In many places in the various designers within the Object Designer, there are standard NAV keyboard shortcuts available, for example:
- F3 to create a new empty entry.
- F4 to delete the highlighted entry.
- F5 to access the C/AL Symbol Menu, which shows us a symbol table for the object on which we are working. This isn't just any old symbol table, it is a programmer's assistant. More on this later in this chapter.
- F9 to access underlying C/AL code.
- F11 to do an on-the-fly compile (very useful for error checking as we go).
- Shift + F4 to access properties.
- Ctrl + X, Ctrl + C, and Ctrl + V in normal Windows mode for deletion (or cut), copy, and paste, respectively.
We can cut, copy, and paste C/AL code, even functions, relatively freely within an object, from object to object, or to a text-friendly tool (for example, Word or Excel) much as if we were using a text editor. The source and target objects don't need to be of the same type.
When we are in a list of items that cannot be modified, for example, the C/AL Symbol Menu, we can focus on a column, key a letter, and jump to the next field in the column starting with that letter. This works in a number of places where search is not supported, so it acts as a very limited search substitute, applying only to an entry's first letter.
The easiest way to copy a complete object to create a new version
Open the object in Design mode. Click on File | Save As object, assign a new object number, and change the object name (no duplicate object names are allowed). A quick (mouseless) way to do a Save As is by pressing Alt + F , then the A key - continuously holding down the Alt key while pressing first F and then A.
Never delete an object or a field numbered in a range where your license doesn't allow creation of an object. If there isn't a compiled (.fob) backup copy of the deleted object available for import, the deleted object will be irretrievably lost.
If we must use an object or field number in the NAV reserved number range for a different purpose other than the standard system assignment (not a good idea), we must make the change in place. Don't try a Delete followed by an Add; it won't work.
Open the object in Design mode. Click on File | Save As object, assign a new object number, and change the object name (no duplicate object names are allowed). A quick (mouseless) way to do a Save As is by pressing Alt + F , then the A key - continuously holding down the Alt key while pressing first F and then A.
Never delete an object or a field numbered in a range where your license doesn't allow creation of an object. If there isn't a compiled (.fob) backup copy of the deleted object available for import, the deleted object will be irretrievably lost.
If we must use an object or field number in the NAV reserved number range for a different purpose other than the standard system assignment (not a good idea), we must make the change in place. Don't try a Delete followed by an Add; it won't work.