Many people prefer to use keyboard shortcuts to accomplish tasks whenever possible, because it is often faster and easier than using a pointing device, such as a mouse.
The following tables list and describe the keyboard shortcuts available in this system:
There is also a table that presents all keyboard shortcuts grouped according to key combinations.
To do this | Press | Comments |
Open a form. |
Ctrl + O |
Opens the Select Form dialog box, which you can use to locate and select the form you want to open. For more information, see Finding and Opening Forms Using the Select Form Dialog Box. |
Save a form. |
Ctrl + S |
Saves any changes, but does not close the form. Any records that have been modified or marked for deletion are permanently modified or deleted when this shortcut is used. |
Close a form. |
Ctrl + F4 |
Closes the current form window. If you have made changes to any records, or if you have marked any records for deletion, the system asks whether you want to save the changes before closing the form window. |
Get help with the current field. |
F1 |
Brings up the online help in a separate window.
|
Toggle Design Mode on/off. |
Ctrl + E |
Available only if you have the required editing permissions. Use this key combination to enter or exit Design Mode for the active form. |
Regenerate the form. |
Ctrl + G |
Used in Design Mode only. |
Unload all global form objects. |
Ctrl + U |
Used in Design Mode only. |
To do this | Press | Comments |
Undo an editing operation. |
Ctrl + Z |
Works only for editing operations (cut/copy/paste). There is no multiple undo, and you can only undo the operation while you are still in the field where you performed it. Once you move out of the field, this shortcut no longer works. To undo changes made after you move out of the field, use Ctrl + F5. |
Cut text from a field. |
Ctrl + X |
As is common in most Windows programs, removes selected text from a field, but keeps a copy of it on the system clipboard. This allows you to paste the deleted text somewhere else. |
Copy text from a field or contents of grid cells. |
Ctrl + C |
As is common in most Windows programs, copies any selected text to the system clipboard. This allows you to paste the copied text somewhere else. NOTE: If you are copying groups of cells within a grid and the last-selected cell is an editable field, this menu option and keyboard shortcut do not work. Instead, you must use the Ctrl + Insert key combination to copy the selected cells to the system clipboard. |
Paste text into a field. |
Ctrl + V |
As is common in most Windows programs, pastes the contents of the system clipboard into the field where the cursor is. You can use this option only in fields that allow you to enter text. |
To do this | Press | Comments |
Search for records using Filter-in-Place. |
F4 |
Performs a Filter-in-Place search based on any filter criteria you entered into one or more fields. If you left all fields blank, the search retrieves all available records up to the cap. For more information, see Finding Records with Filter-in-Place. |
Clear a form so a new search can be performed. |
F4 |
If a form is displaying a collection, this option cancels the current filter-in-place and clears the form so you can perform a new search. The only fields that do not get cleared are the ones you last used to perform a query. |
Cancel Filter-in-Place. |
F3 |
Available only if a form is not displaying a collection. Cancels the current filter-in-place and returns the collection that was previously displayed. If no collection has yet been displayed, this key displays the form in normal mode, but with no records displayed. For more information, see Finding Records with Filter-in-Place. |
Clear filter criteria. |
F5 |
Available only when a form is not displaying a collection. By default, when you clear the form (using F4), the system displays the filter criteria used for the previous search. This option allows you to clear all filter criteria that either you or the system previously entered. For more information, see Finding Records with Filter-in-Place. |
Search for records using Filter By Query. |
Ctrl + Q |
(Available only from multiview forms.) Opens the query form associated with the multiview form. For more information, see Finding Records Using a Query Form. |
Move the focus to the next collection. |
Ctrl + F8 |
In forms that display multiple collections, moves the focus to the next collection. |
Create a record. |
Ctrl + N |
Works only in collections. Inserts a new, blank record below whichever record is currently selected. |
Delete a record. |
Ctrl + D |
Works only in collections. Marks a record for deletion. (The record is not actually deleted until you do a save operation.) |
Refresh a single record. |
Ctrl + F5 |
Reverts the selected record to its original value and removes any change or deletion indicators. Use this to effectively undo a change or "undelete" a record. |
Refresh the collection. |
F5 |
Available only when a collection is displayed. Refreshes the entire collection. If you have made changes to any records, or if you have marked any records for deletion, the system asks whether you want to save the changes before refreshing the collection. If you answer Yes, the changes are saved and deletions are made permanent. If you answer No, all values on the form revert to their original values. |
Find a value for a drop-down field. |
Ctrl + F |
For more information about finding specific values for fields, see Finding a Specific Value in a Drop-down List. |
Repeat the Find. |
Ctrl + F2 |
Use this key combination to repeat a Find operation. This locates the next entry in the field that matches the specified criteria without having to re-enter the criteria. |
Find details for a value in a drop-down field. |
Ctrl + L |
For more information about finding details for field values, see Finding Details about a Value in a Drop-down List. |
