Dairy Ration Software and Popup Menus

Popup menus provide access to software options without opening a menu from the menu bar. Most of the data you see arranged in a grid format will provide access to a popup menu by positioning the mouse over the data and left-clicking the mouse to select an item then right-clicking for the menu. It is not necessary to left click first on the ration or feed record nutrients grid.

When its time to revise diets, dairy ration software should provide featues that should reduce and simplify the process. Using popup menus in ration software provides an increased level of utility, increased ease of use and improved productivity. That translates into more time that can be spent observing cows rather than navigating software menus.

Here's What You Do ...

This illustration uses the Report Formatter form. The mouse pointer was place over row six, column 2 and the left button was clicked. You can see the highlight box surrounding that area.

Next the left button was clicked to display the popup menu just below the six-two position.

Here's How It Works ...

The popup menu allows you to continue working were you are and yet have access to the software options you need without moving the mouse any great distance.

Below is an image of the ration record form with the Nutrient Constraints selected. If you look at the highlight bar you will see a peach colored area within which is the value 11.00. That area is an input area. If you press the Enter or Up Arrow keys the cursor will cycle through the input areas of the highlight bar. You'll recognize an input area because its color will change to the color you see below when the cursor enters it.

Right clicking within an input are will display the popup menu for input. Right clicking just outside an input area in a non-input area will display a popup menu for available program functions such are the items you see below. Clicking on the Formulate menu at the top of the form will display the same menu options but you would have to move the mouse pointer all the way to the top of the page to do so.

That may not seem like much of a difference and it isn't if your formulating one or two rations. However, if you have fifteen or twenty rations to revise before the clock gets to 4:30 pm it make a significant difference. If nothing else it can actually reduce your blood pressure and help to prolong life.