 MIRAGE Help Index

Commands

File menu

Edit menu

View menu

Window menu

Help menu


File menu commands

The File menu offers the following commands:

New	Creates a new document.
Open	Opens an existing document.
Close	Closes an opened document.
Save	Saves an opened document using the same file name.
Save As	Saves an opened document to a specified file name.
Exit	Exits Mirage


Edit menu commands

The Edit menu offers the following commands:

Cut	Deletes data from the document and moves it to the clipboard.
Copy	Copies data from the document to the clipboard.
Paste	Pastes data from the clipboard into the document.


View menu commands

The View menu offers the following commands:

Toolbar	Shows or hides the toolbar.
Status Bar	Shows or hides the status bar.


Window menu commands

The Window Toggle Size command allows you to toggle the size of the currently active window

 within the set of four splitter windows in the main menu of Mirage. The contents of the currently active

window is red.


Help menu commands

The Help menu offers the following commands, which provide you assistance with this application:

Index	Offers you an index to topics on which you can get help.
Using Help	Provides general instructions on using help.
About	Displays the version number of this application.


File New command
New command (File menu)

Use this command to create a new document in Mirage.

You can open an existing document with the Open command.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+N


File New dialog box

Start with a fresh Mirage .mrg document. The current document is removed from the program.


File Open command
Open command (File menu)

Use this command to open an existing document in a new window.

You can create new documents with the New command.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+O


File Open dialog box

The following options allow you to specify which file to open:

File Name

Type or select the filename you want to open.  This box lists files with the extension you select in the List Files of Type box.

Drives

Select the drive in which Mirage stores the file that you want to open.

Directories

Select the directory in which Mirage stores the file that you want to open.


File Close command
Close command (File menu)

Use this command to close all windows containing the active document.  Mirage suggests that you save changes to your document before you close it.  If you close a document without saving, you lose all changes made since the last time you saved it.  Before closing an untitled document, Mirage displays the Save As dialog box and suggests that you name and save the document.

You can also close a document by using the Close icon on the document's window, as shown below:


File Save command
Save command (File menu)

Use this command to save the active document to its current name and directory.  When you save a document for the first time, <<YourApp>> displays the Save As dialog box so you can name your document.  If you want to change the name and directory of an existing document before you save it, choose the Save As command.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+S


File Save As command
Save As command (File menu)

Use this command to save and name the active document.  Mirage displays the Save As dialog box so you can name your document.

To save a document with its existing name and directory, use the Save command.


File Save As dialog box

The following options allow you to specify the name and location of the file you're about to save:

File Name

Type a new filename to save a document with a different name.  A filename can contain up to eight characters and an extension of up to three characters.  Mirage adds the extension you specify in the Save File As Type box.

Drives

Select the drive in which you want to store the document.

Directories

Select the directory in which you want to store the document.


File 1, 2, 3, 4 command
1, 2, 3, 4 command (File menu)

Use the numbers and filenames listed at the bottom of the File menu to open the last four documents you closed.  Choose the number that corresponds with the document you want to open.


File Exit command
Exit command (File menu)

Use this command to end your Mirage session.  You can also use the Close command on the application Control menu.  Mirage prompts you to save documents with unsaved changes.

Shortcuts

Mouse:	Double-click the application's Control menu button.

Keys:	ALT+F4


Redo command (Edit menu)

<< Write application-specific help here. >>


Cut command (Edit menu)

Use this command to remove the currently selected data from the document and put it on the clipboard.  This command is unavailable if there is no data currently selected.

Cutting data to the clipboard replaces the contents previously stored there.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+X


Copy command (Edit menu)

Use this command to copy selected data onto the clipboard.  This command is unavailable if there is no data currently selected.

Copying data to the clipboard replaces the contents previously stored there.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+C


Paste command (Edit menu)

Use this command to insert a copy of the clipboard contents at the insertion point.  This command is unavailable if the clipboard is empty.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+V


View Toolbar command
Toolbar command (View menu)

Use this command to display and hide the Toolbar, which includes buttons for some of the most common commands in Mirage, such as File Open.  A check mark appears next to the menu item when the Toolbar is displayed.

