Basic actions and common errors

Page posted: 8/3/26

This page includes information to help new MMIS users learn basic actions, save time and avoid common mistakes.

Basic actions

Log in regularly

You must log into MMIS at least once every 45 days. If you do not, MMIS will suspend your access. For login instructions, refer to MMIS LTSS Manual – Access to MMIS.

You will lose access if you do not log into MMIS for 90 days. Contact your agency’s MMIS security liaison for help.

Find the screen title

Every screen in MMIS has a title. You can find the title at the top middle of the screen.

Each subsystem has unique screen titles and abbreviations. When you enter a subsystem, you will find the key to that subsystem’s abbreviations.

Find the cursor

The cursor is a white flashing rectangle. When you enter a new screen, the cursor is at top left in the NEXT field.

Identify text entry fields

Green text indicates you can enter or edit data currently in the field.

MMIS does not highlight or mark text entry fields in any way, which can make blank text fields difficult to locate. To locate them, press the tab key to move from field to field.

Navigate within the screen

You use your keyboard, not your mouse, to work in MMIS. The first space for each field is not clearly identified or highlighted in any way, so using the keyboard arrow keys or the mouse may not bring you to a place that allows typing. Depending on how your keyboard is programmed, you can use the following keys to navigate within a screen:

· The tab key moves the cursor across the screen to the beginning of each field. The cursor is a white rectangle that takes up one character space.

· The enter key with the crooked arrow moves down the page to each field. Depending on the programming of your keyboard or the subsystem you are in, this key may move you to the next screen within the current subsystem.

· The shift and tab keys together move the cursor backward to the previous field.

· The home key moves the cursor to the top of the page at the NEXT field.

· The delete and end keys remove characters in a field the cursor is currently on.

· The designated function keys allow you to view additional text related to the current screen.

When you are ready to advance to the next screen, you can press the transmit key. For information about the transmit key, refer to the Use the transmit key section on this page.

Navigate using the NEXT field

The NEXT field is an editable text field at the top left corner of each screen. By default, it shows the abbreviation of the next screen’s title. If you press the transmit key, you will see the screen indicated in the NEXT field. For information about the transmit key, refer to the Use the transmit key section on this page.

Your security and permissions determine the specific subsystems and screens within subsystems you can access. For more information about MMIS subsystems, refer to MMIS LTSS Manual – MMIS subsystems.

Use the transmit key

The transmit key allows you to move from screen to screen and post data. The transmit key varies depending on your keyboard. Your transmit key could be any of the following:

· Control (ctrl) key at the bottom right side of the keyboard.
Note: This is the most common transit key.

· Enter key on the number keypad when number lock (i.e., num lock key) is on.

· Enter key with a crooked arrow on the right side of the keyboard.

Use function keys to navigate and edit

Programmable function keys are the function keys labeled F1 through F12 in the top row of most keyboards.

To navigate using your function keys, look for the keyboard shortcuts listed along the bottom of most screens. This list shows each active function key with the action it will perform beneath it. For example, if the action you need is shown under PF8, press the F8 key. For a description and instructions for each function key, refer to MMIS LTSS Manual – Function keys.

Exit and save

MMIS does not save your changes automatically.

The F3 key saves data and/or text you enter on MMIS screens. F3 also returns you to the selection screen or key panel screen. When you press F3 repeatedly, you will exit one screen at a time until you return to the main menu or the logout screen.

The F6 key allows you to exit without saving data or text entered. You should only press F6 when you do not want to save your work or when you are in inquiry (I) mode. MMIS does not provide a warning message that you will lose your work when you press F6.

For more information about F3 and F6, refer to MMIS LTSS Manual – Function keys.

Terminate the session

To terminate your session, follow the logout instructions on MMIS LTSS Manual – Access to MMIS.

Typical workflow

The main steps when working in MMIS are:

1. Open MMIS to begin a session.

2. Log in.

3. Access the main menu.

4. Select and access a subsystem.

5. Select an action in the subsystem’s key panel (i.e., inquiry, add or change).

6. View, enter or change data.

7. Correct documents as needed.

8. Resolve exception codes (i.e., edits) or save suspended document(s) to resolve exception codes later.

9. Save data after you resolve exception codes.

10. Exit the subsystem and main menu.

11. Terminate the session and log out.

Other pages in this manual provide more detail about these steps.

Common data entry errors

New users might make common data entry errors that result in exception codes (i.e., edits). Most exception codes prevent documents from being approved in MMIS.

Some common errors include:

· Entering data in the wrong field: The most common data entry error is entering data in the wrong field. You might make this error if you tab too far and enter data that is invalid for that field. If you make this error, you might enter all the data that follows in the wrong place.
Be careful when you press the tab key. If you make this error, press F10 (i.e., the Oops! key) to erase all data entered before you move to the next screen or edit the document. For more information about F10, refer to MMIS LTSS Manual – Function keys.

· Leaving required fields blank: You cannot leave required fields blank.

· Using invalid values: Each field typically has an allowable range of valid values, and you cannot enter invalid values.

· Entering data that is incompatible with other information: You cannot enter data that does not align with information in other screens or areas of MMIS (e.g., entering an assessment result or program type in a screening document that is incompatible with recipient file information).

For more information about exception codes and how to resolve them, refer to MMIS LTSS Manual – LTC screening document exception codes and MMIS LTSS Manual – Service agreement exception codes.

Resources

MMIS LTSS Manual – Access to MMIS
MMIS LTSS Manual – Function keys
MMIS LTSS Manual – LTC screening document exception codes
MMIS LTSS Manual – MMIS subsystems
MMIS LTSS Manual – Service agreement exception codes