User Guide > User Guide > Getting Started with Director > Interface Design > Main Menu Ribbon Tabs
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Main Menu Ribbon Tabs
Director’s main menu ribbon lets you invoke operations for selected or displayed objects in the Instance Explorer or Multiple Document Interface (see Multiple Document Interface).
The items displayed on the menu tabs are context-sensitive, meaning they are enabled or disabled depending on the context of the application—typically, depending on what is currently selected.
The menu ribbon contains the following tabs:
Each tab groups tools in functional areas. For example, the Home tab contains a File area that groups the tools New, Open, Close, Save, Save As, and Save All.
Home Tab
The Home menu tab contains icons in the following areas:
• File
• Edit
• View
• Options
• Exit
File Options
The icons in this section perform file operations on documents displayed in the Multiple Document Interface.
New
Creates a new query for the currently selected installation. This command opens a new query tab in the Multiple Document Interface. For more information, see Create a New Query.
Shortcut: Ctrl+N
Open
Lets you browse for and open an existing SQL file from a file chooser dialog (see File Chooser Dialog). For more information, see Open an Existing Query.
Shortcut: Ctrl+O
Close
Closes the open document currently selected in the Multiple Document Interface. For more information, see Close a Document.
Save
Saves the open document currently selected in the Multiple Document Interface. For more information, see Save an Unsaved Document.
Shortcut: Ctrl+S
Save As
Saves the open document currently selected in the Multiple Document Interface, letting you specify a name and location. For more information, see Save an Unsaved Document.
Shortcut: Shift+Ctrl+S
Save All
Saves all currently open documents that can be saved
Edit Options
The icons in this section perform editing operations on documents displayed in the Multiple Document Interface (see Multiple Document Interface).
Paste
Pastes text from the clipboard
Shortcut: Ctrl+V
Cut
Cuts any selected text to the clipboard
Shortcut: Ctrl+X
Copy
Copies any selected text to the clipboard
Shortcut: Ctrl+C
Select All
Selects all text in the current field or document
Shortcut: Ctrl+A
View Options
The icons in this section of the Home tab control what is displayed in the IDE (see Interface Design).
Instance Explorer
Shows or hides the Instance Explorer
Start Page
Shows or hides the Start Page
Windows
Lets you select an open page to make it the active page in the Multiple Document Interface
Refresh
Refreshes the objects listed in the Instance Explorer
Options Icon
The Options icon on the Home tab opens the Options dialog (see Options Dialog). For more information, see Setting Options for Director.
Exit Icon
Clicking this icon closes the Director desktop client.
Connection Tab
The Connection menu tab provides options pertaining to instance connection. It contains the following areas:
• Connection
• Server Control
• Support
Connection Options
The icons in this section of the Connection tab perform connection operations on instances displayed in the Instance Explorer.
Connect
Opens the Connect to Instance dialog to connect to an instance (see Connect to an Actian Database Instance) in the Instance Explorer
Disconnect
Disconnects the currently selected instance (see Disconnect from an Actian Database Installation)
Refresh
Refreshes all currently connected instances displayed in the Instance Explorer
Server Control Options
The icons in this section of the Connection tab perform start and stop operations on database instances selected in the Instance Explorer.
Start
Starts the instance or server selected in the Instance Explorer
Start as Service
(Windows only) Starts the instance or server selected in the Instance Explorer as a service (see Start an Instance)
Stop
Stops the instance or server selected in the Instance Explorer (see Stop an Instance)
Support Options
The icons in this section of the Connection tab provide support operations on database instances selected in the Instance Explorer.
Logs
Displays server side logs in a tab of the Multiple Document Interface (see Multiple Document Interface)
Translate Ports
Opens the Translate Between Port Values dialog, which lets you translate alphabetic or alphanumeric instance IDs to numeric port values or vice versa (see Translating Between Instance IDs and Port Values)
Database Tab
The options on the Database tab let you initiate operations for database elements. It contains the following areas:
• Database
• Security
• Import Data (Actian Vector only)
Database Options
The icons in this section of the Database tab perform operations on databases and database objects displayed in the Instance Explorer.
Database
Contains the following options for performing database operations:
New Database
Opens the New Database dialog (see New Database Dialog). For more information, see Create a Database Create a Database.
Back Up
Opens the Backup Database dialog (see Backup Database Dialog). For more information, see Back Up a Database.
Restore
Opens the Restore Database dialog (see Restore Database Dialog). For more information, see Restore a Database.
Generate Statistics
Opens the Generate Statistics dialog (see Generate Statistics Dialog). For more information, see Generate Statistics.
