Tips N Tricks : Smart Text Fields

So, we're starting a new series of Tips N Tricks to help you in your dive logging workflow. We'll post some ideas for how you can use our applications to help you be more efficient with things that you may not know about Dive Log, Dive Log Manager, and Dive Log DT. (aka DL, DLM)

So, let's say you're using Dive Log Manager (or Dive Log DT) to log some information about your dive on your Mac. You're in Edit Mode on the Environment panel and you've got your cursor in the "Dive Suit" field. Now, what did you put there last time? Did you put "5mm" or did you put "5 mm" or did you put "5mm Acme 1 Piece" or was it "5mm Acme One Piece", or do you think about it for a half sec and go "whatever"?

There are several Smart Text Fields - just hit the "Escape" key on the keyboard, and DLM will give you a list of strings that you've used in your logbook previously.

So if you're on "Dive Suit", you'll get something like:
1-Piece Wetsuit
2-Piece Wetsuit
5mm Acme
No Suit
Semi-Dry
Shorty

Just click on the one in the list that you want and you'll get the right text.

Also, if you know you want to put "5mm somethingoranother" in there but can't remember how to spell it, just first enter the number 5 in the field and then hit the escape key. You'll then only get the list of text entries that start with the number 5 to choose from.

Smart Text Fields are a great time saver and allow you to use the same information for each dive without a lot of work. Later, you may be able to look at all the dives that you used that particular suit on.

So what fields are "Smart Text Fields"?
--> Details Panel:

• Computer
• Altitude
• DiveMaster
• Boat

--> Environment Panel:

• Weather
• Horizontal Visibility
• Vertical Visibility
• Dive Suit
• Current
• Surface
• Gas

Dive Log for iOS also does this for you by just touching those fields while Editing too. Once you select one of the Smart Text Fields under the Dive, you'll get the list to choose from. If you type some characters into the field, the list will reduce to only those text fields that starts with that text.

Stay tuned for more!

As always, just ask us if you have any questions - Cheers!