The purpose of this training guide is to familiarize you with the Banner basics. 

Banner Product Suite

A Banner product suite is an all-encompassing internet-native software application that is broken down into six products: 

                                                                                  
 

1. General
2. Advancement
3. Finance
4. Financial Aid
5. Human Resources - Payroll/Position Control
6. Student

Instead of the current four databases at Missouri State University, Banner is an integrated database made up of the six products noted above.  With Banner, all information is kept in one database and is accessed through the products.  This allows for consistent information and improves data integrity.  For example, if a Missouri State employee is an alumnus as well, under the current systems structure, the employee would have a record in the Human Resources system, the Student system, the Advancement system and the Finance system.  Four systems can lead to outdated, inaccurate information and can result in poor data integrity.

Signing into Banner

 
1. To enter Banner, Internet Explorer is the required web browser to use. 
2. After entering the URL for Banner, you will be asked to log in. Enter your username and password and either <Enter> or click on the Connect
button with your mouse.

The Main Menu 

 
 
The Main Menu provides an overview of the menus, forms, jobs and QuickFlows on Banner.  You use the Main Menu to navigate through Banner.

Parts of the Main Menu

Menu Bar: Offers a variety of options for navigating within Banner.  It is limited from the main menu.

Toolbar: A set of icons that represent shortcuts for performing common functions from the main menu.

Auto Hint/Status Line:Describes the field where the cursor is located or displays error and processing message orexplains the purpose of the field, what can be done next, or how to access another window or form.

Hierarchical Tree Menu: StructureAccess forms through the main menu hierarchical tree menu by selecting an open or closed folder.

Product Links: Access contents of various Banner products directly.

My Links Canvas: The Change Banner Password link goes to the Oracle Password Change Form (GUAPSWD).  This is where you will change your password.

The Check Banner Message link takes you to the Banner Message form (GUAMESG), where you can view your messages.  A green check mark appears next to the link when you initially long in and have pending messages, or whenever a new message arrives.

Personal links enable you to create up to six links to favorite URLs or often-used Banner objects.

Broadcast Message Canvas The Broadcast Message button on the toolbar becomes enabled whenever you receive a broadcast message.  You can view the message(s) in the Broadcast Message section at the bottom of the screen.

Banner Naming Conventions

Every form in Banner has an abbreviated 7-character form name.  Most of the time, forms are referred to by this 7-character form name.
Position 1 - Identifies the Banner product owning the form, report, process or table

Position 2 - Identifies the application module owning the form, report, process or table.  It is also unique to the product identified in Position 1 Advancement (A)

Financial Aid (R)

Position 2, continued

HR/Payroll (P) and Position Control (N)

Finance (F)

Position 2, continued

General (G)

Student (S)

Position 2, continued Accounts Receivable (T)

Position 3 - Identifies the type of report, process or table and codes are the same for all Products.

Positions 4, 5, 6 and 7 - Identifies a unique four-character code for the form, report, process or table. | Code | Purpose |

Banner Forms

A Banner form is a document in which you enter and look up information stored in the database.  You can think of it as a window into the database. 

How to Access Banner Forms

There are several ways to access a Banner form. From the Main Menu, you can choose the following:

Hierarchical Tree Menu Structure from the Main Menu:

1. Find the product area that you wish to access then double click on the closed folder.

2. To expand the menu then double click the form you would like to access or expand an area further by clicking the closed folder.

Go To Field

1.Enter the seven-character code of the form you wish to access. 

2.You can also use the up and down arrow keys in the Go To Field to access forms you have previously entered.

 
If you are in a form you have several options Direct Access From File Menu

You can choose Direct Access to enter the name of a form in GUAPARM which will automatically pop up. List of forms stored in the File Menu

Banner retains a list of in the File Menu of the forms you have accessed during your currentBanner session.

 The F5 Key
Forms can be accessed via the GoTo Field by choosing the F5 Key.  You can use this function from any form or the Main Menu.

Different Parts of Banner Forms

 
 
Title Bar

The Title Bar displays the form's descriptive name, the seven-character ID name, the software version number and the database name. Menu BarThe Menu Bar offers a variety of ways to navigate, query, enter information and access help function. Tool BarThe Tool Bar contains icons used to navigate in Banner and provides other functions Key Block

The Key Block is where you start on a form.  Every form has a Key Block that contains information that determines what is entered or displayed on the remainder of the form, such as an ID number or category.

Information Block
The Information Block displays data about the information entered in the Key Block.  This area is where information is entered prior to updating a record. FieldA Field is an area on a form where you enter, query, change and display specific information. Pull-Down ListThe Pull-Down List is used to select a field value from a list of pre-defined values. List of ValuesA List of Values is a table of codes and descriptions that can be customized to meet the University's standards.  A list of values will appear when you choose this option. Check Box

A Check Box is an indicator that can either enabled (checked) or disabled (not checked) Radio ButtonA Radio Button is similar to a Check Box, except one of the choices must be enabled.

 
Menu Bar Components The File menu contains standard Banner and Oracle functions.

