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Using Keyboard Keys and Function Keys

Keyboard Keys

There is some variety among keyboards and devices as to how Function keys, Pause key, etc. work. For example, on some laptops, you may need to press the Function key (Fn) and Pause simultaneously. See your local computer support person to identify the correct key(s) to use.

Some common keyboard navigation controls are:

TAB, CTRL or the Arrow keys move the cursor from field to field within the data entry screens.
Press SHIFT+TAB to move backwards to a field. If your cursor is on the FUNCTION filed, this will move it to the INTERRUPT field.
FN – on some keyboards, you must press FN and then a function key, e.g., F1.
Press HOME and then press SHIFT+TAB to move down to the INTERRUPT field at the bottom of the screen.
Use END, DELETE, or the SPACEBAR to "delete" or clear data fields.
You must use the SPACEBAR when clearing MOD, RVS, DISB-METH, and GAAP fields.

Key(s)	Description
HOME	Moves cursor to the first field available on a screen.
TAB	Moves cursor across the page, field to field.
CTRL	Moves cursor down the page, line to line.
END	Removes data within a field.
ARROW KEYS	Moves cursor in direction of the arrow - right, left, up, or down. However, this is not recommended because the program may stop responding. See ESC below.
SHIFT+TAB	Move your cursor to the FUNCTION field, then simultaneously press SHIFT and TAB to move it to the INTERRUPT field (at the bottom of the STARS screen). In the INTERRUPT field, enter the screen or menu number, and then press ENTER to open that screen. Press F4 to return to the previous screen. Common INTERRUPT screens are: MT (Table Maintenance Menu), MI (File Inquiry Menu), MS (System Management Menu), MW (Warrant Menu), MR (Report Menu), or any non-data entry screen such as 63 (Cash Control file).
DELETE	Clears data in a field one character at a time.
SPACEBAR	Clears all data in a field. Required to clear MOD, RVS, DISB-METH, and GAAP IND.
ESC (ESCAPE)	If you type in a protected area, the program may stop responding. Press ESC and then press TAB to move to an unprotected field to continue. Avoid this problem by using TAB rather than your Arrow keys to move from field to field within a screen.
ENTER	When entering a batch, press ENTER to save your detailed transactions and clear the fields on the data entry screen. When doing several data entry records of a similar type, use F1 (see below) to save the transaction and leave the data fields filled in.

Function Keys

Function keys that can be used on any given STARS screen will be displayed at the bottom of the screen. The function keys are referred to in STARS a as PF#, e.g., PF9 or PF12.

Figure 1 - Function key example

In some screens, you can use the function keys to save or finalize transactions, or to navigate to other STARS screens.

Function Keys	Description	Usage
F1	Save transaction and leave the screen as you left it with the data fields still filled in.	By leaving the data on screen (e.g., vendor number, PCAs, etc.) you can enter several similar transactions more efficiently.
F2	Back up one menu	Use to move back one menu from your current screen.
F4	Return from an Interrupt	After using INTERRUPT to switch to another screen, press F4 to switch back to the screen from where you started.
F5	Review transaction lookups before updating.	Allows you to review the transaction by extracting table lookup data from STARS, such as vendor name and address, PCA numbers, Grants etc. NOTE: F5 allows you to review your transaction, not to save it.
F7	Goes to previous screen	Move you back to the previous screen n which you were working.
F8	Next sequence number in batch	Frequently used in batch correcting and viewing, F8 advances you to the next sequence number within a batch. Advances to the next vendor record on the 21 Vendor Edit table
F9	Batch balancing	Use to preview the Batch Balancing screen after you have finished updating your transactions and use to enter your approval. A detailed screen appears with the batch header information, current approval levels, number of items entered and computed, and the batch header totals entered and computed.
F10	Changing a batch or view batch details	Allows you to view, correct or delete detail transactions, or to recall a batch header for correction before its release.
F11	Preview batch transaction	Use to preview your entered batch transaction. Not all of the transaction detail is available from this screen.
F12	View or select a previously entered batch	Use to view or select a batch that has been entered. This is usually the first function used by those reviewing and releasing batches.