Set It Once · A back-to-basics series · D365 Finance & Operations
Use global search to jump straight to any page or record by name, and a handful of keyboard shortcuts to skip the mouse entirely.
F&O has hundreds of screens, and memorizing the menu path to each one is nobody’s idea of a good use of time. Global search sits in the top bar of every page and will take you straight to a form, record, or number by name, no navigation required.
The idea in one minute: Type it, do not click for it
Global search understands page names, so typing part of a form’s name jumps you straight there. It can also search for specific records, like a vendor account number or an invoice number, and take you directly to that record instead of a menu.
Use global search like a shortcut
- Click the search icon in the top bar, or use the keyboard shortcut to open it instantly.
- Type a page name, like ‘vendor invoice’, to jump straight to that form.
- Type a specific record number, like a customer account, to go directly to that record.
- Star any result from search to add it straight to your favorites for next time.
A few shortcuts worth memorizing: Keyboard moves that save real time
Beyond search, a handful of keyboard shortcuts remove clicks entirely: Alt+Q opens the quick search, Ctrl+S saves a record without reaching for the mouse, and Esc closes a dialog cleanly.
None of these require setup, only the habit of using them.
Here are a few more for your reference:
Navigation & Views
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Switch to grid view | Ctrl+Shift+G |
| Switch to header view | Ctrl+Shift+H |
| Switch to lines view | Ctrl+Shift+L |
| Switch to details view | Ctrl+Shift+D |
| Open action search | Ctrl+’ or Alt+Q |
| Search for a page | Ctrl+/ or Alt+G |
| Go to the dashboard | Alt+Shift+Home |
| Toggle navigation pane | Alt+F1 |
Record & Page Actions
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Create a new record | Alt+N |
| Save record | Alt+S or Ctrl+S |
| Delete a record | Alt+Del or Alt+F9 |
| Data refresh | Shift+F5 |
| Revert (restore) | Ctrl+Shift+F5 |
| Export to Excel | Ctrl+Shift+E |
| Attach a document | Ctrl+Shift+A |
| Close page with save | Shift+Esc |
| Close page, discard changes | Alt+Shift+Q |
Grid Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Move next/previous column | Tab / Shift+Tab |
| Move next/previous row | Down / Up arrow |
| New row at bottom of grid | Down arrow (from last row) |
| Select/clear all rows | Ctrl+Shift+M |
| Open grid filtering | Ctrl+G |
| Open advanced filter/sort | Ctrl+Shift+F3 |
| Move to first/last record | Ctrl+Home / Ctrl+End |
| Delete current row | Alt+Del |
FastTabs & FactBoxes
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Next/previous FastTab | Alt+Shift+Down / Up arrow |
| Go to Nth FastTab | Alt+1 through Alt+9 |
| Open FactBox pane | Ctrl+F2 |
| Next/previous FactBox | Alt+Shift+Down / Up arrow |
General Tips
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Discover shortcuts for current screen | Alt+Shift+K |
| Simulate right-click | Shift+F10 |
| Enter today’s date in a date field | T |
| Open lookup/combo box/date picker | Alt+Down arrow |
Up Next: Recurring and Saved Journals – No Need to Rebuild the Same Journal Every Month
Thank you for reading!
Interested in learning more? Here are a few of my latest posts:
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