# The main menu ## Displaying the Main Menu The **Main Menu** is displayed when the **3di** opens, and cannot be closed or minimised. If the **Main Menu** has become hidden behind other objects on the screen, you can bring it to the front in two ways: * click the Main Menu button on the **3di** toolbar * *or* press **\** (think of **M**-enu) ![The main menu with the Training5 backend loaded](https://4094242155-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FnAX879uVOFdRUslo1PlM%2Fuploads%2Fo1ZLeYygl1nib0zOWg6h%2Fmain-menu.png?alt=media\&token=560df4c2-c136-4f84-8022-54f32aca5602) The main menu shows the name of the current backend or 'no backend' if none is loaded. ## Using the Main Menu buttons ### Select and open backend >

![](https://4094242155-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FnAX879uVOFdRUslo1PlM%2Fuploads%2FnykETgE5WpfWkIfxhxGv%2Fselect-backend.png?alt=media\&token=8bcf2b42-e25b-4b14-a651-6003c354549b) Recall from [frontend and backends](https://docs.ixdx.org/using-the-software/frontend-and-backends) that patient cases are stored in a **backend**, and that each backend subfolder lives in a **backends source** folder. #### To select a backend from the Backends folder already shown in *Current source of backends*: 1. select the backend in ***Backends in source*** 2. click the button ***Open selected backend*** #### To select a backend from an existing but different backends source (for example, a folder on a removable drive): 1. click the button ***Browse for new source*** 2. navigate to the required existing **Backends** folder and ensure it is highlighted

* click ***OK*** in the browse dialog * notice that the new **Backends** folder is now displayed in ***Current source of backends***, and that there is a new list of available backends in ***Backends in source*** * select the desired backend in ***Backends in source*** * click the button ***Open selected backend*** ### Create and open backend >

![](https://4094242155-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FnAX879uVOFdRUslo1PlM%2Fuploads%2FeDJRdF1nf6ADR7Tz2wpI%2Fcreate-backend.png?alt=media\&token=af47841e-ac13-4d74-a645-e891cdf28792) The exact procedure depends upon where you wish to create your new backend: you will need to choose one of the possibilities numbered **i)** to **iii)** below. However, **naming your backend** is a part of all three procedures, and should take account of the following: * the name may have up to 10 characters drawn from A-Z, a-z, 0-9 * the name must not be amongst any listed in ***Backends in source*** * although *different* Backend sources can contain identically named backends, the potential for confusion is minimised if backend names are unique If your chosen procedure is successful, the **Main Menu** will display the name of your new backend; otherwise error messages will suggest possible problems and the **Main Menu** will display **‘no backend’**. Choose whichever one of the following three possibilities matches your need: #### **i) If you wish to create your new backend in the Backends folder already shown in *****Current source of backends*****:** * enter a name for your backend in ***Enter name for new backend*** * click the button ***Create (and open) backend in current source*** #### **ii) If you wish to create your backend in an *****existing but different***** Backends source folder (for example, a folder elsewhere on your hard disc or on a removable drive):** * click the button ***Browse for new source*** * navigate to the required existing **Backends** folder and ensure it is highlighted

* click **OK** in the browse dialog * notice that the new backends folder is now displayed in **Current source of backends**, and that there is a new list of backends in **Backends in source** * enter a name for your backend in **Enter name for new backend** * click the button **Create…** #### **iii) If you wish to create your backend in a *****newly created***** Backend source folder (for example, a folder elsewhere on your hard disc or on a removable drive):** * click the button **Create new source** * navigate to the folder which is to *contain* your new Backends folder and ensure it is highlighted

* click **OK** in the browse dialog * notice that the new backends folder is now displayed in **Current source of backends**, and that there is an empty list of backends in **Backends in source** * enter a name for your backend in **Enter name for new backend** * click the button **Create…** * note that in the example above, a **Backends** folder will be created in the **Research** folder, and within that will be created the folder for your new backend ### Add and interview patients >

This button opens the [Case Manager](https://docs.ixdx.org/starting-an-interview#open-the-case-manager) form. Refer particularly to: * [Enter a patient](https://docs.ixdx.org/starting-an-interview#enter-a-patient) * [Interview a patient](https://docs.ixdx.org/starting-an-interview#interview-a-patient) ### Routes: create and manage >

This button opens the **Routes** page of the **Main Menu** where there are further buttons which open the [Route Editor](https://docs.ixdx.org/conducting-an-interview#creating-custom-routes-with-the-route-editor) and the [Route Manager](https://docs.ixdx.org/conducting-an-interview#the-route-manager). ### Close 3di5 >

Using the **Close 3di5** button leaves Microsoft Access running, but with no file open. You may prefer to close the **3di** simply by closing the application window by clicking the **Close** icon at the top-right of the window – just as you would close down Microsoft Word or Excel.