Home›Blog›TallyPrime Keyboard Shortcuts Guide
Productivity & Shortcuts⏱️ 8 Min Read📅 Updated October 2026
By CSH Technical Team • Official 3-Star Tally Partner Dubai
Complete TallyPrime Keyboard Shortcuts List: The Ultimate Accounting Cheat Sheet
If you have spent any real time working in TallyPrime, you recognize the feeling instantly: you are halfway through entering a heavy batch of sales invoices or journal entries, your hands leave the keyboard, you reach for the mouse, hunt for a drop-down menu, click, and return your fingers to the keys. Repeat that cycle fifty to a hundred times a day, and it drains hours of productive accounting time every week.
The good news is that TallyPrime was fundamentally architected for keyboard-first efficiency. Virtually every action you execute on a routine basis—from switching fiscal periods and toggling voucher modes to inspecting drill-down reports and generating tax invoices—is mapped to dedicated keyboard hotkeys. Once these keystrokes become muscle memory, your data entry speed and operational flow increase dramatically. This authoritative guide covers every essential shortcut key that genuinely matters in daily UAE accounting workflows.
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Understanding TallyPrime Key Notation
On TallyPrime screens, look closely at the button labels:
• Single Underline (e.g. G: Go To) indicates you must press Alt + the letter (Alt+G).
• Double Underline (e.g. H: Change Mode) indicates you must press Ctrl + the letter (Ctrl+H).
• Plain Letter or Function Key means press that key directly without modifier keys.
1. The Everyday Shortcuts You’ll Use Most (Top 18 Hotkeys)
If you only have time to bookmark one cheat sheet, focus on these 18 workhorse shortcuts. Professional accountants, finance managers, and data entry operators in the UAE use these hotkeys hundreds of times every single business day:
| Shortcut Key |
Function / Operation |
Practical Daily Use Case |
| F2 |
Change Voucher / Report Date |
Instantly change transaction date without mouse clicks. |
| Alt+F2 |
Change Accounting Period |
Expand date range from monthly to quarterly/annual view. |
| F3 |
Switch Company |
Toggle between loaded company branches or entities. |
| Alt+F3 |
Select / Load Company |
Open another company database folder. |
| Ctrl+F3 |
Shut Company |
Close active company without quitting TallyPrime. |
| F4 |
Contra Voucher |
Record cash deposit, cash withdrawal, or inter-bank transfer. |
| F5 |
Payment Voucher |
Record vendor settlement, salary payout, or utility expense. |
| F6 |
Receipt Voucher |
Record customer advance payment or invoice settlement. |
| F7 |
Journal Voucher |
Record non-cash adjustments, depreciation, or accruals. |
| F8 |
Sales Voucher |
Issue 5% UAE standard-rated or zero-rated tax invoices. |
| F9 |
Purchase Voucher |
Record inward goods, domestic purchases, or import RCM. |
| F10 |
Other Vouchers List |
Browse all standard, inventory, and order voucher types. |
| F11 |
Company Features |
Enable UAE VAT, Corporate Tax, Multi-Currency, or Godowns. |
| F12 |
Configure Screen |
Customize print options, voucher layouts, and report columns. |
| Alt+G |
Go To (Universal Search) |
Search any report, ledger, or balance without closing screen. |
| Ctrl+N |
Open / Close Calculator |
Perform quick mathematical computations in bottom panel. |
| Ctrl+P |
Print Voucher / Report |
Generate FTA-compliant tax invoice print preview instantly. |
| Ctrl+Q |
Quit / Exit Screen |
Exit screen or quit TallyPrime without confirmation dialogue. |
2. Function Keys F1 to F12 in TallyPrime
The function keys along the top row of your keyboard represent the foundational backbone of Tally’s user interface. Tally assigns the six most critical voucher entry modes directly to F4 through F9.
F1 to F3: Help, Dates & Companies
• F1: Opens the Help menu. Press Ctrl+F1 for context-specific help tailored to your exact screen.
• F2: Date alteration. Alt+F2 changes the entire financial period range.
• F3: Switch active company. Alt+F3 loads another company, while Ctrl+F3 unloads it.
F4 to F9: Core Accounting Vouchers
• F4: Contra (Bank & Cash transfers)
• F5: Payment (Vendor & Expense settlements)
• F6: Receipt (Customer payments & Capital inflow)
• F7: Journal (Non-cash & adjustment entries)
• F8: Sales (Tax invoices & cash sales)
• F9: Purchase (Vendor bills & raw materials)
F10 to F12: Vouchers List, Features & Configuration
• F10 opens the master list of all voucher types available in your active company.
• F11 opens Company Features (F11), where you enable GST/VAT, TDS/TCS, multi-currency, and inventory godowns.
• F12 opens Configuration (F12) specific to whatever ledger, voucher, or report you are viewing right now.
3. Complete Voucher Entry Shortcut Keys
TallyPrime uses an elegant, logical architectural pattern for voucher shortcuts:
• Plain Function Keys: Core daily accounting vouchers (F4–F9).
