Tally ERP 9 Shortcut Keys: Complete List with Functions

Table of Contents

Introduction

Tally ERP 9 can be operated largely through the keyboard. Once you know the right shortcuts, routine jobs such as opening a sales voucher, changing the working date, creating a ledger, checking a report, or saving an entry take fewer steps.

The difficulty is not finding a long list of Tally ERP 9 shortcut keys. Plenty of those exist. The real challenge is knowing which shortcuts are useful in day-to-day accounting and understanding where they actually work. Some keys are available on most screens, while others work only during voucher entry, inside reports, or at the Gateway of Tally.

This guide organizes the shortcuts by purpose instead of giving you one unbroken list. You will find function keys, accounting and inventory voucher shortcuts, navigation commands, master creation shortcuts, report controls, and a quick-reference table at the end.

Note: this article is specifically about Tally ERP 9. TallyPrime has its own keyboard structure, and some commands differ between the two versions. The shortcuts below have therefore been checked against Tally’s ERP 9 documentation rather than copied from a mixed TallyPrime list.

What Are Shortcut Keys in Tally ERP 9?

Shortcut keys are keyboard commands that let you perform an action without repeatedly moving through menus.

For example, while working on the Accounting Voucher screen, you can press F8 to open a Sales voucher. Press F9 for Purchase, F5 for Payment, or F6 for Receipt. If you need to change the working date, F2 does it directly.

Tally ERP 9 also gives visual clues about shortcuts on the screen. Menu shortcuts are highlighted, while buttons display their relevant key. According to Tally’s documentation, an underlined shortcut on a button requires Alt, while a double-underlined one requires Ctrl.

That makes the software easier to learn than it may first appear. You do not have to memorize every command before using them. Many can be learned naturally while working.

Most Important Tally ERP 9 Shortcut Keys: Quick Look

If you are new to Tally ERP 9, start with the keys below. They cover a large part of ordinary accounting work.

Shortcut Key	Function
F1	Select/load a company or switch voucher area depending on the screen
F2	Change the current date
Alt + F2	Change the period of a report
F3	Select a company from loaded companies
F4	Open Contra voucher
F5	Open Payment voucher
F6	Open Receipt voucher
F7	Open Journal voucher
F8	Open Sales voucher
F9	Open Purchase voucher
F10	Open Reversing Journal
F11	Open Company Features
F12	Open Configuration
Ctrl + A	Accept and save
Alt + C	Create a master while entering a voucher
Ctrl + Enter	Alter a master
Ctrl + N	Open Calculator
Ctrl + Q	Exit without saving or close Tally from the Gateway, depending on context
Alt + P	Print the current screen
Alt + E	Export information from the current screen

The context matters. F4, for example, opens a Contra voucher on the accounting or inventory voucher screen, but function keys can have other roles elsewhere in the program. Tally’s official shortcut documentation identifies both the command and the screen on which it is available.

F1 to F12 Shortcut Keys in Tally ERP 9

The function keys are the best place to start because several common voucher types are mapped directly to F4 through F10.

Function Key	Main Use in Tally ERP 9
F1	Select/load a company; also used for switching to Accounting vouchers in certain voucher screens
F2	Change date
F3	Select company
F4	Contra voucher
F5	Payment voucher
F6	Receipt voucher
F7	Journal voucher
F8	Sales voucher
F9	Purchase voucher
F10	Reversing Journal
F11	Company Features
F12	Configuration

F2: Change the Date

Pressing F2 lets you change the current working date. This is particularly useful when entering transactions from invoices, receipts, bank records, or older documents.

Suppose the current Tally date is 25 September but you are entering an invoice dated 23 September. Instead of leaving the voucher screen, use F2 and enter the required date.

F11: Company Features

F11 opens Company Features. This is where feature-related settings for the company can be accessed.

F12: Configuration

F12 opens the configuration screen. Do not confuse F11 and F12: F11 deals with company features, while F12 is used for configuration options available in the relevant context.

Accounting Voucher Shortcut Keys in Tally ERP 9

For regular bookkeeping, these are arguably the most useful shortcuts to remember.

