This
site is dedicated entirely to users of Garden Software developed by
ideasforgardens.com
Flower Genie- Basic Software for Gardeners
If
you DON’T already have a copy, Click HERE to read about it and buy your copy.
Other
Links:- About
us Ideas for Gardens Cultivars Garden Photos Garden
Software Garden
Paintings
Document Name: Getting Started
Document Issue Date: 28th Dec 2005
Flower Genie - Getting Started
Flower Genie on the Web – Home
page
Please print this item and read it thoroughly. It
describes the simple steps we recommend to help you "Getting Started"
to Flower Genie.
Completing each step will undoubtedly make your experience
more enjoyable.
If you are installing from CD start here. If you downloaded Flower Genie from
the internet, go to Step 2
1 Installing
Flower Genie has
an auto installer. Insert the Flower Genie CD into the drive. The system will
attempt to start the Auto Installer. Please wait, as this may take up to 30 secs. The Install screen should appear. The Auto Installer
will present you with a number of prompt screens during the procedure. Don’t worry, you don’t have ANY decisions to make. Your response
is very simple. Click a series of next and finish buttons to install the
software. We recommend that you do NOT change any settings. Please read the End
User Licence agreement when presented during
installation.
2
Starting Flower Genie
When installed, the Flower Genie Icon
will appear on your desktop. The icon is a yellow flower.
Start Flower Genie by clicking on the Flower Genie Icon. You will get a message
advising you that Flower Genie is not registered. Press OK and continue. (You
don’t need to register yet)
You will be presented with a screen with an array of
Program Options.
These are the more commonly used programs.
There are other programs in the Flower Genie system which can
be started by clicking on the menu tabs along the very top of the screen.
When getting started, concentrate on the programs on the
selection screen.
3 That explained, lets get started.
The first thing you need to do is customise
the system for your own personal use.
Run the program "Preferences - FG198". You can:
a) set the date format to suit
your locality.
b) choose your language. If the
language set (2 languages, one of which is ALWAYS English) does not include
your language, you can download an alternative language set from the Flower
Genie Product support web site.
c) Set the currency character
d) Check or Uncheck the “Allow auto Screen Resizing” checkbox
When Unchecked (Off), the Flower Genie screens will be as designed, to fill a
monitor at a computer 800x600 resolution setting.
Most new computers and monitors are designed for higher resolution settings. To
take advantage of this, Flower Genie has inbuilt software to automatically
detect YOUR screen resolution on starting the system.
When “Allow auto Screen Resizing” is Checked (ON) Flower Genie will RESIZE to
maximum to fill your screen.
This is a big advantage when you are viewing photos.
The disadvantage is that some objects (buttons, lists, captions etc) can be a
little bit misaligned.
By default, the setting is “ON”.
If you find the screens appearing in any way “unusual”, go into preferences and
uncheck the setting, thus setting resizing “Off”.
Your feedback on anything unusual would be appreciated (please report your
Windows version and screen resolution setting, dual screen etc)
Click the button "Save Changes" and the Preferences program will
close.
NEXT:
Lets add a plant to your
database. Every gardener has a plants "Wish
List"
Start the program "My Plants and Garden -
FG037".
When the initial screen is displayed, you'll find that the
dummy plant supplied with the system is selected, and a photo is shown.
DONT delete this until you have added at least one plant
of your own.
Click on the "Add a Plant" button.
Screen FG100S40-Working with a Plant Profile appears, in
ADD mode.
We need to enter the name of a plant in the "Plant
Name" field.
You can simply type the plant name and details into the
appropriate field.
Alternatively:
Minimize Flower Genie
Open your web browser
Visit your favourite gardening
web site
Find and copy a plant name
Minimize the browser
Maximize Flower Genie
Paste the name into the appropriate field.
If you've copied a block of text, paste it into the Plant
Data field. Once you've done that, you can copy and paste sections from the
text into appropriate fields in the Plant Profile.