• Alt + Function Keys: Commercial notes & inventory transfers (Alt+F5–Alt+F9).
• Ctrl + Function Keys: Order processing, rejections & payroll (Ctrl+F4–Ctrl+F9).
| Voucher Type |
Shortcut Key |
Accounting / Business Purpose |
| Contra Voucher |
F4 |
Cash deposit, withdrawal, or transfers between corporate bank accounts. |
| Payment Voucher |
F5 |
Settling supplier invoices, salary expenses, rents, or utility bills. |
| Receipt Voucher |
F6 |
Receiving client payments, customer advances, or loans. |
| Journal Voucher |
F7 |
Depreciation, year-end adjustments, accruals, and bad-debt write-offs. |
| Sales Voucher |
F8 |
Bilingual UAE tax invoices, commercial bills, or cash POS sales. |
| Purchase Voucher |
F9 |
Recording supplier tax invoices, domestic purchases, and import bills. |
| Debit Note |
Alt+F5 |
Purchase return to supplier or upward sales price correction. |
| Credit Note |
Alt+F6 |
Sales return from customer or discount allowance. |
| Stock Journal |
Alt+F7 |
Transfer stock between warehouses/godowns or record manufacturing conversion. |
| Delivery Note (Challan) |
Alt+F8 |
Dispatch of goods to customer prior to tax invoice generation. |
| Receipt Note (GRN) |
Alt+F9 |
Inward receipt of goods from supplier prior to bill receipt. |
| Payroll Voucher |
Ctrl+F4 |
Process monthly staff salaries and generate UAE WPS SIF salary files. |
| Rejections Out |
Ctrl+F5 |
Return defective goods to vendor prior to formal debit note. |
| Rejections In |
Ctrl+F6 |
Accept rejected goods back from customer before issuing credit note. |
| Physical Stock |
Ctrl+F7 |
Record periodic physical stock inventory audits and variance adjustments. |
| Sales Order |
Ctrl+F8 |
Log formal purchase orders received from clients before dispatch. |
| Purchase Order |
Ctrl+F9 |
Issue purchase orders to suppliers for stock replenishment. |
4. What Is Alt+I in Tally? (Tally.ERP 9 vs TallyPrime Clarification)
One of the most frequently searched questions by accountants migrating to TallyPrime is: “What does Alt+I do in Tally?”
The Critical Context Shift: Alt+I vs Ctrl+H
• In TallyPrime Reports (e.g. Day Book, Ledger Voucher screen): Pressing Alt+I stands for “Insert Voucher”. If you are auditing a bank ledger or Day Book and notice a missing transaction, pressing Alt+I allows you to insert a new voucher directly at that exact chronological position without backing out of your report!
• In Older Tally.ERP 9: Many accountants remember pressing Alt+I inside a Sales or Purchase voucher to toggle between “As Invoice” and “As Voucher” mode. In TallyPrime, this has been modernized: Voucher modes are now switched using Ctrl+H (Change Mode), which presents an intuitive drop-down for Item Invoice, Accounting Invoice, or As Voucher.
5. Handy Alt Shortcut Keys in TallyPrime
The Alt key combinations in TallyPrime primarily handle top menu navigation, report manipulation, and voucher duplication:
| Shortcut Key |
Action / Menu |
Description & Workflow |
| Alt+G |
Go To (Top Bar) |
Universal search bar to jump to any report or ledger without closing active vouchers. |
| Alt+K |
Company Menu |
Create, alter, select, shut, or configure company parameters. |
| Alt+Y |
Data Menu |
Backup, restore, split company data, and configure data directory paths. |
| Alt+O |
Import Menu |
Import bank statements, masters, transactions, or XML payloads. |
| Alt+M |
Share Menu |
Email reports, invoices, or statements directly to clients or managers. |
| Alt+P |
Print Menu |
Access print configuration, choose printer drivers, and preview tax invoices. |
| Alt+E |
Export Menu |
Export reports and vouchers to Excel, PDF, XML, or JPEG formats. |
| Alt+D |
Delete Entry |
Permanently delete an open voucher, ledger master, or stock item. |
| Alt+X |
Cancel Voucher |
Cancel a voucher while preserving its voucher numbering sequence. |
| Alt+C |
Create Master On-The-Fly |
Create a new ledger or stock item directly from inside a voucher entry field. |
| Alt+2 |
Duplicate Voucher |
Duplicate an existing transaction from a report view into a fresh draft. |
| Alt+A |
Add Voucher |
Add a new transaction at the end of a report list. |
| Alt+U |
Unhide All Lines |
Restore all rows that were temporarily hidden in a report view. |
6. Power Ctrl Shortcuts & Instant Alterations
If you want to operate TallyPrime like a senior audit consultant, master these Ctrl shortcuts. They handle instant in-line master alterations, voucher configuration, and view switching:
| Shortcut Key |
Action |
Executive Explanation |
| Ctrl+Enter |
Alter Master On-The-Spot |
Highlight any ledger or item inside a voucher and press Ctrl+Enter to edit its TRN, address, or tax rate immediately. |
| Ctrl+A |
Accept / Quick Save |
Save any voucher, ledger master, or configuration screen immediately without repeatedly pressing Enter to reach the end. |
| Ctrl+H |
Change Mode / View |
Toggle between Item Invoice, Accounting Invoice, and As Voucher modes, or change report views. |
| Ctrl+I |
More Details |
Attach export/import details, dispatch numbers, buyer addresses, or consignment notes to a single transaction. |
| Ctrl+N |
Toggle Calculator |
Open or minimize the numeric calculator window on the bottom right. |
| Ctrl+D |
Delete Row Line |
Remove a specific ledger line or inventory item line inside an active voucher. |
| Ctrl+T |
Post-Dated Voucher |
Mark the active voucher as post-dated for future cheque clearance. |
| Ctrl+L |
Optional Voucher |
Mark voucher as optional so it does not affect financial books until regularized. |
| Ctrl+R |
Repeat Narration |
Automatically copy and paste the narration text from the previously saved voucher. |
7. Shortcuts for Working with Reports & Drill-Down
Auditors and CFOs spend the majority of their time reviewing the Trial Balance, Profit & Loss account, and VAT reports. TallyPrime provides specialized keystrokes to dissect reports without touching the mouse:
Enter & Shift+Enter (Drill-Down)
• Press Enter to drill down one level deeper (e.g. from Balance Sheet group to individual ledger accounts).
