Using Keyboard Shortcuts in askSam

The regular use of keystroke combinations can provide almost any computer user with a dramatic increase in productivity, while reducing the risk of debilitating RSI (repetitive strain injury). Recently a lot of our users have been asking about the keyboard shortcuts in askSam.

In askSam, if a menu command already has a keyboard shortcut assigned to it, it will be displayed next to the command in that menu.

We have put together a comprehensive list of all of the default keyboard shortcuts in askSam 5. Some of the most commonly used shortcuts are:

General Commands

CTRL+W              Moves cursor to the "work space" area in askSam

CTRL+Q,  ESC     Moves to the Search Line

CTRL+SHIFT+Q    Moves to the search results

F1                        HELP menu

CTRL+TAB           Toggle between open databases

ALT+TAB             Toggle between open applications

File Commands

New                     CTRL+N

Open                   CTRL+O

Save                    CTRL+S

Print                    CTRL+P

Edit Commands

Undelete               CTRL+Z

Cut                       CTRL+X

Copy                    CTRL+C

Paste                    CTRL+V

Find                      CTRL+F

Repeat Last Find    F3

Insert Date             CTRL+D

Insert Time             CTRL+T

Insert Weekday      CTRL+W

Insert Picklist         F11

View Commands

Next Doc               ALT+Page Up

Previous Doc          ALT+Page Down

First Doc                ALT+Home

Last Doc                ALT+End

History > Back       ALT+Left Arrow

History > Fwd         ALT+Right Arrow

Search for Selected Text in Current Doc      F3

Search for Selected Text in Current File      CTRL+Y

Document Commands

Add Default Entry Form     CTRL+A or F5

Add Entry Form                CTRL+SHIFT+A

Create Bookmark              F2

Set Hypertext Link            CTRL+K

Toggle Data Entry Mode    CTRL+E

Format Commands

Bold                                 CTRL+B

Italics                               CTRL+I

Underline                          CTRL+U

Strikeout                           CTRL+SHIFT+K

Change Font Size              CTRL+SHIFT+P

Change Font                     CTRL+SHIFT+F

Change Style                    CTRL+SHIFT S

Tools Commands

Check spelling                   F7

Reports Manager               CTRL+R

Picklist Manager                CTRL+F11

Here are a few commands that will also work in most word processing applications:

CTRL+Left Arrow               Moves your cursor backward one word

CTRL+Right Arrow             Moves your cursor forward one word

CTRL+Up Arrow                Scrolls the document up the screen

CTRL+Down Arrow            Scrolls the document down the screen

CTRL+Backspace              Deletes the last word typed

CTRL+HOME                    Moves cursor to the first space of the first line of the document

CTRL+END                       Moves cursor to the last space of the last line of the document

CTRL+Page Up                 Scrolls screen horizontally to the right

CTRL+Page Down             Scrolls screen horizontally to the left

Defining Your Own

In addition to these commands, askSam gives you the option to define your own keyboard shortcuts for practically every command in the program. This can be found by clicking TOOLS -> CUSTOMIZE -> KEYBOARD.

Inside here, you will find a list of every menu command in askSam.

To assign a new keyboard shortcut, simply scroll down the list of commands and select  the one you want to assign a new keyboard shortcut for. Then click on the ASSIGN button.

Next you will be prompted to "Press new shortcut key:". At this time, you should press the button(s) on your keyboard that you would like to use as the new keystroke to launch this command.

Most keyboard shortcuts are usually a combination of the Ctrl or Alt keys, along with a particular letter. You may also use the function keys (F1 - F12) across the top of your keyboard. Whatever keystroke you decide on, make sure it is something that will be easy for you to remember.

If the Keyboard shortcut you are entering is already in use by a different command in the program, you will be notified on this screen.

Here is a list of a couple of keyboard shortcuts found in other applications that you might find useful in askSam. You can create these by going to TOOLS > CUSTOMIZE > KEYBOARD

File -> Close                     CTRL+W

File -> Pack                      CTRL+SHIFT+P

File -> Exit                        CTRL+Q

Edit -> Select All                CTRL+A (You can still use F5 to add the Default Entry Form)

Document -> Email Doc      CTRL+M (M for Mail)

Adding Keyboard Shortcuts to Different Entry Forms

A lot of our users have databases that contain more than one Entry Form. Most people know that CTRL+A or F5 is the shortcut for adding the default entry form, but did you know that you can also define shortcuts for the other non-default forms?

1. Open the file that contains your Entry Form.

2. Go to TOOLS > ENTRY FORMS.

3. Select the form you want to define a shortcut for, and click EDIT.

4. Next go to ENTRY FORM -> PROPERTIES.

5. Click on the SETTINGS tab.

6. In here you will find a menu item called "Shortcut Key"

From this menu, you can select a combination of ALT plus any of the number keys (10 in all).

If you have lots of different forms, you could write out a list of all of your entry forms and their corresponding keyboard shortcuts, and post it next to your monitor. This should greatly increase your productivity.

We hope you enjoy using these shortcuts in askSam.

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