Quickbooks 2020 Customer List: Hierarchical view constantly resets to flat

There were no errors on verification so I did a rebuild. That found an error, which it fixed. Now it doesn't seem to be resetting the customer view from hierarchical to flat. Thanks.

Thanks for the information, @friolator.

Let's run the QuickBooks File Doctor tool to get this resolved. Let me walk you through the steps.

1. Close QuickBooks, and then download QuickBooks Tool Hub.
2. Open the file you downloaded (QuickBooksToolHub.exe). Then, follow the on-screen steps to install and agree to the terms and conditions.
3. When the install finishes, double-click the icon on your Windows desktop to open the tool hub.
4. From the tool hub, select the Company File Issues tab.
5. Click Run QuickBooks File Doctor.
6. In QuickBooks File Doctor, choose your company file from the drop-down menu. If you don’t see your file, select Browse and search to find your file.
7. Click Check your file (middle option only) and then Continue.
8. Enter your QuickBooks admin password and then select Next. The scan time will depend on your file size.

Once the scan finishes, restart your computer, open QuickBooks, and check if you can switch your customer view. You can learn about fixing company file issues at this link here: Fix company file and network issues with QuickBooks File Doctor.

Reach out to us anytime if you have our concerns or questions, we're here to lend a hand. Thanks for coming by and I wish you have a great day ahead.

i have this problem with my item list tried what was suggested no problems

Hello there, @chris tilby!

It seems that you've created a duplicate post about this query. Rest assured, this was answered by my colleague, @IamjuViel, and she provided the steps on how to fix it. Here's the link for faster navigation:

https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/other-questions/item-list-stuck-in-flat-view/00/22...

Stay safe!

Jesus you're an idiot. The question is about hierarchical views and has nothing to do with data integrity. Verifying and rebuilding data is what idiot tech support says when they have no clue. It doesn't do anything helpful unless you have a file corruption issue. And you don't.

One of many, many bugs in this software is that the hierarchical views don't stick. There are lots of fixes, most don't work at all (keep previously saved desktop), some work for brief periods  and then revert. Some reference settings that don't exist at all in your version. 

Skip it as a problem you just can't solve. If enough people complain, they will have a programmer take 15 minutes from his busy, busy day of finding ways to gouge customers, and fix it.

This is totally crazy that it won't hold the view! we pay a lot of money for QB! It should be perfected... Some one needs to take the time and come up with a real fix.. Never mind the Bank feed issues! 

This is  not just a 2020 issues.  I have had this same problems getting the Hierarchical view to stick in 2019, 2020 and 2021 versions.

Sometimes I stumble into something (never really know what) and it will stick for a time.  Seems that when another user does certain it all goes back flat view.

This is extremely irritating and agree with other posts.  We pay enough for the software that this should be fixed after years and not working.

I continue to have this issue with Hierarchical View resetting to flat.  I have had this issue in 2019, 2020, and 2021 versions of QuickBooks Enterprise.  I can get the view to stick for awhile but then it goes back to Flat View.  I don't see how data integrity would have anything to do with this. 

Please fix this bug!!!!!

I've had many, many versions of QuickBooks, currently using QB 2021 Premier. The sort problem JUST started today, out of the blue; every time I switch from the customer window to another one and back, it's gone back to flat. All I've done today is update payroll (there were no updates). Nothing else. Why would it do this? I hope this isn't the beginning of the same headache others are talking about here.

There are so many issues that seem so simple (to be fair, I don't know what it would take to fix them and can't know if they're actually "simple") ... Year after year after year we're told to leave a comment for support, that it will be corrected in an upcoming version -- and these never, ever are fixed. Many years ago the Search function stopped working; it worked fine up until it broke. After much searching I found a post explaining that the function had basically been removed (although it still sometimes worked) because they found a security issue in the code. Still waiting for that to be fixed. The promised "fixed in a future release" hasn't yet happened. Search is different from Find, and I relied on it heavily back when it worked. To me, it seems the "upgrades" and annual versions QB releases are for the most part cosmetic. I'd rather they focus on the actual (mal-)functions in the software than the appearance. It seems clear the people writing programming for QB aren't end users.

I have the same problem, is there a way to get hierarchical vew to stay 

I'll help you fix this, Dave199.

The unusual behavior in your customer list might be caused by a damaged company file or data integrity issue. To rule this out, you can run the Verify and Rebuild utilities. This scans the entire file for potential data issues and resolves them right away. Here's how to verify your data:

1. Choose Window, then click Close All.
2. Go to the File menu, then select Utilities.
3. Select Verify Data.

If the program detected no problems with your file, then no further action is needed. However, if you found that your data has lost its integrity, you'll need to rebuild it to fix the problem. I'll show you how:

1. Go to the File menu.
2. Select Utilities, choose Rebuild Data.
3. Follow the on-screen instruction to back up your company file
4. The Rebuild Data utility starts as soon as the backup is finished.
5. When you get the Rebuild has completed message, click OK.