• Press Shift+Enter on a summary group or voucher to expand its underlying detail inline without loading a new page!
Spacebar & Line Selection
• Press Spacebar to highlight and select individual transaction lines.
• Press Ctrl+Spacebar to select all rows in a report simultaneously.
• Press Shift+Spacebar to select a block of contiguous rows.
Hide & Restore Rows During Audits
• Ctrl+R: Remove / temporarily hide the selected line from the report view (useful during client presentations).
• Ctrl+U: Restore the last hidden line back into view.
• Alt+U: Unhide all previously hidden lines across the entire report.
8. How to Actually Memorize All This (A 3-Stage Progression)
Nobody sits down and memorizes fifty keyboard shortcuts in a single afternoon. The key to rapid mastery is progressive adoption based on the tasks you execute every day:
Stage 1: Week 1
Master the Core Daily Vouchers (F2, F4–F9)
Commit your fingers to switching transaction dates with F2 and jumping between Contra (F4), Payment (F5), Receipt (F6), Journal (F7), Sales (F8), and Purchase (F9). Put a physical sticky note on your monitor if necessary until reaching for the mouse stops completely.
Stage 2: Week 2
Incorporate Power Navigators (Alt+G, Ctrl+Enter, Ctrl+A)
Adopt Alt+G to search for reports instantly. Use Ctrl+Enter whenever you need to adjust a customer’s TRN or credit limit on the fly, and hit Ctrl+A to save vouchers immediately without pressing Enter five times.
Stage 3: Week 3+
Audit & Advanced Multi-Tasking (Alt+2, Shift+Enter, Ctrl+H)
Integrate voucher duplication (Alt+2), report insertion (Alt+I), and inline expansion (Shift+Enter). By this stage, you will be operating at 2x to 3x your previous entry speed.
9. Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What are the most common function keys in TallyPrime?
The core function keys used daily are F4 (Contra), F5 (Payment), F6 (Receipt), F7 (Journal), F8 (Sales), and F9 (Purchase). Additionally, F2 changes the date, and F11 opens Company Features.
Q2: What is Alt+I in TallyPrime vs Tally.ERP 9?
In TallyPrime, Alt+I inserts a new voucher directly into an open report or ledger statement without leaving the screen. In older Tally.ERP 9, Alt+I was used to toggle Invoice mode; in TallyPrime, voucher modes are toggled using Ctrl+H (Change Mode).
Q3: How do I edit or alter a ledger master during voucher entry in TallyPrime?
Highlight the ledger name inside the voucher and press Ctrl+Enter. This opens the Ledger Alteration screen instantly. After saving changes, you return straight to your voucher without losing transaction progress.
Q4: What shortcut key is used to open Go To search in TallyPrime?
Press Alt+G to open the Go To search bar from any screen in TallyPrime. It allows you to search for any report, ledger, or master instantly without closing your ongoing voucher entry.
Q5: How can I duplicate an existing transaction in a Tally report?
Open any report (such as Day Book or Ledger Voucher view), highlight the transaction you wish to copy, and press Alt+2. TallyPrime creates an identical new voucher draft with all ledgers and amounts pre-filled.
Q6: What is the shortcut to open the calculator in TallyPrime?
Press Ctrl+N from any screen to open or hide the built-in calculator panel at the bottom right. You can perform arithmetic calculations, and pressing Esc returns focus to your active field.
Summary: Velocity Through Muscle Memory
The ultimate reward of learning TallyPrime keyboard shortcuts is uninterrupted operational flow. When your fingers move instinctively between vouchers, reports, and calculations, accounting shifts from repetitive data entry into streamlined financial management.
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