See Toolbar for help on using the toolbar.


Toolbar

The toolbar is displayed across the top of the application window, below the menu bar.  The toolbar provides quick mouse access to many tools used in Mirage,

To hide or display the Toolbar, choose Toolbar from the View menu (ALT, V, T).

Click	To

Open a new document.

Open an existing document.  Mirage displays the Open dialog box, in which you can locate and open the desired file.

Save the active document or template with its current name.  If you have not named the document, Mirage displays the Save As dialog box.

Remove selected data from the document and stores it on the clipboard.

Copy the selection to the clipboard.

Insert the contents of the clipboard at the insertion point.


View Status Bar Command
Status Bar command (View menu)

Use this command to display and hide the Status Bar, which describes the action to be executed by the selected menu item or depressed toolbar button, and keyboard latch state. A check mark appears next to the menu item when the Status Bar is displayed.

See Status Bar for help on using the status bar.


Status Bar

The status bar is displayed at the bottom of the Mirage window.  To display or hide the status bar, use the Status Bar command in the View menu.

The left area of the status bar describes actions of menu items as you use the arrow keys to navigate through menus.  This area similarly shows messages that describe the actions of toolbar buttons as you depress them, before releasing them.  If after viewing the description of the toolbar button command you wish not to execute the command, then release the mouse button while the pointer is off the toolbar button.

The right areas of the status bar indicate which of the following keys are latched down:

Indicator	Description

CAP	The Caps Lock key is latched down.

NUM	The Num Lock key is latched down.

SCRL	The Scroll Lock key is latched down.


New command (Window menu)

Use this command to open a new window with the same contents as the active window.  You can open multiple document windows to display different parts or views of a document at the same time.  If you change the contents in one window, all other windows containing the same document reflect those changes.  When you open a new window, it becomes the active window and is displayed on top of all other open windows.


Cascade command (Window menu)

Use this command to arrange multiple opened windows in an overlapped fashion.


Tile command (Window menu)

Use this command to arrange multiple opened windows in a non-overlapped fashion.


Tile Horizontal command (Window menu)

Use this command to vertically arrange multiple opened windows in a non-overlapped fashion.


Tile Vertical command (Window menu)

Use this command to arrange multiple opened windows side by side.


Window Arrange Icons Command

Use this command to arrange the icons for minimized windows at the bottom of the main window.  If there is an open document window at the bottom of the main window, then some or all of the icons may not be visible because they will be underneath this document window.


1, 2, ... command (Window menu)

Mirage displays a list of currently open document windows at the bottom of the Window menu.  A check mark appears in front of the document name of the active window.  Choose a document from this list to make its window active.


Index command (Help menu)

Use this command to display the opening screen of Help.  From the opening screen, you can jump to step-by-step instructions for using Mirage and various types of reference information.

Once you open Help, you can click the Contents button whenever you want to return to the opening screen.


Using Help command (Help menu)

Use this command for instructions about using Help.


About command (Help menu)

Use this command to display the copyright notice and version number of your copy of  Mirage.


Help Using Help Command
Context Help command

Use the Context Help command to obtain help on some portion of Mirage.  When you choose the Toolbar's Context Help button, the mouse pointer will change to an arrow and question mark.  Then click somewhere in the Mirage window, such as another Toolbar button.  The Help topic will be shown for the item you clicked.

Shortcut

Keys:	SHIFT+F1


Title Bar

The title bar is located along the top of a window.  It contains the name of the application and document.

To move the window, drag the title bar.  Note: You can also move dialog boxes by dragging their title bars.

A title bar may contain the following elements:

Application Control-menu button

Document Control-menu button

Maximize button

Minimize button

Name of the application

Name of the document

Restore button


Scroll bars

Displayed at the right and bottom edges of the document window.  The scroll boxes inside the scroll bars indicate your vertical and horizontal location in the document.  You can use the mouse to scroll to other parts of the document.


Size command (System menu)

Use this command to display a four-headed arrow so you can size the active window with the arrow keys.

After the pointer changes to the four-headed arrow:

1.	Press one of the DIRECTION keys (left, right, up, or down arrow key) to move the pointer to the border you want to move.

