Keyboard shortcuts

There is a way to do almost everything in Sage Estimating (SQL) using the keyboard.

Most keys work as they do in other Windows programs. For example, you can display tabs quickly by pressing Alt together with the key for the first letter of the tab. For example, to display the Takeoff tab, you would press Alt + T. With these keys pressed, you can press one of the Key Tips that appear on the ribbon to open the corresponding function or window.

Note: Some key combinations behave differently depending on where you use them.

Tip: The keyboard equivalent for a command, field, option, or button is the underlined letter in its label. From an entry field, press [Alt] and the letter.

To review task-related shortcuts, click the links below.

Editing keys

Editing Shortcut Keys
Key combination	Description
[↑], [→], [↓], [ ← ]	Moves one character in any direction.
[Delete]	Deletes the selected text.
[Ctrl] + [F4]	Closes a window without saving your entries (like Cancel).
[Ctrl] + [C] or [Ctrl] + [Insert]	Copies the current selection to the clipboard.
[Ctrl] + [V] or [Shift] + [Insert]	Pastes the text previously cut or copied.
[Ctrl] + [X] or [Shift] + [Delete]	Cuts the current selection, and keeps it in the clipboard.
[Ctrl] + [Y]	Repeats the previous action.
[Ctrl] + [Z] or [Alt] + [ ← ]	Reverses the previous action.

Navigation keys

Navigation Shortcut Keys
Key combination	Description
[ ↑ ], [ → ], [ ↓] , [ ← ]	Moves one character in any direction Also: [Up arrow], [Right arrow], [Down arrow], [Left arrow].
[Ctrl] + [ ← ]	Goes to the far left column.
[Ctrl] + [ → ]	Goes to the far right column.
[Ctrl] + [ ↑ ]	Goes to the top of a column.
[Ctrl] + [ ↓ ]	Goes to the bottom of a column.
[Ctrl] + [End]	Goes to the last cell of the spreadsheet or bottom of a list.
[Ctrl] + [Home]	Goes to the first cell of the spreadsheet or top of a list.
[Page Down]	Goes to the next screen.
[Page Up]	Goes to the previous screen.
[Ctrl] + [Page Down]	Goes to the next record.
[Ctrl] + [Page Up]	Goes to the previous record.
[Tab]	Moves to the next field or option.
[Shift] + [Tab]	Moves to the previous field or option.
[F6]	Moves to the next (pane) of a window. .
[Shift] + [F6]	Moves to the previous area (pane) of a window.
[Ctrl] + [F6]	Goes to the next estimate (in order opened).

Spreadsheet keys

Spreadsheet Shortcut Keys
Key combination	Description
[Esc]	Cancels your changes to a cell.
[Alt] + [Down arrow]	Opens a dropdown list.
[Ctrl] + [Up arrow]	Selects the first cell in the current column.
[Ctrl] + [Down arrow]	Selects the last cell in the current column.
[Ctrl] + [Left arrow]	Selects the first cell in the current row.
[Ctrl] + [Right arrow]	Selects the last cell in the current row.
[Ctrl] + [Page Up]	Selects the sequence to the left. Note: If using the numeric keypad, you must turn off the NumLock to use this shortcut.
[Ctrl] + [Page Down]	Selects the sequence to the right. Note: If using the numeric keypad, you must turn off the NumLock to use this shortcut.
[Ctrl] + [ + ]	Expands one level.
[Ctrl] + [-]	Collapses one level.
[Ctrl] + [<]	Collapses the current overline.
[Ctrl] + [>]	Expands the current overline.
[Spacebar]	Selects or clears a check box.
[Ctrl] + [Spacebar]	Selects an entire column.
[Shift] + [Spacebar]	Selects an entire row.
[F2]	Lets you edit the current cell.
[F3]	Finds the next item that matches the current search criteria.
[F5]	Displays or hides the Estimate Item Detail window.
[Ctrl] + [F6]	Displays the next estimate.
[F6]	Displays the next pane in the Takeoff window.
[Shift] + [F6]	Displays the previous pane in the Takeoff window.
[F7]	Scans the current estimate.
[F8]	Displays or hides the Alternates Summary pane.
[F9]	Displays or hides the Item Takeoff Settings window (default settings).
[F10]	Displays the Subcontractor, Vendor, or Job Cost list.
[Ctrl] + [1]	From the spreadsheet, this combination opens the One-time Item window. From the Totals pane, it opens the One-time Addon window.
[Ctrl] + [2]	Enables you to attach a file.
[Ctrl] + [8]	Set a fixed quantity.
[Ctrl] + [9]	Remove a fixed quantity.
[Ctrl] + [A]	Selects all rows in the spreadsheet.
[Ctrl] + [Shift] + [A]	Performs the Copy Sum function.
[Ctrl] + [C]	Copies the current selection to the clipboard.
[Ctrl] + [D]	Fills down selected values
[Ctrl] + [E]	Goes to the first visible Equipment column.
[Ctrl] + [F]	Opens the Find/Go To window in the spreadsheet or in assembly takeoff. Opens the Search area in a List window.
[Ctrl] + [H]	Hides a selected column.
[Ctrl] + [Shift] + [H]	Displays a hidden column in a selection.
[Ctrl] + [Shift] + [J]	In the Totals pane, opens the Edit Job Size window.
[Ctrl] + [I]	Lets you edit the selected item in the standard database.
[Ctrl] + [K]	Maximizes or minimizes selected overlines.
[Ctrl] + [L]	Goes to the first visible Labor column.
[Ctrl] + [M]	Goes to the first visible Material column.
[Ctrl] + [N]	Starts a new estimate.
[Ctrl] + [Shift] + [N]	Opens the Notes window.
[Ctrl] + [O]	Lets you open an existing estimate.
[Ctrl] + [Shift] + [O]	Goes to the first visible Other column.
[Ctrl] + [P]	Lets you edit the selected phase in the standard database.
[Ctrl] + [Q]	Goes to the Takeoff Quantity column.
[Ctrl] + [R]	On the Totals page, hide on reports. On the main spreadsheet, reset the zoom level.
[Ctrl] + [Shift] + [R]	On the Totals page, show on reports.
[Ctrl] + [S]	Goes to the first visible Sub column.
[Ctrl] + [T]	Goes to the first visible Total column.
[Ctrl] + [V]	Pastes contents of the clipboard into a cell.
[Ctrl] + [W]	Enables you to view a selected attachment.
[Ctrl] + [Shift] + [W]	Opens the Arrange Windows window, so you can arrange spreadsheet panes vertically or horizontally.
[Ctrl] + [X]	Cuts the current selection, and keeps it in the clipboard.
[Ctrl] + [Y]	Repeats the previous action.
[Ctrl] + [Z]	Reverses the previous action
[Ctrl] + [Page Down]	Goes to the next spreadsheet sequence tab.
[Ctrl] + [Page Up]	Goes to the previous spreadsheet sequence tab.
[Ctrl] + [ + ]	Expands one level.
[Ctrl] + [-]	Collapses one level.