 
 
  Direct Access
Accesses the Direct Access Form (Keyboard Shortcut F5)

Object Search

Use to locate a form, job, or QuickFlow

QuickFlow

Displays the QuickFlow Form which is used to access a QuickFlow

Select

Returns you to the calling form and enters the selected value into the field that called the form

Rollback

Returns you to the Key Block (Keyboard Shortcut Shift-F7)

Save

Saves all changes entered since the last time you saved (Keyboard Shortcut F10)

Refresh

Clears the message line; redraws the screen

Print

Prints the current window

Exit

Exit form

Exit QuickFlow

Exits you from QuickFlow

Preferences

Displays the Personal Preferences Maintenance Form (GUAUPRF) which is used to customize Banner for individual users

 The Edit menu contains functions used to edit text items

 
 
Cut

Cuts selected text and places it on the clipboard (Keyboard Shortcut Ctrl-X)

Copy

Copies selected text and places it on the clipboard (Keyboard Shortcut Ctrl-C)

Paste

Pastes text from the clipboard to the cursor location (Keyboard Shortcut Ctrl-V)

Edit

Displays the editor window, which is used to enter and update text

The Options menu varies from form to form.  Some take you to other blocks and windows within the current form, other options take you outside the current form.
The Block Menu enables you to move from one block area to another within a form.

 
Next
Moves cursor to the next block that has at least one enterable field (Keystroke Shortcut Ctrl-Page Down)

Previous

Moves cursor to the previous block that has at least on enterable field (Keystroke Shortcut Ctrl-Page Up)

Clear

Clears all information in the current block.  Also known as Enter Query.  Puts the form in Query Mode (Keystroke Shortcut F7)

The Item Menu enables you to move from one field to another and clear and duplicate data within a form. Note:  "Item" is the Banner term that is used to refer to a field.

 
Previous
Moves the cursor to the previous enterable field (Keystroke Shortcut Shift-Tab)

Next

Moves the cursor to the next enterable field (Keystroke Shortcut Tab)

Clear

Clears all information from the current field on your display.  Does not remove information from any record or table.

Duplicate

Duplicates the contents of the same field in the previous record and copies it into the new record. Used in blank row of a repeating record. The Record Menu allows you to work with records within a form.

 
Previous
Moves cursor to the first enterable field in the previous record (Keystroke Shortcut Up Arrow).

Next

Moves cursor to the first enterable field in the next record of the current block.  If the cursor is in the last record, a new record is created (Keystroke Shortcut Down Arrow).

Scroll Up

Scrolls up the list of repeating records, putting the first displayed record at the bottom of the list (Keystroke Shortcut Page Down).

Clear

Clears all information from the display of the current record.

Remove

Removes all information for the current record.  When you Save, the record is permanently deleted.

Insert

Inserts a new blank record in the existing records.

Duplicate

Duplicates the content of all fields in a record and copies them into a new record.

Lock

Temporarily locks the contents of the record so no other Banner user can update it (Save, Rollback then Exit releases the lock).

The Query Menu contains the functions used to search for information in the database based on specific criteria.

 Enter

Puts for form into Query mode so you can enter search criteria to see information already in the database (Keystroke Shortcut F7).

Execute

Searches the database and displays records that match your search criteria (Keystroke Shortcut F8).

Last CriteriaEnters the criteria from your last search ((enabled only when you are in Query Mode) (Keystroke Shortcut F7 twice)).

CancelCancels the Query and takes the form out of Query mode (Keystroke Shortcut Ctrl-Q).

Count Hits

Counts the number of records that match the search criteria and displays that number on the Auto Hint line.

Fetch Next SetIf more records meet the search criteria that fit in the window, clicking this option replaces the current set of displayed records with the next set.

The Tools Menu allows you to access Xtender Solutions and Workflows.

 
The Help Menu contains various help tools, the image displayer, a calculator and calendar.

 Online Help
Displays online information for Banner forms, windows, blocks and fields.  This option may be disabled if Online Help is not available for the form (Keystroke Shortcut Ctrl-H).

Dynamic Help Query

Displays the Dynamic Help Form (GUAHELP) in Query mode, which is used to display traditional help for a field, block or form.

Dynamic Help EditDisplays the Dynamic Help Query Form (GUAHELP) in Edit mode, which is used to edit traditional help for a field, block or form.

*Help (Item Properties)*Displays the Oracle item properties window for the current field.  The window lists properties such as internal database name, type of data, maximum length, etc.

Show Keys

Displays the list of functions and their equivalent keystrokes available in your environment for the current form, window, or field (Keystroke Shortcut Ctrl-F1).

List

Displays the List of Values (LOV) for the current field if List of Values appears in the Status line (Keystroke Shortcut F9).

Display ErrorDisplays the code that is in error, if an Oracle error occurs (Keystroke Shortcut Shft-F1).

Display ID ImageDisplays the image associated with the ID, if available, when the cursor is an ID field.

CalendarDisplays the calendar.

CalculatorDisplays the calculator*.*

Extract Data With Key
Extracts Banner data (for the current block), along with Key data, for use in a spreadsheet.  This is available only from certain forms.

Extract Data No KeyExtracts Banner data (for the current block), without Key data, for use in a spreadsheet.  This is available only from certain forms.

Technical SupportOptions that allow you to work with ACS if you are experiencing problems with Banner.

About BannerDisplays the About Banner Form (GUAABOT), which identifies the current form, release number, date and time.

Toolbar Components 

 
A toolbar is a set of icons that represent shortcuts for performing common functions.

 

Banner Name Searches

  There are several ways to search for a person in Banner.

Simple Name Search

Enter the last name, comma and the first name as you can or use the % wildcard in your search.  Press the  <Enter> key.
 
Extensive Name Search

Choose the search button in the Key Block and you will get this Options List.  Choose Person Search  

 
You will be brought to the Person Search Form (SOAIDEN).  Enter you criteria (again, you can use the Wildcard (%) in your search. Execute your search by using the F8 Key.  
 
 Here are your results. Double click on the record you want.

Multiple Results from Simple Name Search

 
If you perform a simple name search and more than one person meets your search criteria, you will be taken to the ID and Name Extended Search Form.