Enhanced Functionality First Time Users Data Book Help Introduction T hank you for selecting the GPSA Engineering Data Book Thirteenth Edition (Electronic). We trust that it will become a standby in your collection of engineering reference materials. This electronic version is enhanced with the search and hyperlink features of Adobe ® Acrobat ® . If you are a novice or a casual Acrobat user, please take a few brief minutes to review this help file. It provides a description of how the Electronic Data Book is organized, as well as invaluable inside tips on navigating through the great volume of data presented. First time Electronic Data Book users and Acrobat novices will benefit from a perusal of the Glossary. The Data Book Description provides an overview of the Electronic Data Book, while the basics of getting around are covered in Layout & Navigation. Lastly, there’s a summary of the Data Book’s capabilities that allows you to search in various ways: from a Data Book menu bar; search all Sections; and find within a Section. This help file assumes that you have a working knowledge of the Windows ® operating system’s graphical user interface. Next TOC Back Note Bright blue text always denotes a hyperlink that will jump to that information when you click on it.
Transcript
Enhanced Functionality
First Time Users
D a t a B o o k H e l p
Introduction
Thank you for selecting the GPSA Engineering Data Book Thirteenth Edition (Electronic). We trust that it
will become a standby in your collection of engineering reference materials. This electronic version is enhanced with the search and hyperlink features of Adobe® Acrobat®. If you are a novice or a casual Acrobat user, please take a few brief minutes to review this help file. It provides a description of how the Electronic Data Book is organized, as well as invaluable inside tips on navigating through the great volume of data presented.
First time Electronic Data Book users and Acrobat novices will benefit from a perusal of the Glossary. The Data Book Description provides an overview of the Electronic Data Book, while the basics of getting around are covered in Layout & Navigation. Lastly, there’s a summary of the Data Book’s capabilities that allows you to search in various ways: from a Data Book menu bar; search all Sections; and find within a Section.
This help file assumes that you have a working knowledge of the Windows® operating system’s graphical user interface.
Next
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Back
NoteBright blue text
always denotes a hyperlink that will
jump to that information when
you click on it.
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Article — An Acrobat feature that allows the user to follow a chain of text columns within a Section or multi-page figures.Bookmark — A link to an Acrobat view in a hierarchical list that allows the user to quickly move from one part of a document to another, as well as between documents.Collection — A group of Adobe PDF files (also called documents).Display mode — Acrobat has three: Page Only, Page w/ Bookmarks and Page w/ Thumbnails. The Data Book defaults to Page w/ Bookmarks.Find — An Acrobat command that allows the user to locate a phrase in the current Section only. Link — A predefined area on a page that will, when clicked on, execute any of a number of actions (Go To View, Execute Menu Item, etc.). The Go To View will jump to another location in one of the documents in the collection.
Relevance ranking — A circle that indicates how likely it is that the Section contains the phrase you searched for. The more filled it is, the greater the likelihood that you will find what you’re looking for in that Section.Search — An Acrobat command that allows the user to locate all the Sections in the collection that contain a particular word or phrase. A list of the Sections is presented with a relevance ranking. Section — A topical division of the GPSA Electronic Data Book (i.e., Section 3 — Measurements). Each Section is a separate Acrobat document file (*.pdf)View — In Acrobat, a term for the display of document (PDF file) that includes the file, page, area on a page (or all of it), and magnification setting. Acrobat allows you to navigate between the ten most recent views.
Glossary
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How To
How To
How To
How To
How To
Organization
The Collection
Accessing Documents
The Electronic Data Book is composed of three main groups of files: the installation files, Adobe Acrobat
Reader with Search (not included), and the collection. The installation routine will guide you through the setup process; Acrobat Reader is the engine that powers the Electronic Data Book; and the collection is the content of the printed Data Book along with ancillary Acrobat document files that provide added functionality and assistance to the Electronic Data Book user.
The collection contains a separate Acrobat document for each of the 26 Sections in the Data Book, another for the main screen that you see when you opened the Electronic Data Book; a Table of Contents that gives you access to the Sections and introductory material; and a fourth, Data Book Help, that you are now reading.
You may access any of the documents in the collection at any time during a session. Continue on to the next page for some tips that will quickly help you get the most out of your Electronic Data Book.
