Tally Prime Shortcut Keys: A Quick Reference List

Here is a comprehensive list of the most important Tally Prime shortcut keys, categorized for easy use and quick reference.

Function Keys (F1 – F12)

• F1: Select Company / Help
• F2: Change Voucher Date
• Alt + F2: Change Financial Period
• F3: Select/Change Company
• F4: Contra Voucher (Cash/Bank transfers)
• F5: Payment Voucher
• F6: Receipt Voucher
• F7: Journal Voucher (Non-cash transactions)
• F8: Sales Voucher
• Ctrl + F8: Credit Note Voucher
• F9: Purchase Voucher
• Ctrl + F9: Debit Note Voucher
• F10: Other Vouchers (e.g., Memo, Reversing Journal)
• F11: Company Features (Enable GST, Inventory, etc.)
• F12: Configuration/Options for the current screen

Creation & Editing Shortcuts

• Alt + C: Create a new master (ledger, stock item) on the fly from a voucher screen.
• Ctrl + A: Accept and save the screen (universal save).
• Ctrl + Enter: Alter a master’s details from a report or voucher screen.
• Ctrl + D: Delete a line from a voucher.
• Alt + D: Delete a voucher or a master.
• Alt + X: Cancel a voucher without deleting it.
• Ctrl + V: Paste data from the clipboard.

Navigation & Reporting Shortcuts

• Alt + F1: Detailed view of a report (expands all groups).
• Ctrl + E: Export the current report or voucher to a file (PDF, Excel, etc.).
• Ctrl + P: Print the current report or voucher.
• Alt + G: Go To (search for any report or master).
• Alt + O: Upload to a server.
• Alt + F3: To shut a company.

General Shortcuts

• Ctrl + C: Copy data from a field.
• Ctrl + Q: Quit/Exit the current screen without saving.
• Alt + V: Open the Tally calculator.
• Alt + J: Add a new voucher.
• Alt + N: Add an optional voucher.
• Alt + R: Reversing a journal entry.
• Ctrl + R: Repeat the previous narration in a voucher.

Tally Prime has emerged as a cornerstone for businesses, offering a powerful, yet flexible, platform for accounting, inventory, and compliance management. While the user-friendly interface is a major advantage, true proficiency in Tally Prime lies in mastering its extensive suite of shortcut keys. These shortcuts are not merely a convenience; they are a direct pathway to enhanced productivity, allowing users to navigate through menus, perform complex operations, and generate reports with remarkable speed. By seamlessly integrating these keyboard commands into your workflow, you can significantly reduce reliance on a mouse, thereby accelerating your data entry and reporting processes. Furthermore, using shortcut keys minimizes the risk of human error, as it provides a direct, precise command to the software. A thorough understanding of these key combinations transforms a standard user into a Tally Prime power user. Therefore, this guide will delve into the most crucial shortcut keys, categorized for easy reference, to help you unlock Tally Prime’s full potential.

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Navigating with the Function Keys: The Foundation of Tally Prime Shortcuts

The function keys (F1 to F12) form the fundamental layer of Tally Prime’s shortcut system. These keys offer quick access to the most frequently used functions from almost any screen. Mastering them is the first step toward becoming a proficient Tally Prime user.

F1: The Gateway to Company and Account Selection Pressing F1 opens the “Select Company” menu from the Gateway of Tally, letting you switch between different company files effortlessly. Moreover, from within a voucher or report, F1 allows you to choose an account or change the company you are working in. Its dual purpose makes it one of the most versatile and essential keys.

F2: Changing the Date, Your Daily Companion The F2 key is arguably the most-used shortcut in Tally Prime. A single press of F2 lets you change the voucher date or the period of a report, which is crucial for daily data entry and period-end reporting. This function is universally accessible, ensuring you can quickly adjust the date without navigating through menus.

F3: Navigating Through Different Companies The F3 key is dedicated to selecting and managing different companies. Pressing F3 on the Gateway of Tally opens the company selection screen. This allows you to work with multiple company files without having to close the application and reopen it.

F4: The Contra Voucher The F4 function key directly opens the “Contra” voucher. A contra voucher is a fundamental accounting instrument used to record transactions involving cash and bank accounts. By pressing F4, you can instantly begin recording a cash deposit, a cash withdrawal, or a fund transfer between bank accounts.

F5: The Payment Voucher The F5 key is your shortcut to the “Payment” voucher. As the name suggests, this voucher is used for recording all outgoing cash or bank payments. Pressing F5 streamlines the process of settling supplier invoices, paying salaries, or making any other form of payment.

