Log On

When you first start the program, you must log on.  The screen shown below will appear.

The User Name and Password are both initial set to "admin", in lower case without the quotes.

Please note that the entries are case sensitive and that you must hit the RETURN key
(immediately to the right of the alphabetic keys) after you have entered each line.

Administrators should amend the default logon as required.

For more information on setting up users, please see the Admin section of this User Guide.

Throughout this guide Administrator Rights are assumed.  Access and activity will be restricted for other users.

Using Data Entry Forms

The primary data entry forms relate to the "referential data".  This is the data you must have before you can use the system for business.

The referential data comprises Resource Records (materials, assemblies and production processes),
Business Contacts (suppliers and customers) and Assembly Definitions & Bills of Materials.

When you first enter data entry forms, the fist thing you will see is a tab showing a list of current records.  The screen shot below shows the Resources Records form.

Clicking an entry on the list will take you to first data page.

The Record Card interface of Merlin MRP Factory is stunningly powerful, as you will find as you become familiar with the the software.

The screen-shot above of a Stock Record Card shows how the tab structure is used
to provide at a click access to huge amounts of information. (You will notice many features on this screen, but we will deal with them specifically in the Resources section.)

This layout is common throughout Merlin MRP Factory. Clicking a tab gives you the page containing the information indicated. You will notice the Notes Tab. Wherever appropriate, Merlin MRP Factory provides you with an unlimited text area to make notes about the item in question.
 

Navigation

By far the quickest way of navigating from record card to record card is to click the first Page tab (Resources in the picture above) finding the record you require, by scrolling up and down
if necessary, and clicking the correct line.

You can also move around the file by using the Navigator tool illustrated below, and you will also need to use this to Add a record, Edit a record etc.

The four buttons on the left will, respectively, take you to the First Record, the Previous Record,
the Next Record and the Last Record.

The fifth is the Find Button, which presents a dialogue screen for you to find a particular record,
using a drop-down combo.  This is useful if you would prefer to key-in the Record ID,
but selecting from the list represents the preferred method of record selection.

The next button along will, where appropriate, allow you to print a report directly relating to the screen.

The fourth button from the right adds a New Record to the file and places the form in Edit Mode
so that you can enter the details.

Third from the right is the Edit Button, which places the form into Edit Mode on the currently
selected record, so you can amend the data, where appropriate.

Second to last is the Delete Button, which will allow you to delete the currently selected record,
where allowed. (The Merlin Data Guard will check and tell you if a record is protected.)

Last on the right is the Close Button, which closes the form and returns you to the Command Centre.

When the form is in Edit Mode, the New Record Button changes into a Save Button, and the
Edit Button changes into a Revert Button. These do pretty much as you'd expect
The Save Button saves your work, the Revert Button undoes your work if you have made
a mistake, or want to back out for any reason, each then closing Edit Mode.

If you forget what a button does, just hold the mouse pointer over it and an explanations will appear. This feature is used elsewhere on Merlin screens.

Please note: in some instances certain buttons are disabled if they have no appropriate function
on the screen in question, or if they are inappropriate for the logged-on user.
 

Viewing Reports on Screen

Almost every report you print can, if you wish, be viewed on screen instead.   The on screen representation is a facsimile of the printed copy, and a tool bar is provided for you to navigate the screen view:-

The five buttons on the left are used for navigating backwards and forwards through the pages
of the report.  The middle button in this group allows you to jump to a particular page number
within the report.

The drop-down combo enables you to scale the view of the report to suit your monitor's
resolution. The button to the right with the little doorway and an arrow is for closing
the screen view of the report, and is the only way you should exit this display.

The final button with the printer icon is for making a hard copy print of the report.
If you choose to view a report on screen, it will not be printed unless you click this button.

You can Maximise the window if necessary by clicking its Maximise button in the top right-hand corner.

Next Steps

Before you can use Merlin productively you must know your way around the software,
and understand the sequence of tasks required to manage your production workflow.

Next, you should view the OverView section of this User Guide, and the
QuickStart Guide which is available by clicking the button on the Merlin MRP Factory
Control Centre.

Links

[User Guide]    [OverView]    [Resources Centre]    [MarketPlace]    [Design Office]    [Job Tracker]    [Shop Floor]
[Buying Office]    [Admin]