Skip to section navigation and main content

Fine Arts Software site navigation

OPAS navigation buttons

How-To Guides

Note: Keep in mind that some of these documents include technical instructions - these should not be carried out except as directed by your IT department. Feel free to contact OPAS technical support if you have any questions.

If you would like a "How-To" guide for a topic not covered here, please contact Fine Arts Software .

Each document is in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format and opens in a new window (). If you need the (free) Acrobat viewer or "reader", it can be found at the Adobe web site. PDFs can be printed or saved using the icons on the PDF toolbar.

New = this feature or concept is new in OPAS version 8.21

Getting to Know OPAS

Basic Program Operation - techniques used in all OPAS areas
	Using Drop-Down Fields - Part One: basic functionality and use
	Using Drop-Down Fields - Part Two : drop-down fields and linked data
	Using Drop-Down Fields - Part Three : drop-down fields and the basic search ("Green Screen" search)
	Using Grids - Part One: basic grid functionality; adding items to a grid
	Using Grids - Part Two: adding items to a grid when the item you want isn't among the available choices
	Using Grids - Part Three: adding items to a grid by creating the item rather than selecting it
	List Screen Filters - overview, icons and keyboard shortcuts for filters and sorts used on all OPAS List screens
	Data Relationships - how OPAS links data

Basic Program Operation - Searches
	"Green Screen" or "Basic Search" - Part One: an overview of the main OPAS search function
	"Green Screen" or "Basic Search" - Part Two: using wildcards in the Basic Search
	"Green Screen" or "Basic Search" - Part Three: drop-down fields in the Basic Search
	"Green Screen" or "Basic Search" - Part Four: linking fields in the Basic Search
	"Green Screen" or "Basic Search" - Icons and Keyboard shortcuts used in the most common OPAS search functionality
	How to save and instantly recall Searches.
	How to search for Empty Data or the Absence of Data
	Using 'OR' in Advanced Searches

Program Operations - Adding / Editing Data
	How to Delete multiple items on the List screen, or in a grid, at once

Program Operations - Linking Documents
	Basics of Linking Documents to records in OPAS
	New Document Linking options including drag-and-drop emails, documents and Web addresses

Program Operations - Reminders
	The OPAS Internal Reminders system / En español

Scheduling and Activities

Creating / Changing activities & building schedules
	Updates to the Calendar area (version 8.21) / En español
	How to create a new Season
	An Overview of Projects and Activities - how they are used and how best to configure them
	How to create a new Project
	How to de-activate Projects and Activities (so historical Projects no longer appear when booking current / future seasons) / En español
	How to enter Holidays and Contractual Days Off
Using the Artistic Planning module
	Artistic Planning Overview
	Artistic Planning Operation
	Artistic Planning Reports and links to other program areas
	Creating Project Templates
	How to quickly Create a Season or filling out a schedule by adding rehearsals (summary of the above guides)
Working with individual activities
	How to indicate Pre- and Post-Concert Activities
	Entering Concert Production information
	How to Change the Project for a set of activities
	How to link or assign Corporate or Foundation Sponsors to concerts
	Suggestions for entering Recitals and other non-orchestral concerts in OPAS
	How to indicate a Canceled Concert
	How to Delete an activity when the activity is linked to a contract or service records
	How to Select a Week in OPAS to print weekly schedules
	How to Find all Subscription Concerts in a season

Creating / Changing concert programs
	How to Change a Work on a concert or rehearsal
	How to Copy a program from one activity to another (for example, copying a program from the concert to rehearsals).
	How to show a Work on a Program is "TBD"
	How to Reorder Works on a program
	How to record Performance Timings
	How to record String Complements
	How to Change the Instrumentation (or other attributes) of a composition after it has been assigned to a concert

Concert personnel
	How to Change a Soloist on a concert or rehearsal
	How to Indicate a Canceled Soloist
	How to indicate a Soloist debut performance
	How to indicate there are Two Conductors on a concert

Composers and Works

Performances of Compositions
	How to Change the Instrumentation (or other attributes) of a composition after it has been assigned to a concert
	How to show only certain movements of a work will be performed
	How to Reorder Works on a program
	How to record Performance Timings

Library Management / Rental Scores
	"Publication" vs. "Publisher" in the Library
	How to create or Enter a Library Record (scores/ parts you own)
	How to view your Library Holdings (scores/parts you own)
	How to print your Library catalog
	How to link Library Parts and Scores or to a performance
	How to add Scores to a Library Record
	How to create Score Types
	How to create a Rental Contract
	How to enter and track Library budgets and expenses