The EDA (Enroute Descent Advisor) Entry Panel assists you in executing precise descent paths.  The EDA Entry Panel is divided into a lateral advisory function on the left side and a vertical descent advisory function on the right side.  Consistent with the other flight deck controls, the EDA Entry Panel uses the same color scheme.

Concerning the lateral functionality of the EDA, when an aircraft is on a heading vector (MCP is in HDG SEL) the EDA Entry Panel is used to specify a time and waypoint to turn back to in the LNAV mode.  Once the aircraft is on a heading vector, you will need to specify the turn back time.  To do this, click the "AT UTC" button in the left side of the EDA Entry Panel, displaying a drop-down menu with different times.  Each item in this drop-down menu only identifies times down to the ten-minute level, and will expand into another drop-down menu identifying the individual minute.  Similarly, dwelling on these items will expand into another drop-down menu identifying the exact second (in five-second intervals).  You can also type directly into this field (you don't need to type in the colons).

In addition to the turn back time, you need to select a waypoint to turn back to.  Clicking the "DIRECT" button on the left side of the EDA Entry Panel will display a drop-down menu of different waypoints.  The lower section of the drop-down menu lists the remaining waypoints on your aircraft's programmed FMS route.  The upper section of the the drop-down menu lists the different meter fixes for the DFW TRACON.  You can also type directly into this field.

Once you have the turn back time and turn back waypoint selected, you are ready to click the "ENGAGED" box on the left side of the EDA Entry Panel.  Doing so will engage the EDA and command your aircraft accordingly at the selected time (the entry fields turn magenta).  Notice the difference between the above and below images: above, the EDA is engaged, but the current time (the clock in the upper left area) is still before the selected turn back time, thus the aircraft will continue on it's current heading vector.

Once the current time is past the selected turn back time, the EDA executes the proper heading commands, causing the aircraft to turn direct to the waypoint FEVER, while putting the aircraft's MCP back in LNAV instead of HDG SEL.  Also, now that the turn back has been executed, the EDA is no longer engaged (entry fields are now in white instead of magenta).

For the vertical aspect of the EDA, you can specify the start time for a descent and the target altitude for the descent.  To do this, you will need to select a start time from the right side of the EDA Entry Panel by clicking the "AT UTC" button.  The remainder of this process for this is identical to selecting a turn back time from the left side of the EDA Entry Panel.  This will display a drop-down menu with different times.  Each item in this drop-down menu only identifies times down to the ten-minute level, and will expand into another drop-down menu identifying the individual minute.  Similarly, dwelling on these items will expand into another drop-down menu identifying the exact second (in five-second intervals).  You can also type directly into this field (you don't need to type in the colons).

In addition to the start descent time, you need to select a target altitude for the descent.  Click the "TO ALT" button on the right side of the EDA Entry Panel to display a drop down menu of different altitudes.  The upper section of the drop down menu list common altitudes, and the lower section contains upcoming altitude constraints for your aircraft's programmed FMS route.  At the bottom of the drop down menu are "HIGH" and "LOW" submenus that display all other flight levels.  You can also type directly into this field.

Once you have the start descent time and target altitude selected, you are ready to click the "ENGAGED" button on the right side of the EDA Entry Panel.  Doing so will engage the EDA and command your aircraft accordingly at the selected time (entry fields turn magenta).  Notice the difference between the above and below images: above, the EDA is engaged, but the current time is still before the selected start descent time, thus the aircraft will continue at it's current altitude.  Notice that when you engage the EDA, the MCP's altitude field changes from VNAV to FLCH and the speed field changes from VNAV to SPD SEL.

Once the current time passes the selected start descent time, the EDA executes the proper descent command, causing the aircraft to descend down to 11000 ft, while putting the aircraft's MCP back in VNAV for both speed and altitude.  Also, now that the descent has been executed, the EDA is no longer engaged (entry fields are now in white instead of magenta).