Takeoff

Shortcuts for Item takeoff

Item Takeoff Shortcuts
Key combination	Description
[Alt] + [C]	Item Takeoff Close Search
[Alt] + [L]	Close Window
[Alt] + [R]	Item Takeoff Select Search
[Alt] + [T]	Displays shortcuts on the Takeoff tab on the ribbon. You can then press shortcut keys corresponding to the icons on the ribbon to open the windows you want to work with.
[Alt] + [ ← ]	Reverses the previous action
[Ctrl] + [A]	Selects all rows in the spreadsheet.
[Ctrl] + [F]	Opens the Find/Go To window.
[Ctrl] + [R]	On the Totals page, hide a selection on reports.
[Ctrl] + [U]	Reverses the previous pass in the takeoff window.
[Ctrl] + [1]	Opens the One-Time Item Takeoff window
[Ctrl] + [Insert]	Copies the current selection to the clipboard.
[Shift] + [Delete]	Cuts the current selection, and keeps it in the clipboard.
[Shift] + [Insert]	Pastes the text previously cut or copied.

Shortcuts for Assembly takeoff

Assembly Takeoff Shortcuts
Key combination	Description
[Ctrl] + [C] or [Ctrl] + [Insert]	Copies the current selection to the clipboard.
[Ctrl] + [X] or [Shift] + [Delete]	Cuts the current selection, and keeps it in the clipboard.
[Ctrl] + [V] or [Shift] + [Insert]	Pastes the text previously cut or copied.
[Ctrl] + [Z] or [Alt] + [ ← ]	Reverses the previous action
[Ctrl] + [U]	Reverses the previous pass in the takeoff window.
[Ctrl] + [F]	Opens the Find/Go To window.
[Ctrl] + [1]	Opens the One-Time Item Takeoff window
[F5] or [Ctrl] + [Shift] + [D]	Displays or hides the Estimate Item Detail window.
[Ctrl] + [F4]	Close the window.
[Shift] + [F1]	Displays help for toolbars and screen areas.
[F6]	Moves to the next pane.
[Ctrl] + [F6]	Moves to the next window.
[Shift] + [F6]	Previous Pane

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous Shortcuts
Key combination	Description
[F1]	Opens help for the current window.
[Shift] + [F1]	Displays help for toolbars and screen areas.
[Ctrl] + [F1]	Show or hide the ribbon.
[Ctrl] + [F2]	Opens the Estimate Information window.
[Ctrl] + [F3]	Opens the Estimate Settings window.
[F4]	Displays or hides the Totals window.
[Alt] + [F4]	Exits the Sage Estimating (SQL) application.
[Ctrl] + [F4]	Closes the estimate.
[F5]	Displays or hides the Estimate Item Detail window.
[F10]	Opens a list (like pressing ).
[Shift] + [F10]	Opens the shortcut menu.
[F11]	Opens the Calculator window.
[F12]	Starts ePlan Takeoff if you own ePlan Takeoff.
[Alt] + [¯]	Displays a dropdown list (like pressing ).
[Esc]	Cancels your changes to a cell.
[®]	Expands an entry in a list.
[¬]	Collapses an entry in a list.
underlined letter	Executes a menu command or button. Goes to a field or option. Tip: From an entry field, press [Alt] and the letter.
[Alt] + [S]	Opens the Search area for a list.
[Alt] + [R]	Moves your cursor to the Search field.

Note: Are you finding that some of the shortcuts you used in Sage Estimating (Pervasive) aren't working as expected? This article shows the old shortcuts that have changed, along with their new counterparts, and lists those that are unchanged.