2.	Press a DIRECTION key to move the border.

3.	Press ENTER when the window is the size you want.

Note:  This command is unavailable if you maximize the window.

Shortcut

Mouse:	Drag the size bars at the corners or edges of the window.


Move command (Control menu)

Use this command to display a four-headed arrow so you can move the active window or dialog box with the arrow keys.

Note:  This command is unavailable if you maximize the window.

Shortcut

Keys:	CTRL+F7


System Minimize Command
Minimize command (application Control menu)

Use this command to reduce the Mirage window to an icon.

Shortcut

Mouse:	Click the minimize icon [image] on the title bar.

Keys:	ALT+F9


Maximize command (System menu)

Use this command to enlarge the active window to fill the available space.

Shortcut

Mouse:	Click the maximize icon [image] on the title bar; or double-click the title bar.

Keys:	CTRL+F10 enlarges a document window.


Next Window command (document Control menu)

Use this command to switch to the next open document window.  Mirage determines which window is next according to the order in which you opened the windows.

Shortcut

Keys:	CTRL+F6


Previous Window command (document Control menu)

Use this command to switch to the previous open document window.  Mirage determines which window is previous according to the order in which you opened the windows.

Shortcut

Keys:	SHIFT+CTRL+F6


Close command (Control menus)

Use this command to close the active window or dialog box.

Double-clicking a Control-menu box is the same as choosing the Close command.

Shortcuts

Keys: 	CTRL+F4 closes a document window

ALT+F4 closes the Mirage window or dialog box


Restore command (Control menu)

Use this command to return the active window to its size and position before you chose the Maximize or Minimize command.


Switch to command (application Control menu)

Use this command to display a list of all open applications.  Use this "Task List" to switch to or close an application on the list.

Shortcut

Keys:	CTRL+ESC

Dialog Box Options

When you choose the Switch To command, you will be presented with a dialog box with the following options:

Task List

Select the application you want to switch to or close.

Switch To

Makes the selected application active.

End Task

Closes the selected application.

Cancel

Closes the Task List box.

Cascade

Arranges open applications so they overlap and you can see each title bar.  This option does not affect applications reduced to icons.

Tile

Arranges open applications into windows that do not overlap.  This option does not affect applications reduced to icons.

Arrange Icons

Arranges the icons of all minimized applications across the bottom of the screen.


View Ruler Command
Ruler command (View menu)


Choose Font Dialog
Choose Font dialog box


Choose Color Dialog
Choose Color dialog box


Edit Find Command
Find command (Edit menu)


Find Dialog
Find dialog box


Edit Replace Command
Replace command (Edit menu)


Replace Dialog
Replace dialog box


Edit Repeat Command
Repeat command (Edit menu)

Use this command to repeat the last editing command carried out.  The Repeat menu item changes to Can't Repeat if you cannot repeat your last action.

Shortcut

Key:	F4


Edit Clear Command
Clear command (Edit menu)


Edit Clear All
Clear All command (Edit menu)


Next Pane Command
Next Pane


Prev Pane Command
Prev Pane


Modifying the Document


No Help Available

No help is available for this area of the window.


No Help Available

No help is available for this message box.


  Mirage Help Index

Main Menu Commands

File menu

View menu

Edit menu

Window menu

Rules menu

Display menu

Import menu

Export menu

Help menu

Graphics Menu Commands

Action menu

Edit menu

Color menu

Composite menu


 Rules menu commands

   The rules menu includes commands for managing the rules within the expert system.  For

   more information select the Rules menu command name :

    New

    Delete

    XChange Positions

    Position at end


 Rules New command

    This command is used to invoke the Rules New dialog box so that you can add new rules

    or replace existing invalid rules with newly created rules. For more information on how

    to use the Rules New dialog box  see the Mirage User's Manual Page 17.


 Rules Delete command

    This command is used to delete rules from the expert system. For information on how to

    delete rules see the Mirage User's Manual page 22.


 Rules Xchange Positions command

This command is used to exchange the positions of two rules within the rules list. During the

course of data analysis, the rules are fired sequentially from low number to high number.

