Become familiar with Dynamics NAV: The basics

Are you new and/or unaccustomed in using Microsoft Dynamics NAV from Boltrics? In this blog we will give you tips to get become familiar with the system. For tips and explanations on specific topics, you can find links to useful blogs – written by our colleagues.

Startup

Your desktop contains three icons that open Dynamics NAV:

• Dynamics PROD
  The PROD environment is the live environment. This is the environment in which you and other users within your organization work on a daily basis.
• Dynamics RAPP
  The RAPP environment is a daily copy of the PROD environment which is – usually – created at midnight. You can use this to, for example, view the organization’s situation at midnight, but also to perform tests yourself.
• Dynamics TEST
  In the TEST environment, a copy of the PROD environment can be set manually at any time. You may, however, only work in this environment is very specific cases.

Home screen

When you open Dynamics NAV, you will see the following screen by default. Within the home screen, we distinguish the navigation pane (1), the ribbon (2), and the search field (3).

1. Navigation Pane
Via the so-called Navigation Pane, you can navigate to different overviews or list places in the system. When you click on the “master data” folder at the bottom of the navigation pane, the shortcuts at the top of the navigation pane will change. If you click on the “customers” shortcut above, a list of all customers will be displayed. The shortcuts in the window will change per selected folder in the navigation pane. This way, you can easily navigate through the system.

2. Ribbon
The ribbon is located at the top in most screens. You can perform various actions within the ribbon. Each selected shortcut in the navigation pane will change the contents of the ribbon, however usually it looks the same.

Note that the ribbon contains multiple tabs. In the example below you can choose between “Home”, “Actions”, and “Navigate”.

You can customize the ribbon yourself by, for example, adding frequently used buttons – which are only available under “Actions” – to the Home tab, or vice versa. Or you can delete unused buttons. In this way, the ribbon can be arranged to your own wishes.

A specific explanation about customizing the ribbon can be found in our blog Customize the Ribbon.

3. Search field
All links within the navigation pane can also be found via the search field. Usage is easy: if you want to go to the screen for receipts, you simply search for “receipts”.

The search field also provides suggestions for partial word typing. For example, when you type “ceipt”, all shortcuts that contain “ceipt” will appear. By clicking on the left column, you will go to the page directly. The right column refers to a list in which the shortcut is located.

Search in list places: the use of filters

In the example below a list of addresses is included. To navigate to a specific address quickly and easily, you can make use of filters. The filter can be entered at the top right of the list of addresses. First select the column on which you want to enter the filter (1). Then type the value on which you need to filter (2). After entering the filter it will limit the displayed list with the given filter.

Filtering is one of the most used functions within Dynamics NAV. With different filters, you can specifically search for the desired result:

In addition to the quick filter, Dynamics NAV also includes an advanced filter. Are you interested in the differences between a quick filter and an advanced filter? Or do you want to save a frequently used filter? Then read our blog about Using filters in Dynamics NAV.

Keyboard shortcuts

Microsoft provides various shortcuts in its programs – including Dynamics NAV. Within Dynamics NAV, the following shortcuts are very useful:

• CTRL + Delete: Deleting records
• CTRL + D: Go to Detail lines
• CTRL + E: Export to Excel
• CTRL + F3: Search in the whole program
• F4: Drop-down field options
• F5: Renew page
• F8: Copy the field above
• Tab: Move to the next field on non-line FastTabs
• ESC: Close the window or undo the data entry

Are you curious about the power of using keyboard shortcuts? A detailed explanation and more basic keyboard shortcuts can be found in our blog How keyboard shortcuts can save you time and money.