Overview
The Quick Job Switcher is a keyboard-driven power user feature that lets you switch between jobs instantly without touching your mouse. Press a simple keyboard shortcut, type to search, and hit Enter to navigate - all in seconds.
Key Features
- Keyboard Shortcut - Press J+S to instantly open the job switcher
- Real-Time Search - Type to filter jobs as you go
- Instant Navigation - Press Enter to select top result and navigate
- Quick Cancel - Press Escape to close without selecting
- Fully Keyboard-Driven - No mouse needed for the entire workflow
- Sidebar Interface - Non-intrusive panel that slides in from the right
Getting Started
Prerequisites
- JT Power Tools extension installed in Chrome
- Access to JobTread with multiple jobs
Enabling the Feature
- Click the JT Power Tools extension icon in your Chrome toolbar
- Locate the "Quick Job Switcher" toggle
- Toggle it ON - the switch will turn blue
- Navigate to any JobTread page
- Press J + S to test it
How to Use
Basic Workflow
-
Open the Switcher
From any JobTread page, press J then S in quick succession (like a keyboard shortcut)
-
Type to Search
The search field is automatically focused. Start typing the job name, address, or job number
-
See Results Update
Jobs filter in real-time as you type. The top result is highlighted
-
Navigate
Press Enter to navigate to the highlighted job
-
Or Cancel
Press Escape to close without navigating
Speed Tip
You can type J+S+{search term}+Enter all in one fluid motion. With practice, you'll switch jobs in under 2 seconds!
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Shortcut |
Function |
| J + S |
Open Quick Job Switcher |
| Enter |
Navigate to selected job |
| Escape |
Close switcher without selecting |
| ↑ ↓ |
Navigate through search results (when multiple results) |
Search Tips
What You Can Search
The Quick Job Switcher searches across multiple job fields:
- Job Name - Full or partial names
- Job Number - Any part of the job number
- Client Name - Search by customer/client
- Address - Search by street, city, or zip
- Status - Find jobs by status (active, completed, etc.)
Search Techniques
Partial Matching
You don't need to type the full name:
- Job: "Smith Kitchen Remodel" → Type "smith kit"
- Job: "123 Main Street Addition" → Type "123 main"
Case Insensitive
Searches work regardless of capitalization:
- "SMITH" = "smith" = "Smith"
Number Searches
Search by job numbers:
- Job #2024-045 → Type "2024" or "045"
Advanced Usage
Muscle Memory Workflow
Power users develop muscle memory for frequently-accessed jobs:
- Identify the shortest unique search term for your common jobs
- Practice the full sequence: J+S+{term}+Enter
- Soon you'll switch jobs without conscious thought
Example Muscle Memory
If you frequently access "Jones Bathroom Remodel", you might memorize: J+S+jones+b+Enter
Multi-Tab Workflow
Use Quick Job Switcher to work across multiple jobs simultaneously:
- Open JobTread in multiple browser tabs
- In each tab, use J+S to switch to a different job
- Now you can quickly compare or reference across jobs
Integration with Other Features
- With Drag & Drop - Quickly switch jobs to update their schedules
- With Text Formatter - Navigate to jobs to update formatted notes
- With Budget Features - Jump between job budgets efficiently
Interface Details
Sidebar Panel
The switcher appears as a sidebar on the right side of the screen:
- Width - 400px panel that doesn't cover main content
- Overlay - Semi-transparent overlay dims the main page
- Animation - Smooth slide-in from the right
- Responsive - Adapts to different screen sizes
Search Field
- Auto-focused when switcher opens
- Clear "X" button to reset search
- Placeholder text shows example searches
- Live character count (if applicable)
Results List
- Top result is highlighted by default
- Shows job name, number, and status
- Scrollable if many results
- Hover to highlight different results
- "No results" message when search yields nothing
Common Use Cases
Daily Job Rotation
Field managers checking on multiple active jobs:
- Quickly switch between job schedules to update progress
- No need to navigate through menus or dropdowns
- Save minutes on every job switch throughout the day
Estimating & Bidding
Estimators referencing similar past jobs:
- Search for completed jobs by type ("bathroom", "deck")
- Compare budgets and timelines
- Quick reference without losing your place
Client Inquiries
Office staff fielding client calls:
- Client calls → J+S+{client name}+Enter → instant access to their job
- Answer questions without making clients wait
- Professional, responsive customer service
Troubleshooting & Support
Admins helping team members with issues:
- Team member reports issue on "Smith job"
- Admin uses J+S+Smith to instantly access it
- Faster problem resolution
Best Practices
Maximize Efficiency
- Learn Your Jobs - Memorize short, unique search terms for frequent jobs
- Keep Hands on Keyboard - Resist the urge to use the mouse
- Practice the Sequence - J+S+search+Enter should become automatic
- Use Consistent Naming - Encourage team to use clear, searchable job names
Team Adoption
- Share Quick Job Switcher with your team
- Create a cheat sheet of keyboard shortcuts
- Track time saved to show ROI
- Make it part of onboarding for new team members
Troubleshooting
Shortcut Doesn't Work
Solution:
- Verify Quick Job Switcher is enabled in extension popup
- Make sure you're on app.jobtread.com
- Try pressing J and S more quickly in succession
- Check if another extension is capturing the J or S key
- Refresh the page and try again
Search Not Finding Jobs
Solution:
- Check spelling of your search term
- Try a shorter, more general search
- Verify the job actually exists in JobTread
- Clear the search and start fresh
- Check if JobTread's job list has loaded (may need to visit Jobs page first)
Enter Doesn't Navigate
Solution:
- Make sure at least one result is showing
- Check that a result is highlighted
- Try clicking the result with your mouse as a fallback
- Refresh the page if navigation seems stuck
Switcher Won't Close
Solution:
- Press Escape again
- Click outside the sidebar on the overlay
- Refresh the page
Technical Details
How Job Data is Retrieved
The switcher accesses job data by:
- Monitoring JobTread's internal API calls
- Extracting job list data from the DOM when available
- Caching job data locally for fast searches
- Refreshing cache when you navigate to Jobs page
Search Algorithm
- Case-insensitive substring matching
- Searches across multiple fields simultaneously
- Results ranked by relevance (exact matches first)
- Debounced to improve performance (updates after you stop typing)
Accessibility
Keyboard Navigation
Fully accessible via keyboard:
- Tab to navigate between elements
- Arrow keys to select results
- Enter to confirm selection
- Escape to cancel
Screen Reader Support
- Proper ARIA labels on all interactive elements
- Live regions announce search results
- Focus management for seamless navigation
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