Govern for OpenForms Glossary
Overview
The Govern for OpenForms Glossary should be reviewed and referenced by all Govern users in order to become familiar with the terminology of Govern. When users refer to the Glossary they will be able to “speak the same language”, or get a better understanding of the Govern terminology. This will hopefully minimize the level of confusion during explanation of concepts or conversing with support.
TERMS
Access Rights
In Govern, access rights can be granted to users and groups to restrict access to functions, dataset sources, reports and jurisdictions. Four levels of access rights can be defined:
- Full Access Rights: The user can view, create, modify and delete data including the historical data for the specified jurisdiction.
- Create, Modify, Delete: The user can view, create, modify and delete data for the specified jurisdiction.
- Create and Modify: The user can view, create and modify data for the specified jurisdiction.
- Inquiry Only: The user is only able to view the data in the specified jurisdiction.
ACH Processing
The Automatic Clearing House (ACH) processing can be used for all Tax Assessment and Billing subsystems, as well as the Utility Billing subsystem. This includes Real Property Taxation, Personal Property Taxation, Aircraft Excise Tax, Boat Excise Tax and Motor Vehicle Excise Tax. In previous versions of Govern, ACH processing could only be used with the Utility Billing subsystem.
Active field
The field where your cursor is positioned so that you can enter data is the active field. Only one field can be active at a time.
To make a field active, click on it.
Active form
The form or function tab where you can currently enter data is the active form. You can have multiple forms or functions open at the same time, but only one can be active.
To make a form active, click on it.
ASCII
The American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) is a set of codes for representing alphanumeric information. Text files (*.txt) are often referred to as ASCII files.
Access Rights
In Govern, access rights can be granted to users and groups to restrict access to functions, dataset sources, reports and jurisdictions. Four levels of access rights can be defined:
Full Access Rights: The user can view, create, modify and delete data including the historical data for the specified jurisdiction.
Create, Modify, Delete: The user can view, create, modify and delete data for the specified jurisdiction.
Create and Modify: The user can view, create and modify data for the specified jurisdiction.
Inquiry Only: The user is only able to view the data in the specified jurisdiction.
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is defined as the inability of an individual or organization to pay monies owed to its creditors. This is also the name of a Govern subsystem designed to manage accounts that are in bankruptcy.
BSE
Building Structural Elements are best defined as the elements that make up a structure, i.e. walls, foundation, windows, etc.
Column
A column in the vertical dimension of a database table used for organizing the fields. A column has a name and a data type applied to all values in the column.
Context-sensitive Help
The documentation that users can access directly from an application is called context-sensitive Help. In Govern, users can access Help topics from an active form or function by clicking F1. This will launch the corresponding page on the Govern Knowledge Base. In GNA, F1 will also access the Knowledge Base page that corresponds to the active form.
Click (Clicking)
To click is to press down on the left mouse button once and release.
Click (Double click)
To double click is to press down on the left mouse button twice, in rapid succession. Double-clicking has the effect of selecting an item and initiating an action on the item, all in a single step.
For example, once you have minimized a window, you can restore it in one of two ways. One way is to click on the item and then to select Restore from pop-up menu. The other way is to double click on the window icon. This both selects and restores it at the same time.
Database
A logical collection of inter-related information managed and stored as a unit, usually on some form of mass-storage device such as a hard disk.
Data type
The characteristic of fields and variables that defines the types of values they can store. Examples include string, number, Boolean and date.
Database management system (DBMS)
A set of computer programs for organizing the information in a database. A DBMS supports the structuring of the database in a standard format and provides tools for data input, verification, storage, retrieval, query and manipulation.
DLL
A Dynamic Linked Library (DLL) is a Windows software support module used to hold extended macro commands and/or embedded windows.
Double click
To double click is to press down on the left mouse button twice, in rapid succession. Double-clicking has the effect of selecting an item and initiating an action on the item, all in a single step.
For example, once you have minimized a window, you can restore it in one of two ways. One way is to click on the item and then to select Restore from pop-up menu. The other way is to double click on the window icon. This both selects and restores it at the same time.
