Solar Eclipse is the graphical user interface (GUI) version of character-based Eclipse. Both versions of the program offer the same core functionality and access the same data simultaneously. Some users can access the system via Solar Eclipse, while others access the system via Eclipse.
Like the character-based Eclipse system, Solar Eclipse offers real-time processing and dynamically generated search results. Solar Eclipse, however, offers the extra advantages of a Windows-based interface.
In the character-based system, you select menu options by pressing a function key and then pressing the highlighted letter for the desired menu option. The screen displays and remains active until you press Esc to save and exit, or until you open a separate screen using another function key. You can only view one screen at a time, and you must press Esc to back all the way out of any given screen.
In Solar Eclipse, you select menu options by clicking on the main menu option and then clicking on the desired menu option. For each menu option, a new window opens. You close the window by clicking the Close (X) button in the upper-right corner, or by selecting Exit from the File menu. Depending on the resolution setting of your monitor, you can view more than one window at once. However, only one window is active at a time.
This section describes the main keyboard and mouse differences between the two systems. For each task listed, the most common method for each system is given. Both systems offer more than one way to complete most tasks.
Note: Keystrokes that include the word "and" must be pressed at the same time.
|
Task |
Eterm Process |
Solar Eclipse Process |
|
Open a menu. |
Press a function key and then press the hot key for the menu option. |
Click a main menu option, and then click a menu item from the list that displays. |
|
Maximize the application to full-screen size. |
Press Alt and Enter. |
Click the Maximize button in the top-right corner of the Solar window. |
|
Save your changes and exit the screen. |
Press Esc. |
From the File menu, select Save. From the File menu, select Exit. |
|
Move to the top of the field, selection window, or paragraph you are in. |
Press Shift and Home. |
Press Ctrl and Home. |
|
Move to the end of the field, selection window, or paragraph you are in. |
Press Shift and End. |
Press Ctrl and End. |
|
Recall the default value of the field you are in, as long as you have not advanced to another field. |
Press Ctrl and R. |
Press Ctrl and Z. |
In addition to the features that systems share, Solar Eclipse offers the following additional features:
Full mouse navigation.
Drag-and-drop capability with most Windows applications.
Quick sorting capabilities for easy data analysis.
Customizable toolbars and tables.
See Also: