Navigating in Phocas
This page has been retired and will soon be deleted, as it refers to an older Phocas design. In September 2023, we launched a new side menu with a more intuitive navigation to help you get around Phocas more easily. See: Find your way around Phocas
You can easily navigate to just about anywhere in Phocas from the Phocas menu or using one of the navigational tools accessed from the top bar.
Phocas menu
This menu appears when you click or tap the menu icon in the top bar. The icon turns blue when the menu is active . The Phocas menu contains quick links to dashboards, databases and favorites and, if you have admin permission, a link to administration. You can access this menu from anywhere in Phocas.
The menu also has a global search box, which you can use to search favorites, dashboards or databases. You can clear the search with the 'X' or by using ESC on your keyboard.
If you have Phocas CRM enabled, you will also see links to the main CRM tools. There may be links to other applications or web sites at the bottom of the menu.
Actions menu
The Actions menu presents different options depending on where you are in Phocas. Typically it takes you straight to common tasks. Select the actions icon near your user name in the navigation bar to open the menu.
From the Phocas grid:
Save favorite - see Save a favorite
Add to dashboard - see Dashboards
Design - allows you to edit the database in the Designer tool, if you have permission. See Modify a database
Recent - the 10 most recent places you have visited in Phocas.
From the dashboard
Set as home dashboard - see Set a dashboard as your homepage
Recent - the 10 most recent places you have visited in Phocas.
From elsewhere, just the recent items will appear.
If you have Phocas CRM enabled, you can also add a task or update an account from here.
If you are an administrator with access to Designer, you may see a 'Design' option, depending on which database you are in.
Recent places
The Actions menu displays links to the 10 most recent places you have visited in Phocas so you can easily see where you've been, and get back there quickly.
Top bar
This bar provides access to most places in Phocas. You can:
Go almost anywhere in Phocas from the Phocas menu.
Select the Phocas logo to return to the home screen from anywhere in Phocas.
Add Comments against dashboards and favorites.
Access common tasks from the Actions menu.
Turn on Phocas help to see tips and links to documentation.
Select your user name to view or edit your Profile and settings.
The title next to the Phocas logo shows which section of Phocas you are in.
Turn on 'Help'
Turn on our in-product Help by selecting the Help icon . The help icon also gives you quick links to the Phocas Academy video learning centre, support contact details and the Phocas releases notes.
With Help active, hovering on a feature within Phocas displays a short description of the feature and a link to more information in our product documentation. E.g., in the screenshot below the user has hovered over the analyze button on a dashboard item.
Note the help icon is blue when it is active. Simply click to toggle it off and on.
See what's new in Phocas
Click your profile picture (or initials) to see a quick link to the latest release notes for Phocas, as shown below.
Keyboard shortcuts
Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
Alt+H | Goes to Home page |
Alt+S | Advanced search |
Alt+C | Custom mode |
Alt+i | Displays Information dialog |
Ctrl+Space | Focuses on a selection |
Alt+Up, Alt+Down | Switches between dimensions |
Alt+R | Reset |
Ctrl+P | Dashboard print |
Ctrl+C | Copy from the grid |
Alt+/ | Activates Help |
Navigate on a mobile device
The basic navigation on a mobile device is the essentially the same as on the desktop, with easy alternatives to keyboard and mouse selection. Phocas automatically detects the screen size on your device and optimizes your view.
Switching between mobile and desktop view
On a device you will typically see the grid without all the surrounding options, to maximize screen space. You can either stay in Mobile view or choose Desktop view for all or part of a browsing session.
Selecting on a touch device
The following touch gestures can be used to make selections and instead of right clicking on rows to access further information and filtering. They are supported on iOS, Android and Windows touch.
A single touch followed by a double touch select or deselects.
To select multiple rows, tap to select the first row in the desired selection and then double tap on the last row. Every row in between will be selected.
To deselect multiple rows, tap to deselect a currently selected row and then double tap on the last row to deselect. Every row in between will be deselected.
A long touch (hold) acts as a right click.
To open the help menu, tap and hold on a cell for half a second.