Understanding the Flex Operations Workspace
The Flex Operations workspace is displayed after successfully logging on.
The workspace is comprised of a banner and a panel for displaying tools (for example,
Events and Crews and
Event Details).
![Screen capture of Flex Operations page showing the banner and an empty tool pane. Screen capture of Flex Operations page showing the banner and an empty tool pane.](../NMS/images/flexOpsWindowIllustrated.png)
Understanding the Workspace Banner
The Flex Workspace banner displays connection information and access to the tools you need to manage outages:
![Screen capture of banner showing the Oracle logo, the application name (OracleUtilities NMS Flex Operations), the connection status, the Tool Selector, and the user menu. Screen capture of banner showing the Oracle logo, the application name (OracleUtilities NMS Flex Operations), the connection status, the Tool Selector, and the user menu.](../NMS/images/flexOpsBanner.png)
The banner contains the following information and interaction buttons.
1. Application Name
2. Connection Indicator
3. Tools Selection Menu
4. User Menu
Understanding the Connection Indicator
The Connection Indicator shows the client's connection status and a system time based on that status.
• Connected clients display a link symbol, the word Connected, and the current system (server's) date and time.
• Disconnected clients display a broken link symbol, the word Disconnected, and the date and time when the disconnect occurred.
Note: You cannot view or edit any information while disconnected.
Understanding the Tool Selector
The
Tool Selector (
![Tool selector button is four boxes and a drop-down downward arrow. Tool selector button is four boxes and a drop-down downward arrow.](../NMS/images/flexOpsToolSelectorIcon.png)
) provides a drop‑down list of tools that you may open or switch between. The options are:
Note: To close a tool, click the
Close button (
![Close button is an X. Close button is an X.](../NMS/images/flexOpsCloseTool.png)
) on the tool's tab or in the tool's title bar.
Understanding the User Menu
The User menu provides the following options.
• About: Displays version and other application information.
• Settings: Launches a Settings dialog box that allows you to configure the appearance or behavior of certain user interface elements.
• Accessibility Mode: When selected, enables features to improve the accessibility of the application, such as modifying keyboard navigation and optimizing for screen readers
• Dark Theme: Switches the user interface to a dark theme, which is suitable for low light conditions. This setting is saved with your User Preferences.
• Alternate Row Coloring: When selected, data table rows will have alternating colors.
• Allow Clicking Table Headings to Sort: When selected, you can click the column heading to sort the table on that column. If it is not selected then you must use the Sort button on the Sort/Quick Filter toolbar that is displayed beneath column headings when they are hovered with the mouse or touched on a touch enabled device. See
Understanding Table Sorting and
Understanding Table Filtering for more information on sorting and filtering tables.
• Show Shortcut Text on Checkboxes/Radio Buttons: When selected, check boxes and radio buttons will show an associated shortcut key in their label, if one exists. This setting allows you to disable the label shortcut text if you feel you are familiar enough with them. For example, in the illustration below, the Map
Hide/Display Landbase option is not showing a shortcut when the check box (from this
Settings option) is deselected [1] and showing the shortcut (B) when the check box is selected [2]; any configured shortcuts for check boxes and radio buttons will always be shown in the tooltip if hovered with the mouse [3].
![Screen captures of shortcut key label hidden [1], displayed [2], and shown in hover text [3]. Screen captures of shortcut key label hidden [1], displayed [2], and shown in hover text [3].](../NMS/images/flexOpsShowShortcutOnCheckboxRadio.png)
• Thicker Scroll Bars: When selected, makes vertical and horizontal scroll bars wider than their default. This setting is saved with your User Preferences.
• Logout: Logs you out of Flex Operations.
Understanding the Tabbed User Interface
You can toggle between tools by using the tabs at the bottom of the Workspace. Most tools open a tab at the bottom of the Flex Operations client workspace.