Add a new value to a field. |
Ctrl + A |
Allows you to create a new value for a drop-down field, and then have that new value returned to the field. When you use this key combination, the system opens the associated form. To see an abbreviated summary of the list value, without having to open the associated form, press F2. For more information about adding new values to fields, see Adding a New Field Value. |
Delete text in a field. |
DEL |
With the cursor in a field and text selected, you can use this key to delete the selected text. This key works on any field in which you can enter input. NOTE: The text is not permanently deleted until you save the form. So, if you need to undo the deletion before saving the form, you can return the field to its original value by pressing Ctrl + F5. |
Print a record or collection of records. |
Ctrl + P |
For more information about printing records and collections of records, see Printing Records or Collections of Records. |
Toggle detail-only view on/off. |
Ctrl +Shift + 1 |
Works only with multiview forms, query forms, or other forms in which there are split views. If both views (split view) or only the grid view is displayed, this keypress combination displays only the detail view. If only the detail view is displayed, this keypress combination displays the split view. |
Toggle grid-only view on/off. |
Ctrl + Shift + 2 |
Works only with multiview forms, query forms, or other forms in which there are split views. If both views (split view) or only the detail view is displayed, this keypress combination displays only the grid view. If only the grid view is displayed, this keypress combination displays the split view. |
Get help with the current field. |
F1 |
Brings up the online help for the selected field in a separate window. |
To do this | Press | Comments |
Activate the next collection. |
Ctrl + F8 |
In forms that display multiple collections, this keypress combination moves the focus to the next collection. |
Move to next record. |
F8 or Down arrow |
Works only when a record is selected in a collection. Moves the focus to the next record in the collection. |
Move to the previous record. |
F7 or Up arrow |
Works only when a record is selected in a collection. Moves the focus to the previous record in the collection. |
Move the cursor to the beginning of a field. |
Home |
Works whether the field is editable or not. |
Move the cursor to the beginning of a record. |
Ctrl + Home |
Wherever the focus is, this keypress combination moves the focus to the first editable field for a record. On a multiview form, this moves the focus to the first active field (column) in the grid view. |
Shift the focus on the form. |
F6 |
Works with multiview forms only. If the focus is on the grid side, shifts the focus to the detail side. If the focus is on the detail side, shifts the focus to the grid side. |
Switch between open forms. |
Ctrl + Tab |
These key combinations "cycle through" the open forms, moving the focus from one to the next. |
Key Combination | Action | Comments |
F1 |
Get help with the current field or form. |
Brings up the online Help in a separate window.
|
Ctrl + F2 |
Repeats a Find operation. |
Locates the next entry in the field that matches the specified criteria without having to re-enter the criteria. |
F3 |
Cancels a Filter-in-Place search. |
Available only if a form is displaying a collection. Cancels the current filter-in-place and clears the form so you can perform a new search. |
F4 |
Begins or executes a Filter-in-Place search. |
If a form is displaying a collection, cancels the current filter-in-place and clears the form so you can perform a new search. If the form has already been cleared, performs a Filter-in-Place search based on any values you entered into one or more fields. If you left all fields blank, the search retrieves all available records up to the cap. For more information, see Finding Records with Filter-in-Place. |
Ctrl + F4 |
Closes the current form window. |
If changes have been made to any records, or if any records have been marked for deletion, the system asks whether you want to save the changes before closing the form window. |
F5 |
Refreshes the entire collection; OR Clears the filter criteria. |
If a collection is being displayed and you have made changes to any records, or if you have marked any records for deletion, the system asks whether you want to save the changes before refreshing the collection. If you answer Yes, the changes are saved and deletions are made permanent. If you answer No, all values on the form revert to their original values. If no collection is being displayed, clears any filter criteria that have been entered into the fields. |
Ctrl + F5 |
Refreshes a single record. |
Reverts the selected record to its original value and removes any change or deletion indicators. Use this to effectively undo a change or "undelete" a record. |
F6 |
Shifts the focus on the form. |
Works with multiview forms only. If the focus is on the grid side, shifts the focus to the detail side. If the focus is on the detail side, shifts the focus to the grid side. |
Ctrl + F6 |
Switches between open forms. |
"Cycles through" the open forms, moving the focus from one to the next. |
F7 |
Moves to the previous record. |
Works only when a record is selected in a collection. Moves the focus to the previous record in the collection. |
F8 |
Moves to next record. |
Works only when a record is selected in a collection. Moves the focus to the next record in the collection. |
Ctrl + F8 |
Moves to the next collection. |
In forms that display multiple collections, moves the focus to the next collection. |
Key Combination | Action | Comments |
Ctrl + 1 |
Toggles detail-only view on/off. |
