New User Basics

Collect! is designed to maximize your time efficiency to optimize your productivity. The topics listed below will assist in familiarizing you with the features and functions built into the system.

Click on a topic link and it will navigate you to the Help page for that subject.

Signing On

How To Sign On - Describes how to login.

Finding Help

Using the Help System - These topics explain how to use available online and resource Help reference materials.

How To Use The Index For Help - a comprehensive, alphabetic directory of all topics in the Help library.

How To Use Hyperlinks In Help Pages - live links to related topics in all Collect!'s help pages.

How To Use Menus And Toolbars

Menus - Introductory topic information.

How To Use The Help Menu - gives details about the options available from the Help menu.

Toolbar Icons - identifies and describes what each icon is used for.

Status Bar - provides the interpretation key to understanding dynamically changing information that will be seen in your Status Bars.

How To Use Your Mouse, Keyboard And Buttons For Navigation

Mouse or Keyboard - identifies basic navigational differences to allow you the choice of using one or the other OR a combination of both modes of movement through the system.

Tabs and Buttons - explains what typical buttons do and how to use them.

Field and Column Icons - explains what the small icons do that are seen alongside some fields in select screens and atop list columns beside headings.

Keyboard Tips - shows all the key combinations and shortcuts you can use to navigate and perform specific functions.

How To Use Screens & Popup Message Prompts

How To Use Screens & Popup Message Prompts - navigating through Collect!'s screens and interacting with popup windows.

How To Use Editing Keys And Function Keys

Keyboard Tips - shows all the key combinations and shortcuts you can use to navigate in the system and perform specific functions.

Edit Fields - shows key combinations applied specifically to editing.

Edit Screens - shows keyboard key combinations and function keys applied specifically to editing.

How To Exit From Collect!

Quitting Collect! - how to correctly exit from the program.

How To Open A Database In Collect!

Opening a Database in Collect! - tips for opening different databases.

How To Work With Text

Text Editor - how to use Collect!'s Text Editor.

Scrolling Through Text - explains how to use the keyboard and mouse to navigate through text documents.

Notes - both Client and Debtor screens are equipped with Note Tabs where unlimited numbers of notelines can be stored. This topic covers what abilities in Notes you have depending on your Access Rights settings and User Level.

How To Work With Records

Add Record - new record commands and procedures explained.

Select Records - use Search Criteria to locate a specific piece of information or a list of records which conform to your query parameter(s).

PERFORM COMMON OPERATIONS

How To Search For Records - use Search Criteria to find records in the database.

How To Work With Lists

List and Screen Views - how to view a list or screen.

How To Select Multiple Records From Lists - use keys or mouse to move, select, add, edit and delete records in a list.

How To Edit Lists Using the Mouse - all operations pertaining to records in lists.

How To Edit Lists Using Keys - all operations pertaining to records in lists.

How To Use The Calendar

Calendar - how to access and navigate in calendar popups.

Pick Lists

How To Use Pick Lists - how to use, update and save modified pick lists.

Printing Features

How To Use Quick Printing Features - describes 2 methods of generating ad hoc reports.

How To Print A Sample Report Or Letter - outlines the steps to generate any report or letter.

How To Create A Letter - introductory steps to get you started on creating your own letters.

Importing And Exporting Reports And Contact Plans

How To Import A Report - steps for bringing an .rpt file into your list of reports/letters. These steps are used whenever you receive a custom or modified report from Comtech or if you download any of the free reports in the Member Center for your own use.

How To Export A Report - steps on how to extract one or more of your reports or letters out of Collect! and save it to a location on your desktop or folder of your choice. There may be an occasion when you need to forward a copy of an .rpt document from your system to our office for modification or assistance of some kind. These are the steps involved to get the template file out of Collect! and available for email or file transfer.

How To Import A Contact Plan - steps for bringing a .cpl file into your list of Contact Plans. These steps are used whenever you receive a custom or modified contact plan from Comtech or if you download any of the free contact plans in the Member Center for your own use.

How To Export A Contact Plan - steps on how to extract one or more of your contact plans out of Collect! and save it to a location on your desktop or folder of your choice. There may be an occasion when you need to forward a copy of a .cpl document from your system to our office for modification or assistance of some kind. These are the steps involved to get the template file out of Collect! and available for email or file transfer. Any emailing of .cpl files requires that the file be zipped up prior to transport to protect it from email programs that view the special codes embedded in the template file as virus and corrupt them to unusable if sent unprotected/unzipped.

You may have need to export a contact plan to our office at some juncture to receive a custom modification or assistance troubleshooting a new automation you've designed and attempted to implement. These Export A Contact Plan steps are exactly what you'd execute to send us a contact plan should we be called upon to review the same in the controlled setting of our office.

Loading and Saving Import/Export Maps follows the exact same list of instructions as those that pertain to Contact Plans. The singular difference being that the file extensions are transport to protect it from email programs that view the special codes embedded in the template file as virus and corrupt them to unusable if sent unprotected/unzipped.

Comtech clients with annual support contracts enjoy access to the Member Center where free reports, control files, contact plans and scenario packages are available for free download. Contact us for pricing.

Starting Right

Visit the Collect! website at www.collect.org to view Starting Right. This video in FLASH format introduces you to the areas and advantages of Member Services.

View Starting Right