You may switch between tools by clicking the tool's tab. For some tools, when you open a different instance (such as an event or switching sheet), the tab updates with the identification of the current instance; for example, if you have Event 1284 open in Event Details, and then open Event 1285, the tab will update to Event 1285 and load that event's data.
Starting Multiple Instances of a Tool
Details Tools
Details tools such as event details or switching sheets by default reuse existing tools of the same type to keep the number of open tools and resources used by the application to a minimum. If you want to view the details of multiple objects at the same time this can be accomplished in one of two ways:
1. By "pinning" an existing instance of the tool by toggling the "Pin these details open so they will not be overwritten by other details" button (
![Pin event window icon. Pin event window icon.](../NMS/images/flexOpsPinEventWindowIcon.png)
) on the title bar of the tool. This will prevent it from being overridden, so that the next time details are requested they will be shown in a new instance of the tool.
2. By middle clicking any action which will open a details display, mirroring the behavior of clicking links in a browser, which will always open a new tab/window rather than navigate within the current tab/window.
Only one instance of the details of a specific object can be opened at any one time. If an attempt is made to open a new instance of details that are already open, the existing tool will be shown instead.
If multiple instances of a details tool are visible then the "main" instance of a tool will be indicated with a star in its tab and title bar. This is the instance of the tool which will be replaced next time details are requested, and is also the only instance of the tool where changes to user preferences (such as column layout of tables) will be persisted.
Other Tools
For non-details tools you can open a new instance in one of two ways:
1. By selecting New Window from the File menu.
2. By middle clicking the entry for the tool in the tool selector drop‑down list in the banner of the workspace.
Once a new instance has been displayed its title (and the title of any other tools of the same type) will be updated with a number to make it unique amongst the set of tools of the same type. User preferences for each instance of the tool will be persisted per-instance, so each instance of the tool can have different settings (for example, column layouts, active filters, and other settings).
For details tools that have an association with a specific summary tool (such as Events and Crews and Event Details or the Switching List and Switch Sheet Details), each tool will maintain a separate "main" instance of its associated details display.
In order to assist with the organization of tools in the tabs at the bottom of the workspace, tools with the same instance number will be grouped together, so Events and Crews 1 and Map 1 will come before Events and Crews 2 and Map 2. Also, details tools will be shown to the right of their associated summary list tool.
Showing Tools in a Separate Browser Window
Tools can be popped out of the main workspace into separate browser tabs/windows using the "Pop this tool out to a separate browser tab/window" button (
![Pop out window icon. Pop out window icon.](../NMS/images/flexOpsPopOutWindow.png)
) in the tools title bar.
Once a tool has been popped into a separate browser tab/window this choice will be remembered for the specific instance of the tool. Note that if the tool is a details tool this choice is only remembered for main instances of the tool.
Tools can be popped back into the main workspace using the "Move this tool back to the main browser tab/window" button (
![Pop back to main window icon. Pop back to main window icon.](../NMS/images/flexOpsPopBackWindow.png)
) in the tool title bar.
Understanding Common User Interactions
Using Keyboard Shortcuts
Many buttons and tabs have keyboard shortcuts. Hover over the component to display the shortcut.
Many single-action dialogs that allow text entries also provide a Ctrl+Enter shortcut to save the text and confirm the dialog.
Setting Font Size
The font size in Flex Operations is tied to the browser magnification. Change the font size by holding down the Ctrl key and rolling the mouse wheel toward or away from you.
Scrolling Using a Mouse Scroll Wheel
Vertical Scrolling
Use the scroll wheel to scroll vertically (up and down) through a list.
Horizontal Scrolling
Press and hold the Shift key while turning the scroll wheel to scroll horizontally (side to side).
Understanding Common Table Features
Understanding Table Components
The following image shows an illustrated screen capture of a table showing call outs for the components.
2. Filter and Selection History (
![](../NMS/images/flexOpsIcoClockHistory.png)
) shows a list of recent filters, which may include
Column Quick Filter additions, and selected rows. See
Understanding Quick Filters for more information on column filters.