With this command, the rules can be positioned in whatever sequence is desired so that

 the proper sequence of firing is followed. For information on how to use this command,

see the Mirage User's Manual page 22.


 Rules Positon at end command

    This command is used to position a rule at the end of the rules list so that it will fire last

    in the sequence. During the course of data analysis, the rules are fired sequentially from

    rule number 1 till the end of the rules list. If it is necessary to position a rule at the end

    so that it can perform some sort of a default process, use this command. For information

    on how to use this command, see the Mirage User's Manual page 21.


Display menu commands

    The display menu includes commands to create display variables, assign min. and max. values

    for them, and modify these values. It also includes commands to manually map display variables

    to color values. The Display Graphics command is used to display the Mirage Graphics

    Window. For more information, select the Display command name :

     Display Graphics

     Edit Display List

     Map Display Variable


 Display Graphics command

    The display graphics command is used to display the Mirage Graphics Window. You can also

    use the rightmost bitmap button ( the one with the colored squares) in the ribbon to invoke this

    command.


 Edit Display List command

    This command is used to add or delete display variables from the display variables list. The

    display variables list ( lower left window of the main splitter window) contains a list of

    attributes from the data sheet and extra variables from the list of extra variables which,

    because they are now listed as display variables can now be analyzed in the Mirage

    Graphics Window.


 Map Display Variable command

    This command is used to map a display variable to particular color values. For textual data types,

    the mapping is performed by assigning particular textual values to color values ( up to 10

    assignments per display variable). For numerical data types, the mapping is performed by

    assigning data intervals ( which lie between the min. and max. for the display variable) to

    color values. Up to 6 data intervals can be assigned per display variable.

    To enable this command, click on the cell which contains the name of the display variable in

     the display variable window ( lower left of the main splitter window). Then select this

     command.

    This command can also be used to view the mappings of a display variable. Simply click on

     the cell with the variable name in the display variables window, and then select this command.


 Import menu commands

    This command is used to import data tables in the data sheet ( upper left of the splitter window),

    or to import a list of extra variables ( upper right of the splitter window). The imported file must

   be a tab delimited ascii .txt file. Note that if the imported file contains more rows or columns than

   the cells in the data sheet ( 30 columns X 100 rows of data), then the data in the extra rows will

   be truncated. Ostensibly, the text file was created in a spreadsheet or a database.

    For importing data tables, you have the option of importing just the data ( without the attribute

    names corresponding to the first row of information in the data table), or the data plus the

    attribute names. For importing extra variables, you have the option of importing the extra

    variables names column ( corresponding to the first column  in the extra variables window)

    plus the values ( corresponding to the second column in the extra variables window), or

    of importing just the values (second column).


  Export menu commands

     This command is used to export data tables in the data sheet (upper left of the splitter window),

      or to export a list of extra variables ( upper right of the splitter window). The file in which the

      data is exported to will be a tab delimited ascii .txt file. Ostensibly, the text file will be picked

      up into a spreadsheet or a database.

     For exporting data tables, you have the option of exporting just the data ( without the attribute

     names corresponding to the first row of information in the data table), or the data plus the

     attribute names. For exporting extra variables, you have the option of exporting the extra

     variables names column ( corresponding to the first column in the extra variables window)

     plus the values ( corresponding to the second column in the extra variables window), or

     of exporting just the values ( second column).


 Action commands

    These commands perform actions in the graphics window that either facilitate the data

    analysis or affect it in some way. For more information, select the Action commands :

     Go

     Replay Mode

     Disable Rules


Go command

    This command produces a color value for each of the active display variables and COMPOSITE

     windows as all the items in the control box ( corresponding to rows in the data table) are

     sequentially traversed down the list. The color values pertaining to all the mini-windows are

     displayed as the analysis is being performed. Note that the color values are saved temporarily

     so that if you enter Action Replay Mode immediately (without performing any other actions)

     after this action, you can traverse back up or down the list using the two arrows in the scroll

     bar for the control box.


Replay Mode command

   This command toggles the graphics window between replay mode and non-replay mode. During

    replay mode, which is entered immediately ( without performing any other actions) after the

    Go commmand, the color values need not be calculated as different control box items are

    selected. Rather, they have already been saved due to the invocation of the Go command.

    This makes for much faster display changes in the mini-windows for the active display variables

    and the COMPOSITE windows.

    Note that after entering replay mode, you should go to the control box and manipulate the up

    and down arrow keys of the scroll bar by depressing the left mouse button and keeping it

    depressed. You cannot move the shaft inside the scroll bar and expect the mini-windows

    to continuously update their colors.


 Disable Rules command

    This command toggles between disabling and enabling rules during the course of data analysis.

    The default is that the rules are enabled. If the rules are disabled, Mirage will assume during the

    course of data analysis that no rules exist and will not attempt to fire them even if the rules list

    is not empty.


Edit commands

   The list of display variables which are currently active ( if they are active a mini-window is

   created for them) can be modified by the Active Variables List command. In order to analyze

   the content of any particular attribute or extra variable, it must be activated. Note that

   if the graphics window starts to become congested, its size can be increased.

   The current control variable can be changed to any attribute from the data table. The default

   control variable is the first attribute ( left most column in the data table). The items contained

   in the control box are values from each row in the data table for the current control variable.


 Color commands

    During the course of analysis, the colors displayed in the mini-windows can be either from the

    RGB spectrum or display a gray scale.

    For the RGB spectrum, a color value of 0 (min. color value) corresponds to red and a color value

    of 255 (max. color value) corresponds to blue. A color value of 127 or so ( in the middle of the

    spectrum)  should display a green.

    For the gray scale, a color value of 0 corresponds to white and a color value of 255

    corresponds to black.


 Composite Windows

    Composite windows are windows which display a color based upon the color values of separate

    components (  each component being an attribute or an extra variable) with each component

    being assigned a specific percentage weight. The combination of all the percentages which make

    up the weights should sum up to 100 percent.

    Note that all composite windows are destroyed  if any display variable is deleted from the display

    variables list. If Mirage is about to delete any display variable ( during the invocation of the

    Display - Edit Display List dialog in the main menu ) and the graphics window currently has

    active composite windows, the user is notified if he wants to continue with the deletion of the

    display variable. For more information about Composite Windows, see :

    Create

    Modify

    View

    Delete


Create Composite Window

    This command creates one of a maximum of three composite windows. The composition of the

    composite window is defined in the dialog box which is invoked by this command. Note that

    you can always change the composition of the window ( both the display variables included

    in the makeup and also the individual percentages) later by invoking the Modify command.


Modify Composite Window

   This command invokes the same dialog box that was used to create the composite window.

    Any changes made must insure that the percentages add up to 100%.


 View Composite Window

    This command invokes a small window which displays the display variables comprising the

    makeup of the composite window along with its corresponding weights.


 Delete Composite Window

    This command deletes the composite window so that the mini-window is removed and all

    information related to its makeup is deleted.


 Edit Display Variables dialog

This dialog is used to add or delete entires in the display variables list. The list is comprised of data

sheet attributes ( data column names) and Extra Variable Names. If you want to redefine the

min. or max. for a display variable, delete it from the list, and then add it again so that you are

prompted to again specify the min. and max.

Options

       Add

       Delete


Add

Select an attribute or extra variable from the Data Column Names or the Extra Variable Names and then click on Add to include it into the Display Variables List.


Delete

Select a display variable from the Display Variables List and then click on Delete to remove it.


Map Text Display Variable

  This dialog is used to map display variables whose data type is textual to corresponding

   color values.  Up to ten different textual values can be entered for the variable. Start

   from the first row in the Text Value column, press the Tab key, enter the color value

   in the Corresponding Color Value column, and again press the Tab key to continue

   entering mapping information into the two columns until finished.

    Options

       Default color value       Min. color value       Max. color value


 Default color value

    Enter the color value that will be assigned to the display variable if the text from the data

    sheet does not match any of the entries specified in the Text Value column.


 Min. color value

    The minimum color value of the display variable is always 0. The edit box is read only.


 Max. color value

    The maximum color value of the display variable is always 255. The edit box is read only.