Drag
For repositioning a field, to drag is to select the field and, holding the left mouse button down, move it to a new location. Release the mouse button when the field is in the position you want.
| NOTE: To reposition a field, you need to use Object Dragging Mode. |
To reposition an object on the Drawing form, select it with a selection tool and, holding the left mouse button down, move it to a new location. Release the mouse button when the field is in the position you want.
To resize a form: Move the cursor along the side or corner of a form until you see a double arrow. Then hold down the left mouse button and move the form to a new size.
Refers to an electronic mail program or collectively to e-mail messages.
Field
In a database, a field is a piece of information within a record saved in a column. In NA_NAMES, the name identification, first name, last name and e-mail address are all examples of fields.
On a form or function, a field is a text box, check box or combo box into which information is entered. This information is saved in a database field.
File
A file is a collection of related data or records that are stored and collectively referred to with a single name.
Font
A font is a set of characters, for displaying on a computer screen and in print. Fonts are designed with a distinctive and easily identifiable look. In Govern, you can change the font style, size and color on the functions.
Font size
The size of a font is measured in points (pt). A typical book, for example, might use a 10 or 12 pt font for the main text and an 18 or 24 pt font for the headings. The measure of a point is typically 72 pts = 1 inch.
Footer
The report footer is the text that appears at the bottom of a report page. The footer often includes the page number and other information that describes or identifies the report.
Frozen ID
A frozen ID is an identifier for the modification status of a record.
Govern for Windows (GfW)
Govern for Windows is one of the names that the legacy Govern 10.x application is occasionally referred to as. Other names include Govern for VB6 or simply VB6. This name was used to refer to the following revisions of Govern: V8.x, V9.x, V10.x
Govern for .NET
Govern for .NET , or incorrectly .NET, is one of the names that the current version of Govern is referred to as. Other names include Govern for OpenForms or less accurately, OpenForms. This name was used to refer to the following revisions of Govern: V2.x, V3.x, V4.x, v5.x, v6.x
Grid
In Govern several functions include a grid or table to display multiple items. For example, the Building Drawing and Structural Elements function includes a grid to display the building structural elements. Required fields within the grid are displayed in white; optional fields in light gray and information fields in dark gray.
GRM
GRM or Gross Rent Multiplier, is the ratio of the price of a real estate investment to its annual rental income before expenses such as property taxes.
Header
The report header is the text that appears at the top of a report page, above the body. The header often includes the report title, company name, creation date and the range of dates covered by the report.
Host Name
This is the name of the computer server that you will be accessing.
Help Topic
A Help topic provides information on a task, request, or function.
Internet
This term refers to a computer network consisting of networks of computer networks that use the Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) network protocols to exchange data.
JPG / JPEG
JPG or JPEG refers to an image file format that support compression. The format was proposed by the Joint Photographers Expert Group an ISO steering group.
Land Management
In the context of Governs refers to the Permits and Inspections subsystem
Link
In a database, a link is a field common to two or more databases that serves as a connecting point. For example, if a customer number field is present in two databases, these fields can be used to connect the records in one database with corresponding records in the other. When you generate a report based on multiple databases, the link assures that all the data in each row on the report refers to the same customer.
In Govern, a link can be established in a variety of functions to connect other information or records; such as, additional properties, permits, inspections, names or groups to the current record.
Logical expression
A combination of fields, field values, and arithmetic logical operators from which a value of TRUE or FALSE is derived.
Many-to-one relation
A relation in which many records in one table are related to a single record in another table.
MCR
Miscellaneous Cash Receipting or (MCR) refers to a receipt of cash that is paid as a penalty or a fee, that is not covered by other categories . This payment can be applied toward a customer’s balance or an individual invoice.
An example of an MCR might be a fee for an Non Sufficient Fund (NSF) check, an administrative handling charge, a vehicle rental surcharge, a late return fee, etc.
Melissa
An address verification application which is completely integrated with the Name and Address and Property Location Maintenance functions to ensure that a valid address is being recorded and it will also reduce the cost of “bulk mailing” by generating the ZIP+4.