F6: The Receipt Voucher To record incoming payments, you use the “Receipt” voucher, which you can access instantly with the F6 key. Whether you are receiving payment from a customer or getting a loan, F6 lets you quickly create the necessary entry.

F7: The Journal Voucher The F7 key is the shortcut for the “Journal” voucher. A journal voucher is a versatile tool used for non-cash transactions, such as depreciation, provisions, or adjusting entries. Accessing it with F7 saves you the trouble of manual navigation.

F8: The Sales Voucher For all your sales transactions, the F8 key opens the “Sales” voucher. This is the primary voucher for creating invoices for goods or services sold. Its direct access significantly speeds up the invoicing process.

F9: The Purchase Voucher The F9 key is the shortcut for the “Purchase” voucher. This voucher is used to record all incoming invoices from your suppliers for goods or services purchased. Using F9 makes it incredibly simple to enter purchase-related data.

F10: The Other Vouchers The F10 key opens a list of “Other Vouchers” in Tally Prime. This provides access to specialized vouchers like Memorandum, Reversing Journal, and Physical Stock, which are not as frequently used as the primary accounting vouchers.

F11: The Features and Configuration The F11 key is the shortcut to a comprehensive list of “Features” that you can enable or disable for your company. From here, you can activate features like GST, TDS, multi-currency support, and inventory management options. Its direct access ensures you can configure your company settings with ease.

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F12: The Configurations Menu The F12 key opens the “Configuration” menu, which allows you to customize the behavior of the current screen or voucher. For instance, in a sales voucher, F12 lets you enable or disable options like discount columns or party details. This key provides granular control over Tally Prime’s functionality, tailoring it to your specific needs.

Navigating and Reporting Shortcuts: Efficiently Moving Through Your Data

Beyond the function keys, Tally Prime offers a rich set of shortcuts for efficient navigation and data analysis. These keys help you move through lists, view details, and change the format of your reports instantly.

Alt + F1: The Detailed View When you are viewing a report, such as a Trial Balance or a Balance Sheet, pressing Alt + F1 provides a detailed view of the selected items. This instantly expands all the groups and ledgers, giving you a complete breakdown of the figures.

Alt + C: Creating a New Master The Alt + C key combination is a powerful shortcut. If you are in the middle of a voucher entry and realize that a ledger or a stock item does not exist, pressing Alt + C from a field (like the “Particulars” field) allows you to create a new master on the fly. This prevents you from having to interrupt your workflow to create the necessary ledger.

Ctrl + F1: Accessing Inventory Vouchers When you are in a voucher screen, Ctrl + F1 gives you quick access to “Inventory Vouchers” like stock journals or physical stock vouchers. This is especially useful for businesses that need to manage both accounting and inventory simultaneously.

Ctrl + F2: Payroll Vouchers For businesses using the payroll module, Ctrl + F2 provides instant access to payroll vouchers from any voucher screen. This key combination lets you quickly enter salary-related data without navigating through the Gateway of Tally.

Ctrl + A: The Universal Save Shortcut The Ctrl + A key combination is your go-to command for saving and accepting. In almost any screen in Tally Prime, from a voucher entry to a master creation screen, pressing Ctrl + A will save your changes and take you to the next screen. This saves you from having to click the “Accept” button manually.

Ctrl + C: Copying Data The Ctrl + C shortcut copies data from a selected field. You can paste this data into another field using the Ctrl + V command. This is a common shortcut across many applications, and Tally Prime leverages it to make data entry faster.

Ctrl + D: Deleting a Master or Voucher To delete a master (like a ledger or a stock item) or a voucher, you can press Ctrl + D from the respective screen. Tally Prime will ask for confirmation before permanently deleting the item. This shortcut provides a quick way to remove unwanted entries.

Ctrl + E: Exporting a Report The Ctrl + E shortcut exports the current report to various formats like PDF, Excel, or JPEG. This is an essential function for sharing financial statements with stakeholders or for a quick backup.

Ctrl + P: Printing a Report The Ctrl + P key combination brings up the “Print” menu. From here, you can configure your print settings and print a report, voucher, or invoice. This is a vital shortcut for generating hard copies.

Ctrl + Q: Quitting the Application If you want to close Tally Prime, you can press Ctrl + Q. This key combination provides a quick way to exit the application from any screen.

The Power of the Alt Key: Advanced Shortcuts for Power Users

The Alt key, combined with other keys, unlocks a range of advanced functions that significantly boost productivity. These shortcuts often pertain to altering, viewing, and exporting data.

