AN OVERVIEW OF THE FLIGHT PLAN SYSTEM          RELEASE 3.10         PAGE 1 OF 4

The Flight Plan System has a number of functions, most all of which are selec-
ted by menus.  Like its restaurant counterpart, a menu offers a choice of func-
tions.  Menus in the Flight Plan System appear at the bottom of the screen.
To make a choice, press the letter key corresponding to the required function,
such as C for CHANGE or W for WINDS aloft.  As soon as the key is pressed, the
selection is activated.

Each menu has a HELP function.  Just type H to get an explanation of all the
choices offered by that menu, plus a description of that particular data dis-
play.  Some functions - especially those which could result in a loss of data -
will first ask you for confirmation of your choice in case you press the wrong
key.  Type Y for a Yes response or N for a No response as appropriate.  If you
make an invalid response, an error message will flash on the bottom of the
screen until a valid response is entered.

During data entry and also when making a choice other than from one of the
menus, the Esc (Escape) key is active.  Its location varies among different
keyboards, but it is almost always in the top row of keys.  Pressing it will
usually get you out of the current situation, except where data could be lost.


AN OVERVIEW OF THE FLIGHT PLAN SYSTEM                               PAGE 2 OF 4

When using the Flight Plan System, press the Num Lock key once to put the key-
board in Numeric Lock mode.  Usually, the Num Lock key has a small indicator
light to indicate its status - that light should be on.  After that, you do not
have to touch either the Num Lock or the Caps Lock keys.

The cursor keypad (on most keyboards) can be used for either numeric data input
or for selecting data which is displayed on the screen.  The program knows, by
context, what action to take.  Names of navigation aids or other waypoints will
always appear in uppercase (CAPITAL) letters, regardless of the Caps Lock key.
The ten function keys (F1, F2, ...) on the left-hand side or the top of the
keyboard are not used.

When the program asks for data input, it is to be typed into a reverse video
block which usually appears near the bottom of the screen.  If you make a
mistake, use the backspace key to correct it.  The backspace key is usually on
the top row of the keyboard, and has a large left-arrow on it.  (It is not the
same as the left-arrow key, which has a smaller arrow).  When you finish typing
the data, press the ENTER key to get the program to accept it.



AN OVERVIEW OF THE FLIGHT PLAN SYSTEM                               PAGE 3 OF 4

If you enter incorrect data or otherwise press the wrong key, an error message
will flash on the bottom of the screen, and you will have an opportunity to
make a correction.  As soon as another valid key is pressed, the flashing error
message will disappear.

It is OK to use the numeric keypad on the right side of the keyboard to enter
numbers. If the computer beeps at you when you press a number key, press Num
Lock once and try again.  The Num Lock key is usually on the top row above the
numeric keypad.

The numeric keypad also has another purpose.  Sometimes, another reverse video
block is used to select a data item.  This solid video block can be moved about
by means of one or more of the four arrow-keys and the Home, End, PgUp and PgDn
keys (depending on the function, not all of those keys may be active).  The Num
Lock key will have no effect on this, so once it has been set to enter numbers,
it can be ignored after that.





AN OVERVIEW OF THE FLIGHT PLAN SYSTEM                               PAGE 4 OF 4

To get a "snapshot" printout of the contents of the display screen at any time,
press one of the shift keys and the PrtSc key simultaneously.  Make sure the
printer is turned on and its "ready" light is glowing first.  The location of
the PrtSc key varies among different types of keyboards.

Some menus have an Output function which is also used to get a printout.  This
differs from the use of PrtSc in that with the former, the menu itself is not
printed.  To invoke the Output function press the letter O (not zero). You will
get an "Is the printer ready" prompt.  Make sure the printer is ready first,
then respond Y (for Yes). Or, respond N (for No) or press the Esc key to cancel
the print function.
