Getting faster access to data with the Shortcut Bar

The Shortcut Bar provides fast access to Dynamics GP's windows and SmartLists along with web pages and external applications. Often, external shortcuts are used for quick access to currency websites, budget spreadsheets, shipping sites, or any other applications. Almost anything used to improve a user's productivity can be linked via the Shortcut Bar. In this recipe, we'll spend some time looking at how to get the most out of it.

Getting ready

The vertical area to the left of the Dynamics GP home page is known as the Navigation Pane. Click on Home on the Navigation Pane to make the Shortcut Bar visible in the top left.

Clicking on other Navigation Pane sections makes other navigation options available. Only the Home selection makes the Shortcut Bar available.

There are six types of items that can be added to the Shortcut Bar:

• Dynamics GP windows
• SmartLists
• Macros
• Web pages
• External files
• Folders

How to do it...

The most common use of the Shortcut Bar is to add a Dynamics GP window for fast access. The simplest way to do this is to:

1. Select Financial from the Navigation Pane on the left. In the Financial Area Page, select General. This opens the Transaction Entry window.
2. In the Transaction Entry window, click on File, then click on Add to Shortcuts:
   
3. Click on the Home button to see the Transaction Entry window added to the Shortcut Bar:

How it works...

The Shortcut Bar in Microsoft Dynamics GP works a lot like shortcuts on the Microsoft Windows desktop. Dynamics GP places a pointer to the window or file inside the shortcut and launches the appropriate selection when the shortcut is clicked on.

There's more...

Typically, users simply accumulate shortcuts on the Shortcut Bar. However, getting the most out of the Shortcut Bar requires a few extra techniques.

Using external shortcuts for greater flexibility

In order to add web pages and external shortcuts, right-click on the Shortcut Bar. Then, select Add followed by Add Web Page or Add External Shortcut.

Selecting Add Web Page provides the option to enter the location (URL) along with a button to test that the link works correctly.

Selecting Add External Shortcut provides an option to browse for the external file on your system. This can be an application file such as an Excel spreadsheet (as shown in the following screenshot) or a Microsoft Word document. It can also be a link to an application such as Microsoft CRM budgeting software or even Solitaire for a much needed break.

Setting a keyboard shortcut allows the use of a set of keystrokes to launch a shortcut. For example, Ctrl + Shift + J could be pressed to launch the Transaction Entry window for a journal entry.

Organizing with folders

Right-clicking on the Shortcut Bar and selecting Add | Folder provides the option to add a folder to the Shortcut Bar that can be used to organize entries. For example, a Month End folder can be used to hold links to windows, routines, and reports that are used as part of the month-end closing process. This is a great place to start organizing shortcuts.

Complex shortcuts

Microsoft's 'Developing for Dynamics GP' blog provides additional information on dealing with complex shortcuts for scenarios such as launching an application and opening a specific file. More information on this is available at http://blogs.msdn.com/developingfordynamicsgp/archive/2009/08/24/creating-external-shortcuts-with-parameters.aspx.

See also

• Reducing clicks with Startup shortcuts
• Remembering processes with an Ad hoc workflow