Searching for Transactions by Transaction Codes

You can search the menu folders and transaction links by transaction code with the Find button (A) of the standard toolbar (Figure 7.10). Follow this next procedure.

Procedure: Searching for Transactions With Keywords

Step 1.	Click the Find button (A), or Hit the Ctrl + F keys on your keyboard.
Step 2.	The Search in menu tree popup screen appears (Figure 7.11). Enter the transaction code in the Find field (A). For this example, we entered the transaction code ME51N. Select the In Technical Name option (if it is not already selected) to search by transaction code (B). Hit the Enter key on your keyboard. Figure 7.11. Search for transaction links by transaction codes with the Search in menu tree popup screen.
Step 3.	The system expands the menu folders and displays the first occurrence of the transaction code (A), which is highlighted (Figure 7.12). Figure 7.12. The system locates the first occurrence of the transaction code in the menu folder.

Figure 7.10. Start the search by clicking the Find button (A).

Transaction codes are generally the fastest, most convenient way to navigate to the initial screens of transactions. You can only navigate with the menu folders and Favorites folders from the SAP Easy Access screen, but you can navigate with transaction codes from any screen, including the initial and output screens of transactions. In addition, you do not have to navigate by pointing-and-clicking your way through a long, hard-to-remember menu path; rather, you simply enter a short code in the command field and hit the Enter key on your keyboard to reach your destination.

For this reason, we recommend that you learn to navigate with transaction codes. To remember them, write the names and codes of your favorite transactions on an index card and post it on or near your computer monitor for handy referencenot the most high-tech solution, we admit, but it works for us.

However, we mentioned at the beginning of this lesson that there are certain classes of reporting transactions that have very long transaction codes. These transactions are the exception to the rule about the supremacy of transaction codes, for even the most adept typist will often err in entering such long codes in the command field. We recommend that you create and use links in your Favorites folders to navigate to the initial screens of these transactions.