Backstage View (File Tab)

The Backstage view (File tab) is the first view you will see when you start the application. It allows you to work with databases and application-level settings. In other words, the Backstage view allows you to do things to a database, while the commands on the other tabs of the Ribbon allow you to do things within the database.

To access the Backstage view from within the application, click the File tab on the Ribbon. You can click any Ribbon tab to exit the Backstage view and return to the MDI workspace.

The area on the left side of the Backstage view is called the Tab Pane. It contains commands for working with the database and access to the tabs of the Backstage view.

The following commands are available in the Tab Pane:

Save As saves a copy of the standard database to another pathname/filename and/or file type. You can save it as a new standard database (*.rsr9) or a compressed standard database (*.rsgz9).

Tip: Note that Synthesis applications do not provide a Save command because changes are saved automatically as you work in all database-driven Synthesis applications. If you used to rely on the ability to close a standalone file without saving recent changes, the Restore Points feature provides similar functionality within Synthesis. [Learn more...]

Pack and E-mail compresses a copy of the current standard database to a *.rsgz9 file and attaches it to a new e-mail message. If no e-mail program is installed or no default e-mail program is defined on the computer, a message notifying you of this will be shown. This command is not available if you are working with an enterprise database.

When you open the compressed file, a new database will be created from that file and saved in your local drive (C:\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\ReliaSoft\Files). Any changes made to the new database will not affect the original copy.

Open Repository opens an existing standard database (*.rsr9) or enterprise database (*.rserp), or a compressed standard database (*.rsgz9). You also can select a database file in the Windows Explorer and double-click or drag it into the MDI to open it. If you want to convert a database that was created with MPC 3, choose the appropriate option from the drop-down list in the Open Database window.

Close Repository closes the database. You also can close the database by opening another database or by exiting the application.

Recent shows a list of recently opened database files (*.rsr9 and *.rserp) and a list of recently accessed locations. Clicking a database will open it, and clicking a location will allow you to browse for databases in that location. The number of items in these lists is set in the Recent Repository List area of the Synthesis Setup. You can pin items to a list by clicking the pushpin icon associated with the item; when the pin is vertical, the item will not roll off the list.
New allows you to create a new standard database or a new connection file for access to an enterprise database.
Launch Application provides quick launch icons for other Synthesis applications that are installed on your computer. If you are currently connected to a database when you click one of these icons, the same database will automatically be opened in the new application.

Manage Repository contains tools that control various database-level settings. These include:
Note: Most of these tools are available only when a repository is currently open. If you are working in a secure database, some tools may not appear at all. Your access to these tools is based on the permissions assigned to your user account.

- Security

Authorized Users controls the users who can access a secure database.

Prior Logins displays a list of prior logins to the current database and allows you to export this information to Excel.

Reset "In Use" Flags allows you to reset the flags that indicate the "in use" status of projects or items within a project.

- Notifications

E-mail Settings controls whether e-mail notifications are enabled and when they are sent.

Notification Groups allows you to define distribution groups to receive e-mail notifications.

- Repository Settings

Manage Units allows you to define the time units available for use in any project within the database.

Task Types allows you to modify the abbreviations used for the MSG-3 task types.

Project Categories allows you to define the categories that can be used to filter the projects displayed in the project list.

Restore Points allows you to manage restore points, which are exact replicas of the project at a particular point in time (i.e., backups) that can be restored when and if needed.

Compact and Repair helps to reduce the size of the current database to protect against data loss or file corruption. For details on protecting your data, see Backups and Database Maintenance.

- Enterprise

Repository Creation opens a wizard that leads you through the steps to create a new enterprise repository (SQL Server or Oracle database). To use this option, you must have access to a server with a supported version of SQL Server or Oracle and you must have the appropriate permissions to create a new database on the server.

Note that if no database is currently open, the Repository Creation wizard and the Upgrade Repository wizard are the only options available.

Upgrade Repository allows you transfer all of the existing data from a Version 8 enterprise database to a Version 9 enterprise database.

Note that if no database is currently open, the Repository Creation wizard and the Upgrade Repository wizard are the only options available.

The Help Center provides a variety of resources to help you use the application more effectively.

In addition, the Help Center displays information about the application, including the Compile Release Version (CRV) and License information.

Application Setup opens the Application Setup, which allows you to set your preferences for working with analyses, such as the default task group number, the MSI number format and the like. The settings apply only to the current computer/username, and they do not affect the results of the analyses.

Synthesis Setup opens the Synthesis Setup, which allows you to set your preferences for the database, such as when to backup the database, the color-scheme of the interface and the like. The settings apply only to the current computer/username, and they do not affect the results of the analyses.

ReliaSoft Online Pane

The area on the right side of the Backstage view is called the ReliaSoft Online Pane.