Display Statistics
Opens the Display Statistics dialog (see Display Statistics Dialog). For more information, see Display Statistics.
Modify System Tables
Opens the Modify System Tables dialog (see Modify System Tables Dialog). For more information, see Modify System Tables.
Modify User Tables
Opens the Modify User Tables dialog (see Modify User Tables Dialog). For more information, see Modify User Tables.
Verify
Opens the Verify Database dialog (see Verify Database Dialog). For more information, see Verify a Database.
Alter
Opens the Alter Database dialog (see Alter Database Dialog). For more information, see Alter a Database.
Extend
Opens the Extend Database dialog (see Extend Database Dialog). For more information, see Extend a Database.
Display Information
Opens the Display Database Information dialog (see Display Database Information Dialog). For more information, see Display Database Information.
Delete Database
Opens the Delete Database dialog (see Delete Database Dialog). For more information, see Delete a Database.
Database Properties
Opens the Database Properties dialog (see Database Properties Dialog). For more information, see View Database Properties.
Table
Contains the following options for performing table and index operations:
New Table
Opens a new table document (see New Table Interface) in the Multiple Document Interface. For more information, see Creating Tables.
Delete Table
Opens the Delete Table dialog so that you can delete the table currently selected in the Instance Explorer. For more information, see Delete a Table.
Table Properties
Opens the Table Properties dialog (see Table Properties Dialog). For more information, see View Table Properties.
Set Primary Key
Opens the Set Primary Key dialog. For more information, see Assign Primary Keys.
New Index
Opens the New Index dialog (see Index Dialog). For more information, see Create an Index.
Delete Index
Opens the Delete Index dialog. For more information, see Delete an Index.
Index Properties
Opens the Index Properties dialog. For more information, see Viewing Properties for Objects.
View
Contains the following options for performing view operations:
New View
Opens the New View dialog (see New View Dialog). For more information, see Create a View.
Delete View
Opens the Delete View dialog. For more information, see Delete a View.
View Properties
Opens the View Properties dialog (see View Properties Dialog). For more information, see Viewing Properties for Objects.
Procedure
Contains the following options for performing procedure operations:
New Procedure
Opens the New Procedure dialog (see Procedure Dialog). For more information, see Create a Procedure.
Modify Procedure
Opens the selected procedure in an MDI tab. For more information, see Modify a Procedure.
Delete Procedure
Opens the Delete Procedure dialog. For more information, see Delete a Procedure.
Procedure Properties
Opens the Procedure Properties dialog. For more information, see View Procedure Properties.
Sequence
Contains the following options for performing sequence operations:
New Sequence
Opens the New Sequence dialog (see Sequence Dialog). For more information, see Create a Sequence.
Modify Sequence
Opens the Sequence dialog (see Sequence Dialog). For more information, see Modify a Sequence.
Delete Sequence
Opens the Delete Sequence dialog. For more information, see Delete a Sequence.
Sequence Properties
Opens the Sequence Properties dialog. For more information, see View Sequence Properties.
Event
Contains the following options for performing event operations:
New Event
Opens the New Database Event dialog (see Database Event Dialog). For more information, see Create an Event.
Delete Event
Opens the Delete Database Event dialog. For more information, see Delete an Event.
Event Properties
Opens the Database Event Properties dialog. For more information, see View Event Properties.
Synonym
Contains the following options for performing synonym operations:
New Synonym
Opens the New Synonym dialog (see Synonym Dialog). For more information, see Create a Synonym.
Delete Synonym
Opens the Delete Synonym dialog. For more information, see Delete a Synonym.
Synonym Properties
Opens the Synonym Properties dialog. For more information, see View Synonym Properties.
Security Options
The icons in this section of the Database tab perform operations at the installation level on users, groups, roles, and profiles displayed in the Instance Explorer.
User
Contains the following options for performing operations on user accounts:
New User
Opens the New User dialog (see User Dialog). For more information, see Create a New User.
Modify User
Opens the Modify User dialog (see User Dialog). For more information, see Modify a User.
Delete User
Opens the Delete User dialog. For more information, see Delete a User, Group, Role, or Profile.
User Properties
Opens the User Properties dialog. For more information, see View Properties for Users, Profiles, Groups, or Roles.
Group
Contains the following options for performing operations on user groups:
New Group
Opens the New Group dialog (see Group Dialog). For more information, see Create a New Group.
Modify Group
Opens the Modify Group dialog (see Group Dialog). For more information, see Modify a Group.
Delete Group
Opens the Delete Group dialog. For more information, see Delete a User, Group, Role, or Profile.
