Per BigRedConsulting, resizing columns has always worked properly in Multiple Windows mode as long as you don't maximize the windows.  (I always maximized all windows.)  However, note that once you have the resizing of columns working, then you can go back to always maximizing all windows.  Doing more resizing sticks from then on!

The solution to the "resizing columns" issue is answered in this thread for at least some of us by BigRedConsulting.  It worked for me re. the Item List.  Use Multiple Windows viewing mode and do not maximize the windows, then resize the Item List window to almost full size, then resize your columns and they will stick, proven by closing and re-opening that window.  It no longer matters whether you maximize windows or even use Single/One Window mode from then on.  You can resize columns again and they will always stick.  This is my experience as of yesterday.  Thanks to BigRedConsulting!

The solution to the "resizing columns" issue is answered in this thread for at least some of us.  It worked for me re. the Item List.  Use Multiple Windows viewing mode and do not maximize the windows, then resize the Item List window to almost full size, then resize your columns and they will stick, proven by closing and re-opening that window.  It no longer matters whether you maximize windows or even use Single/One Window mode from then on.  You can resize columns again and they will always stick.  This is my experience as of yesterday.  Thanks to BigRedConsulting!

BCFL: The solution to the "resizing columns" issue is answered in this thread for at least some of us by BigRedConsulting.  It worked for me re. the Item List.  Use Multiple Windows viewing mode and do not maximize the windows, then resize the Item List window to almost full size, then resize your columns and they will stick, proven by closing and re-opening that window.  It no longer matters whether you maximize windows or even use Single/One Window mode from then on.  You can resize columns again and they will always stick.  This is my experience as of yesterday.  Thanks to BigRedConsulting!

Keybler: The solution to the "resizing columns" issue is answered in this thread for at least some of us by BigRedConsulting.  It worked for me re. the Item List.  Use Multiple Windows viewing mode and do not maximize the windows, then resize the Item List window to almost full size, then resize your columns and they will stick, proven by closing and re-opening that window.  It no longer matters whether you maximize windows or even use Single/One Window mode from then on.  You can resize columns again and they will always stick.  This is my experience as of yesterday.  Thanks to BigRedConsulting!

I can resize the columns and they stay fixed, but when I email the purchase order it reverts to the original size and cuts off all the detail in the item column.

I appreciate you following up on this thread, thl1. Let's get the columns resized.

Have you tried out the steps provided by BigRedConsulting?  If so, but still getting the same issue, we can modify the Desktop View in QuickBooks Desktop:

1. Click Edit at the top menu bar and select Preferences.
2. From the Desktop, choose the Multiple Windows option in the View section.
3. Hit OK to save the changes.

After that, let's go back to your purchase order (PO) and see if it sticks to your desired size. If not, let's close the PO screen and while re-opening the window, hold down the Shift key on your keyboard.

I'll be sharing with you the following article: Fix screen issues in QuickBooks Desktop. This will provide us with more details about fixing viewing preferences in the program.

Let me know if there's anything else you need aside from resizing columns, thl1. I'll be around to keep helping. Have a great rest of your day!

Did not work. When the send the email -columns go back to original size. 

Yes this works, but when you switch back to "multiple window" it doesn't work  again & resets.  WTF.   Software company can't save column widths in multiple windows, but can in single window mode?  

Don't get me started on not being able to display Preferred Vendor on a Bill Of Material    LOLOLOLOLOL

Big Red - I am declaring my undying love and thanks to you right here in front of God and everybody!!  I have to update thousands of fixed assets and you have saved me from either quitting or throwing a rock through my monitor!  You are a gem and qbd should be paying YOU!!  Thank you again.  

If you want to get *really* efficient, and are updating a bunch of fixed assets, then looking exporting your items as an Excel file, modifying everything within Excel, then importing it back into QuickBooks!

That is assuming you never close and reopen a window such as Create Sales Order..  Invoices, PO's stuff we dont always need open company wide..

Here it is in 2023 and the issue of the item list column width not staying where the user puts it is still an issue.  EVERY time I open my item list I have to resize each column.  I actually keep the item list open all the time, but anytime I switch to another window and then go back to the item list........BAM it's resized itself again.  And there's no standard width that it reverts back to.  It just does whatever it wants.  If I open and item or do a quick report and then come back to my list, it starts scrolling madly like the wheel on the price is right and ends up on a random item, but never the item I was just on.  This has been an issue for the ENTIRE 13 years I've been working for my company.  I've submitted the issue in the "send feedback online" along with countless other issues over the years and I've yet to see anything done or updated on just about every suggestion/feedback I've given.  I'd have better luck sending an email to GOD.

