You can significantly reduce the amount of time it takes you to key in large numbers of entries in some sub-tabs of the Payroll feature by using keyboard strokes rather than mouse clicks to complete this task.
The information in this topic applies to the Adjustments, Checks, and Quick Entry sub-tabs of both the Data Entry and Pay Run Management tabs.
In this topic, the terms edit mode and navigation mode are used often, and they are defined below:
- Edit mode: You can add or update field values.
- Navigation mode: You cannot add or update field values.
You can use the Enter and Esc keys to move between edit mode and navigation mode. If you press the Esc key during the data entry process, Dayforce goes into navigation mode. In navigation mode, you can't edit fields, but you can move between fields of the same record using the left and right arrow keys and between records using the up and down arrow keys. To return to edit mode, you can press the Enter key.
| Windows/Mac Key | Result |
|---|---|
|
Enter/Return |
In edit mode:
In navigation mode, switches the tab to edit mode. |
|
Tab |
Moves the cursor forward between the editable fields of a single record. Moves the cursor forward between drop-down lists in a dialog box, like Labor Metrics. To move backward between the editable fields of a single record or between drop-down lists, press and hold the Shift key and then press the Tab key. Sets the field selection. Important: It's strongly recommended that you always use the Tab key to set a field value after modifying it. This key only works in edit mode. |
|
Left and right arrows |
In edit mode, moves the cursor forward and backward within a field. In navigation mode, moves the cursor forward and backward between the fields of a single record. |
|
Up arrow |
In edit mode, moves the cursor up through the options in a drop-down list. If the list isn’t open, each option is displayed in the field as it's selected. In navigation mode, moves the cursor up between record rows. |
|
Down arrow |
In edit mode:
Alt + the down arrow key opens drop-down lists in other fields besides Entries and Labor Metrics or the in the Labor Metrics dialog box. In navigation mode, moves the cursor down between record rows. |
|
Home/Function + left arrow |
In edit mode, moves the cursor to the beginning of the value displayed in the field if one is present. In navigation mode, moves the cursor to the first field in the record. |
|
End/Function + right arrow |
In edit mode, moves the cursor to the end of the value displayed in the field if one is present. In navigation mode, moves the cursor to the last field in the record. |
|
Esc |
In edit mode, switches the tab to navigation mode. In edit mode, closes dialog boxes, like Entries and Labor Metrics, and returns the cursor to the next level up. For example, if you're in the Entries dialog box, pressing Esc places the cursor back in the relevant record row in the main area of the tab. If you're in the Labor Metrics dialog box, pressing Esc closes that dialog box and places the cursor back in Labor Metrics field. Note: If you're interacting with the list of records in main area of the tab while in navigation mode, and you press the Esc key, the cursor will move out of the list of records and into a different screen area. This might be the address bar of the browser, the scrollbar at the bottom of the screen, or another area that you don’t intend. To confirm where you are on the screen, press the Enter key or click the mouse. |
|
Space bar |
In edit mode, selects and clears checkboxes. |
Example: Enter Checks Using Keystrokes
The following example task outlines how the keystrokes described in the preceding table work as you enter records in the Checks sub-tab of Pay Run Management.
To enter checks:
- Click Add. If there are existing records, this row is added at the bottom of the list. The cursor is placed in the Employee Name field.
- Do one of the following:
- Begin keying in the name of the employee that you want to enter a check for to narrow the list.
- Press Tab to move the cursor to the Employee No. field and begin keying in the number of the employee that you want to enter the check for to narrow the list.
- Dayforce opens the drop-down list and highlights the closest match in the list.
- Use the down and up arrow keys to move through the list of names or employee numbers.
- When you find the name or employee number of the person that you're looking for, press the Tab key to select the employee. Dayforce sets your employee selection and retrieves the employee's information, then automatically populates the Employee Name or Employee No. field, depending on which field you entered a value in. It then places the cursor in the next editable field.