3. Disable Filtering button (
![Button that disables the current filter. Button that disables the current filter.](../NMS/images/FlexOpsDisableFilterIcon.png)
) temporarily disables (removes) currently applied filters; clicking the button again restores the filters.
4. The applied filter name (for example, To Do & In Progress).
5. Column Filter results shows the column being filtered and the number of rows that meet the column filter criteria; see
Understanding Quick Filters.
7. Save the
Current Filters button (
![](../NMS/images/flexOpsIcoSaveQuickFilter.png)
) allows you to save the combination of the filter and column quick filter criteria.
10. The header row check box allows you to select all of the table rows.
11. The column sort arrow icon shows the current sort direction for that column; clicking it will sort the table by that column. See
Understanding Table Sorting for details.
12. The column filter button (
![](../NMS/images/28_FlexOps.29.03.19.jpg)
) appears on any column being used in a quick filtering. When you click the button, the values available to filter on are listed allowing you to modify the quick filter; see
Understanding Quick Filters.
Changing Column Order and Display
There are a number of options to reorder (move) and hide columns.
• Select a column heading and drag the column to its desired new position.
• Right click a column header and select Hide Column to hide the column.
• Right click a column header and choose Organize Columns... to open the Columns dialog box that allows you to reorder and hide columns.
• Hide or show columns by deselecting or selecting them, respectively.
• Reorder columns by dragging the column row up or down the list.
• Use the positioning buttons to move the column to the top of the list (first column in table), up one position (left in table), down one position (right in the table), or to the end (last column in the table).
Example
The Events List table showing the Status column [1] selected and displayed, [2] deselected and hidden, and [3] displayed and moved to the left in the table.
Changing Column Widths
Move the mouse pointer over a column heading vertical separator until it changes shape, then click and drag the column to its desired width. You can also right click on any column header and choose Auto Size Column or Auto Size All Columns to let the system auto-correct column widths.
Restoring List Defaults
Right click any header and choose Restore Default Settings to revert all display changes that you have made to that list.
Using Right-Click Context Menus
In lists like Events and Crews, commonly accessed functions are available from the right‑click context menu. Switching steps can also be progressed through right-click context menus.
Revealing Additional Row Information
In many lists, double-clicking a row will display more information about the row. For example, double‑click an Events row to open its Event Details.
Understanding Table Sorting
Sorting by a Single Column
Tables may be sorted by a column by clicking the column heading or by clicking a
Sort button (
![](../NMS/images/flexOpsSortAscendingDoubleArrowButton.png)
) that is displayed in a toolbar that drops down when your mouse hovers over the column heading.
The
Sort double arrow button (
![Up and down arrows side by side button. Up and down arrows side by side button.](../NMS/images/flexOpsSortAscendingDoubleArrowButton.png)
) is available when the table is not being sorted by that column; once a column is included in a sort, the button will display the current sort direction and clicking it will reverse the sort. Sorting a column will also update the column heading cell to show the sort direction; the sort direction icon is enabled as a button when you hover over it.
Note: Once you sort on a different column, the previous sort column heading updates to remove the sort direction icon.
Sorting by Multiple Columns By Column Selection
If you press the Shift key while selecting columns, each column will be included in a sort. The sort hierarchy is based on the selection order, which is indicated by a number next to the sort direction in the column heading cell.
You can change the sort direction for any of the selected columns by pressing Shift and either clicking the sort direction button in the column header or in the drop down toolbar.
Note: If you do not press Shift, you multiple column selection will be lost.
Sorting by Multiple Columns Using the Advanced Sorting Options
To display the Columns dialog box with sorting options, right click a column heading, select Sort and then Show Advanced Sort Options... from the context menu.