Shortcut	Voucher
F4	Contra
F5	Payment
F6	Receipt
F7	Journal
F8	Sales
Ctrl + F8	Credit Note
F9	Purchase
Ctrl + F9	Debit Note
F10	Reversing Journal
Ctrl + F10	Memorandum Voucher

Tally’s official ERP 9 documentation confirms these mappings for accounting vouchers.

F4: Contra Voucher

Use F4 to open a Contra voucher. Contra entries are generally used for transactions involving cash and bank accounts, such as depositing cash into a bank account or transferring funds between bank accounts.

F5: Payment Voucher

Press F5 for a Payment voucher. It is commonly used when recording payments such as rent, supplier payments, office expenses, or other outgoing amounts.

F6: Receipt Voucher

F6 opens a Receipt voucher. A common example is recording money received from a customer against an outstanding invoice.

F7: Journal Voucher

Use F7 to open a Journal voucher. Journal entries may be required for adjustments and accounting entries that do not fit ordinary receipt, payment, sales, or purchase transactions.

F8: Sales Voucher

Press F8 to move directly to Sales voucher entry. If sales invoices are a regular part of your work, this is one of the first shortcuts worth memorizing.

F9: Purchase Voucher

F9 opens the Purchase voucher, saving you from navigating back through voucher menus whenever a purchase needs to be entered.

Ctrl + F8 and Ctrl + F9

Ctrl + F8 opens Credit Note, while Ctrl + F9 opens Debit Note.

These are easy to confuse at first. Remembering them alongside F8 for Sales and F9 for Purchase makes the combinations easier to recall.

Inventory Voucher Shortcut Keys

Businesses that maintain stock in Tally ERP 9 have another set of useful voucher shortcuts.

Shortcut	Function
Alt + F4	Purchase Order
Alt + F5	Sales Order
Ctrl + F6	Rejections In
Alt + F6	Rejections Out
Alt + F7	Stock Journal
Alt + F8	Delivery Note
Alt + F9	Receipt Note
Alt + F10	Physical Stock

These shortcuts are particularly useful in businesses where accounting entries and physical inventory movement are handled together. Tally documents these separately from its accounting voucher keys.

For example, Alt + F8 can open a Delivery Note, while F8 without Alt opens a Sales voucher. Similarly, Alt + F9 is associated with Receipt Note, whereas F9 opens Purchase.

That pattern is worth remembering because it reduces the amount of memorization needed.

Useful Alt Shortcut Keys in Tally ERP 9

The Alt key appears frequently in Tally ERP 9. Some combinations perform general actions, while others change according to the screen.

Shortcut	Common Function
Alt + F1	Close company or expand/detailed view depending on context
Alt + F2	Change report period
Alt + F3	Open Company Info
Alt + P	Print
Alt + E	Export
Alt + M	E-mail a report
Alt + N	Automatic columns in supported reports
Alt + C	Create a master during entry
Alt + D	Delete
Alt + 2	Duplicate a voucher
Alt + R	Recall narration from another voucher type

A good example of context-sensitive behavior is Alt + F1. At a menu screen it can close the current company, while in reports it can display a detailed or condensed view. Tally also assigns it functions on certain voucher screens.

This is why memorizing a shortcut without learning its context can be misleading.

Useful Ctrl Shortcut Keys in Tally ERP 9

Ctrl combinations handle several everyday actions that are easy to overlook.

Shortcut	Function
Ctrl + A	Accept/save the current screen
Ctrl + Enter	Alter a selected master
Ctrl + N	Open Calculator
Ctrl + Q	Exit without saving; close application from Gateway
Ctrl + R	Recall narration for the same voucher type
Ctrl + Alt + C	Copy a value from an input field
Ctrl + Alt + V	Paste a copied value into an input field
Ctrl + Alt + R	Rewrite company data

Of these, Ctrl + A is probably the one most users will use repeatedly. Tally describes it as the command for accepting and saving a screen or sub-screen.

Be more careful with Ctrl + Alt + R. It is the command for rewriting company data, not an ordinary save, refresh, or navigation shortcut. It should not be pressed casually while experimenting with keyboard commands.

Shortcut Keys for Creating and Altering Masters

One of the biggest practical advantages of keyboard use in Tally ERP 9 appears when you discover that a ledger or another master is missing in the middle of an entry.

Alt + C: Create a Master Without Leaving the Voucher

Suppose you are entering a Sales voucher and reach the Party A/c Name field. The customer ledger you need has not been created.

You could leave the voucher, go to the ledger creation area, create the customer, return to the voucher, and begin again.

Or, at the appropriate master-selection field, you can press Alt + C.

Tally allows Alt + C to create a master from voucher entry and alteration screens when the combination has not been assigned another function in that context. After creating the master, you can return to the transaction.

That is a small shortcut with a noticeable effect on repetitive data-entry work.

Ctrl + Enter: Alter an Existing Master

What if the ledger already exists but something needs changing?

Select the relevant master and use Ctrl + Enter where supported. Tally documents this combination for altering a master while making an entry or viewing a report.

This is useful when you notice incorrect or incomplete master information while working on another task.

Navigation Shortcut Keys in Tally ERP 9

Not every valuable shortcut opens a voucher. Some simply make moving around the software quicker.

Key	What It Does
Enter	Accept a field, select an option, or drill down into a report
Esc	Clear/leave a field or move out of a screen
Shift + Enter	Expand or collapse details in supported reports
Ctrl + Enter	Alter a master
Page Up	Display previous voucher
Page Down	Display next voucher
Spacebar	Clear text in a field

Tally’s navigation documentation lists these commands for moving between screens, drilling into reports, and working through vouchers.

Page Up and Page Down are especially handy when reviewing consecutive vouchers. Instead of returning to a list after every transaction, you can move backward or forward through voucher entries.

Shift + Enter, meanwhile, is useful in reports where a line contains more detailed information underneath it.

Voucher Entry and Editing Shortcuts

Once you begin entering transactions regularly, a second group of commands becomes useful.

Ctrl + A accepts and saves information on most screens.

Alt + 2 duplicates a voucher from a voucher list. This can save time when a new transaction is similar to an existing one, although the duplicated voucher should always be checked and edited carefully before saving.

Alt + D is used for deletion in applicable screens.

For narration, Tally provides two useful commands. Alt + R recalls the last narration saved for the first ledger regardless of voucher type, while Ctrl + R recalls narration associated with the same voucher type.

These shortcuts become more valuable when you handle repetitive entries. They reduce retyping, but they do not remove the need to check dates, amounts, ledgers, narration, tax details, and other transaction information before accepting the voucher.

Report Shortcut Keys in Tally ERP 9

Tally ERP 9 shortcuts are not limited to transaction entry. Reports also support keyboard commands.

Alt + F1

In many reports, Alt + F1 can switch between detailed and condensed information or expand details, depending on the screen.

Alt + F2

Use Alt + F2 to change the period being viewed.

For example, if a report currently covers September and you need to review April through September, the period can be changed without navigating away from the report.

Shift + Enter

Shift + Enter can expand a line to show its underlying details and collapse those details again in supported reports.

Enter

The ordinary Enter key is also important. In reports, it is commonly used to drill down into the selected information.

Printing, Exporting and Other Common Shortcuts

A few commands are useful when information needs to leave the current Tally screen.

Alt + P — Print: Opens printing for the current screen where supported.

Alt + E — Export: Exports details from the current screen. Tally ERP 9 documentation lists formats including ASCII, Excel, HTML, and XML.

Alt + M — E-mail: Used to send report details by e-mail through the relevant ERP 9 functionality.

Tally’s older ERP 9 documentation also contains shortcuts for services such as website uploads, TallyShop, Control Centre, and Support Centre.

Those commands are part of the ERP 9 shortcut reference, but they are less relevant to a person who simply wants to speed up present-day voucher entry and reporting. For most users, voucher, navigation, master, print, and export shortcuts deserve priority.

