Keyboard Navigation and Other Navigation Tips

The system provides a variety of ways to use the keyboard instead of a mouse to select menu commands, open forms, choose options, and so on. Many of these keyboard commands and shortcuts are common to Windows applications.

For a complete list of keyboard shortcuts, see Keyboard Shortcuts.

This topic contains hints and tips for using the keyboard to accomplish many tasks and navigate through forms more easily.

Using Access Keys and Keyboard Shortcuts
Navigating Through Fields, Buttons, and Other Components
Navigating Through Notebook Tabs
Navigating in Grids

Using Access Keys and Keyboard Shortcuts

You can use access key combinations and keyboard shortcuts to make selections from menus, drop-down lists, and other form options. Access keys are indicated on menus and other components by underlined letters in names or labels.

On Menus

To open a menu

Press ALT and the underlined letter in the menu's name.

If you do not see any letters underlined in menu names, press the ALT key.

After the menu is displayed, to choose a command do one of the following:
- Press the key corresponding with the underlined letter on the command entry.
- Use the arrows to select the command you want, and then press Enter.

Some menu entries also list keyboard shortcuts that you can use without first opening the menu.

In Forms and Dialog Boxes

To use the keyboard to select tabs, options, and buttons:

When you select a tab or option, the focus shifts to the selected component, and it is highlighted.
To run the comman represented by a button, press ALT and the underlined letter in the button's name.

Alternatively, you can tab to the button and then, with focus on the button, press ENTER.

In Drop-down Lists

To select an item from a drop-down list box, using only key combinations:

With focus on the drop-down list box, press ALT+down arrow to display the drop-down list. Then use the up and down arrow keys to find the item you want.
Press TAB or ENTER.

To move away from the list without selecting an item, press ESC or SHIFT+TAB.

Navigating Through Fields, Buttons, and Other Components

When using the keyboard to navigate around non-grid forms and form views, the primary key is the TAB key. Starting with the cursor in any field, when you press the TAB key, the cursor moves to the next active field or button.

If you prefer, you can use the ENTER key rather than the TAB key. To use this option:

From the View menu, select Settings.
On the Run Time tab, select the check box labeled ENTER key behaves like TAB key.

For more information about this option, see Run Time Settings, Behavior Settings.

The general sequence, as you "tab through" fields and buttons is top-to-bottom and then left-to-right, both within each group box and between group boxes. There are, however, exceptions, based on the form's structure and design.

When you reach the last active field or button, the cursor moves back to the first field or button on the form and starts back through the sequence.

To navigate backwards through the fields and buttons, press SHIFT+TAB.

Navigating Through Notebook Tabs

When a notebook tab is selected and has the focus on the form, you can use the directional arrow keys on the keyboard to select other tabs.

You cannot use the TAB key here; if you do so, the focus changes to the first active or available field on that notebook tab.

Navigating in Grids

The system offers several means to navigate within a grid (see Grid Forms and Grids). Which one you use is a matter of personal choice.

NOTES:

In a multiview form, clicking a row in the grid causes that record to be displayed in the detail view.
In a form with more than one collection, moving between records in the primary collection also controls the display of records in the subcollection.

To navigate to the next record in the collection (do one):

Press F8.
Press the down arrow key.
On the toolbar, click the Go to the next object in the current collection button.
From the Actions menu, select Next.

To navigate to the previous record in the collection (do one):

Press F7.
Press the up arrow key.
On the toolbar, click the Go to the previous object in the current collection button.
From the Actions menu, select Previous.

To navigate to the first record in the collection (do one):

Press CTRL+up arrow.
On the toolbar, click the Go to the first object in the current collection button.
From the Actions menu, select First.

To navigate to the last record in the collection (do one):

Press CTRL+down arrow.
On the toolbar, click the Go to the last object in the current collection button.
From the Actions menu, select Last.

To navigate to the next column in the record (do one):

Press TAB. This takes you to the next active or enabled column, skipping over all columns that are read-only.
Press the right arrow key. This takes you to the next column whether it is active or not.

NOTE: Unless you are in the last record in the collection, if you are in the last column of the record, doing either of these actions takes you to the first column in the next record.

To navigate to the previous column in the record (do one):

Press SHIFT+TAB. This takes you to the previous active or enabled column, skipping over all columns that are read-only.
Press the left arrow key. This takes you to the previous column whether it is active or not.

NOTE: Unless you are in the first record in the collection, if you are in the first column of the record, doing either of these actions takes you to the last column in the previous record.

To view the next or previous set of records in a collection when there are more records than can fit into the viewing area of a grid, use the PAGE UP or PAGE DOWN keys.