LinkoCTS has a number of common features used throughout the software.

 

 

Editable/Non-editable Fields: In the example above you will notice some “White” fields and some “Gray” Fields.  This is not an accident.  It is an indicator of what fields are currently modifiable.   All White fields are in an editable state and all gray fields are locked.

 

Date Fields:  Double Click on any date field to open a pop up Calendar date selector. Date fields can include times using Military 24 hour format. Times must be entered manually in the field and cannot be entered in using the double-click calendar.

 

Easy Sorting: In List View, screens clicking on any column headers that are underlined will instantly sort the data on the screen (first ascending, then descending) by that particular field.

 

Zoom Box:  Any white or gray field that is underlined can be double-clicked to bring up an enlarged view screen, or show other details regarding that field.

 

 

If you are unable to access the video below, click here instead to launch it in your browser:  Main Menu and Ribbon Bar

 

 

 

 

The Main Menu presents the functional sections of LinkoCTS. Click on an icon to open that section of the software.

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are unable to access the video below, click here instead to launch it in your browser:  Getting Help from Linko Support

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click the “Help” selection in the Menu Toolbar at the top of the main screen and then select “About Linko Software”. This takes you to the following versioning screen, which provides the version of Linko Software, dates of updates, and server and workstation information.

 

 

 

You can access this Online User Guide directly from the Linko Software by choosing “Help” and then choosing “User Guide and Videos.” 

 

 

 

The Menu bar has more options than the Main Menu, and provides the ability to go from one section of the program to another without returning to the Main Menu.  Some screens are only accessible via the Menu Bar.  When you select one item from the selections, a list of options will appear.  Selecting from the second list of options will open the selected screen. 

 

The Main Menu Toolbar:

 

 

 

The LinkoCTS Menu Selections

 

Click on the LinkoCTS selection in the Main Menu Toolbar to open its list of options:

 

 

1. LinkoCTS Main Menu – From every screen in the software you can click on this choice and return directly to the Main Menu.

 

2. List / New / Details / Groups – The Industries section of the menu lets you open the Industry List View, create a new Industry, open the Industries screen to see the details of Industries, or open the Groups screen to analyze data for groups of Industries at one time.

 

3. List / New / Sample Groups / Result Groups – The Samples & Results section of the menu lets you open the Samples List View, create a new Sample, open the Sample or Result Groups to analyze a group of Industries and their Samples and Results based upon your selection criteria.

 

4. New / Violations / Enforcements – The Violations and Enforcements section of the menu lets you create a new Violation, open the Violations List View, or open the Enforcements List View. The Enforcements List View is only accessible via this menu.

 

5. View Events and Create Events – these two sections provide the ability to see a listing of the selected Event types, or to create a specific event type.

 

 

Depending on the configuration of your Linko software you may or may not see the selections in the Main Menu Toolbar for the LinkoFOG, LinkoHW and LinkoAG modules. These menu sections are covered in the appropriate online userguides for that module.

 

 

 

 

1. Review Compliance – This selection opens the Parameter Compliance tab of the Compliance Assistant section of the software so you can run calculations on discharge compliance and SNC.

2. Annual Summary – This opens the Annual Summary tab of the Compliance Assistant section of the software so you can generate a Year End Report.

3. Industrial Tracking – This opens the Industrial Tracking tab of the Compliance Assistant section of the software where you can produce a report on one industry and all of the samples and results that were taken for it, as opposed to just samples meant to be considered for SNC calculations.

 

 

There are a number of add-on modules that you can purchase to enhance the capabilities of your Linko Software. Feel free to contact the Sales Director for your region to discuss any of the listed tools.

 

 

 

 

 

One of the new features of this version is the ability to set up a menu to run external applications and make that customized menu available to just yourself (User Apps & Links) or to other users (Global Apps & Links).

 

Please see the Launch Menu Item in the System Admin section of this UserGuide for more information regarding configuration of this tool. When it has not been configured you will see only blank spaces in the different sections, waiting for you to set up your customizations.

 

 

 

 

Clicking on FILE opens an alternate menu of tools for the Linko Software. These tools include System Administration, Local Limits, Flexible Reporter and Sites management. Please see those separate sections of this UserGuide for more information.

 

 

Opens the following:

 

 

 

 

 

If you are unable to access the video below, click here instead to launch it in your browser:  List View vs Single Record View

 

 

 

 

 

Linko screens start with a “list view” or general view of the information you are viewing.  From most “list view” screens you can access a button to display a more “detailed view” of the information you are currently viewing.  This is what we will refer to in our software as “List View” and “Details View”.