Hidden Tally ERP 9 Shortcut Keys Worth Knowing

Tally itself groups several less obvious commands under hidden shortcut keys.

Here are the ones worth remembering:

Alt + C: Create a master while working in an applicable voucher/master field.

Ctrl + Enter: Alter an existing master without following the normal menu route.

Ctrl + A: Save and accept the current screen.

Page Up: Move to the previous voucher during voucher entry or alteration.

Ctrl + Alt + C: Copy a value from an input box.

Ctrl + Alt + V: Paste the copied value into an input box.

Ctrl + R: Repeat narration from the same voucher type.

These shortcuts solve small interruptions that happen repeatedly during accounting work. That is why learning five or six of them is usually more useful than trying to memorize a huge shortcut chart in one sitting.

How Tally ERP 9 Displays Shortcut Keys on Screen

There is a simple way to keep learning shortcuts while using the software.

Tally ERP 9 visually indicates many of them in its interface. In menus, the relevant shortcut character is highlighted. Buttons also display the key associated with the action.

The formatting gives another clue:

A normal function-key label can be used directly.
An underlined key indicates an Alt combination.
A double-underlined key indicates a Ctrl combination.

Tally’s official navigation guide explains this convention and uses Alt + F1 and Ctrl + V as examples.

So instead of treating shortcuts as a separate subject that must be memorized beforehand, pay attention to the commands shown on the screen while you work.

Practical Example of Using Shortcuts During a Sales Entry

Consider a simple situation. You need to record a sale, but the customer’s ledger has not yet been created. From the appropriate voucher area, press F8 to open the Sales voucher.

Enter the required details. When you reach the field where the customer master needs to be selected and discover that it does not exist, press Alt + C. Create the required ledger and return to the voucher.

If an existing master needs to be altered instead, Ctrl + Enter can be used where the command is available.

Complete the remaining invoice information, check the values and press Ctrl + A to accept and save.

If you are reviewing existing vouchers rather than entering a new one, Page Up and Page Down can move between the previous and next vouchers. This is where shortcuts start making sense. They are not isolated keyboard tricks. Used together, they reduce the number of times you have to leave the task you are currently doing.

How to Remember Tally ERP 9 Shortcut Keys

Do not try to memorize the complete shortcut list on the first day. Start with the keys that match the work you perform most often.

For accounting voucher entry, learn this sequence first:

F4 — Contra
F5 — Payment
F6 — Receipt
F7 — Journal
F8 — Sales
F9 — Purchase

After those become familiar, add F2 for changing dates, Ctrl + A for saving, Alt + C for creating a master, and Ctrl + Enter for altering one.

Inventory users can then add Alt + F4 through Alt + F10 combinations according to the voucher types they actually use. Grouping shortcuts by job is easier than memorizing them alphabetically. F4 to F9, for example, form a useful accounting-voucher group. Alt combinations can then be learned as a separate group.

What to Check if Shortcut Keys are not Working

A shortcut that does nothing does not necessarily mean the command is wrong.

Function Keys May Require Fn on a Laptop

Many laptops assign functions such as brightness, volume, or media controls to the F1–F12 row.

Tally’s own ERP 9 FAQ notes that function-key combinations may not work on some laptops unless the Fn button is used with the function key.

If F8 does not behave as expected, for example, check how your laptop handles its function-key row.

Check Which Screen You Are On

This is the other common source of confusion.

A Tally ERP 9 shortcut may be available only on a particular screen. Alt + C, for example, can create a master during voucher entry when the cursor is at a suitable master-selection field, but the same combination can have a different purpose in a report.

Before assuming a shortcut is broken, check both the key and the screen where you are trying to use it.

Tally ERP 9 and TallyPrime Shortcut Keys Are Not Always the Same

Tally ERP 9 and TallyPrime are related products, so users moving between them will find familiar ideas and commands. That does not mean every shortcut can be transferred directly from one version to the other.

