An icon that is used to define calculations used for the data in a relation.

A query that uses an abacus to calculate the restrictions of data retrieved on a view. An abacus query is programmed by the collection designer and can not be modified by an end user.

AppleTalk is a networking system that is available for Macs and a variety of printer hardware. It was removed from OS X in OS X 10.6.

A black hole is the graphic representation of an abacus input, as seen in an abacus tile. A black hole can be filled with a direct value, another icon, or the arrow of another tile.

Acronym for Binary Large OBject. See Document (data type).

An AppleScript scripting addition that enables you to manipulate data within a Helix database using the AppleScript scripting language. The functionality of CallHelix is being incorporated into Helix 6.5 and later.

An input format that presents a flag field as a box that can be turned on (checked), off (unchecked), or undefined (dashed).

A Helix application that can connect over a network to a collection open in Helix Server.

The inclusive term for the Helix applications used for sharing a collection among users in a collaborative environment. Together, the Client/Server products allow multiple users (aka: Clients) concurrent access to a single collection.

A view with its Keep Current attribute turned off. In this state, the view is not updated automatically when data on it changes. A Cold Form can be updated with the refresh command, or by clicking the form indicator. See also: Hot Form

A complete relational database in a single file. A Helix document which contains all the data and structure (tables, fields, etc.) as a unified entity.

A combination text field and popup menu where a selection from the popup menu fills in the text field. In Helix a Combo Box is created by formatting a field as a popup with the ‘Allow Typing’ attribute turned on. See also: Popup Menu

Access a served collection via the Client.

Within a template: Data rectangles display stored data, provide input for new data, and display the results of calculations.

Any collection of data organized for storage and access.

A type of data formatted to include the date and/or time.

The integrated development environment in Helix RADE where the application design is done. Formerly known as Full Mode.

A data type that stores documents within a Helix database, or references to documents stored external to a Helix database. Formerly known as BLOB technology.

See Export.

Used to run single-user Helix applications. Comparable to RADE without Design Mode.

A field that is stored in the database. (The default condition for all fields.) The term ‘ert’ is only used to provide a complement to the term ‘inert field,’ a special field type for providing input of data that does not need to be stored. See also: Inert (field attribute)

Command used to copy data stored in a Helix collection to an external file. (Formerly known as “Dump”)

Within a relation: the visual representation of a specific data type to be used storing data.

A data type that stores numbers with up to two decimal places. Fixed Point data range is (approximately) ±46 quadrillion in Helix 5.2 and later; expanded from ±10 million in Helix 5.1 and earlier.

A data type that stores values as a yes/no response. Can be formatted to return a number (1/0) as well as various forms of true/false & yes/no, as well as customized values.

A query that uses a template to control which fields can be used to restrict data retrieved on a view. The end user can specify values and operators to create an expression used to search for locate records containing specific values for each field on the query form. Each additional restriction is added an a boolean and form.

Classic window that provides information about where an icon is used. Is also where the Custom Name is defined and Comments are added.

A view with its Keep Current attribute turned on (the default state). In this state, the view is updated automatically when data on it changes. See also: Cold Form

The graphic representation of an object within a Helix collection. The attributes of Helix objects are modified by manipulating icons.

Command used to copy data stored in an external file into a Helix collection. (Formerly known as “Load”)

Icon used to define an ordering of data for display and retrieval purposes. In "Helixspeak," we refer to more than one index as "indexes," not as "indices." It is an ingrained habit with no logical justification as both forms are considered acceptable (but not here ;^).

A field designated as Inert is not stored in the database. Inert fields provide a mechanism for the input of data that does not need to be stored. See also: Ert (field attribute)

Currently not a part of Helix. A placeholder in this vocabulary list and the technology that drives the expand/collapse capabilities of this web page.

A field attribute that creates an index on each word in a text field to increase speed of searching the contents of that field. Excessive use of keyword indexes can cause a collection to grow significantly in size.

Within a template: Label rectangles display static information to help the user identify the functions of the input fields. (I.e: labels).

Horizontally scrolling dots that indicate that there must be something done before an icon is complete. Used in Classic Helix RADE Design Mode only.

Obsolete. See: Client/Server

More than one computer connected to each other. Sub-divided into LAN (Local Area Network) and WAN (Wide Area Network). In today’s usage, LAN is used to define a local office; WAN is used to define the internet, or possibly inter-connected LANs at large institutions.

