PCDIVERT Personal Water Records Database Computer Program

Revised: February 23, 2004


Introduction

PCDIVERT is a simple water record accounting program which can be downloaded and installed on Intel processor based computers. The program works with a variety of operating systems including DOS, Microsoft Windows 3.x, 9x, to XP. It is intended for use by river commissioners to keep track of water records, prepare distribution system reports, and transmit records to the Division of Water Rights. Printing from the system requires either a Hewlett Packard (HP) printer or a printer that can emulate the HPPCL3 command set.



Installation

PCDIVERT is not a Windows program. It is a DOS program which can be run from a DOS Window on MS Windows systems. Use the steps below to download and install it on a Windows system.




Program Configuration

Configuration settings for the program can be accessed by adding /C to the program startup command. In Windows this is accomplished by modifying the program's desktop settings associated with the program icon created above. To enter configuration mode right click on the PCDIVERT icon, select properties, select the Program tab, and put space and /C on the cmd line (like this C:\pcdivert\pcdivert.exe /C). Save the setting. Clicking on the icon will now cause the program to startup in configuration mode. To operate the program in it's normal mode undo the change described above by removing the /C from the desktop icon properties cmd line setting.

Configuration mode is typically used only when PCDIVERT is first installed to set specific configuration options. The important fields which typically need to be configured are the SYSTEM NAME, and PRINTER TYPE. The SYSTEM NAME field contains the name of the Distribution System. The PRINTER TYPE field should contain the letter J for HP compatible printers. Save configuration options by pressing the function key F8.


Uploading Data to Water Rights

PCDIVERT can be configured to automatically upload data to the Utah Division of Water Rights if an INTERNET connection is available. The configuration information is entered in configuration mode described above. The server name is 168.179.220.28. User name, password and upload path name can be obtained by contacting staff at the Division.


Understanding the User Interface

PCDIVERT is DOS program. The mouse and it's buttons perform no function in the program. All input and control is from the keyboard. Most program actions are controlled by the keyboard function keys which are normally located at the top of the keyboard. Function keys F1 through F8 are used. Function key F8 is used to exit menus or screens in the program. Actions associated with all function keys are listed on the bottom of each menu screen. In some instances the ENTER key (also called the RETURN key in the program at times) is used to perform an action. It is also listed on the bottom of the menu screen when used. Either of the keys on the keyboard labelled "Enter" work as the ENTER/RETURN key.

The cursor location is controlled with the Tab, Backtab, Backspace, and cursor arrow keys (up,down,left and right). The Page Down, and Page Up keys function as Tab and Backtab to assist in entry from the 10 key numeric keypad on the keyboard. Data is entered on screens in the program by moving the cursor to a highlighted field and typing in information. The program inhibits keystrokes other than cursor movement or function keys when the cursor is not in a highlighted field.

Any keystroke (while in a highlighted field) places a character in the field. The Insert key causes text from the current cursor position right to shift to the right one character. The Delete key removes the character at the current cursor location and shifts remaining characters one position left.

On Windows 9x systems cutting and pasting using the mouse and cut and paste buttons at the top of the DOS window PCDIVERT operates in will also work. This is most advantageous when copying redundant values or copying data from another application like a spreadsheet.


Screen Organization

PCDIVERT is a menu screen based system. There are 4 basic menus in the system. The MAIN MENU (station selection screen), the DAILY RECORDS entry menu, the STATION INFORMATION menu, and the PRINT menu. The MAIN MENU is displayed when the program starts and is the central menu to all operations. The MAIN MENU lists stations in the system in alphabetical order. It highlights one station at a time. Unlike other screens in the program this highlighted field cannot be edited but is used to identify the currently selected station. Use the function keys listed at the bottom of the MAIN MENU to navigate between selected stations. NOTE: When PCDIVERT is first installed there are no stations in the database so the station listing on the MAIN MENU will be blank including the selected or highlighted station. Use the F1 key to add new stations. Once stations are listed on the MAIN MENU they can be selected using the ENTER key and data entered into the database for the station.

The STATION INFORMATION menu appears when you are creating a new station (press F1 from the MAIN MENU) or from the DAILY RECORDS entry menu by pressing F1. The STATION INFORMATION menu is used to give a station a name and describe other parameters about the station. The STATION INFORMATION menu is also the entry point for other activities with the station like printing of data as listed at the bottom of the menu.

The DAILY RECORDS entry menu displays a screen of 15 dates and corresponding data fields. Navigation to different time periods using the function keys is described at the bottom of the screen. The Enter key causes navigation forward one day at a time. This feature can be used to paste a column of data from a spreadsheet into PCDIVERT using Windows cut and paste functionality. The data entry fields on the DAILY RECORDS screen must contain either a blank line (no data) or a valid numeric entry. Entry units for data on the screen can be changed using the STATION INFORMATION screen (F1 from the DAILY RECORDS screen).

The DAILY RECORDS screen becomes a monthly/annual entry screen by changing the RECORD INPUT UNITS field on the STATION INFORMATION menu to ANN. Daily records are preferred, but monthly/annual records can also be entered in the system.

The PRINT menu is selected from the STATION INFORMATION menu. It supports printing of data in several different formats. The Calendar and Water year formats print a standard daily values table of data for either a calendar year or a water year. The River-Storage print option is a special format used by some systems to print two stations on a single page (a direct flow and released storage record). Note: The printout year must be entered prior to selecting a print option. Other fields on the PRINT menu are optional.