To complete the operation, click on the "Add" button at the bottom of
the screen.
You are returned to the initial screen (FG037S01)
Flower Genie refreshes the displayed list to include your
new plant.
Add a few more plants.
NEXT:
You should run the program "Make Gardens- FG042"
Click on the "New" button to the right of the
Gardens pop-up. (it says None Defined)
Screen FG042S02 appears. Fill in the fields to create a
Gardens profile.
As a minimum, enter your own Firstname and Surname, then click Add.
Play with that program. Use the "Add a Garden
Divider" and "Add a Garden Area" buttons to "Make"
your garden.
Make a garden area called "My Wish List", for
use in the next step in this "Getting Started" exercise.
Every time you add a Garden Divider or a Garden Area, the
new element is added to the displayed list.
Use the Nudge buttons to arrange the elements into your
preferred order.
If you need to edit a line to rename a Garden Area, simply
double click on the line to access the "Change" screen.
NEXT:
Lets add the new plants (created with
program FG037 above) to your "Wish List" (created using FG042 above)
Start the program "Link Plants to Gardens -
FG038"
The initial screen FG038S01 appears.
There are 2 lists.
On the left, a list capable of displaying all of the
plants in your database (can also display filtered lists)
On the right, your garden areas.
Use the pop-ups to select your garden area called "Wish
List" (created using FG042 in the exercise above)
You'll see an "A-Z" set of buttons above the
list on the left. Click on the "All" button
Click on one of the plants in the list (on the left.)
In the centre of the screen, click on the Arrow button which
points to the right.
Flower Genie adds the plant to your wish list, and
displays it in the list on the right.
Do this for any plants which you wish to add to garden
areas.
To remove a plant from a garden area, simply select the
plant listed in your garden area, and click the button pointing to the left.
NEXT:
Photos -
We’ve prepared a number of simple lessons. Under the Help
tab on the Menu, click “Lessons”.
Do the lesson FG030-1
Things to
explain about "The Flower Genie Menu"
The System Tab
There are some important programs located under the System
tab on the menu. You'll find:
Programs for essential System
Maintenance.
(Backups, configuration, etc)
An Exit option to allow you to
close the Flower Genie application. Use the Exit button at all times for normal shut down of
Flower Genie.
The Edit
Tab
Copy and Paste options for use in
the Flower Genie programs with features for downloading data from the internet.
The Files
Tab
Programs to allow you to personalise the files used by the Flower Genie application.
e.g. Plant Types- FG018 - This
program allows you to add, edit and delete the definitions of Plant Types used.
For example, as supplied, we have defined a plant type
called "Annual" to make the software "universal".
If you are in the
The HELP
Tab
Click on the Flower Genie "Help" menu pad and
click on the option "Help Topics".
Read ALL Topics. They are quite short but give a huge
insight into Flower Genie.
Pay particular attention to:-
a) "Program,
screen and report naming Convention"
We have our reasons for what one user described as
"cryptic" program names. Read how Screen names and Report names relate
to Program Names and how these names help you to refer precisely to any element
of the system when seeking support.
b) "Help Icons and their use'
When you click on this topic the Example button at the
bottom of the screen is enabled. Click on it and learn how to use the Help Icon
which appears on many screens in the Flower Genie system.
This step is essential if you wish to learn how to use the
inbuilt Flower Genie Help facility correctly.
c) "Instruction abbreviations"
A scheme to cut down on instruction
text in email correspondence and lessons.
REMEMBER:
ALWAYS USE THE EXIT BUTTON TO CLOSE THE FLOWER GENIE
APPLICATION.
YOU RUN THE RISK OF DAMAGING FILES IF YOU TURN YOUR
COMPUTER OFF WHEN A FLOWER GENIE
PROGRAM IS RUNNING.
Flower Genie on the Web – Home
page
Links
to the some of the Main Sections of our other sites on the Web
About us Ideas
For Gardens HOME page Cultivars Garden Photos Garden
Software Garden
Paintings