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Description of the Electronic Data Book
GPSA
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Anatomy of the GPSA Electronic Data Book
Installation files
Acrobat Reader
The collection
Main screen
Table of Contents
Data Book Help
Docs
Section 1
• • •
Section 26
Index Files
In All Its Glory
Inside Scoop
User Tips
The Electronic Data Book screen may not be a pretty picture, but then it’s designed for functionality.
Previous Acrobat users will immediately recognize it, since the Electronic Data Book uses the Acrobat toolbar and menu system for its power and flexibility.
However, whether you are an Acrobat newbie or an old pro, a few minutes spent reviewing the next several pages will give you the inside scoop you need to efficiently find your way around the Electronic Data Book.
Click on any letter for important information on the Electronic Data Book’s layout and navigational features. Also, see the notes on monitor settings.
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Layout & NavigationThe Screen Layout
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B
DE
A
C
F
Ideal Screen Settings
Just Gettin’ By
The page views in Electronic Data Book are optimized for a screen that has an 1152 pixel x 864 pixel
desktop area (set in the Display window of your Windows Control Panel). This resolution was selected because:
• It is commonly available on today’s monitors.• The font sizes of the printed publication, from
which this product was adapted, are relatively small and require at least this size to display well.
• To display as much of each page as possible, so that the user does not become “lost” without any margin references.
A monitor resolution as low as 800 x 600 will provide somewhat viewable results. Any Windows-compatible color monitor capable of displaying these resolutions is sufficient.
If your monitor is not capable of the optimal setting above, you may have to vary from the instructions in this help file to attain viewable results. A feature of the Data Book that users with lower resolution monitors may appreciate is the Acrobat article mode. If you have the Hand Tool selected and there’s a down-arrow in the center of the mouse pointer, you can click to zoom in on a single column of text. The Reader Online Guide has information on navigating with articles.
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Layout & NavigationMonitor Settings
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I Can See Clearly
Setting your windows to an optimal configuration will greatly enhance the ease with which you move
around the Electronic Data Book. Use the illustration below as a guide for positioning the Sliding Bar with your mouse. Of course, your monitor settings and personal preference will influence the best position for your situation.
Each page and figure in the Electronic Data Book is programmed to fill the available width of the Document Window. Moving the Sliding Bar to the left
will make the type larger. Moving it to the right will reveal more of the words in the longer bookmarks.
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Layout & Navigation
Document WindowBookmark Window
Windows with a View. Adjust the Sliding Bar so you can read enough of every bookmark while maximizing the width of the Document Window.
Viewing Recommendations
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A
Slid
ing
B
ar
Use Those Bookmarks!
Jumping to Other Documents
Getting Rid of Unwanted Clutter
Each section has a hierarchical list of topics and figures in a separate window on the left side of the
screen. Click on the icon or text to jump to that topic. This is the key to quickly finding what you want in the Electronic Data Book. Note that the bookmarks for the figures follow the topical list for each Section, 1 .
In addition, there are extra bookmarks at the top of the list to help you navigate outside of the current document to other sections (e.g., Table of Contents bookmark, 2 ) and to help you get your screen set up to the recommended configuration (the Viewing Recommendations, 3 ). To view hidden bookmarks, use the horizontal or vertical sliders, 4 , or the arrow buttons, 5 .
You can also hide lower level bookmarks so that only a higher level topic list is completely visible. Your Electronic Data Book comes with all the levels expanded (except in Section 26 with the Classified Listing of GPSA members). Any bookmark with subordinates expanded will have a button, 6 , to the left of it (and the subordinates will be indented below). Those with collapsed subordinates look like 7 .
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Layout & Navigation
3
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Bookmarks B
The Bookmark Window
25
4
6
7
1
5 4 5
Within the Current View
Within the Current Section (Document)
To navigate to another section, you will generally have to go via the Table of Contents page (see Jumping to Other Documents, above). One exception is when you encounter a reference to a figure in another section. See To a Referenced Figure, below.