- Use the Tab key to move the cursor to the Check Type field and press the down arrow to quickly move down the list of options. Because there are very few options in this list, it can be quicker than entering any text in this field to narrow the list. Press Tab to set your selection and move the cursor to the Check Template field.
- In the Check Template field, do one of the following:
- If you have a short list of check templates, use the down arrow key to move down through the list of options. When the template that you want is displayed in the field, press Tab to set the selection and move to the next editable field.
- If you have a long list of check templates, start entering the name of the template that you want to use to open the list and narrow the results. Then use the down and up arrow keys to move through the list. When the template that you want to use is highlighted in the list, press Tab to set the selection and move to the next editable field.
- Depending on your requirements, do one of the following:
- Tab to the Mark as Pay Out field and use the down arrow key to move down the list of options. Press Tab to set your selection. Proceed to step 15.
- Tab to the Entries field and press the down arrow key to open the Entries dialog box. Dayforce opens the dialog box, adds a new entry row, and places the cursor in the Code field so that you can begin adding entry details immediately:
- When the dialog box opens, it's anchored just below the sub-tabs and it takes up the full screen area below the tabs. To resize the dialog box so that you can see the main area of the tab while you're working in the Entries dialog box at the same time, click the restore icon (
) so that the dialog box is no longer anchored.
- In the Code field, start entering the name of the earning, deduction, garnishment, or tax code that you want to add to the check. Dayforce opens the drop-down list and highlights the closest match in the list. If the highlighted option is the code that you want, press the Tab key to set your selection and move to the next editable field. If the highlighted option isn’t the one you want, use the down and up arrow keys if you need to move through the list of codes until the one you want is highlighted; then press the Tab key to set your selection and move to the next editable field.
- Depending on the code, use the Tab key to move the cursor to the Hrs. or Amount field and type in the appropriate values. Press Tab to set the field value and move to the next editable field that you need to set.
- If the entry includes them, set specialized fields as follows:
- Use the space bar to select or clear the checkbox.
- In a date field, press the up or down arrow key once to select today's date. Use the right and left arrow keys to move between the month, day, and year of the date and the up and down arrow keys to increase or decrease the number:
- Note: The month, day, and year might be in a different order depending on your culture settings.
- If the entry includes the Labor Metrics field, do the following:
- Press the down arrow key to open the dialog box.
- Use the Tab key to move the cursor between drop-down lists.
- Use the down arrow key to open each drop-down list.
- Use the up and down arrow keys to move the cursor between options in the list.
- Press the Enter key to set your selection.
- Use the Tab key to select the OK button and press Enter. The Labor Metrics dialog box closes with all of your entries set. To close the Labor Metrics dialog box at any time without setting any values, press Esc.
- Set any other fields as required.
- When you reach the last field that you need to set in the entry row, if you want to add another entry, press the Enter key. Dayforce adds a new entry row, placing the cursor in the Code field. If you don’t need to add another entry, proceed to the next step.
- Press the Esc key to return to the Entries field of the check record. Unless you close the Entries dialog box (or it's still anchored and at full size), it remains open. If the Entries dialog box is still anchored, it closes when the cursor returns to the main area of the tab.
- Complete any other fields for the check in the main area of the tab as required, such as the Check Number or Disbursement Method fields. For a text field like Check Number, key in a value. Press the Tab key to set the value and move to the next editable field or the Enter key to set it and add a row.
- When you've reached the last relevant field in the record row, press Enter to create a check record row. Dayforce adds a row at the bottom of the list and places the cursor in the Employee Name field.
- Using the directions in steps 2 and 3, enter a name in the Employee Name field. When you do this, the name at the top of the Entries dialog box reflects the name that you just selected in the main area of the tab. Repeat all of the steps through step 14 to add more checks as many times as you require.
- Click Save. It's recommended that you save frequently to avoid data loss. You can continue adding checks while Dayforce saves and calculates your previous records.