Pryor Collection Database

Browser compatibility:
This database interface is optimized for use with current versions of the Internet Explorer and Safari browsers. Use of other browsers, such as Firefox, is not recommended.

Basic Instructions:
Below are very basic instructions for navigating and searching the Pryor Collection database. Please see Filemaker's help page for more detailed instructions.

Two modes are enabled for this interface: browse and find. By default the database opens in browse mode. There is a column on the left hand side of the screen that contains buttons and list menus useful for navigation and searching. The button with a magnifying glass (A) switches the database to find mode, allowing the user to search the database. The layout menu (B) gives multiple options for layouts. However, the Data Entry layout is set as default and is the only layout useful for general browsing and searching. The sort button (C) opens a dialog box allowing the user to sort records by various criteria. After performing a search on the database, the set of viewable records are those that match the criteria being searched. To return to the full set of records use the show all records button (D).  The navigation arrows (E) allow the user to navigate the records sequentially. The user can enter a record number into the record field (F) to jump to that record.  This can be used effectively to jump to the vicinity of a particular record and then use the navigation arrows to find the actual record.

When a user changes to the find mode, several items in the left hand column change. The browse mode button (G) returns the user to the browse mode without performing a search. The omit checkbox (H) allows user to leave out records that meet their search criteria, rather than returning those records in the found set (i.e., it performs a "NOT" Boolean search). The symbols list (I) provides a number of symbols that allow for further refining of search criteria. Once the user has entered their search criteria in the appropriate fields, the perform find button (J) returns a found set of records meeting those criteria. These records are displayed in the browse mode. The perform find function always searches against all records in the database, not just the records from a previous found set. To return to the full set of records use the show all records button (D). Please see the Filemaker help page for further instructions on performing more complex Boolean searches, using symbols, as well as extending and constraining found sets.

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