 Edit Active Display Variables List

   This dialog box is used to activate and deactivate display variables. An activated display

   variable is one which has a mini-window in the graphics window. The mini-window

   displays the color corresponding to a particular color value during an instance of data

   analysis. Click on entries in the list box to select or deselect a display variable and then

   select OK.


 Interval Setup Dialog

    After clicking on the Mapping Mode button to go from automatic to manual, you will

    be prompted with a series of this dialog box until you specify the Max. value for interval

    to be equal to the max. data value for the display variable.

   The min. for the first interval is the min. data value for the display variable. The max.

   for each interval is entered into the top edit box.  For the next sequence in the series of

   invocations for this dialog box, the min. for the corresponding interval is the max. from the

   previous interval plus 1.

   Enter the corresponding color value for the interval in the lower edit box.


  This dialog is used to enter the min. and max. data values for a display variable of numeric

  data type. The min. data value will map to a color value of 0 in the mini-window for this display

  variable. The max. data value will map to a color value of 255. If the data falls below the

  min. data value, the mini-window displays black stripes. If the data falls above the max. data

  value, the mini-window displays red stripes.


 View Invalid Data Columns

  The data columns in the list box contain inconsistent data types. For any particular data column

   in the data sheet, all data must either be of type float, integer, or text. Any numerical value with

   a decimal point is considered to be of type float.

   View the data in these columns and edit the cells so that all data is of one type.

   Note that invalid data columns are not detected until you are about to perform data analysis

   in the graphics window.


 View Invalid Rules

    The rules listed in the list box attempt to compare entities of different data types.

    If you are comparing two entities in the IF CLAUSE or setting one entity to

    be equal to another entity in the THEN CLAUSE, both of the entities involved

    must be of the same data type.

     If there are invalid rules in the list, then invoke the Rules New dialog box. At

     the bottom of the dialog box, there is a list box which contains the list of invalid

     rules. Enter a new rule as you normally would, then instead of clicking on OK or

     Next Rule, select a rule from the invalid rules list and then click on Replace.

     Instead of invoking the Rules New dialog box, you can also delete the invalid

     rule from the rules list at any time.


 View Invalid Mappings

    The display variables listed in the list box are mapped inappropriately with respect to

    their data types. Either a textual type of display variable has been mapped as numeric

    or vice versa. This can occur if the extra variable or attribute data type has been

    changed since the mapping was originated. In this case you need to invoke the

    Edit Display Variables List dialog, delete the display variable in question, and then

    add it again. Mirage will detect the current data type for this display variable and

    invoke the appropriate mapping dialog.


 Edit Composite Strength List

    Use this dialog box to create the makeup for each of the three COMPOSITE

    windows. Select a display variable from the upper left list box and then click on

    Add. You will be prompted to specify a percentage strength for the variable.

    If there is a need to change the weight of a variable in the makeup list, then first

    remove it from the list and then add it again. This will enable you to re-enter a new

    weight for the variable.

    To remove a variable from the makeup list, select it from the lower right list box

    and then click on Remove. Note that you will have to reassign the weights of the

    other variables in the list so that they all add up to 100%.


 Select New Control Variable

    The list box in this dialog contains the list of attributes from the data sheet. The attribute

    value from each row in the data sheet will be displayed in the control box. Note that the

    default control variable is the first attribute ( first column ) in the data sheet. Select the

    attribute in the list box that is going to become the control variable and then click on OK.


 Specify data type for blank column

    The Edit Table Column Names command has been invoked on a column that has blank

    data ( at least the first row of data is blank which is what Mirage checks for). Normally,

    this means that you are currently trying to expand the data sheet by one attribute. Make

    sure that the current column is the first blank column to the right of the data sheet table.

    Since a brand new attribute is about to be defined, Mirage needs to know the data type.

    The cells in that column will be filled with initial data according to the data type specified.

    This is done so because Mirage cannot accept blank data cells if in fact a new attribute

    is being added to the data table.

    If the data type is numerical, the cells will be filled with 0s ( or 0.0s). If the data type is

    textual, the cells will be filled with the word "TEXT". Of course, you can modify these

    values at any time but the point is that they cannot be left blank.