Works only with multiview forms, query forms, or other forms in which there are split views. If both views (split view) or only the grid view is displayed, this keypress combination displays only the detail view. If only the detail view is displayed, this keypress combination displays the split view. |
Ctrl + 2 |
Toggles grid-only view on/off. |
Works only with multiview forms, query forms, or other forms in which there are split views. If both views (split view) or only the detail view is displayed, this keypress combination displays only the grid view. If only the grid view is displayed, this keypress combination displays the split view. |
Ctrl + F2 |
Repeats a Find operation. |
Locates the next entry in the field that matches the specified criteria without having to re-enter the criteria. |
Ctrl + F4 |
Closes the current form window. |
If changes have been made to any records, or if any records have been marked for deletion, the system asks whether you want to save the changes before closing the form window. |
Ctrl + F5 |
Refreshes a single record. |
Reverts the selected record to its original value and removes any change or deletion indicators. Use this to effectively undo a change or "undelete" a record. |
Ctrl + F6 |
Switches between open forms. |
"Cycles through" the open forms, moving the focus from one to the next. |
Ctrl + F8 |
Moves to the next collection. |
In forms that display multiple collections, moves the focus to the next collection. |
Ctrl + A |
Adds a new value to a field. |
Allows you to create a new value for a drop-down field, and then have that new value returned to the field. For more information about adding new values to fields, see Adding a New Field Value. |
Ctrl + C Ctrl + Insert (Alternative for grid cells) |
Copies text from a field or contents of a grid cell. |
As is common in most Windows programs, copies any selected text to the system clipboard. This allows you to paste the copied text somewhere else. NOTE: If you are copying groups of cells within a grid and the last-selected cell is an editable field, the Ctrl + C keyboard shortcut does not work. Instead, you must use the Ctrl + Insert key combination to copy the selected cells to the system clipboard. |
Ctrl + D |
Marks a record for deletion. |
Works only in collections. The record is not actually deleted until you do a save operation. |
Ctrl + E |
Toggles Design Mode on/off. |
Available only if you have the correct editing permissions. Use this key combination to enter or exit Design Mode for the active form. |
Ctrl + F |
Initiates a search for a specific value for a field. |
For more information about finding specific values for fields, see Finding a Specific Value in a Drop-down List. |
Ctrl + G |
Regenerates the form. |
Used in Design Mode only. |
Ctrl + L |
Finds details for a value in a drop-down field. When you use this key combination, the system opens the associated form. To see an abbreviated summary of the list value, without having to open the associated form, press F2. |
For more information about finding details for field values, see Finding Details about a Value in a Drop-down List. |
Ctrl + N |
Creates a record. |
Works only in collections. Inserts a new, blank record below whichever record is currently selected. |
Ctrl + O |
Opens a form. |
Opens the Select Form dialog box, which you can use to locate and select the form you want to open. For more information, see Finding and Opening Forms Using the Select Form Dialog Box. |
Ctrl + P |
Prints a record or collection of records. |
For more information about printing records and collections of records, see Printing Records or Collections of Records. |
Ctrl + Q |
Allows you to search for records using Filter By Query. |
(Available only from multiview forms.) Opens the query form associated with the multiview form. For more information, see Finding Records Using a Query Form. |
Ctrl + S |
Saves a form. |
Saves any changes, but does not close the form. Any records that have been modified or marked for deletion are permanently modified or deleted when this shortcut is used. |
Ctrl + U |
Unloads all global form objects. |
Used in Design Mode only. |
Ctrl + V |
Pastes text into a field. |
As is common in most Windows programs, pastes the contents of the system clipboard into the field where the cursor is. You can use this option only in fields that allow you to enter text. |
Ctrl + X |
Cuts text from a field. |
As is common in most Windows programs, removes selected text from a field, but keeps a copy of it on the system clipboard. This allows you to paste the deleted text somewhere else. |
Ctrl + Z |
Undoes an editing operation. |
Works only for editing operations (cut/copy/paste). There is no multiple undo, and you can only undo the operation while you are still in the field where you performed it. Once you move out of the field, this shortcut no longer works. To undo changes made after you move out of the field, use Ctrl + F5. |
Ctrl + Home |
Moves the cursor to the beginning of a record. |
Wherever the focus is, this keypress combination moves the focus to the first editable field for a record. On a multiview form, this moves the focus to the first active field (column) in the grid view. |
Ctrl + Tab |
Switches between open forms. |
"Cycles through" the open forms, moving the focus from one to the next. |
Key Combination | Action | Comments |
Up Arrow |
Moves to the previous record. |
|
Down Arrow |
Moves to next record. |
|
Left Arrow |
Moves to previous field or character. |
|
Right Arrow |
Moves to next field or character. |
|
Delete |
Marks selected text or a record for deletion. |
|
Home |
Moves the cursor to the beginning of a field or record. |
|
Page Down |
Advances the records displayed by one set. |
Works only in grids. If all available records fit in one view, moves to the last record. |
Page Up |
Regresses the records displayed by one set. |
Works only in grids. If all available records fit in one view, moves to the first record. |
Keyboard Navigation and Other Navigation Tips