Entering Data
There are many general features that help you enter data easier, faster, and more precise. The basic principles and advanced features for entering data are described in this article.
Tip
Take free e-learning content about the Business Central user interface in Microsoft training.
The examples in this article use the demonstration data.
Work with editable fields
Fields in Business Central may contain different editable data, such as text or currency amounts. Editable fields typically display an input box where you can type or choose a value. Non-editable fields are typically displayed with a gray background.
Some editable fields provide a picker to help you specify a value.
| Picker | How it helps you specify a value |
|---|---|
| Date picker | This picker displays a calendar that is based on your current regional settings. It helps you choose a single date. |
| Dropdown | Dropdowns provide a choice of fixed values or reference records from another table |
| Switch or Checkbox | Some fields provide a simple choice of Yes or No values. The switch is used to specify this value, and is always displayed as a checkbox in lists |
| Assist edit | Some fields provide custom pickers that are suited to looking up and choosing the best value for that field, such as popup window |
Modifying a field value
To modify the value of a field, you must first set focus to that field. You set focus by doing the following actions:
- Use the Tab key. The action selects the entire value.
- Left-click your mouse or similar input device. This action will only select the entire field value if the field is in a list.
When you interact with fields in the user interface, Business Central typically favors selecting the entire field value to make it easier for you to replace that value.
When the entire field value is selected:
- Replace the value by just typing to specify a new value. If the field offers a picker, you can activate it using the Alt+Down Arrow keyboard shortcut.
- Use the Delete or Backspace key to clear the value.
select the F2 key to toggle between selecting the entire field value or placing the cursor after the field's value. Placing the cursor at the end of the value makes it easier for you to append to the existing value.
When the cursor is shown at the end of the field value:
- Add to the value by just typing.
- Use the Home, End, Left Arrow, and Right Arrow keys to move the cursor within the value. If you're editing a field in a list, selecting the Left Arrow key again when the cursor is at the beginning of the value will set focus to the previous field. Similarly, selecting the Right Arrow key again when the cursor is at the end of the value will set focus to the next field.
Note
After you specify a value, Business Central will only check that it's valid after you click outside the field or set focus to another element, such as the next field.
Check data in documents and journals while you work
Your administrator can enable Business Central to validate the data you enter in documents and journals in real time.
If you enable the feature, the FactBox Pane shows either a Check Document or Check Journal FactBox, depending on the type of document you're working on. The FactBox lists the errors on the page so you can quickly resolve them.
To enable the feature, on the My Notifications page, choose the following checkboxes:
- For journals, choose the Enabled checkbox for Enable Data Check.
- For documents, choose the Enabled checkbox for Show the Document Check FactBox.
The following video explains real-time data check.
Keyboard Shortcuts
There are several keyboard shortcuts that let you work "mouse-free" and speed up your data entry. These keyboard shortcuts are especially useful with large-scale entries and repetitive typing tasks.
For more information about shortcuts, see Keyboard Shortcuts. A few of the keyboard shortcuts are discussed in this article.
Accelerating Data Entry Using Quick Entry
Quick Entry is a feature designed for data entry when using the keyboard. Quick Entry works on fields (like on card pages) and in lists (rows and columns). It's beneficial when doing repetitive typing tasks that require creating multiple records in sequence. Examples include a batch of sales orders or registering new items.
You can use the Tab key to navigate from one field on a page to the next editable field. A disadvantage of using Tab is that it always goes sequentially to the next field. Quick Entry lets you change this path. With Quick Entry, you use the Enter key to navigate through only those fields that you're interested in. Quick Entry skips non-editable fields and fields that you typically don't fill in. You might have already noticed this behavior on some pages. This behavior is because the fields to include when pressing Enter and which ones to skip have been predefined. You can customize Quick Entry by personalizing your workspace and optimizing how you enter data on each page.
How Quick Entry Works
Every field can be marked as either included in Quick Entry or excluded from Quick Entry. Fields that are included in Quick Entry will be included in the path when you select Enter. Fields that are excluded from Quick Entry won't.
When you're finished entering data in a field, you simply select Enter to confirm the changes and go to the next field. If you want to reverse direction, and go the previous field, select Shift+Enter. For more information about shortcuts, see Quick Entry Shortcuts for Fields.
Tips and Tricks
The following list provides some useful information about using Quick Entry.
- It's available for any editable fields.
- It also works across columns and rows.
- It doesn't prevent accessing other elements of a page, such as actions. These elements are still accessible by using Tab and Shift+Tab.
- It's not required that FastTabs are expanded for Quick Entry to work. If the next Quick Entry field is located in a collapsed FastTab, that FastTab will automatically expand and focus on the chosen field. Business Central will remember that the FastTab should be expanded next time you visit the page.
- Quick Entry works no matter whether fields are mandatory. So it's a good idea to ensure that mandatory fields are included in Quick Entry.
- By default, most fields are automatically included in Quick Entry. So initially your task will most likely be excluding fields from Quick Entry.
To change Quick Entry fields
To set up Quick Entry on fields, you use personalization.
