Data Register show Investment Properties button?

[chucksf]

By experimenting, I finally found how to access Investment Properties from the Data Register window via the downward arrow button. It is not clear what a down arrow button might do and the main menus (which include help) are disabled while the the data register is active (has focus).

The downward arrow provides a mix of commands including actions (copy, paste, print), settings for the data register, per security settings, and help.

I think FM would be easier to use if the down arrow button was replaced by:

• Help button
• Properties... or Investment Properties... button
• Copy button
• Paste button
• Print button
• Preferences... button for Data Register preference settings

Alternatively or additionally, you could enable relevant main menu items while the Data Register is active: File, Edit, Options, Help.

[Mark]

Hi Chuck,

The Data Register does not affect the main menu being enabled/disabled. Maybe you are in some other state that is causing this, but having the Data Register window open doesn't prevent any of those menu items from working. Are these menu items enabled before you open the Data Register?

Thanks for the feedback on the buttons. The double down arrow is somewhat non-conventional. The idea was to keep focus on the New/Edit/Delete buttons as those are the primary purpose of the Data Register, and operate on the displayed data. The double down arrow menu is meant to be related, but not primary functions. Maybe we could make it say "More >>" or something that might be more obvious.

[chucksf]

In my system, when the Data Register sub-window has focus, the main menu (File, Edit, View, etc.) is grayed out. The Menu is not disabled but if I click on a menu item focus changes from the Data Register to the Portfolio Editor and the selected entry. I would assume that any menu actions like copy delete would act on the Portfolio Editor item, not the Data Register item.

If I open Data Register from a Report item, the behavior is the same. Menu is grayed out and focus shifts back to the Report Window if I click a menu item.

I'm running FM 11.4 Pro under Vista Business.

A button for "More >>" certainly gives the user more of a clue. Microsoft Word uses "More >>" in Advanced Find and Replace to control the display of additional options, so users may have seen it before.

I would also include a Help button instead of relying on users finding help under More>>. There is a lot going on in the data register and I'm sure users have questions.

[Mark]

Hi Chuck,

On the window/menu issue, yes that makes sense. The Data Register is a dialog (not a top level window, like the Portfolio Editor), so the top level menu is not associated directly with that dialog.

I do like the idea of changing that button to "More >>", it will probably stand out more. Thanks for the feedback.

[chucksf]

Just found another Data Register issue with your current design.

The Double Down arrow button is not functional for Copy. This is probably because the clicking the button removes focus from the item or items in Data Register. It looks like a copy is taking place, as the previous contents of the clipboard are removed, but Excel treats the clipboard as being empty (you can tell because Paste is greyed out).

Selecting an entry and then using Right Click to copy does not appear to work either so there may be other issues.

I was trying to solve a Cash reconcile problem. Since I have a large number of transactions that include some duplicates I was going to copy transactions into Excel. I did find that I can use FM to sort by Amount (click the Amount heading) then Memo (click on the Memo heading) and then look for duplicate dates and amounts. This works but is tedious with a large number of entries.

Wish list items:

• Easy way to export Data Register transactions
• Tool for flagging duplicated transactions (same values)
• Better duplicate checking on transaction import? I realize this is tricky as there can be legitimate identical transactions.

[Mark]

Hi Chuck,

You cannot copy from the Data Register to Excel. The clipboard contents can take a variety of formats, and when copying from the Data Register it is copied in a format that only Fund Manager can later paste. It is intended for copying/pasting within the Data Register in Fund Manager, not from Fund Manager to Excel. That would be a good improvement though...

There are ways to get your transaction data out of Fund Manager and into Excel:

1) Create an "Investment Transaction" report, and then export this report to a CSV file using "File / Export to CSV...". Any report can be exported to CSV which you can then read into Excel.

2) Use one of the "File / Export / Transaction" commands. The "Generic" one would be appropriate for transferring to Excel. Press "Help..." in this dialog for instructions.

Thanks for the wish list item ideas.