Alt + F2: Changing the Financial Period While F2 changes the date of the voucher, Alt + F2 lets you change the financial period for a report. This is particularly useful for viewing reports for an entire financial year, a quarter, or a specific range of dates.

Alt + A: Adding a New Voucher From a report screen (like a Daybook), pressing Alt + A allows you to add a new voucher without going back to the Gateway of Tally. This is a significant time-saver when you are reviewing entries and need to add a new one quickly.

Alt + D: Deleting a Voucher To delete a voucher from a report screen, you can press Alt + D. This shortcut provides a fast way to remove an entry, but be careful as the deletion is permanent.

Alt + I: Inserting a Voucher From a report screen, Alt + I inserts a new voucher before the currently selected voucher. This is useful for maintaining chronological order in your entries.

Alt + X: Cancelling a Voucher To cancel a voucher without deleting it, you can press Alt + X. This marks the voucher as cancelled and removes its effect from your financial reports, while still keeping a record of the entry.

Alt + R: Reversing a Journal The Alt + R shortcut is used to reverse a journal entry. This is a powerful feature for reversing a previous entry, especially in a trial balance report.

Alt + V: Opening the Calculator To perform quick calculations without leaving Tally Prime, press Alt + V. This opens the Tally Prime calculator panel at the bottom of the screen, where you can perform complex calculations and even copy the result into a voucher field.

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By integrating these keyboard shortcuts into your daily Tally Prime usage, you will find that your data entry speed increases dramatically, your reporting becomes more efficient, and your overall interaction with the software becomes much more fluid. The initial effort required to memorize these combinations will be repaid many times over in saved time and improved accuracy. These shortcuts are the keys to unlocking the true power and efficiency that Tally Prime offers. Tally Prime is an indispensable tool for millions of businesses, offering a comprehensive suite for accounting, inventory, and compliance management. While its graphical user interface (GUI) is intuitive, true mastery of the software hinges on proficiency with its extensive set of shortcut keys. These shortcuts are more than just a convenience; they are a direct path to significantly improved efficiency, allowing users to navigate screens, perform complex operations, and generate reports at remarkable speeds. Integrating these keyboard commands into your daily routine dramatically reduces reliance on a mouse, thereby accelerating data entry and minimizing the risk of errors. A skilled user, therefore, transforms a standard workflow into a seamless, high-speed operation.

This guide is designed to systematically explore the most vital Tally Prime shortcut keys, organized by function, to help you transition from a novice to a power user. We will cover a wide range of commands that enable you to manage your company data, create vouchers, handle reports, and customize the software to your specific needs.

The Fundamental Function Keys (F1-F12): Your Daily Command Center

The function keys are the bedrock of Tally Prime’s shortcut system. They provide immediate access to the most frequently used features from nearly every screen, acting as a quick-access toolbar for key functionalities.

• F1: The Company Selector and Help. From the Gateway of Tally, pressing F1 allows you to select or change companies. Furthermore, at any point, F1 will open the “Help” menu, providing contextual assistance for the screen you are currently on.
• F2: Changing the Date. This is perhaps the most essential shortcut for day-to-day use. Pressing F2 in any voucher entry screen or report allows you to instantly change the date of the transaction or the period of the report.
• F3: Company Selection. The F3 key is dedicated to managing companies. Pressing it opens the list of all loaded companies, letting you quickly switch between them. This is particularly useful when you are managing multiple businesses at once.
• F4: The Contra Voucher. A contra entry records transactions between cash and bank accounts. The F4 key opens the Contra voucher, making it easy to record cash deposits, withdrawals, or bank transfers.
• F5: The Payment Voucher. For all your outgoing payments, the F5 key is your instant access to the Payment voucher. This streamlines the process of settling outstanding bills or making other payments from your cash or bank accounts.
• F6: The Receipt Voucher. To record any incoming payments, you can press F6. This opens the Receipt voucher, helping you quickly account for money received from customers or other sources.
• F7: The Journal Voucher. The F7 key opens the Journal voucher, which is a versatile tool for adjusting entries that do not involve cash or bank accounts. This includes recording expenses like depreciation or adjusting opening balances.
• F8: The Sales Voucher. Pressing F8 opens the Sales voucher, which is the primary tool for generating invoices for goods or services sold. Its direct access significantly speeds up the billing process.
• F9: The Purchase Voucher. The F9 key is the dedicated shortcut for the Purchase voucher. Use it to record all incoming invoices from your suppliers for items or services you have purchased.
• F10: Other Vouchers. Tally Prime provides various specialized vouchers that are less frequently used. The F10 key opens a list of these “Other Vouchers,” including Reversing Journal, Memorandum, and Payroll vouchers, offering a complete set of tools for every accounting need.
• F11: The Features Menu. Pressing F11 brings up the “Company Features” menu, where you can enable or disable critical features for your company. From this screen, you can activate GST, TDS, inventory management, and other compliance-related options.
• F12: The Configuration Menu. The F12 key provides screen-specific configuration options. This allows you to customize the layout and behavior of the current screen, whether you’re entering a voucher or viewing a report. For instance, you can enable a discount column in a sales invoice or change the display format of a report.