The Columns dialog box displays a list of all columns in the table and will be expanded to show a sort configuration pane. Select the column name and then click the
Add to sorting list button (
![Button with arrow head or greater than symbol indicating to add the column to the sorting list. Button with arrow head or greater than symbol indicating to add the column to the sorting list.](../NMS/images/flexOpsAddColumnToSortingListButton.png)
). Once columns have been added, you may arrange the sort order using the controls below the list or by dragging the column name to the desired spot in the list; see
Changing Column Order and Display for information on the Columns dialog box controls. Set the sort type by clicking the button on the left to get the proper sort direction.
Understanding Table Filtering
Creating and Using Global and Personal Filter
Tools with table data may be filtered using filter panes that allow you to access
Global (system-wide) filters and create and rearrange your own (
Personal) filters. You may also create shortcuts to your favorite filters. Filtering in Flex Operations is very similar to filtering in the Web Workspace (see
Filtering Data Tables).
To use an existing filter, click the
Filter icon (
![Show filter panel button. Show filter panel button.](../NMS/images/flexOpsFilterIcon.png)
) in the upper left corner of the table title area; the Filter pane will open.
The Filters pane has collapsible sections (folder icons that expand) that list filters that you have set as Favorites, Global filters saved by your organization, and Personal filters that you have created.
The filter pane will close once you click away from it; to keep it visible, click the pin icon (
![Pushpin icon to pin the pane open. Pushpin icon to pin the pane open.](../NMS/images/flexOpsPinIcon.png)
).
Create a New Personal Filter Folder Structure
To create a personal filter folder, right-click the Personal folder icon and select New Folder....
Create a New Personal Filter
To create a personal filter, do the following:
1. Select the Personal folder that you want to add the filter to, right‑click, and select New Filter....
2. In the New Filter dialog box, enter the criteria for your filter.
• Name: Your new filter's name.
• Value: Becomes active when you select an operator that requires a value to match.
3. Click Add to List to add the filter criteria to list below.
4. You can build more criteria and select whether they all should match or if any can match. Click And to have the filter only show data that matches all of the added filter criteria; click the Or to match a criterion.
Editing and Removing Filters
To edit a filter statement, select it from the list, make your changes, and click Replace.
Removing Filters
You can remove any of the added filter statements by selecting it in the list and clicking Remove. To remove all of the statements in the list, click Clear.
Temporarily Disabling a Filter
Filters may be temporarily disabled by clicking the
Disable Filter button (
![Button that disables the current filter. Button that disables the current filter.](../NMS/images/FlexOpsDisableFilterIcon.png)
) next to the filter name. The Filter Name will be updated with strikethrough text to indicate that it is not active. For example, if you’ve selected
In Progress to be your filter, but then decide to disable it, the filter bar will indicate so. Click the No Filter button again to restore the filter.
Understanding Quick Filters
Quick Filters allow you to filter based on values in a column. To perform a quick filter, hover your mouse over a column heading and then click the filter button (
![Filter button showing funnel icon with darker selected background. Filter button showing funnel icon with darker selected background.](../NMS/images/28_FlexOps.29.03.35.jpg)
) in the drop down toolbar. In the filter panel that opens, select an item to filter or enter the criteria in the
Search box. Once you have filtered on a column, the filter icon (
![Filter button showing funnel icon with darker selected background. Filter button showing funnel icon with darker selected background.](../NMS/images/28_FlexOps.29.03.36.jpg)
) will be displayed in the column header and a quick filter breadcrumb will display the filter results and criteria.
To remove the quick filter, click the
Reset All Column Filters button (
![Reset All Column Filters icon Reset All Column Filters icon](../NMS/images/flexOpsIcoResetFilter.png)
). The current quick filters can be saved along with the current search folder filters as a new filter in the personal section, by clicking the
Save the Current Filters button (
![Save filter icon Save filter icon](../NMS/images/flexOpsIcoSaveQuickFilter.png)
), then providing a name for the new filter. If a folder in the
Personal filters section is selected, the new filter will be saved there, otherwise it will be saved in the root of the Personal section. The new filter will have a different icon (
![Personal quick filter icon that is a filter in front of a magnifying glass. Personal quick filter icon that is a filter in front of a magnifying glass.](../NMS/images/flexOpsIcoPersonalFilterWithColumnFiltering.png)
) indicating that there are quick filters associated with it, and when that filter is selected in the tree, the table filtering will be changed to match that saved with the filter.