This matters because online shortcut lists sometimes combine commands from both products. If you are working specifically in ERP 9, use an ERP 9 reference. Tally maintains dedicated ERP 9 shortcut documentation that identifies what each command does and where it works.

It is a simple distinction, but it prevents a lot of unnecessary trial and error.

Tally ERP 9 Shortcut Keys Cheat Sheet

Here is a shorter reference you can return to during everyday work.

Category	Shortcut	Function
General	F2	Change date
General	F3	Select company
General	F11	Company Features
General	F12	Configuration
Accounting	F4	Contra
Accounting	F5	Payment
Accounting	F6	Receipt
Accounting	F7	Journal
Accounting	F8	Sales
Accounting	F9	Purchase
Accounting	Ctrl + F8	Credit Note
Accounting	Ctrl + F9	Debit Note
Accounting	F10	Reversing Journal
Accounting	Ctrl + F10	Memorandum
Inventory	Alt + F4	Purchase Order
Inventory	Alt + F5	Sales Order
Inventory	Ctrl + F6	Rejections In
Inventory	Alt + F6	Rejections Out
Inventory	Alt + F7	Stock Journal
Inventory	Alt + F8	Delivery Note
Inventory	Alt + F9	Receipt Note
Inventory	Alt + F10	Physical Stock
Masters	Alt + C	Create master
Masters	Ctrl + Enter	Alter master
Navigation	Page Up	Previous voucher
Navigation	Page Down	Next voucher
Navigation	Shift + Enter	Expand/collapse report details
Save	Ctrl + A	Accept and save
Utility	Ctrl + N	Calculator
Output	Alt + P	Print
Output	Alt + E	Export

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most commonly used shortcut keys in Tally ERP 9?

Some of the most commonly used shortcuts are F2 for changing the date, F4 for Contra, F5 for Payment, F6 for Receipt, F7 for Journal, F8 for Sales, F9 for Purchase, Ctrl + A for saving, and Alt + C for creating a master during voucher entry.

What are F1 to F12 keys used for in Tally ERP 9?

Their functions depend partly on the screen. Common examples include F2 for changing the date, F3 for selecting a company, F4–F10 for accounting vouchers, F11 for Company Features, and F12 for Configuration.

What is the shortcut key for Sales in Tally ERP 9?

Press F8 to open a Sales voucher from the applicable voucher creation or alteration screen.

What is the shortcut key for Purchase in Tally ERP 9?

The Purchase voucher shortcut is F9. Purchase Order is different: its shortcut is Alt + F4.

What is the shortcut key to create a ledger in Tally ERP 9?

When you are at an appropriate master-selection field during voucher entry, Alt + C can be used to create a missing master without leaving the voucher.

What does Ctrl + A do in Tally ERP 9?

Ctrl + A accepts and saves information on most screens in Tally ERP 9.

What is the calculator shortcut in Tally ERP 9?

Use Ctrl + N to open the Calculator pane from the Gateway of Tally.

How do I alter a ledger using a shortcut?

Ctrl + Enter can be used to alter a selected master while making an entry or viewing supported reports.

Why are the F1 to F12 keys not working on my laptop?

Your laptop may use the function-key row for hardware controls. Tally’s ERP 9 guidance recommends using the Fn button along with the required function key when the normal F-key command does not work.

Are Tally ERP 9 and TallyPrime shortcut keys the same?

Not completely. Some commands and concepts are familiar across both products, but the keyboard interfaces are not identical. Use version-specific instructions when working in Tally ERP 9.

Final Thoughts

Learning Tally ERP 9 shortcut keys is mostly a matter of repetition. You do not need to memorize the entire list at once. Start with the shortcuts you use during everyday accounting-F2 for changing the date, F4 to F9 for common vouchers, Ctrl + A for saving, and Alt + C for creating a master. Once these become familiar, you can gradually add shortcuts for inventory, reports, printing, and navigation.

If you need help with Tally software, implementation, customization, or day-to-day technical support, TallyMantra can help you choose and set up the right Tally solution for your business requirements. This can be particularly useful when moving from Tally ERP 9 to TallyPrime or setting up Tally for a growing business.