Group Properties
Opens the Group Properties dialog. For more information, see View Properties for Users, Profiles, Groups, or Roles.
Role
Contains the following options for performing operations on user roles:
New Role
Opens the New Role dialog (see Role Dialog). For more information, see Create a Role.
Modify Role
Opens the Modify Role dialog (see Role Dialog). For more information, see Modify a Role.
Delete Role
Opens the Delete Role dialog. For more information, see Delete a User, Group, Role, or Profile.
Role Properties
Opens the Role Properties dialog. For more information, see View Properties for Users, Profiles, Groups, or Roles.
Profile
Contains the following options for performing operations on user profiles:
New Profile
Opens the New Profile dialog (see Profile Dialog). For more information, see Create a New Profile.
Modify Profile
Opens the Modify Profile dialog (see Profile Dialog). For more information, see Modify a Profile.
Delete Profile
Opens the Delete Profile dialog. For more information, see Delete a User, Group, Role, or Profile.
Profile Properties
Opens the Profile Properties dialog. For more information, see View Properties for Users, Profiles, Groups, or Roles.
Import Data (Actian Vector only)
The Import Data icon is available only for Actian Vector databases. It opens the Actian Director Import Wizard. For more information, see Import Data into an Actian Vector Table with the Import Wizard.
Query Tab
The icons on this tab perform operations on queries displayed in the Multiple Document Interface (see Multiple Document Interface). It contains the following areas:
• Query
• Edit
• Execute
• Result Output
• Context
For more information, see Query Document Toolbar.
Query Options
The icons in this section perform file operations on documents displayed in the Multiple Document Interface.
New
Creates a new query for the currently selected installation. This command opens a new query tab in the Multiple Document Interface. For more information, see Create a New Query.
Shortcut: Ctrl+N
Open
Lets you browse for and open an existing SQL file from a file chooser dialog (see File Chooser Dialog). For more information, see Open an Existing Query.
Shortcut: Ctrl+O
Close
Closes the open document currently selected in the Multiple Document Interface. For more information, see Close a Document.
Save
Saves the open document currently selected in the Multiple Document Interface. For more information, see Save an Unsaved Document.
Shortcut: Ctrl+S
Save As
Saves the open document currently selected in the Multiple Document Interface, letting you specify a name and location. For more information, see Save an Unsaved Document.
Shortcut: Shift+Ctrl+S
Save All
Saves all currently open documents that can be saved
Edit Options
The icons in this section perform editing operations on documents displayed in the Multiple Document Interface (see Multiple Document Interface).
Paste
Pastes text from the clipboard
Shortcut: Ctrl+V
Cut
Cuts any selected text to the clipboard
Shortcut: Ctrl+X
Copy
Copies any selected text to the clipboard
Shortcut: Ctrl+C
Select All
Selects all text in the current field or document
Shortcut: Ctrl+A
Execute Icon
The icon in this section of the Query tab executes a whole or partial query displayed in the Multiple Document Interface (see Multiple Document Interface).
Execute
Runs the query in the active MDI tab. If text is selected in the query, it runs that portion of the query.
Shortcut: F9
Result Output Options
The icons in this section of the Query tab set options for the display or writing of query results. Select one of the following options before you execute a query:
Grid
Displays the results in graphical format on a tab in the lower half of the MDI, below the query
Text
Displays the results in text format on a tab in the lower half of the MDI, below the query
File
Sends the results to a text file, whose name you must specify in the Save As dialog after executing the query
Spreadsheet
Sends comma-delimited results to a CSV file, whose name you must specify in the Save As dialog, and opens the file in the default spreadsheet program (Windows only)
For more information about specifying the default output for query results, see Specify Default Output Format and Location for Query Results.
Context Options
The icons in this section of the Query tab set the context for query operations.
Instance
Specifies an available instance to perform queries on. Instances listed in the drop-down menu are limited to those installations connected in the Instance Explorer. To connect another instance, see Connect to an Actian Database Instance.
Database
Lists the databases in the selected instance. To query a database, select it from the drop-down.
Help Tab
The icons on this tab provide links to the following online resources:
• Actian Homepage
• Actian Community Website
• Actian Community Forums
• Actian Blogs
• Customer Portal
• Knowledge Base
• Documentation (http://docs.actian.com/)
• Downloads ESD (http://esd.actian.com/)
The Local Help icon opens the Director help system (JavaHelp).
The About icon displays a dialog about the version and build of Director.
The Support Options icon opens a topic in the Director help system that describe your Actian Support options.
Last modified date: 04/24/2023