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Flower Genie- Basic Software for Gardeners
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Document Name: Getting Started Document
Issue Date: 26th Nov 2005
Flower
Genie - Getting Started
Flower Genie on the Web – Home
page
Please print this item and read it thoroughly. It
describes the simple steps we recommend to help you "Getting Started"
to Flower Genie.
Completing each
step will undoubtedly make your experience more enjoyable.
If you are installing from CD start here. If you downloaded Flower Genie from
the internet, go to Step 2
1 Installing
Flower
Genie has an auto installer. Insert the Flower Genie CD into the drive. The
system will attempt to start the Auto Installer. Please wait, as this may take
up to 30 secs. The Install screen should appear. The Auto Installer will
present you with a number of prompt screens during the procedure. Don’t worry, you don’t have ANY decisions to make. Your response
is very simple. Click a series of next and finish buttons to install the
software. We recommend that you do NOT change any settings. Please read the End
User Licence agreement when presented during installation.
2 Starting Flower Genie
When installed, the Flower
Genie Icon will appear on your desktop. The icon is a yellow flower.
Start Flower Genie by clicking on the Flower Genie Icon. You will get a message
advising you that Flower Genie is not registered. Press OK and continue. (You
don’t need to register yet)
You will be
presented with a screen with an array of Program Options.
These are the more
commonly used programs.
There are other
programs in the Flower Genie system which can be started by clicking on the
menu tabs along the very top of the screen.
When getting
started, concentrate on the programs on the selection screen.
3 That
explained, lets get started.
The first thing you
need to do is customise the system for your own personal use.
Run the program
"Preferences - FG198". You can:
a) set the date format to suit your locality.
b) choose your language. If the language set (2 languages, one
of which is ALWAYS English) does not include your language, you can download an
alternative language set from the Flower Genie Product support web site.
c) Set the currency
character
Click the button
"Save Changes" and the Preferences program will close.
NEXT:
Lets add a
plant to your database. Every gardener
has a plants "Wish
List"
Start the program
"My Plants and Garden - GA037".
When the initial
screen is displayed, you'll find that the dummy plant supplied with the system
is selected, and a photo is shown.
DONT delete this
until you have added at least one plant of your own.
Click on the
"Add a Plant" button.
Screen
FG100S40-Working with a Plant Profile appears, in ADD mode.
We need to enter
the name of a plant in the "Plant Name" field.
You can simply type
the plant name and details into the appropriate field.
Alternatively:
Minimize Flower
Genie
Open your web
browser
Visit your
favourite gardening web site
Find and copy a
plant name
Minimize the
browser
Maximize Flower
Genie
Paste the name into
the appropriate field.
If you've copied a
block of text, paste it into the Plant Data field. Once you've done that, you
can copy and paste sections from the text into appropriate fields in the Plant
Profile.
To complete the operation, click on the "Add" button at the bottom of
the screen.
You are returned to
the initial screen (GA037S01)
Flower Genie
refreshes the displayed list to include your new plant.
Add a few more
plants.
NEXT:
You should run the
program "Make Gardens- FG004"
Click on the
"Edit" button to the right of the Gardener name (it says My Garden)
Screen FG004S02 appears, and you can change the Gardener name to your own
name.
Play with that
program. Use the "Add a Garden Divider" and "Add a Garden
Area" buttons to "Make" your garden.
Make a garden area
called "My Wish List", for use in the next step in this "Getting
Started" exercise.
Every time you add
a Garden Divider or a Garden Area, the new element is added to the displayed
list.
Use the Nudge
buttons to arrange the elements into your preferred order.
If you need to edit
a line to rename a Garden Area, simply double click on the line to access the
"Change" screen.
NEXT:
Lets add the
new plants (created with program FG037 above) to your "Wish List"
(created using GA004 above)
Start the program
"Link Plants to Gardens - FG038"
The initial screen
GA038S01 appears.
There are 2 lists.
On the left, a list
capable of displaying all of the plants in your database (can also display
filtered lists)
On the
right, your garden areas.
Use the pop-ups to
select your garden area called "Wish List" (created using FG004 in
the exercise above)
You'll see an
"A-Z" set of buttons above the list on the left. Click on the
"All" button
Click on one of the
plants in the list (on the left.)
In the centre of
the screen, click on the Arrow button which points to the right.
Flower Genie adds
the plant to your wish list, and displays it in the list on the right.
Do this for any
plants which you wish to add to garden areas.
To remove a plant
from a garden area, simply select the plant listed in your garden area, and
click the button pointing to the left.
NEXT:
Photos -
We’ve prepared a
number of simple lessons. Under the Help tab on the Menu, click “Lessons”.
Do the lesson FG030-1
Things to explain about "The Flower Genie Menu"
The System Tab
There are some
important programs located under the System tab on the menu. You'll find:
Programs
for essential System Maintenance. (Backups,
configuration, etc)
An Exit
option to allow you to close the Flower Genie application. Use the
Exit button at all times for normal shut down of Flower Genie.
The Edit Tab
Copy and
Paste options for use in the Flower Genie programs with features for
downloading data from the internet.
The Files Tab
Programs
to allow you to personalise the files used by the Flower Genie application.
e.g. Plant
Types- FG018 - This program allows you to add, edit and delete the definitions
of Plant Types used.
For example, as
supplied, we have defined a plant type called "Annual" to make the
software "universal".
If you are in the
UK, you may wish to change this to "Hardy Annual", and add more Plant
Types such as "Half-hardy annual" etc
The HELP Tab
Click on the Flower
Genie "Help" menu pad and click on the option "Help
Topics".
Read ALL Topics.
They are quite short but give a huge insight into Flower Genie.
Pay particular
attention to:-
a) "Program, screen and report naming
Convention"
We have our reasons
for what one user described as "cryptic" program names. Read how
Screen names and Report names relate to Program Names and how these names help
you to refer precisely to any element of the system when seeking support.
b) "Help Icons
and their use'
When you click on
this topic the Example button at the bottom of the screen is enabled. Click on
it and learn how to use the Help Icon which appears on many screens in the
Flower Genie system.
This step is essential
if you wish to learn how to use the inbuilt Flower Genie Help facility
correctly.
c)
"Instruction abbreviations"
A scheme
to cut down on instruction text in email correspondence and lessons.
REMEMBER:
ALWAYS USE THE EXIT
BUTTON TO CLOSE THE FLOWER GENIE APPLICATION.
YOU RUN THE RISK OF
DAMAGING FILES IF YOU TURN YOUR COMPUTER OFF WHEN A FLOWER GENIE
PROGRAM IS RUNNING.
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