A data type that stores values using floating point technology. Display of number data can be as precise as 15 decimal places. Floating point range is virtually infinite, but precision is lost when very large numbers are in use.

This command, available in menus and sequences, calls either a Form Query or a Power Query that is attached to an active View.

Operating systems perform basic tasks such as recognizing input from the keyboard, sending output to the display screen, keeping track of files and directories on the disk, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers. Helix currently runs under Mac OS 9 (aka: Classic Mac) and OS X.

A data type that stores PICT data. The PICT is stored internally and can be copied to the clipboard, but not exported as a PICT document. Somewhat obsolete, superseded by the Document data type. See also: Document (data type)

A menu where a mouse click allows selection from a list of options that pop up. In Helix, a static popup refers to a menu with options that are specified ("hard coded") by the collection designer, while a dynamic popup has values taken from a relation in the database. See also: Combo Box

Posting enables application designers to modify data in multiple records based on a single user input. Posting can be designated to occur at the time of data entry, printing, exporting, or upon a specific post command. Posting can modify multiple records in any relation in the collection where there is a matching key.

A query that can be used to restrict data retrieved on a view. The end user can specify values and operators to create an expression used to search for locate records containing specific values for each field on the query form. A power query allows the construction of complex criteria using simple expressions connected by boolean and, or and not operators. (Classic Helix does not support the not operator.) See also: Form Query

Generic term for a restriction on the records displayed on a view. See: Abacus Query, Form Query, Power Query

A simple entry view with each field in the host relation vertically arranged based on the order in which their icons were last clicked.

A simple list view with each field in the host relation vertically arranged based on the order in which their icons were last clicked.

A simple search available on entry views. Accepts only one search parameter per search.

Rapid Application Development Environment. This tool allows you to organize your data and create applications that access that data.

An input format that presents flag field choices as a set of two (true/false) or three (true/false/undefined) radio buttons.

A table. The icon used to create and store structures and all related application elements that create and manipulate stored data for one table. Each Helix collection supports up to 65,535 relations, each containing up to 65,535 icons (fields, abaci, etc.)

A relational database is a collection of data items organized as a set of formally-described tables from which data can be accessed or reassembled in many different ways without having to reorganize the database tables.

The repeat rectangle instructs Helix to repeat its contents for each record that can be displayed on a view, creating a list view.

An application that locks a collection to prevent Design Mode access. Used for developers who want to protect their proprietary code.

A macro. A sequence defines a series of commands to be executed in a specific order.

Helix applications that hosts a collection to be used by one or more clients.

A data type that handles text data in a rich format, enabling the end user to specify the color, size, and font of the content.

A listing form embedded inside a larger form. Used to link host data (e.g: an invoice header) to multiple records (e.g: invoice lines).

The Design Mode areas where forms to enter and display data are designed.

A data type handles text data in plain ASCII format. The most efficient method of storing data not needed for numeric, date, or logical calculations.

Within an abacus: The graphic representation of expressions used to construct calculations within an abacus. (e.g: the ‘plus’ tile is used to add two values together.)

An application that converts very early (Helix Express 3.0 and earlier) collection for use in later versions. Available as a Classic application only.

An application that converts collection designed in an earlier version of Helix for use in later versions. Can also be used to check the structural integrity of a Helix collection.

In a custom mode setting, the user can be selected when starting up the collection or it can be changed from the menu bar. The user icon is used to create custom menus, change user categories, select permissions for individual forms, and select command key equivalents for each custom menu option.

An application used to check the integrity of data in a Helix collections. Helix Utility can repair damaged indexes, compress collections after data has been deleted, break indices of a collection, and provide general structural information.

Validation allows the collection designer to specify criteria that a field must meet before it can be entered into the database.

An on-screen form; used to view, print, enter, change, post, import or export data in a relation.

See Connect

A message explaining an error or action condition. If sound is turned on, a beep is sounded when a Why? message is sent.

The distance between the baseline and the mean line in a typeface. Typically, this is the height of the letter x in the font.

Preference that controls how a 2-digit year is interpreted by Helix. The default is 1920–2019.

The OS-supplied button that allows a window to resize (aka: zoom) to a content-appropriate size. In OS X it is the green (or third) button on the left side of the title bar. (In Classic Mac OS, it is in the first button on the right side.) The Zoom Box can be disabled by the collection designer.