 

 

 

 

Add a new record by clicking on the Add New button.  Editing records and more detailed viewing are done by clicking on the Details button. 

 

Most “list view” screens can be customized by clicking on the Config hyperlink (seen above the Details Buttons and the Add New link).  Data entry and modification can be done directly on the Samples, Results, Industry List view, and Events Management List View screens.

 

Throughout the software, whenever you have a drop down list to select an Industry, you will also see the address of the Industry. This makes it easier to distinguish Industries with the same name.

 

After adding Industry information you will be able to use the Industry Name or Industry Number drop down lists at the top of most screens to change the Industry information that you are viewing. 

 

Samples, Events and Violations List View screens, as well as Compliance Assistant have a <custom> Date Range selector.

 

 

This Custom Date Range is a local configuration specific to each user or machine.  Each user can select a different custom date range than other users of the software.  This date range will be available for you to use on each list view screen until you change it.

 

To change the custom date range, select <custom> from the View Date drop-down list.  While <custom> is displayed, double-click on the word <custom>.  That opens the “Enter Custom Dates” range selector you see above.  Enter your date range and then click Continue to have the dates applied to the screen you are viewing.

 

 

If you are unable to access the video below, click here instead to launch it in your browser:  Image Assistant replaced with New Attachments Feature

 

 

 

 

The Linko Software provides you the ability to attach files to records in the software.  You can attach any type of file you want including MS Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PDF files, images and more.

 

When attaching files to a record, Linko will take a copy of that file and place it in its attachments repository and will use that as the File of Record.  Others who use Linko can view or edit that file using the Linko software.  Do not attach a file into Linko that other non-Linko software users need to view or edit.  After attaching a file, take the original and archive it, move it to a place where others will not mistake it for the File of Record.

 

The ability to view and attach files exists in several different places in the software including on Details screens, List view screens and on the Attachments tab.

 

On the Details screens throughout the software, a check in the Attachment box indicates that at least one file is attached to that record.  Clicking Browse… will open the Attachment Preview screen.  When not checked, clicking Browse… will open the Select a File to Attach screen.

 

Details screen example:

 

On the List screens, if the word Yes appears next to the magnifying glass, then at least one file is attached.  Clicking the magnifying glass will open the Attachment Preview screen.  When no value appears next to the magnifying glass, clicking it will open the Select a File to Attach screen.

 

List view screen example:

 

A few screens in the software, including the Industry/Facility Details screen and Inspection Details screen will show an attachments tab like below.  If files are attached they will be displayed in the list.

 

 

 

1.      Attach New (Facility) File allows you to attach a file to this Industry/Facility

2.       - click this button to open the Attachment Preview screen

3.       - click this button to open the file so it can be edited or  printed

4.       - click this button to delete the attached file.  It will be permanently deleted

5.      Record Types drop down list allows you to filter the list of attachments to see specific types of attachments. Examples include:

                                       i.    Facility – this would be an attachment added under the Attachments Tab above.

                                      ii.    Monitoring Points – an attachment that was added to the Monitoring Point via the Monitoring Point and Limits screen.

                                     iii.    Permit Events – an attachment added to a Permit Event.

                                    iv.    Inspections – an attachment added to an Inspection Event

 

1.      When on the Attachments tab, click on Attach New (Facility) File

2.      When on the Details screens, click the Browse… button

3.      When on the List View screens, click the.

4.      If a file has not yet been attached to that record, the “Select a File to Attach” window will open

 

 

1. Click on “Browse” to open a Windows Explorer window and find the file you want to attach. 

                                       i.    (Alternately, copy and paste in a website URL, like www.linkoweb.com.)

2. Select the file and click on Open.
3. The line next to the “Browse” will now show the full location of the file you just selected. NOTE:  This is NOT THE FINAL LOCATION OF THE FILE. You should make note of this location as THIS IS THE LOCATION OF THE ORIGINAL FILE.
4. Enter a relevant description of the File in the “File Description” box.
5. Then Click on SAVE.

                                       i.    You could also click on CANCEL to escape the process.

6. What happens when you click on SAVE:

                                       i.    Linko takes a copy of the original file and places that file in its attachment repository. Users can view and edit that file at any time provided that they have the proper Linko permissions.