It may seem like an issue that is of minimal importance, however when you have to go in EVERY time and change the columns it is a huge waste of time and money.  I have been a quickbooks user for over 30 years.  In the beginning years, when you changed the column widths they stayed the same.  I would guess about 12 years ago it all changed for the worse.  I constantly have to change the widths so that I can see all of my data on one screen. I also must say that the price of Quickbooks is so overpriced it is almost impossible to afford.  For the company to not make the fixes necessary to make everyone's lives easier is a slap in the face.  It would not be a hard fix I am told.  I hate to change software after 30 years, but between the price and the lack of quality upgrades I will sure be keeping my eyes open for a different software.  You should be ashamed.

I hear your sentiments @Lvarney22, and I understand how frustrating it can be when things won't work out as planned.

Please know that the option to default the column size you've customized in the Inventory Item Lists is currently unavailable. As a workaround, you can consider resizing the column every time you open the Inventory Item Lists. I know how time consuming it is but this is the best option we have right now.

I understand that the option to save its customization is beneficial for you and your business. Please know that our product engineers are considering all suggestions based on the number of requests and their impacts on the user interface before they're rolled out.

For now, I suggest sending feedback to them about this idea. They may add this feature in future product enhancements to make our program better and more efficient for you to use. Here's how:
 

1. Hit the Gear icon at the top, then select Feedback.
2. Type in your product suggestions.
3. Click Next to submit feedback.

You might also want to visit our feedback forum to check the recent updates made in QuickBooks.

Just in case you want to use and customize form templates in QuickBooks Desktop, you can read this article for more guidance: Use and customize form templates.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to resolve any issues you may have. Keep in touch if you need any more assistance with any QuickBooks-related concerns. I've got your back, @Lvarney22.

@Lvarney22 

RE: It may seem like an issue that is of minimal importance, however when you have to go in EVERY time and change the columns it is a huge waste of time and money. I have been a quickbooks user for over 30 years. In the beginning years, when you changed the column widths they stayed the same. I would guess about 12 years ago it all changed for the worse.

Column widths stick for me in modern versions of QuickBooks without any issue. I just re-tested it to make sure, including closing and then reopening the company file, and they stick as expected. What version of QuickBooks are you using?

I use QBD Enterprise Contractor 23.0 and I've never been able to get the column widths to "stick".  The most annoying one is the PO# column because I record that in my memo line for every bill.  And why it can't pick that up automatically like it does when you create an invoice from an estimate is beyond me.  I've even tried moving that PO# column and it's never wide enough on the default view.  Even if I move it further left, it puts it back on the far right next time I open QB.

The "fixed" fields being a fixed width is also a problem.  I can't see full info there either even though I've got large dual monitors, many of those fields are tiny compared to the data that is in them (payment terms and the memo field are perfect examples).  The worst one is not being able to see the full Purchaser/Ship To and Vendor/Sub fields.

It's 2023 - these display and customization issues shouldn't still be a thing.  I understand that Intuit wants everyone to move to QBO, but as an Enterprise user, QBO just doesn't give us the features we need.

At least God listens    

Boilerplate answer and it doesn't help. It's always "send a product suggestion" which NEVER results in a resolution. We use QB Premier desktop 2021 -- and this version is when it started. We run into it with the Item list and - most irritating - the Customer list. I drag the columns back to the size where I can actually read something, leave that window, and when I go back it's all resized again. It gives my customer name maybe 3/4 of an inch width, but gives the date wide open space.

I know what I'm talking about, here's just one example. Way back, maybe 10 or 12 years ago, the plain search function (not the one where you have to pick the category to search) worked perfectly. Then suddenly an update made it hit and miss, and more often that not it's a miss, like 9 times out of 10 it misses. I searched online for an answer and found I wasn't the only one running into it. I (and I presume others) did as suggested  and sent a product "suggestion" -- it really wasn't a SUGGESTION, it was a request for a RESOLUTION. Here I am all these years later and that's never been addressed. It seems that for a product that costs so much these very basic things could be addressed. I truly get more and more frustrated at QuickBooks every single day, with each new glitch it throws our way.

This is what I get when I click on the the Bug Report link. It grays out my screen and I get a thin white line. And why does this discussion show "Solved"? That's certainly not true.

But should we really have to go to all that when a simple drag would do the job?

@AmericanRV  RE: We run into it with the Item list and - most irritating - the Customer list. I drag the columns back to the size where I can actually read something, leave that window, and when I go back it's all resized again. It gives my customer name maybe 3/4 of an inch width, but gives the date wide open space.

When I set the column widths - in multple company files using multiple QB versions - the stick for me.

Questions:

- On the View menu do you have One Window or Multiple Windows selected?

- If Multiple Windows, are your windows in maximized to fill the desktop or in the restored view where you can see multiple windows side by side or overlapping each other?

I'm happy your columns sizing works for you. They don't for a whole lot of us. And oddly, I just realized my Vendor list doesn't do this. It's only the Customer and Items lists. Why would that be?

I use one window in the restored view. I only maximize the window when I work on lengthy invoices.