Starting AAtDB
The way to start AAtDB on your computer will depend on how the system administrator has installed and configured the database. One possibility is that the database will start by typing "aatdb", followed by pressing the return key, in a window that is used by the computer to accept typewritten commands (don't include the quote marks). Note that case matters, so if the proper command is "aatdb", "AATDB" will not work.
Once the command is entered a welcoming message will appear in the same window followed in a few moments by two new windows. As is shown in the figure, the main database window has the title ACEDB XXX: AAtDB YYY where XXX represents the version of the executable program and YYY indicates the version of Arabidopsis data. The other window is entitled Main KeySet.
The most prominent feature of the AAtDB main window is a list of the main kinds of information in the database. These are called Classes. A class is simply a collection of information, related by common characteristics or a common theme. Each class contains information organized into "objects". The Map class, for example, contains different representations of the Arabidopsis chromosomes. Each of these objects is said to be a member of the class. Many classes will be immediately familiar to biologists, as will the members in them.
The main window also contains two boxes labeled Template and the Text Search in which the user can enter text. The Template box will contain an asterisk. Another box containing the word "Ready" is used by the software to display messages as various tasks are carried out. In the upper right hand corner is a button labeled Help. Clicking here once with the leftmost mouse button will bring up a new window containing useful information.
When AAtDB first starts, the Map class is automatically selected in the main window. As a result, the Main KeySet displays the different members that this class contains.
Before we describe (on the following page) how to see the information associated with a class member, we will discuss pop-up menus and the procedure for quitting the program.