10.  RUNNING UTILITIES

This menu bar options provides access to a set of utilities that allow you to: 1) modify data by
entering a password; 2) backup the database; 3) switch printers; 4) delete all data for an LID; 
5) reclaim deleted space in the tables; 6) import, export, and delete data for a WFO area; and 
7) convert and compare the DAPM's CSSA data with SHIMS.  After selecting Utilities, you should
see the Utilities pulldown menu.  Each command is explained below. 

               
                Utilities Pulldown Menu 


  Password:
    Before any changes can be made to the SHIMS database, you must enter the editing password.
    After selecting this pulldown command, a dialog box appears asking for the password.  Type
    in the password and click on OK or press Enter.  A red box will appear at the bottom left
    corner and tell you if permission was granted. Unlike old versions of SHIMS, once editing
    permission is granted, you can edit as long as you do not exit SHIMS.  To remove editing
    permission, click on MODIFY, and click on OK. 

               
                Enter Password Dialog Box 


  Backup:
    It is extremely important to back up your data at the end of every day of modification. 
    The Backup command makes this very easy.  Select a backup floppy and make sure it is
    formatted. This command uses PKZIP to compress the data into one file: SHIMSBK.ZIP. 
    Using the latest version of PKZIP will greatly reduce the time for a backup.

    The backup dialog box will appear asking for the floppy drive you will be using.  Insert the
    backup floppy in the drive and click on the correct letter. PKZIP compresses the files and
    returns to SHIMS.  Take out the floppy and put it in a safe place.


    If you need to restore the ZIP'd files, go to the SHIMS directory, insert the floppy, 
    copy and unzip SHIMSBK.ZIP.

               
                              Backup Dialog Box 


  SwitchPrinter:
    After selecting the SwitchPrinter command, you should see the Switch Printer pulldown menu. 
    Make your selection.  You should see a red box at the bottom right of the screen confirming
    the switch.


  DeleteLID:
    You must have editing permission to use this command.  After the selection is made, 
    you will see the delete LID dialog box.  Click on Delete to confirm the deletion.  
    Deleted LIDs cannot be undeleted. 

               
                         Delete LID Dialog Box 


Squeeze:
    When a record is deleted, the space is not recovered until the database is squeezed.  
    Click on Squeeze to do this.  Squeezing a database should be done occasionally, especially 
    after a large amount of records are deleted.


 WFOData:
    This command imports, exports, or deletes all the data for a WFO area.  If importing, first
    copy the WFO.ZIP file into the SHIMS directory before running this command.  You will see
    the WFOData pulldown menu.  Click on your choice.

    A dialog box will appear asking for the WFO area you want to import, export, or delete. 
    Type in the WFO and click on Import/Export/Delete.

               
                            WFO Export Dialog Box

    If you are importing, the program will look for the import file, uncompress it, 
    and load the records into your database. If you are exporting, the program will 
    collect all the data and compress it into a single ZIP file.  The filename 
    will be the WFO.ZIP, e.g. LMK.ZIP, RLX.ZIP.

    If you are deleting, all data for the WFO will be removed. This cannot be undeleted. 
    After finished with this command, the Squeeze utility should be used.


  CSSAData:
    Select CSSAData to convert and compare CSSA data.  Before selecting this command you
    must copy the CSSA MASTER.DBF file into the SHIMS directory.  Nothing in these utilities
    will change any data in CSSA.

    You should see the CSSAData pulldown menu.  You first must convert the CSSA database
    into a format SHIMS can use by clicking on Convert.  The backup dialog box will appear
    asking for the drive the floppy is in.  Insert the floppy and click on the correct drive.
    After some time, a new table labeled CSSA.DB will be created.  This table will be used 
    for the next steps.

    To compare how the data in CSSA and SHIMS differ, check the printer and click on
    Compare.  After some time, a report listing all the differences between the two databases 
    will be printed.  When comparing fields; spaces, periods, and commas are ignored.  
    If you edit the SHIMS data, you can compare the SHIMS and CSSA databases again using 
    the same CSSA.DB table.  To delete CSSA.DB use the Delete command.