Dynamics NAV Keyboard Shortcuts: Complete List, Free PDF & Business Central Guide
Quick answer: Dynamics NAV keyboard shortcuts are key combinations like Ctrl+N to create a record, F9 to post a document, and Ctrl+F7 to view ledger entries that let you navigate and act inside Microsoft Dynamics NAV without reaching for the mouse. Microsoft has since renamed NAV to Dynamics 365 Business Central, and most of these shortcuts still work in the modern web client. Below is the complete, verified list of 80+ shortcuts, organized by task, plus a free downloadable PDF cheat sheet.
What Is Dynamics NAV (and Is It the Same as Business Central)?
Microsoft Dynamics NAV (formerly Navision) is an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system built for small and mid-sized businesses to manage finance, supply chain, manufacturing, and operations. In 2018, Microsoft rebranded the on-premises and cloud product as Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. The underlying functionality carried over, the development language moved from C/AL to AL, and the legacy Windows (“RTC”) client was eventually retired in favor of the modern web, tablet, mobile, and Outlook clients.
What this means for you: if you’re on NAV 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, or 2018, the Windows-client shortcuts below apply directly. If you’ve upgraded to Business Central, most shortcuts still work, but a handful changed those differences are mapped in the dedicated section further down.
How to Use Keyboard Shortcuts in Dynamics NAV
You don’t enable anything special shortcuts work out of the box. Two things worth knowing:
- Show the access keys. Press Alt at any time to display the ribbon’s shortcut keys (key tips) so you can drive the menu bar entirely from the keyboard.
- Windows client vs. web client. In the legacy NAV Windows client, function-key shortcuts (F1–F12) dominate. In the Business Central web client, the same keys mostly carry over, with a few browser-driven differences noted later. Shortcuts are based on the US English keyboard layout; other layouts may vary slightly.
Most-Used Dynamics NAV Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Copy | Ctrl + C |
| Paste | Ctrl + V |
| Cut | Ctrl + X |
| Undo | Ctrl + Z |
| Ctrl + P | |
| Go to | Ctrl + G |
| Show links | Ctrl + L |
| Create a new record | Ctrl + N |
| Open the company | Ctrl + O |
| Export to Microsoft Word | Ctrl + W |
| Export to Microsoft Excel | Ctrl + E |
| Close the current window | Esc |
| Move to the first field on a line | Home |
| Move to the last field on a line | End |
| Move to the next character / field | Right Arrow |
| Move to the previous character / field | Left Arrow |
| Move to the field above in the column | Up Arrow |
| Move to the field below in the column | Down Arrow |
| Delete or clear selected text | Delete |
Edit & Line Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Insert a new line | Ctrl + Insert |
| Delete the selected line | Ctrl + Delete |
| Copy rows | Ctrl + Shift + C |
| Paste rows | Ctrl + Shift + V |
| Save and close the window (OK) | Ctrl + Enter |
| Save and close, then open a new window | Ctrl + Shift + Enter |
| Edit list | Ctrl + Shift + E |
| View list | Ctrl + Shift + R |
| Show dimensions | Ctrl + Shift + D |
| Collapse or expand a line in a hierarchy | Ctrl + Shift + Q |
| Open the current page in a separate window | Ctrl + Shift + W |
| Open the “About this Page / Report” window | Ctrl + Alt + F1 |
| Display access keys in the ribbon | Alt |
| Toggle FactBoxes on or off | Alt + F2 |
| Close the window or program | Alt + F4 |
| Collapse or expand the active frame | Alt + F6 |
| Optimize space for the current page | Alt + F12 |
Navigation & Movement Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Move to the first line in a list | Ctrl + Home |
| Move to the last line in a list | Ctrl + End |
| Move up while keeping the line selected | Ctrl + Up Arrow |
| Move down while keeping the line selected | Ctrl + Down Arrow |
| Move to the first field on a line | Ctrl + Left Arrow |
| Move to the last field on a line | Ctrl + Right Arrow |
| Display the next document or card in a list | Ctrl + Page Down |
| Display the previous document or card in a list | Ctrl + Page Up |
| Go to the previous window (navigation history) | Alt + Left Arrow |
| Go to the next window (navigation history) | Alt + Right Arrow |
| Move to the next field | Tab |
| Move to the previous field | Shift + Tab |
| Move to the next editable field | Enter |
Function Key (F1–F12) Shortcuts
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| F1 | Open Help |
| F2 | Edit |
| F3 | Select “Type to filter” (field filter) |
| F4 | Drop-down / look up to select |
| F5 | Refresh the active window |
| F6 | Go to the next frame |
| F7 | Display statistics |
| F8 | Copy the field above |
| F9 | Post |
| F10 | Select the menu bar / display access keys |
| F12 | Select the navigation pane |
Filter & Search Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Select “Type to filter” | F3 |
| Filter to the currently selected field value | Alt + F3 |
| Limit totals to (e.g., chart of accounts) | Ctrl + Shift + F3 |
| Clear all filters | Ctrl + Shift + A |
| Select Search pages | Ctrl + F3 |
| Select sorting | Ctrl + T |
| Select “Show Results” (FlowFilter) | Shift + F3 |
View, Post & Document Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Create a new document | Ctrl + F2 |
| Open the related list editor | Ctrl + F4 |
| View entries | Ctrl + F7 |
| Release a document | Ctrl + F9 |
| Reconcile or split lines | Ctrl + F11 |
| Collapse or expand the ribbon | Ctrl + F1 |
| Select the address bar | Ctrl + F12 |
| View error message | Shift + F1 |
| Open a lookup window | Shift + F4 |
| Go to the previous frame | Shift + F6 |
| Open the related card | Shift + F7 |
| Drop-down / look up to view | Shift + F8 |
| Post and print | Shift + F9 |
| Display a shortcut (context) menu | Shift + F10 |
| Apply entries / get source documents | Shift + F11 |
| Open the Role Center from the navigation pane | Shift + F12 |
Do These Shortcuts Work in Dynamics 365 Business Central?