- Start personalization by selecting the
icon, and then the Personalize action. - Select a field that you want change. In lists, select the corresponding column heading. Then, choose either Include in Quick Entry or Exclude from Quick Entry.
For more information about personalization, see Personalize Your Workspace.
Mandatory Fields
When you enter data on pages, certain fields are marked with a red asterisk. The red asterisk means that the field must be filled to complete a certain process. An example is when you post a transaction that uses the value in the field.
Although a field is mandatory, you aren't forced to fill the field before you continue to other fields or close the page. The red asterisk only serves as a reminder that you'll be blocked from completing a certain process.
Finding Data As You Type
When you start to type characters in a field, a drop-down list is displayed and shows possible field values. The list changes as you type more characters, and you can select the correct value when it's displayed.
Many fields have a down arrow button that you can choose. You choose the arrow to get a list of data that is available to enter in the field. The button has two functions depending on the type of field:
Lookup - Displays information from another table that you can enter in the field. You can select one piece of data at a time.
Drop-down - Displays the set of options that exist for the field. You can select only one of the options.
Copying and Pasting FAQ Fields and Lines
You can copy one or more rows from a list or a single field on a page. Then paste what you copied into the same page, another page, or an external document. You could, for example, paste to Microsoft Excel or Outlook email. In short, to copy, select Ctrl+C (cmd+C in macOS) on your keyboard. To paste, select Ctrl+V or cmd+V in macOS.
In a list, to copy the field in the same column of the row above, and paste it into the current row, just select F8.
For more information, see Copying and Pasting FAQ.
Filtering Line Items
To start filtering, select 
at the top of the list or select Shift+F3 to open the filter pane. You work with the filter pane as you do on any other list. For more information, see Filtering.
Filtering is especially helpful when viewing and analyzing longer documents. Imagine you open a posted sales invoice. Then, you filter the line items to display all line items that have an individual discount above 5%. Or, you filter to display only bike accessories with 'pro' in the name.
Focusing on Line Items
When working on documents that include a line items part, you can switch your view to focus only on the line items. Example documents are sales order or invoice page. The line items part expands so that it occupies almost the entire workspace. It hides other parts of the page except the actions area at the top. This layout gives you a better overview of the lines items, and provides more room to work on them.
You'll benefit particularly when you work with large line item lists and you want to enter data fast. This feature also provides advanced filtering capability. Like on other lists, browsing and searching through line items becomes even easier.
Switching the Focus On and Off
To focus on lines items, select anywhere in the line item part, and then choose 
in the upper right corner, or select Ctrl+Shift+F12.
To switch back to the normal view, choose or select Ctrl+Shift+F12 again.
Multitasking Across Multiple Pages
You can open a card or document page in a new window. Opening a new window lets you:
- Work on multiple tasks at the same time
- Manage interruptions to the current task, such as taking an incoming call.
- Keep a window open for an ongoing task while you start or complete another task in windows.
To open the current card or document in a new window, choose 
in the upper right corner, or select Alt+Shift+W.
Note
When you open other pages from a card or document that is opened in a new window, those pages will open in a new window even though you don't choose .
Note
If you work in the Safari browser, a pop-up blocker may cause the new window to not open. If this is the case, specify the product URL as an allowed website. For information see, Change preferences in Safari.
The same may happen in other browsers, such as Firefox. For more information, see Pop-up blocker settings in Firefox.
Another way to multitask is to open Business Central on two or more browser tabs. When you do it this way, you should create a new tab and then copy/paste the URL of the original tab into the new tab. This way creates a new session.
Note
Don't use the Duplicate function of the browser to create the new tab as this may cause actions on one tab to block actions on other tabs because they are part of the same session.
Entering Quantities by Calculation
When entering numbers into quantity fields, such as the Quantity field on an item journal line, you can enter the formula instead of the sum quantity.
Examples
If you enter 19+19, the field is calculated to 38.
If you enter 41-9, the field is calculated to 32.
If you enter 12*4, the field is calculated to 48.
If you enter 12/4, the field is calculated to 3.
Entering Negative Numbers
You can enter negative numbers in two ways. The number -20.5 can be entered as:
-20.5
or
20.5-
In both cases, the amount will be recorded in as -20.5.
If the last character of the expression is a + or a -, the entire expression will be recorded with that sign. An example, 10-20+ will result in 10 and not -10.
Entering Dates and Times
You can enter dates and times in all the fields that are assigned to dates (date fields). You can enter dates with or without separators.
Note
How you enter dates and times depends on your Region settings. For more information, see Change Basic Settings.
Entering Dates
You can either use the data picker to select a date from a calendar, or you can enter dates manually. This section provides a brief overview of how to enter dates. For more information, see Work with Calendar Dates and Times.
For manually date entry, you can enter two, four, six, or eight digits:
Two digits are interpreted as the day. It will add the month and the year of the work date.
Four digits are interpreted as the day and the month. It will add the year of the work date.
If the date you want is in the range 01/01/1950 through 12/31/2049, enter the year with two digits. Otherwise, enter the year with four digits.
