How do I get Invoices to have grids or alternating lines of color to separate invoice details? I find it amazing that they don't have this option?

Hi there, @Anonymous.

Thanks for reaching us out here in the Community. Allow me to share some details about customizing an invoice template in QuickBooks Desktop.

Currently, separating the lines on your invoices and estimates by a grid or some type of alternating color from line item to line item is not available in QuickBooks Desktop.

However, you can import customized templates into QuickBooks Desktop. Importing the template also helps prevent damaged templates when sending portable files or converting your company files. 

To do that:

1. Open the company file that you want to import the template into.
2. From the Lists menu, choose Templates.
3. From the Templates drop-down list, choose Import.
4. Select the template you want to import then select Open.
5. Name the imported template. You can keep the original name or change it.
6. Select OK. You should now see the imported template on the template list.

For more details about the process, please check out this article: Use and customize form templates.

Also, I'd suggest sending this suggestions to our developers. Doing this helps them understand where we can improve and what features should be added so we can better serve you.

To do that:

1. Click the Help menu bar.
2. Scroll down to Send Feedback Online.
3. Select Product Suggestion.
4. Choose Product Suggestion for the Type of Feedback.
5. Product Area is optional.
6. Enter your suggestion.
7. Click Send Feedback.

There you go, @Anonymous you can now use your desired template. 

You've got me here if there's anything else you need. I'll be around to help you out. Have a prosperous day!

The "shade alternate rows" function is only found in Desktop Enterprise.

@BettyJaneB

You are incorrect regarding this comment: "You can import customized templates from MS Word into QuickBooks Desktop"

The desktop templates are a proprietary filetype .des = Designer files. I believe only Adobe Pro also works with that filetype, in addition to QB desktop. In QB desktop, you work with DES files you can find and import or take a few minutes to create a template from scratch or copy one that exists and save it as a new name, then modify it.

When we upgraded to Windows 10 from 7, our QB invoices would not print with grid lines.

They looked ridiculous.  I spent hours trying templates without success.  Here's the easy fix:

Go to File.  Click on Printer Setup.  Choose your form.  Unclick "Do not print lines around each field"  Click OK.

DONE!

You're welcome!

It is ridiculous - 

Quickbooks does not offer this basic functionality. 

Only on the most expensive  version of thiers!

I'm sorry but that answer is incorrect. The shaded lines aren't only on Quickbooks Enterprise.

I have Quickbooks Desktop Pro and I have them or at least I did when I first started using it.

I don't know what I did but I got rid of them unintentionally and I can't get them back.

The only way I've found so far is by opening a new company and start out from scratch, I go to the forms and there I have the shaded lines. But this isn't very useful because I can't use this new company since all my data is on the other company that I created at first.

Can someone help me please?

I just need to get the shaded lines back on the forms please. There has to be a way :(

As of the moment, the Shade alternate table rows option is only available in QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise, Pii-GC.

You'll want to upgrade your plan to  QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise so that you'll be able to use this feature.

You can also save your invoice, and customize it outside QuickBooks using a third-party application. You can follow these steps in downloading your invoice:

1. Log into QuickBooks.
2. Select Customers from the sidebar menu.
3. Choose Customer Center.
4. Go to the Transactions tab, then locate the invoic.
5. Click the Print drop-down button, then select Save As PDF.
6. Select Save from the pop-up window.

Once done, you can visit our QuickBooks Desktop App Center to find a third-party application that handles sales forms customization. 

Please let me know if you have other QuickBooks questions. I'd be around for you.

Hello @MaryLurleenM 

Please read my post that is before yours on this thread.

In continuation to my post that is before yours on this thread, I just noticed that I do have the shaded lines in the same company file of my Quickbooks Desktop Pro but they are only on my Purchase Order Forms.

for some reason I disabled them or removed on my Estimates & Invoices forms and I don't know how I did it.

My question is not if they exist on QB Desktop PRo, I know they do. 

My question is how to get them back on the forms where I had them?

Can someone share some light into this matter please?

NICE FIX! Thank you Binbin.

Awesome took it off months ago, they became hard to read and forgot how to put them back THANK YOU  for reminder on how to do it perfectly.

How did you do it?

I just add a long underscore line (_____________________) in the description to divide up sections on estimates/po/invoices.

this is a terrible solution to a ridiculous problem, invoices and estimates are so hard to read with some way to differentiate items, this is a dumb problem to have to solve but here we are

My Customers are complaining as well and begging me to move to something they don't need to use a ruler to follow.

i think this is an intentional "nag" problem to push you to upgrade.

I have enterprise and I cannot do this either

THANK YOU so much.  2 years later your solution worked.   I don;know how the box got unclicked but your solution resolved what I wasted about an hour trying to figure out!!

Does anyone have a solution for this problem? I have same issue.

I recognize the convenience of grids or alternating lines on an invoice template, @RY12. I'll walk you through submitting a feedback request to have this feature.

Adding lines to separate invoice details is currently unavailable. You'll want to share this idea with our Product Developers to have this reviewed for future updates.

Here’s how:

1. Go to the Help icon at the top menu.
2. Select Send Feedback Online and then click Product Suggestion.
3. Enter your request, then tap Send Feedback.

Track your suggestions through this website or visit our blog to keep up with recent events and developments.

See this guide to know what else you can do with your sales form: Use and customize form templates.

Bookmark this article for future reference: Fix common issues when you use and customize templates.

If you require more help in managing receivables, let me know. It will be my pleasure to assist you. Have a great day.