Example:
Filtering on the #Out column [1] for a value of 1 [2] with the Save the Current Filters button [3].
![Example of quick filtering where (1) is the column being filtered, (2) is the filter criteria, and (3) is the Save Current Filters button being available Example of quick filtering where (1) is the column being filtered, (2) is the filter criteria, and (3) is the Save Current Filters button being available](../NMS/images/flexOpsQuickFilteringExample.png)
Note: Quick filtering is applied to all filtered views, but it is removed when you close the tool or log off.
Understanding Searching in Tables
You can search for data and the table will only show rows matching the search criteria. Any rows containing data that matches the criteria will dynamically highlight the matching text. The searching sequence is as follows:
![Screen capture displaying a filtered table showing rows having ’100’ in different columns. Screen capture displaying a filtered table showing rows having ’100’ in different columns.](../NMS/images/flexOpsTableSearchExample.png)
1. Find and highlight text in any list by clicking the
Search icon (
![Icon has stacked bars with a magnifying glass. Clicking the button will open the Search field. Icon has stacked bars with a magnifying glass. Clicking the button will open the Search field.](../NMS/images/flexOpsSearchIcon.png)
) in the column heading. The
Search field will be displayed.
2. Enter your search criteria. As you type, the table will begin to highlight matches and hide any rows that do not contain the criteria.
3. To clear the text entered in the
Search field, click the
Clear button (
![Clear button. Filled circle with x in the middle. Clear button. Filled circle with x in the middle.](../NMS/images/flexOpsClearFilterIcon.png)
).
4. To close the
Search field, click the
Close button (
![Close button (x). Close button (x).](../NMS/images/flexOpsCloseFilterIcon.png)
).
Selection and Filter History
The selection and filter history allows you to quickly return to previous filter states or row selections. The Recent Selections and Recent Filters are listed side‑by‑side with the most recent selections and filters added to the beginning of the lists.
Example
1. Recent Selection
2. Recent Filter of To Do & In Progress.
3. Newer Recent Filter that added Feeder 2414 to the To Do & In Progress filter.
When returning to previous row selections, the table will move to a view that shows just those rows, regardless of filtering. The previous view can be restored by clicking the
Return to Normal View button (
![Close button (x). Close button (x).](../NMS/images/flexOpsRecentSelectionFiltersClearButton.png)
) on the toolbar.
Example
Recent selection from the example above selected.
Exporting Table Information
You can export the information displayed in tables in a variety of formats. To display the export options, right click on a table heading and select Export, then choose one of the following options:
Note: CSV files can be opened in a spreadsheet application, such as Microsoft Office Excel.
Default Copy Action
When Copy (Default Action) is activated from the menu or by pressing Ctrl+C, the default copy action for the table is performed, and a panel will be shown at the bottom of the table with further options allowing quick access to the other copy actions. You can also change the default copy action by selecting Make Default before clicking the action you want to become the new default action.
Understanding Other Table Actions
Many tables provide right-click context menus for actions you may perform on the data (for example, viewing an event's information or location in the Map).
In addition, double-clicking a table row may bring up a different tool with related data.
Understanding Printing in Flex Operations
Print menu options are available for lists and detail forms in Flex Operations. Selecting the Print... option from a window's File menu, opens a print preview dialog box that allows you to print the contents of the page.
Selecting the Print option for a details page (for example, from Event Details or Switching Sheet Details) invokes a Print Options dialog box that allows you to select what to print.
• Print the current tab
• Print selected tabs
You can select the tabs to print from the list of tabs in the dialog box.
Selecting the Print Options dialog box's OK button opens a print preview dialog box displaying the content that will be output.
The print preview dialog allows you to print to a printer or save to PDF.