This page gives you the bare essential information to start using your program. I recommend you print it out and keep it alongside you as you use your program for the first time. A more comprehensive description of the program features will be available soon.

Don't speak English?
Before starting I recommend that you download your language file. This will make it easier to use Kintraks by showing your local language on windows and controls. All you need to do is to save the file "language.csv" to your Documents:Kintraks folder. Close and re-open Kintraks to see the results. You may open the language file and make improvements to the translation. Please send your new version to support@kintraks.com so I can make it available to everyone.

1. Create a Database
Kintraks is a database program. It consists of two parts -
The Program: This is the part you see on your screen when you run Kintraks consisting of forms, pages, lists and buttons. It allows you to add, remove and edit your animal records. It uses the information you have entered to produce many types of reports and displays. The program can be run from any directory on your computer but it is best to copy it to your Applications folder (Mac) or Home folder or subfolder (Linux).
Databases: These are files which store your animal records. Kintraks doesn't come with a database, it creates one for you when you first start the program. When you open the program you will be connected to your default database in your Home (Linux) or Documents (Mac) directory. If there is no database the program will ask you to create one and automatically ask you to fill in some settings.

2. Enter User Settings
When you create a database the program needs to know some details such as the type of animal, your details and particular names given to the male or female of the species. These details are stored in the database file and used throughout the program. You can edit these details at any time by clicking the Settings button.
The more settings you can enter the more useful the program can be. As you move your mouse over each of the boxes some information will display which will help you to fill it in. Not all details are needed but you must at least enter details in the Country and Animal Type fields. On the Characteristics tab there are boxes for custom fields. This is useful for storing other aspects of your particular animal type eg. A breeder may want to store whether an animal has a particular trait, marking or inherited disease.

3. Add Records
No doubt you will be keen to add records so once you have entered and saved your settings click the Add button. A form will appear that allows you to fill in all sorts of details about one of your animals. It is easier if you add your older animal's first. You may not want to store all the information in the boxes but you must give the animal a name and nominate the sex before you can save the record.
You can also link your animal to it's parent's records if they already exist (that's why oldest animals first is easier). Don't despair if they aren't on the list. Use the Create buttons to make them instantly so they can be part of the current record. Kintraks uses the links you have made with parents to produce family trees by looking up the parent name of each generation. No family tree is stored it is simply created in an instant from your information using the linking process. It is important to fill in the Status section to enable the program to filter searches.

4. Search
So you've been frantically creating records. Where are they? Click the Search button or move your mouse to the right hand edge of the screen to open the Search panel. By default the list displays records where Ownership is My [Animal Type]  eg. "My Dogs". You may not see all your records in this list but there is a reason for this.
My [Animal Type] excludes animals which are deceased, sold and you are not the owner. Click Ownership is All Records to see every record in the database.
Why default to My [Animal Type]? It's just simpler to have an instant list of your current animals to work with. It also means you can create or import records off other breeders and store them alongside your records without them making it hard to find your regular animals. The Search function can do a lot more to create many lists of animals based on all sorts of characteristics but you'll learn more on that by trying it for yourself.

5. Display
OK we have found an animal on the search list and now we want to look at the details. Click once on the name to highlight it. You will notice some information displayed on the pages behind the search list. By clicking on the pin at the top of the search list you can automatically hide or show it whenever you move your mouse across the magnifying glass icon. You can close the search panel by clicking the cross in the top right hand corner. To view search results again click the Search button on the program toolbar.
There are eight tabs displaying various aspects of the current animal (the one you clicked on in the search list). If you select a new animal from the list the tab stays open but the information automatically changes. Each tab is like a little program on it's own.
The first tab displays the details you entered when you created your records. The others don't tell us much at this stage but we can add more details by clicking on the tab and clicking the button with the green plus "+" sign. Some tabs can display a form for you to type in more information or choose a picture. Other such as Descendants, Inbreeding and Family tree are used to calculate or display information.
The Calendar (click the Calendar tab) reminds you when some of the appointments, reminders and breeding and health events entered are due.

6. Print
Kintraks can produce pedigree certificates in paper and electronic format. Click on your animal from the Search list. Once the details are displayed click the Pedigree button at the top of the program. A form will open which will allow you to see how your pedigree will look. When you are happy with the result click the Print button to produce a paper copy or click the htmlL button to produce a pedigree to send by Email or to upload on the web.

That's the program basics. This basic guide will be replaced with a more comprehensive illustrated guide soon. Thankyou for trying Kintraks.
If you have any problems or feedback please don't hesitate to Email me for assistance..