Mostly, yes. Business Central kept the muscle memory: F9 still posts a document, Ctrl+F7 still opens ledger entries, F7 still shows statistics, Esc still closes a page, and Ctrl+C / Ctrl+V still copy and paste rows. Because the modern client runs in a browser, some shortcuts were added or changed to fit the web interface for example, modern “Tell Me” search and Copilot autofill commands that didn’t exist in legacy NAV.
The most useful additions and changes are mapped below.
NAV → Business Central Shortcut Map
| Task | Legacy NAV (Windows client) | Business Central (web client) |
|---|---|---|
| Create a new record | Ctrl + N | Alt + N |
| Create and post a new document | — | Alt + F9 |
| Open search / find a page | Ctrl + F3 | Alt + Q (Tell Me) |
| Switch company | Ctrl + O | Ctrl + O |
| Post a document | F9 | F9 |
| Release a document | Ctrl + F9 | Ctrl + F9 |
| View ledger entries | Ctrl + F7 | Ctrl + F7 |
| Show statistics | F7 | F7 |
| Open page in a new window | Ctrl + Shift + W | Alt + Shift + W |
| Save and close | Ctrl + Enter | Ctrl + Enter |
| Toggle the search field in a list | F3 | F3 |
| Open / close the filter pane | F3 (filter) | Shift + F3 |
| Page inspection | Ctrl + Alt + F1 | Ctrl + Alt + F1 |
| Open the Role Explorer / Center | Shift + F12 | Shift + F12 |
| Enter today’s date in a date field | t | t |
| Enter the work date | w | w |
Tips to Memorize Shortcuts Faster
- Start with the daily five. Ctrl+N (new), F9 (post), Ctrl+F7 (entries), F7 (statistics), and Esc (close) cover most of a finance or operations user’s day.
- Group by intent, not by key. Learn all the “post” actions together (F9, Shift+F9, Ctrl+F9) rather than memorizing keys at random.
- Use the tooltip crutch. Hovering an action in Business Central shows its shortcut in the tooltip — so you learn while you work.
- Print the cheat sheet. Keep the PDF taped near your monitor for the first two weeks; recall becomes automatic quickly.
Download the PDF Cheat Sheet
Grab the complete, printable list of Dynamics NAV keyboard shortcuts as a free PDF keep it on your desktop or pin it near your screen while the commands become second nature.
⬇ Download Dynamics NAV Shortcuts PDF
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dynamics NAV the same as Business Central?
Functionally, yes Business Central is the rebranded successor to Dynamics NAV. Microsoft renamed the product in 2018, moved development from C/AL to AL, and retired the legacy Windows client in favor of modern web, mobile, and Outlook clients. Core ERP features and most shortcuts carried over.
What is the shortcut to post a document in Dynamics NAV?
Press F9 to post. Use Shift+F9 to post and print, and Ctrl+F9 to release a document without posting.
How do I view ledger entries in Dynamics NAV?
Press Ctrl+F7 on a record or document to open its related ledger, log, or cost entries.
Do Dynamics NAV shortcuts work on a Mac?
In legacy NAV, the Windows client was PC-only. In Business Central, most shortcuts work in the browser on macOS, though some use Cmd or Fn combinations instead of Ctrl. For example, Ctrl+Home in lists becomes Fn+Ctrl+Left Arrow on Mac.
How do I create a new record?
In legacy NAV, press Ctrl+N. In Business Central, press Alt+N.
How do I show all keyboard shortcuts on screen?
Press Alt to display the ribbon access keys (key tips) so you can navigate the menu bar from the keyboard.
Where can I download a Dynamics NAV shortcuts PDF?
Use the download link above for a free, printable one-page cheat sheet covering every shortcut in this guide.
Final Thoughts
Mastering even the daily five Ctrl+N to create, F9 to post, Ctrl+F7 for entries, F7 for statistics, and Esc to close will noticeably speed up your day in Dynamics NAV. And if you’ve moved to Dynamics 365 Business Central, most of these carry straight over, with only a handful of changes worth relearning (like Alt+N for a new record and Alt+Q for Tell Me search).
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