When working witth ACT! we often do Lookups to select a sub-set of our Contact records. It might be all of our Prospects, everyone who is in Birmingham, or something completely different.
We can tell that we are working with just a selection of the database rather than the whole thing in a couple of ways.
Firstly, the big number in the top menu bar will be smaller than usual.
Secondly, if you look at the very bottom left of the ACT screen, just above the Windows Start button, you will see the Lookup status.
It will either say Lookup: All Contacts or Lookup: <Field Name>. where the field name is the name of the field used for tthe current Lookup. Bet you hadn't spotted that!
So we've done our Lookup, but how on earth do we get back out of it so we can work on all of our contact records again?
Well, the traditional way is to Click "Lookup" then "All Contacts" from the menu-bar.
Well here's a way that is a little more obvious and will save you a click every time.
We can add an "All Contacts" button to the tool-bar.
Here's how to do it.
Right-click in a blank part of the ACT! tool-bar (on the right somewhere).
Select Customise... at the bottom. The "Customise Menus and Toolbars" window appears.
Select "Lookup" in the Categories window and "Lookup All" in the Command window
Now, holding the mouse down, drag "Lookup All" to the ACT! tool-bar then let go of the mouse.
You can put the new button anywhere you like but to the right of the >| arrow seems logical to me.
Now Close that window and you are ready to go.
Whenever you are in a lookup and want to return to all of your contacts, just click the "All Contacts" button!
What's more, you can add this button to both your Contact Detail View and your Contact List View.
Enjoy.
For on-site ACT Training with lots more useful hints and tips you won't find in the manuals just click the link below,
ACT Training