then, pressing the left mouse button, drag the window border to the desired size. To size a window using the keyboard, select <Alt F8> while the window is current and use the arrow keys to size to the desired dimensions and <Enter> to fix the size. If the window has an associated SYSTEM button, you can select the "Size" option from the system menue and then drag the window's border using the arrow keys.
Begin field <Ctrl Home>
End line <End>
Left word <Ctrl left-arrow>
Next field <Tab>
Previous field <Shift Tab>
Refresh <F5>
Right word <Ctrl+right-arrow>
Select <Enter>
Note: In this application a field is defined as a window object (described below). Thus it can be a button, box, string where you can enter characters, digits, vertical list, etc.
Border:
An line border drawn around a window
Button:
A rectangular region of the screen that, when selected, performs operations that you specify. This button can be selected by clicking with the mouse (while the mouse is on the button) or pressing <Enter> (while the button is highlighted). The following are the variations from the typical button:
Check box:
A button control that allows multiple items in a group to be selected. This button is selected when displayed with a 'X', and not selected when displayed blank ' '.
Radio button:
A button control that allows only one item in a group to be selected. This button is selected when displayed '(·), and not selected when displayed blank '( )'.
Combo box:
A combination input field and vertical list box. A combo box can contain buttons, icons and string fields. It has a one line string with an attached (downward pointing arrow) button. When the button is selected (click with a mouse while pointing on this button), a vertical (scrollable) list appears. When the item is selected (using <Enter>), it is copied into the string and the list disappears.
Icon:
A graphical representation of a selectable item. This object is similar to the button object, except that the information is in graphic, rather than text form.
Maximize button:
A button that, when selected, changes the size of its parent window to occupy the entire screen display.
Minimize button:
A button that, when selected, reduces the size of its parent window to minimum allowed.
Prompt :
A string that is used to describe the contents of another window field.
Pull down item:
A selectable item that is shown in the context of a pull-down menu. This type of menus forms a first level menu in the selection process.
Pull down menu:
A group of related pull down items. The items in this menu are displayed across a single, horizontal line.
Scroll bar:
A selectable region used to scroll the displayed portion of a window, list box or text input field.
String:
A field used to enter, display, or modify an ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) string buffer. There are two different types of this object, one which is allowed to be changed (edited) and another just for the display.
System button:
A button that, when selected, shows general operations that can be performed on the parent window.
Text:
A field used to enter, display, or modify a multi-line text buffer. This type of object may be of one-line or multiple lines (with or without scrolling facility). Some text fields may be allowed to be changed (or edited) and others are just for the display (all the windows in the EMCO modules which displays table or of this type).
Title:
A string that occupies the top region of a window and contains a window's title information. This title is always referred to while recalling a window.
Vertical list:
A one dimensional list of related items. These items are organized in a single column and may be any of the window objects. This list is a select-only field (i.e., items within the list object cannot be edited) that are used to represent information in vertical column list form. To select an item, point the cursor over the desired item and press <Enter>.
Window:
A rectangular region of the screen that is composed of one or more window objects and may also contain sub-windows. This window may be maximized, minimized, moved, or sized within the screen area. A child window is contained inside the parent window, and it can also be maximized, minimized, moved, or sized, however, only within the parent window area.
To access a menu associated with the main (or current) window, click on the desired option with the left mouse button. Using the keybord, press <Alt> or <F10> and then a combination of arrow keys and <Enter>; or simultaneously <Alt> and the underscored character of the menu option. For example, to access the Energy-option of main menu, either press <Alt> (or <F10>) and then the left arrow key once to position it on the Energy-option and then <Enter>. Alternatively, simply press <Alt> + <E>. If the selection has opened a new menu, e.g., a pop-up menu, then pressing <Esc> would close this pop-up menu.
To access the on-line help within the program, press either <F1> for context-specific help or <Shift F1> for help on special key strokes. Pressing <Ctrl F1> provides general information on the RAINS model. Pressing <Alt F4> causes these help windows to close.
You might not be able to use on-line help if you don't install one of the supported web browsers. For details about this, refer to the Installation Guide.
The structure of the RAINS Help System is described in the chapter 'Using this Manual'.
|
|
|
|
| Index | Table of Contents |
previous Chapter |
next Chapter |