Between Views (no matter which Section/Document)
To a Referenced FigureClick on the bright blue text (e.g., Fig 21-3) and the Electronic Data Book will serve up the desired illustration or table. You can change the view according to your needs (see “C”, above), but
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Layout & NavigationMoving Around
To go to First Page
C
D
E
Return to Previous View
Go to the Next View
F
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To go to Previous Page
To go to Next Page
To go to Last Page
Slides the current view within its window
Click and then drag rectangle to zoom in on an area
Between Sections
remember you can only hit the Previous View button (see “E”, above) nine times to return to where you were reading. If you’ll be spending some time browsing around the figure, note the topical bookmark you’re reading in, so you’re always just one click away from where you were.
To Return to the Table of ContentsAll documents have a “Table of Contents” bookmark in the Bookmarks window on the left of the screen. A single click of the mouse will take you there.
To View a ReferenceSuperscripted numbers are reference citations. References are listed at the end of each section. Take note of the number and use the REFERENCES bookmark or the Last Page button (on the Toolbar) to jump to the list. If the number you’re looking for is not within view, scroll the page or use the
Previous Page button to take you backwards until you find the one you’re looking for. To return to where you were reading, click either the Previous View button , (up to nine times) or the topical bookmark where you were reading.
To View the BibliographyBibliographical entries, when used, are located with the references at the end of the section. You can navigate to them using the BIBLIOGRAPHY bookmark or in the same manner as described above in To View A Reference.
To See Additional Pages of a Multi-Page Figure
If the data you’re looking for is not on the page that a figure link took you to, there’s a good chance that the figure is continued. This will be indicated by a down-arrow in the center of the hand pointer (when the Hand Tool is selected). Click on the figure to display it as an
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Layout & Navigation
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Moving Around
Acrobat article. Repeated clicks (about three, depending upon your viewing conditions) will step you down the entire length of a page.
To Follow a Column of TextThe printed Data Book was published in a two-column format. This Electronic Data Book remains faithful to that, so from time to time you will find yourself at the end of the left-hand column and want to continue reading at the top of the right-hand one.
You can do this by displaying the text as an article:
With the Hand Tool selected, position the mouse pointer over the column of text you’re reading and click on it. This will change the display to the article mode and place you at the top of the current column of text you are reading.
For a full column of text, click about three times and, depending on your viewing conditions, you’ll be back at the bottom.
Click one more time and you’re at the top of the next column.
If it’s more convenient, you can remain in this mode for as long as you are reading the same article.
For More InformationGo to Adobe Acrobat Reader Online for more detailed information. You can get there by going to www.Adobe.com.
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Layout & NavigationMoving Around
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Needle in a haystack? No problem.
Trying to find a particular word or phrase? The Electronic Data Book (via Acrobat) gives you two
ways to do it. The first, and most limited, is the Acrobat “Find” command. It allows you to locate any combination of characters in the current Section (or document) only. See the heading, To Search the Current Section Only.
When you’re not sure what Section will contain the data you need, or you want cross-disciplinary information, then the Acrobat Search facility is what you’re looking for. This powerful search engine will perform a full text search of the entire Electronic Data Book in seconds and return a list of the Sections and ancillary files in which your search string appears.
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Search
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Note
Although Acrobat will perform full text searches, many of the figures are bitmapped images and the text they
contain will not be located during any type of search.
To Search All Sections From a Data Book Menu Bar
You can immediately launch a search when you start the GPSA Electronic Data Book from the Main screen.
Click on the [Search] button at the bottom of the screen. The Search dialog will open.
An index search produces a results list with links to the occurrences of the indexed documents faster than a search without an index. If the search window does not indicate an Index file to be searched, then proceed with following.
1. Type the search text, and then click [Show More Options], near the bottom of the Search window.
2. For Look In, choose [Select Index].
3. Select the index file associated with the GPSA Electronic Data Book. If the file does not appear in the index selection box, click remove. Then click Add and select the associated index with the .pdx extension and click open.
4. Click OK to close the Index Selection dialog box and proceed with search as usual.
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Search
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Search
To Search the Current Section Only
On the Acrobat Reader menu, select Edit> Find.
Type a search string in the box, and click on the [Find Next] box.
To search from back to front, click [Find Previous] box.
For More Information
More information can be obtained from the Adobe websiteby searching [search menu]. You can get there by going to www.Adobe.com.