                                      ii.    THIS IS NOT THE ORIGINAL FILE. IT IS A COPY.

7. Attachment Best Practices:

                                       i.    Do not attach files that non-Linko users must have access to.

                                      ii.    After attaching a file to Linko, go to the original file and archive it so it cannot be found and edited accidentally.

                                     iii.    Reduce the size of files, in particular image files.  Large files take longer to preview and attach.  Image file sizes can typically be controlled from the settings menu in your camera, smart phone or tablet.  Linko recommends minimizing files sizes to 1.5 megabytes (MB)

                                    iv.    Use the Attachment Size Configurations to gain more control over what users are attaching. 

8. After attaching the file you will be taken to the Attachment Preview screen.

A preview of the file is displayed if a ‘preview’ is supported.  Image files and html files as well as website URLs can be previewed inside the Attachment Preview screen.  Other file types such as Word, Excel and PDF documents can not be previewed.

 

 

9. Functions available at the Preview screen.

                                       i.    Attach New File – opens the Select a File to Attach screen

                                      ii.    Delete File – permanently deletes the file. It cannot be recovered.

                                     iii.    Open File - will open the file using the default application assigned to that file type by the Windows Operating system.  You will be able to view and edit the file.  Save the file and the changes are immediately saved to the Linko attachments repository.

1.    Caution:  Doing a Save As… within the application used to open the file and saving the document in a location outside of the Linko Attachments repository will cause the changes to be lost!

                                    iv.    Size (KB) – The size of the file in Kilobytes

                                      v.    File Modified – The date the physical file was last modified

                                    vi.    Date Attached – The date the file was attached into Linko Attachments repository

                                   vii.    Record Type –Identifies the type of Linko record the file was attached to

                                  viii.    Description – free form comments you enter about the file

                                    ix.    Save – Saves any comments typed into the Description

 

 

 

 

Users must have Can Edit rights in Linko Security Administration to edit an attached file. If they don’t, a temporary copy of the file is made and the user can view that copy.

 

 

 

If you are unable to access the video below, click here instead to launch it in your browser:  Config Link

 

 

 

 

 

Most list view screens have a small orange Action Menu which contains the Config Link hyperlink that opens the “Configure Screen” for that list view screen.  The Configure Screen gives you several options depending on the screen you are configuring.  You can:

 

• Change the width of the fields being displayed
• Check whether or not a field should be visible on the screen
• Change the font size of the field
• Change how the text is aligned (center, left, or right) within the field
• Indicate whether the field requires data be entered into it (not available on all screens)
• Change the order in which fields are displayed on the screen using the “Move columns position on screen” arrows
• Indicate whether you should be Prompted for Defaults (see below)

 

The “Prompt for Defaults” configuration applies specifically to the Results Management List View screen.  This column allows the user to select which fields will have a standard selection for each Parameter Result in a sample.  For example, if you checked “Collect Method” and “Conc Units” for Prompt for Defaults, when you enter concentration results for a sample, you will be prompted to enter the “Collect Method” and “Conc Units” applying to every parameter being sampled.  The value you enter will be applied to each parameter with a concentration result of ‘NA’ (i.e. you haven’t entered a Result yet).  The purpose of this feature is to limit the amount of data entry required.  Each user must elect to be presented with the Enter Default Results screen by checking the “Prompt for ‘NA’ Result Defaults on New Samples?”  box in the Sample and Results Admin section.

 

 

The Publish for All Users button on the Configure Screen can be used to override other users’ configurations.  This is useful for displaying the same fields on all users’ screens, and ensuring data entry in key fields.  If a screen configuration is “Published,” then each time a user opens Linko, that form configuration is pulled onto that user’s system.  Any changes that the user may have made in their last session (on that screen configuration) will be over-written.  You can control this functionality in System Administration.

 

 

Quickly find, sort and group the information you want on the following screens:  Industry List View, Event Management List View, Industry Groups, Sample Groups, Result Groups and the Chain of Custody List View. 

 

A right-click on a displayed field opens the Quick Filter menu. Quick Filter searches for items that match the item in the selected field, and displays all matches found in the list view.

 

 

6.      Filter by Selection returns all records equal to the value of the field you selected with a right-click. Filtering by a blank “Date Completed” field returns all incomplete records.