Menu
A menu is a list of options that appear at the top of the screen. For example, Govern includes a file, edit, view, select, options, tools, window and Help menu. Options are grouped together for ease-of-use; for example, the Select menu contains all the search options. These menus are grouped together on the main Govern menu.
Multi Window Mode
Used in pre V9.5 versions of Govern, the multi window display places each new window on top of a previous window.
The default mode for Govern is the new single window mode. See Single Window Interface.
Object
An object is an item that can be selected and manipulated. An example is a data file.
ODBC
Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) is an interface used for accessing data in a database management system. Through SQL requests added to computer programs, different types of databases can be accessed, even non-SQL databases.
One-to-many relation
A relation in which one record in a table is related to many records in another table.
PDF or Portable Document Format is the file extension that is used by electronic documents that are usually generated by Adobe Acrobat.
Permit
This is used as a general term to refer to all permit functions or Permit Kinds. These include the Building, Electrical, general and Plumbing Permits; Business Animal Licenses, Approvals, Bonds, Decisions, Prosecutions and Appeals.
Query
This is the operation that extracts a recordset from a database. A query consists of search criteria expressed in a database language like SQL.
Range
A range is a set of values that fall between and include a defined upper and lower limit, as the range 10 to 20 includes 10, 20, and all the numbers that fall between. For example, in Govern Batch Processing, you can enter a range of tax map numbers or dates to specify that a process is run only on the records that match these criteria.
Record
In a database, a record is a group of fields within a table that store data on a specific subject. For example, a record in NA_NAMES is made up of name ID, name and address, department, and logon fields for a specific user within the organization. Fields can be permanent, such as ID numbers or variable such as due dates and amounts owed in accounting records.
Recordset
This refers to a collection of data, usually compiled as a result of a query or record search. In Govern references to an external recordset usually refers to the PC_EXTERNAL table.
Report
A report is an organized and detailed presentation of data.
Report definition
A report definition is an overview of a report, listing such information as the report name, active databases and records and the report formulas.
Scroll bar, Scroll bars, Scrolling
A scroll bar is a set of right / left or up / down directional arrows for displaying text or graphical information that is too large to fit into a text box or window.
Select
For a field, form or function, to select is to make it active.
Within a menu, to select is to point and click on a menu option with the mouse in order to display a form or use a feature.
Within a drop-down list, to select is to point and click on an item in order to enter it in a field.
Within a list box, or other displayed list, to select means to highlight specific items and left-click.
| TIP: To make a multiple selection: If items are grouped together, click to highlight the first item, then hold down the Shift key and click the last item. If items are not grouped together, click to highlight the first item then hold down the Ctrl key and click the others. Left-click on the selection when it is complete. |
On a Browsing screen, to select is to make the highlighted row or record active with the Select button. On the Building Drawing tool, to select an object is to make it active using one of the selection tools. For text, to select is to highlight the text by dragging the I-beam cursor over it.
On a report, to select is to point and click on an element with the mouse in order to apply a feature to it. For example, to change the font size, first, you need to select the text. Next, select the Font option from the Format menu and highlight the new font size. This applies to the selected text only.
SQL
Structured Query Language (SQL) is a computer language used for communicating with a relational database. By structuring SQL queries, you can find, select, update, delete and insert data.
Sort order
The sort order indicates the direction data are presented on a form or report. Typically, this is in ascending (lowest to highest, earliest to latest, first to last, a to z, etc.) or descending (highest to lowest, latest to earliest, last to first, z to a, etc.) order.
Sorting
Sorting is a method of organizing the data that appears on a form or report. For example, when performing a property search, you can specify that the results be sorted by tax map number, parcel ID or name, depending on the type of information you need.
Treeview Display Area
The Treeview display area is the area on the left hand side of the interface. This area will be used to display information that is associated with the main interface, as well as search results.
Title bar
The bar that appears at the top of every function in Govern, displaying the name of the function.
Topic
A Help topic provides information about a particular task, request or function.
UNC
This refers to the Universal Naming Convention, or the path name that specifies a unique location in a file system.