10 Most Useful QuickBooks Short Cut Keys

For those of you who are new to QuickBooks, and for those who have had some experience but would like to find quicker ways of doing repetitive tasks, here is my list of the 10 most useful QuickBooks short-cut keys.

Journal entries

CTRL+Y

This key sequence lets you see the debits and credits behind a transaction. This helps you to make sure you know where the transaction is going in your financial statements. You can also use the "Journal" button available on most forms but the shortcut is faster and more universally available.

Date shortcuts

When recording an invoice, receipt, paycheck or other form, you can easily change the date using the following keys (highlight the date field first):

Next day + (plus key)

Previous day - (minus key)

Today T

First day of the week W

Last day of the week K

First day of the month M

Last day of the month H

First day of the year Y

Last day of the year R

Display product information

F2

This is useful if you need to know what version of QuickBooks you have and which updates have been installed. This form also gives you file size, number of customers, vendors and employees, and lots of other useful information.

Edit register transaction

CTRL+E

Use this key when you want to edit a bank or other register transaction. Highlight the transaction then use the key sequence.

Increase/decrease check or other form number by one.

You can increase a check number by highlighting the number and using the + (plus key) and decrease it by one with the - (minus key).

Display contextual help

F1

This is the fastest way to get at the help menu. The help offered changes depending on what area of QuickBooks you are in.

Create invoice

CTRL+I

A very quick way to produce a new invoice when in the Customer Center or at the main screen.

Memorize transaction or report

CTRL+M

This key sequence lets you save a recurring entry and allows you to set up the frequency with which it occurs.

Open account list

CTRL+A

This will bring up your chart of accounts from anywhere in the program.

Write new check

CTRL+W

A quick way to go directly to the new check screen from anywhere in the program.

Take a few moments to print this handy reference list off and post it beside your computer. It will save you valuable time.