Keyboard Shortcuts for Moving Through Form Fields
When entering data into the system, there are several ways to move from one field to another.
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| TAB | Moves you through the fields on a form in a pre-defined order. |
| SHIFT + TAB | Same as TAB, but in the opposite direction. |
| ENTER | Works the same as TAB if the Enter as Tab option is checked on the VA User Profile or User Options forms. |
| Accelerator Keys | Accelerator keys are identified by an underscore (‘_’) on an field's label. When you first access a form, the accelerator keys may not be immediately identifiable (depending on Windows settings). If this occurs, press the ALT key to display the accelerator keys available in the menu and on the form (if applicable), then press the desired letter to take you to the menu or input. |
| Arrow Keys | If you
are working in a grid, the arrow keys will move you up/down and
right/left through the grid. When on the other tabs on a form, they will only move you through the data in a field or, if a radio button control, through the options on the control. |
| HOME / END | If you
are working in a grid, the Home key will move you to the first column in
the grid and the End key will move you to the last column in the grid. If working on a standard form entry tab, the Home and End keys will only move you to the beginning or ending positions in the current field (respectively), with the exception of checkboxes and radio buttons, in which case the Home and End keys have no function. In a drop-down field, the Home keys will move you to the first option in the list and the End key will move you to the last option in the list. |
| PAGE UP/ PAGE DOWN | When on
the Grid tab of a form, use these keys to move through the records in
the grid. When on a non-grid tab in a form, use these keys to move between the header and footer of the form. This will also save any information that has been changed. |
