Graphical User Interface

Navigation: GUI Tools and Tree Options > Dashboard

Dashboard

Page Contents

Description

Quick Start

Help and Learning Resources

Description

The Dashboard offers a convenient way to access some of FRED's most commonly used functions. When you open FRED for the first time, the Dashboard appears as shown below.

This Dashboard is organized into the following sections:

•Quick Start

•Help & Learning Resources

•Recent Files

•Pinned Files

•License

•Tip of the Day

Quick Start

The Quick Start section displays shortcuts to working with files and setting your preferences.

Icon	Shortcut from Menu
New Document	File > New FRED document
New Script	File > New Script document
Open File	File > Open
Import CAD	File > Import > Import CAD File
Import Optics	File > Import > Import Optics File
Preferences	Tools > Preferences

For detailed help on these specific functions, please see the File Commands and Tools - Preferences sections of this Online Help.

Help & Learning Resources

The Help and Learning Resources section displays shortcuts to some helpful resources both online and within FRED.

Icon	Shortcut from Menu
FRED Overview	Opens a document that provides an overview of the entire application. Dashboard shortcut for menu selection: Help > Overview (PDF).
Tutorials	Opens FRED’s Online Help. Dashboard shortcut for menu selection: Help > Help Topics.
Sample Files	Navigates to the current release’s Resources/Samples folder. Dashboard shortcut for menu selection: Help > Browse Sample Files.
Website	Opens www.photonengr.com
New Features	Opens a document that lists all the latest changes and enhancements to FRED. Dashboard shortcut for menu selection: Help > New Features (PDF).

Recent Files

The Recent Files section lists the last four files you have opened. You can open any of the files just by clicking on the file name. The list of Recent Files also displays below the Print options in the File menu and is described in more detail in the File - Recent Files section of this Online Help.

NOTE: If you are disconnected from your network, any networked recent or pinned files are removed from the list.

Pinned Files

The Pinned Files section, just below the list of your most recently opened files, provides a convenient way to easily access a list of important or commonly-used files. Just click on the file name to open the file.

To add a file to the list:

1.		First, open the file to be pinned. Make sure it is the selected / active file in the Document Window.
2.		Select File > Add to Pinned File List from the menu.
3.		The file immediately appears in the list of Pinned Files on the Dashboard and in the list of Pinned Files at the bottom of the File menu.

To remove a file from the list:

1.		First, open the file to be removed. Make sure it is the selected / active file in the Document Window.
2.		Select File > Remove From Pinned File List from the menu.
3.		The file is immediately removed from the list of Pinned Files and from the list of Pinned Files at the bottom of the File menu.

NOTE: If you are disconnected from your network, any networked recent or pinned files are removed from the list.

License

The License section provides information about your FRED version and license.

Option	Description
Check for Newer Version	You can check for newer FRED versions or updates by clicking on the Check for Newer Version button. The Check for Updates dialog box displays version information. If a newer version of FRED is available, the Download Release button is enabled. Click on the Download Release button to access the Download Manager on Photon Engineering’s website and begin the download process.
License Info	You can click on the License Info button to open the Software License Authorization dialog box. For more help with this dialog box, please read the Help - Authorization section of this Online Help.
Support Status	If your technical support expiration date is in the past, Support Status displays as “Expired”. If your technical support expiration date is in the future, Support Status displays as “Current”.
Support Expiry	This displays the date that your FRED support agreement expires.

Tip of the Day

A new Tip of the Day displays each time FRED is opened.

Navigation

You can control the Dashboard’s display behavior in several ways:

Method	Description
On the Dashboard	You can select or deselect the two options provided on the Dashboard: If Always show this page at startup is checked, the Dashboard displays each time you open FRED. Uncheck if you do not want to see the Dashboard automatically upon startup. If Close whenever a FRED file is open is checked, the Dashboard automatically closes when you open a file. Uncheck if you want to keep the Dashboard open along with your open FRED files.
From the Tools Menu	Select Tools > Preferences from the menu. Then, select the Miscellaneous tab. By default, Show dashboard on startup is checked. The Dashboard displays when FRED is opened for the first time. Uncheck this option if you do not want to see the Dashboard automatically upon startup. By default, Close dashboard on open file is unchecked. The Dashboard remains open as you work in FRED. Check this option if you want the Dashboard to automatically close when you open a file. (Keep unchecked if you want to keep the Dashboard open along with your open FRED files.)
On the Document Tab	Click on the X in the Dashboard tab in the bottom left corner of the document screen above the Output Window.
From the Toolbar	Click on the Dashboard icon on the File Toolbar. (This acts as a toggle. Click once to close. Click again to open.)
From the Help Menu	Select Help > Close Dashboard from the menu. (This acts as a toggle. If the Dashboard is closed, the menu option says Open Dashboard.)