If turned on, the Force Read-Only Mode will automatically cause nxqddb to switch to Read-Only mode when the user selects a search result. In this mode, you
Figure 5.25: Read-Only Mode Status Bar
will not be allowed to modify the record. You can tell that you're in Read-Only mode by observing that the status bar is updated as shown in figure 5.25.
Also, the ``Modes/Change Mode'' option is disabled. To go from Read-Only mode, you must first turn off the ``Configure/Force Read-Only Mode'' checkbutton; doing so will enable the ``Modes/Change Mode'' menubutton and therefore allow you to switch to change mode.
By default, the Force Read-Only Mode checkbutton is turned off.
If you have another nxqddb program running that currently has an entry in change mode, this entry can not be modified by other nxqddb programs. Instead, the other nxqddb programs will ``view'' the record in change-mode.
Try this exercise to see that only one nxqddb window can have
a certain entry in change mode at one time. Bring up two `` nxqddb AddressBook2''
programs. First, find an entry in change mode. Then, in the second
nxqddb program, select the same record. In the second nxqddb program, the
record will be in ``Read-Only Mode'' and you will not be able to
go into change mode until after the first nxqddb program either (1) switches
to Read-Only mode or (2) goes into search mode or exits.
To verify this is indeed the case, change the first nxqddb program to Read-Only
mode; at this point, you'll be able to go to change mode within the second
nxqddb program.
This powerful locking feature is handy in that it prevents other users from editing the same record at the same time.