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Getting Started

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See Also: Step by Step Instructions for 1st Run of ContactTalk; Installation & Troubleshooting; How To; Docking Windows; Drag & Drop; Sorting & Grouping; Main Screen; Quick Reference Table for Customizing Forms; Example of Custom Form Controls

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Basic things to know:

There are a few basic concepts ContactTalk uses that will help you understand how it works:

1.Right click to show menus. ContactTalk tries to preserve your screen's real estate by only exposing options required for a particular task when you need them. If you see a window, list, or component but don't know how to use it, try right clicking on it. In most cases a drop down menu will appear.
2.Drag and Drop. ContactTalk's Contact List allows you to drag its Column Headers in order to create groups. The number of groups you can create is endless. The scheduler, action items and campaigns require a method to assign contacts or groups of contacts to them. A natural approach to this was to simply drag and drop these groups directly onto the action items, schedules or campaigns.  However, in most cases, you can still usually right click for a menu.  Learn how to Drag and Drop.
3.Learn to Expand and Collapse to expose/hide lists (all throughout the program). Expand and Collapse.
4.Move Docked Windows by their Tab vs. the Title Bar. The Docked Windows are wonderful in that they allow you to organize your screen any way you want to. However, if you need to move a Docked Window then do so by grabbing it by its Tab and not its Title Bar. Moving a Docked Window by its Title Bar will cause all Docked Windows which are attached to it to also be moved.  If you get ContactTalk's windows set up in a way you are comfortable, Lock the Layout.  If you lose windows or want to start over, Lock your Layout and Load the Default Docking Layout.
5.Using a Save button is NOT REQUIRED but is available on the Navigator Bar. When you modify a contact record either directly in the Contact List, or by using the Contact Details Form, your changes will be saved when you move to another contact.  However, you can also immediately post your changes by either pressing enter or using the navigator green check sign described in #6.
6.Know your Navigator.
The Navigator Navigator control appears at the bottom left of most lists who's data is contained within a database table. The navigator allows you to move from record to record, refresh the table and sometimes add, delete records, as well as post (save) your data immediately.
7.Try to minimize the number of Fields you add via the Form Editor. You can have 255 Fields total, but adding too many can cause sluggish performance when the number of contacts increases to around 1500. Creating many Fields of type memo or image can also cause performance problems.
8.Minimize the number of Memo, DB Image and Image Fields to prevent sluggish performance.  Learn about Memo, DB Image and Image fields
9.Customize your layout by dragging the windows to your desired locations.  If you lose your windows and are unable to re-dock them properly, from the Main Menu click on File->Load Default Docking Layout and the default window docking will be restored. You have the option to choose from various Docking Layouts by clicking on File->Open Docking Layout.
10. If you are trying to re dock your windows and are not able to move them, then they are probably locked.  From the Main Menu go to Options->Layout Locked and make sure it is unchecked.  After adjusting your windows to the position you want them in, be sure and re-lock them from this same place.  See also Docking Windows.
11.To sort the order of any column alphabetically, simply click on the Column Header name. Column Headers are found in most Tables within ContactTalk.
12. Learn to Sort and Group your tables as it is likely you will do this often in the majority of the windows.  Click here to learn.
13. In order to fully benefit from all of ContactTalk's very powerful features such as scheduled voice, emails, etc..., you will need to leave  ContactTalkrunning on your PC at all times.
14. If you minimize ContactTalk or start working in another program and can't find ContactTalk and think it may have even shut itself down, check your system tray on the bottom right as it automatically places itself there when minimized.
15. Always close ContactTalk before clicking Next during an Auto Update. Otherwise ContactTalk will ask you to reboot.  Learn about Auto-Updates here.