Efficiency in Action: Navigational and Editing Shortcuts

Beyond the function keys, Tally Prime features a powerful combination of keys to speed up your navigation, data entry, and editing processes. These are the shortcuts that truly define a power user’s workflow.

• Alt + F1: Detailed Reports. When viewing a report like the Trial Balance or a Ledger, pressing Alt + F1 provides a detailed view by expanding all the groups and ledgers. This is invaluable for an in-depth analysis of your financial data.
• Alt + C: On-the-Fly Creation. The Alt + C command is a game-changer for data entry. If you are in a voucher screen and discover a required ledger or stock item doesn’t exist, pressing Alt + C from the respective field allows you to create it immediately without interrupting your workflow.
• Ctrl + A: The Universal Save Shortcut. This is the quickest way to accept and save any screen in Tally Prime. Whether you’re completing a voucher entry or creating a master, pressing Ctrl + A saves your work and moves you forward.
• Ctrl + Enter: Alter a Master. If you need to modify a ledger or a stock item while viewing a report or during voucher entry, simply press Ctrl + Enter on the respective name. This opens the master in alteration mode, allowing for quick edits.
• Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V: Copy and Paste. Tally Prime supports the standard Windows shortcuts for copying and pasting. Use Ctrl + C to copy text from a field and Ctrl + V to paste it elsewhere, making repetitive data entry much faster.
• Ctrl + D: Deleting a Line. The Ctrl + D shortcut is used to delete a line item from a voucher entry screen. This is a crucial shortcut for correcting errors in multi-item invoices.
• Ctrl + E: Exporting Data. To export the current report or voucher to formats like PDF, Excel, or JPEG, press Ctrl + E. This shortcut is a huge time-saver for sharing information with clients or auditors.
• Ctrl + P: Printing. The Ctrl + P command brings up the print screen for the current document. You can quickly preview and print any report, voucher, or invoice from here.
• Ctrl + R: Repeating Narration. If you need to repeat the same narration from a previous voucher of the same type, pressing Ctrl + R will retrieve it automatically. This is perfect for recurring entries.
• Ctrl + Q: Quitting a Screen. When you need to abandon a screen without saving any changes, pressing Ctrl + Q will exit you from that window, ensuring no unintended modifications are saved.

The Power of the Alt Key: Advanced Data Management

The Alt key, when used in combination, provides a suite of powerful commands for advanced data management and manipulation. These are the shortcuts that unlock a higher level of control over your Tally Prime data.

• Alt + F2: Changing the Financial Period. While F2 changes the date, Alt + F2 allows you to change the entire financial period for a report. This is indispensable for year-end analysis or viewing a report for a specific quarter.
• Alt + A: Adding a Voucher. From a report screen, like the Daybook, pressing Alt + A lets you add a new voucher without returning to the Gateway of Tally. This keeps your workflow centered on the data you are currently analyzing.
• Alt + D: Deleting a Voucher or Master. The Alt + D key combination deletes a selected voucher or master (e.g., a ledger or stock item) from the screen. A warning will appear, but this shortcut offers a fast way to remove erroneous entries.
• Alt + I: Inserting a Voucher. From a report screen, pressing Alt + I inserts a new voucher right before the one you have selected. This is useful for maintaining chronological accuracy if you missed an entry.
• Alt + X: Cancelling a Voucher. The Alt + X shortcut marks a voucher as cancelled. Unlike deletion, this keeps the record of the voucher but removes its financial impact, ensuring a complete audit trail.
• Alt + R: Removing a Line. When viewing a report, the Alt + R key removes a line from the display. This is useful for a temporary, focused view of the data without affecting the underlying records.
• Alt + V: The Calculator. Pressing Alt + V opens the Tally Prime calculator panel at the bottom of the screen. You can perform quick calculations here and even paste the result directly into a voucher field, a perfect way to keep your workflow uninterrupted.

By committing these shortcuts to memory and practicing them consistently, you will transform your experience with Tally Prime. The initial learning curve is well worth the long-term gains in speed, accuracy, and overall control. These shortcuts are the key to a more productive, efficient, and enjoyable accounting process.