Time Saving Techniques

This Solution lists a number of time-saving techniques, such as quick date entry, keyboard shortcuts, (3403)

Big Business includes a number of "hidden" time-saving techniques. Learning just a few can save you a considerable amount of time.

• Keyboard Shortcuts allow you perform most operations.
» See page 95 of your User's Guide for Windows
» See page 73 of your User's Guide for Macintosh
» Tab through fields
» Spacebar toggles checkboxes
» ESCape key works as Cancel

• Dates can be entered in a variety of ways.
» Using separators: MM/DD, MM/DD/YY, MM/DD/YYYY
» Without separators: MMDDYY or MMDDYYYY
» In the same month: DD
» Using up/down arrow keys to change to next/previous date

• Lookups are often available from more than one column.
» If a QuickPop menu is necessary, it is sorted by the lookup column.

• Double-clicking allows drill-down or opening of related items.
» From most lists opens the item double-clicked
» In some lists blank space creates a new item

MyDesk lets you to create a custom toolbar with the tools you use most
» Up to 31 tools, screen width permitting (if too many, use Tools menu)
» Saved with your User Name; works wherever you Sign-In (multi-user)


  Automatic Quantities for Line Items

Auto-Enter Quantity (3345)

Big Business 2.5 implements new Automatic Quantities for Line Items, saving you time when entering transactions. Previous versions of Big Business defaulted to a quantity of zero (0) for any new Line Item, requiring that you enter the quantity. New Default Quantities use the following methods:

• The first Line Item added is automatically assigned a Quantity of one (1).

• Subsequent Line Items added to a transaction are assigned the last Quantity entered or one (1) if no Quantity has been modified.

In the pictured example, line one was assigned a quantity of one (1) and not modified. Line two was assigned a quantity of one (1), which was modified to 20. When line three was added it was automatically assigned a quantity of 20.


  Control Key Shortcuts for Windows

Control Key Equivalents

This document describes keyboard shortcuts to perform specific tasks inside of Big Business.

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Ctrl-A Select all the text in a field.
Ctrl-C Copy the selected text.
Ctrl-D Duplicate the current window.
Ctrl-E Create a note or edit the selected list item.
Ctrl-F Search using the QuickSearch feature appropriate to the window.
Ctrl-H Hide or redisplay the toolbar.
Ctrl-L Open the QuickChoose list for this type of window.
Ctrl-M Memorize this transaction.
Ctrl-N Save and Open.
Ctrl-P Print the current window.
Ctrl-Q Quit Big Business.
Ctrl-R Recall a transaction.
Ctrl-S Save the window.
Ctrl-T Switch to the next toolbar. (same as Ctrl-F15)
Ctrl-V Paste the last text that was cut or copied.
Ctrl-W Close the current window.
Ctrl-X Cut the selected text.
Ctrl-Z Undo the last text action.
Ctrl-1 to 4 Go to the first to fourth tab of a window.
Ctrl-+ Add a list item.
Ctrl-- (Minus) Delete a list item.
Ctrl-Enter Save the window.
Ctrl-Return Add a new line to the Line Items area of a transaction window.
Ctrl-. (Period) Cancel, close the current window.
Ctrl-F1 to F14 Open the corresponding tool from the toolbar.
Ctrl-F15 Switch to the next toolbar. (same as Ctrl-T)


  Command Key Equivalents/ Keyboard Shortcuts (Mac)

Command Key Equivalents

This document describes keyboard shortcuts to perform specific tasks inside of Big Business using the Command key (a.k.a. “Apple,” “freeway interchange”, “clover”) immediately adjacent the Space Bar.

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Command-A Select all the text in a field.
Command-C Copy the selected text.
Command-D Duplicate the current window.
Command-E Create a note or edit the selected list item.
Command-F Search using the QuickSearch feature appropriate to the window.
Command-H Hide or redisplay the toolbar.
Command-L Open the QuickChoose list for this type of window.
Command-M Memorize this transaction.
Command-N Save and Open.
Command-P Print the current window.
Command-Q Quit Big Business.
Command-R Recall a transaction.
Command-S Save the window.
Command-T Switch to the next toolbar (same as Command-F15)
Command-V Paste the last text that was cut or copied.
Command-W Close the current window.
Command-X Cut the selected text.
Command-Z Undo the last text action.
Command-1 Click the first tab of a window.
Command-2 Click the second tab of a window.
Command-3 Click the third tab of a window.
Command-4 Click the fourth tab of a window.
Command-+ Add a list item.
Command-- (Minus) Delete a list item.
Command-Enter Save the window.
Command-Return Add a new line to the Line Items area of a transaction window.
Command-. (Period)Cancel, close the current window.
Command-F1 to F14 Open the corresponding tool from the toolbar.
Command-F15 Switch to the next toolbar. (same as Command-T)