7.      Filter excluding Selection returns all records that do not have the value of the field you selected. Find all the records that have been completed by using this selection on a Blank “Date Completed” field

8.      Filter For … opens the Quick Filter screen seen below. To find all the records for an Industry, select “Industry Name” from the main drop menu, then “DO,” “Equals,” and the industry’s name below.

a.    Cancel exits the Filter window without applying the filter.

 

b.   Apply exits the Filter window and applies the filter.

 

9.      Use Remove temporary filter to return the List View back to the original sort order. Remove the temporary filter before you begin another.

10.   Save Filter adds the filter to the Groups selector.

11.   Sort Ascending and Sort Descending provide the same functionality as clicking on an underlined column header.  On List View screens, clicking on any column header that is underlined will instantly sort the data on the screen either ascending or descending by that particular field.

12.   Find and Find Next provide a text search function.

 

 

13.   Replace Field Data opens a popup form that has one dropdown list of the visible/editable fields on the form, and another dropdown that has a list of values (if the field selected is a dropdown), text-entry, or a double-click calendar (if date field).  When the user clicks Replace, a message box opens, reminding the user that all records displayed will be replaced upon acceptance.

 

***Note:  using the Replace Field to enter Completed Date will simply do a replace and no other actions. If a user wants to be prompted to do a follow-up event, they will need to use the Complete All feature.

 

 

When you apply a Temporary Filter with the Quick Filter, Linko will show the Filter results, and a small control button will appear next to the “Group Filter” button.

 

 

When clicked, this “Remove Temporary Filter” button allows the user to return to the previous non-filtered list view.

 

Record Selectors can be seen on many of the list view screens as well as the details view screens.  The selectors help you to navigate from one record to the next and also display the total number of records. Simply click on any of the arrows to switch from record to record.

 

 

The items available within the Status Bar change depending on which screen you are on and what features are available. 

 

All reporting except compliance reports is accessed via the Reports button.

 

1.      The Violations button only displays when there are Violations without Enforcements; it opens Violation List View to see the listing.

2.      Due next # days opens Event List View and sets the Group to ‘Events Due and Not Complete,’ displaying Events past due or to be completed in the number of days showing.  The # of days can be configured in Event Admin  à Configurations à Local Configurations à All Events à “Number of Days’ Notice for Due Events”. The button only displays when there are Events due or past due.

3.      Reports opens a Reports window, displaying the reports available for the data selected in the List View.  For example, clicking this button while displaying a Violation will open a Reports window offering ‘Violation Summary’, ‘Violations with Related Items’, etc. reports. While displaying a Sample, the Reports window would open offering the report ‘Samples by Quarter’.

4.      Calculator  opens a calculator.

5.      Calendar    opens a window displaying a calendar.  You can also access this calendar by double clicking on any of date field.

6.      Contacts     opens the Contact Information window containing all your industry contacts. You can rapidly find a person you need to call.

 

Item	Description
Pick a Contact	Combo box allowing user to select a Contact for display; sorted by last name.
Apply	Disabled from Status Bar; will automatically fill in the Contact information on the Contact form if the user is creating a new contact in Industry Management.
Cancel/Close	Cancels and closes the screen without changing the Contact information
Salutation	Salutation for this Contact, for example ‘Dr.’ or ‘Mr.’
First Name	First Name of this Contact
Last Name	Last Name of this Contact
Contact Title	Title for this Contact, for example ‘Director of Operations’
Company Name	Name of Contact’s Company
Address 1	First address line for this Contact
Address 2	Second address line for this Contact
City	City for this Contact
State	State for this Contact
Zip Code	Zip Code for this Contact
Business Phone	Business phone number for this Contact
Fax	Fax phone number for this Contact
Email	Email address for this Contact
Cell Phone	Cell phone number for this Contact
Contact Pager	Pager number for this Contact
Emergency Phone	Emergency phone number for this Contact
Comments	Comments about this Contact

 

7.      Phone Log   allows you to place an event in your Phone Log.  Opens Choose an Industry window, and then opens a General Event Details window for the selected industry, setting the default event type to ‘PHONE’. You can track your Phone Calls as Events in Event Management.

 

 

 

 

 

Customize how the software works by setting your configurations.  Local Settings affect only a single user, while Global settings affect all users.  These configuration settings appear throughout the System Administration screens and affect different parts of the software. Below is an example of configurations related to Event Administration.

 

Configurations Tabs are available for System Admin, Industry Admin, Samples and Results Admin, and Violations and Enforcements Admin.