Note
If you're using Business Central on-premises, the two-digit year range may be different. Administrators can change the range by modifying the CalendarTwoDigitYearMax setting of the Business Central server. For more information, see Configuring Business Central Server.
You can also enter a date as a weekday followed by a week number. Or, you can enter a year. For example, Mon25 or mon25 means Monday in week 25.
Instead of entering a specific date, you can enter one of these codes.
| Code | Result |
|---|---|
| t | Specifies today's date (the system date for the computer). |
| p | Specifies an accounting period, where p means the first accounting period, p2 means the second accounting period, and so on. |
| w | Specifies the work date that is set up in the application. To change the work date, see Changing Basic Settings. You may want to use a work date if you have many transactions with a date other than today's date. |
| c | Specifies that the date after c is a closing date, for example C123101. |
Entering Times
When you enter times, you can insert any separator sign that you want between the units, but it isn't required. You don't have to write minutes, seconds, or AM/PM.
The following table lists the various ways in which times can be entered and how they're interpreted.
| Entry | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| 5 | 05:00:00 |
| 5:30 | 05:30:00 |
| 0530 | 05:30:00 |
| 5:30:5 | 05:30:05 |
| 053005 | 05:30:05 |
| 5:30:5,50 | 05:30:05.5 |
| 053005050 | 05:30:05.05 |
You enter two digits for each unit of time if you don't enter a separator.
Entering Combined Datetimes
When you enter datetimes, which are a date and time combined into one field, you must enter a space between the date and the time. The date part can only contain spaces in the form of the official date separator of your region settings. The time can contain spaces around the AM/PM indicator in relevant regional settings.
The following table lists the various ways in which you can enter datetimes and how they're interpreted.
| Entry | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| 08-01-2022 05:48:12 PM | 08-01-2022 05:48:12 PM |
| 131222 132455 | 13-12-22 13:24:55 |
| 1-12-22 10 | 01-12-22 10:00:00 |
| 1.12.22 5 | 01-12-22 05:00:00 |
| 1.12.22 | 01-12-22 00:00:00 |
| 11 12 | 11-current month-current year 12:00:00 |
| 1112 12 | 11-12-current year 12:00:00 |
| t or today | today's date 00:00:00 |
| t time | today's date actual time |
| t 10:30 | today's date 10:30:00 |
| t 3:3:3 | today's date 03:03:03 |
| w or workdate | the working date 00:00:00 |
| m or Monday | Monday of the current week 00:00:00 |
| tu or Tuesday | Tuesday of the current week 00:00:00 |
| we or Wednesday | Wednesday of the current week 00:00:00 |
| th or Thursday | Thursday of the current week 00:00:00 |
| f or Friday | Friday of the current week 00:00:00 |
| s or Saturday | Saturday of the current week 00:00:00 |
| su or Sunday | Sunday of the current week 00:00:00 |
| tu 10:30 | Tuesday of the current week 10:30:00 |
| tu 3:3:3 | Tuesday of the current week 03:03:03 |
| t23 t | Tuesday of week 23 of the work date year, current time of day |
| t23 | Tuesday of week 23 of the work date year |
| t 23 | Today 23:00:00 |
| t-1 | Tuesday of week 1 of the work date year |
Entering Duration
You enter a duration as a number followed by its unit of measure.
Here are some examples.
| Duration | Unit of measure** |
|---|---|
| 2h | 2 hrs |
| 6h 30 m | 6 hrs 30 mins |
| 6.5h | 6 hrs 30 mins |
| 90m | 1 hr 30 mins |
| 2d 6h 30m | 2 days 6 hrs 30 mins |
| 2d 6h 30m 56s 600ms | 2 days 6 hrs 30 mins 56 secs 600 msecs |
You can also enter a number and it's automatically converted to a duration. The number you enter is converted according to the default unit of measure that has been specified for the duration field.
To see the unit of measure used in a duration field, enter a number and see which unit of measure it's converted to.
The number 5 is converted to 5 hrs, if the unit of measure is hours.
Setting the decimal separator used by numeric keyboards
When using the Decimal Separator key on a numeric keypad to enter data, the actual decimal separator that's entered in the field is determined by your region setting in Business Central. Most regions use the period (.) or comma (,) symbol as a separator for decimal values, as you would typically see in currency amounts. The decimal key on your keypad adapts to your region. It's often different to the period or comma keys on the rest of your keyboard. You set the region in Business Central on the My Settings page.
For example, suppose you're using a numeric keyboard that uses a period (.) as the Decimal Separator key. But you're entering data for a regional language that uses a comma (,) for the decimal separator, like French (France). So, you want decimals like "1.23" to be entered as "1,23". In this case, you can go to the My Settings page and set the Region to the target regional language to French (France). For more information, see Change Basic Settings.
Tip
There may be occasions when you want to use the decimal separator to enter a period (.). For example, suppose you were entering a date range in a filter, like 01/01/2022..04/01/2022, or anything that requires a period. To accommodate this case, select the Alt+Decimal Separator keys on the numeric keyboard. This key combination switches the decimal separator between outputting a period and the decimal separator as determined by the Region setting.
See also
Sorting, Searching, and Filtering Lists
Work with Business Central