  My Desk Toolbar

My Desk Toolbar lets you customize a default toolbar for quick access to your most-used tools. (6401)

Unlike other toolbars, the My Desk toolbar isn't associated with a particular kind of information like customers, vendors, items, and so on. Rather, it is a way of letting you organize your work so that the features you use most often are easily available.

You determine which features are available through the My Desk toolbar. For example, if you are primarily engaged in entering transactions like invoices and bills, you can include the Bill and Invoice tools in the My Desk toolbar. With both tools in one place, you can access them without switching from the Customers to the Vendor toolbar.

The My Desk toolbar contains only the Preferences tool until you place other tools into it. After you have placed a tool into the MyDesk toolbar, Big Business displays it automatically when you sign in. (If you haven't placed any tools in the My Desk toolbar, the Customer toolbar is displayed when you sign in.)

You can add as many tools as you want to the My Desk toolbar. If you add more tools than will fit in the toolbar on your screen, you have to use the Tools menu to access them.


  Add to MyDesk Toolbar

To Add a Tool to the MyDesk Toolbar (6402)

To add a tool to the My Desk toolbar:
1. Use the Big Business toolbar to switch to the My Desk toolbar.
2. Click the Preferences tool in the My Desk toolbar.
The My Desk Preferences window appears.
3. Use the toolbar selector in the window to change to a toolbar containing a tool
you want to include in the My Desk toolbar.
4. Click the tool that you want to use.
The tool appears in the first open space in the My Desk toolbar.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for each tool you want to include.
6. Click the button to save the window.
The tools you chose appear in the My Desk toolbar.


  Using Big Business Help

Using Big Business Help (6403)

You can use Big Business Help to get information. The Help window contains text as well as a links that you use to select the topics you want information about.

To get help:
• Choose Big Business Help from the Help menu.
The Help window for the current Big Business window appears.


  Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard Shortcuts (6406)

Many operations in Big Business have keyboard shortcuts. The following table lists the keyboard shortcuts and the operations they perform. See the appropriate sections in this chapter for instructions about using the features.

Command-A Select all the text in a field.
Command-C Copy the selected text.
Command-D Duplicate the current window.
Command-E Create a note or edit the selected list item.
Command-F Search using the QuickSearch appropriate to the current window. Command-H Hide or redisplay the toolbar.
Command-L Open the QuickChoose list for this type of window.
Command-M Memorize this transaction.
Command-N Save and open New
Command-P Print the current window.
Command-R Recall a transaction.
Command-Q Quit Big Business.
Command-S Save (equivalent to clicking the button).
Command-T Switch to the next Toolbar
Command-V Paste the last text that was cut or copied.
Command-W Close the current window.
Command-X Cut the selected text.
Command-Z Undo the last text action.


  More Keyboard Shortcuts

More Keyboard Shortcuts (6407)

Command-1 Click the first tab of a window.
Command-2 Click the second tab of a window.
Command-3 Click the third tab of a window.
Command-4 Click the fourth tab of a window.
Command-+ (plus) Add a list item.
Command-- (minus) Delete a list item.
Command-Enter Save (equivalent to clicking the OK button).
Command-Return Add a new line to the Line Items area of a transaction window. Command-. (period) Cancel, close the current window.
Command-? Open the Help window.
Command-F1-F2 Open the corresponding tool from the toolbar.
Command-F15 Switch to the next toolbar (same as Command-T)


  Keyboard Shortcuts for Dates

Keyboard Shortcuts for Dates are being tested. To start, "t" for Today has been added. Dates should highlight when clicked once and change when the Up Arrow or Down Arrow keys are typed. Now typing the letter t will set the Date to today. (6664)