I've also included an article that will help you in managing your list information in QuickBooks Desktop: Add and edit multiple customers, vendors, and items.

If you have any other concerns questions, please let me know by adding a comment below. The Community always has your back.

This did nothing for this problem 

Hi, chris tilby.

I understand how you feel when things aren't working the way they should be. 

I've got another troubleshooting step to resolve data issues in QuickBooks Desktop. You can run the QuickBooks File Doctor, here's what you need to do:

1. From the tool hub, choose Company File Issues.
2. Click Run QuickBooks File Doctor. 
3. Choose your company file.
4. Select Check your file (middle option only) and then Continue.
5. Enter your QuickBooks admin password.
6. Click Next.

From there, your file will be scan which can take up to 5 minutes depending on your file size. Once done, open QuickBooks and your company file.

I've got some resources you can check for additional details and guide on resolving data issues:

• Fix company file and network issues with QuickBooks File Doctor.
• Resolve network issues with QuickBooks File Doctor test results.

If the issue persists, I recommend contacting our Customer Care Support Team to investigate this further. Here's where you can contact us: Contact QuickBooks Desktop support.

If I can be of additional assistance, @chris tilby. I'm just a few clicks away. Take care.

Actually this is doing what it’s designed to do…It’s a saved view that your program is reverting to. Look under preferences/desktop view once you have your lists sorted hierarchically, and save the desktop. Now tell it to open in a previously saved view and voila. 

This!  I've had this problem for as many years as I can remember, and Quickbooks/Intuit cannot solve it.  None the the workarounds actually work.  I'm waiting for them to tell me its an optional upgrade if I want it to actually work. 

Hello @QFP,

I know how beneficial being able to change the view without resetting to default. Allow me to chime in and help you get this ability sorted out in QuickBooks Desktop.

Currently, what you experience with the display is working as designed. Though, it would be beneficial for the feature to function based on the users' preferences.

As we assess this, please send your feedback to our product engineers. Feedback is reviewed thoroughly by our team will consider them in future updates.

Here's how:

1. Click the Help tab at the top menu bar.
2. Hover your cursor to Send Feedback Online.
3. Choose Product Suggestion or Help System Suggestion. 

For additional reference, you can use the following article to learn how to get a copy of your customer data by exporting it to Excel: Export reports as Excel workbooks in QuickBooks Desktop.

Leave a comment anytime you need further assistance with the features in QuickBooks. The Community and I will be around to help you.

Same. This problem just started yesterday, when I have been running 2021 desktop since its release.

Hello, EWagner.

Since the last post, I'd like to share some details regarding the customer list view issue. I'll also show the way on how you can handle this. 

The customer list view issue was reported sometime ago, but the cases were closed since we needed to gather more data for investigation.

However, our agents can open a new one and pass this along to our engineers. You'll want to contact them to start the investigation process. Here's how: 

1. In QuickBooks Desktop, press the F1 key.
2. This will bring up the Help window, click on the Contact Us button at the bottom. 
3. In the box, type something like "re-open investigation regarding the customer list view issue."
4. Hit Continue.
5. Select either the chat or the phone option. 

In the meantime, consider running the Customer List window in flat view. 

After the investigation process, do you need help customizing your financial reports? This article will guide you through the process: Customize reports in QuickBooks Desktop.

I welcome any other questions you might have regarding your lists. If you'd like to record specific customer or vendor transactions, please let me know. I'm here to help. 

I have dealing with this issue for years at least 10 years. I have rebuilt the data,,,,,,,,,,,,ummmmm DOES NOT WORK! Everytime I change it to Heirachical it changes right back to flat file.  How can I get rid of that flat file?

REBUILDING THE DATA DOES NOT WORK.

You are not alone I am been dealing with this for 10 or more years.  I have Enterprise now and it still does it.

The rebuilding the data does not work! Can we remove the flat file view? lalalee

Rebuild does not work I have been dealing with this for 10 plus years driving me crazy that it will not stay out of the flat file. lalalee

I'm here listening to your experience with the Hierarchical view in QuickBooks Desktop, lalalee1.

I can see that this issue has been bothering you for a long time now. And, rebuilding the data didn't fix the issue.

There's a specific desktop setting where you can set QuickBooks Desktop to stay in a hierarchical view. You can perform the steps I've outlined below.

1. Go to the Edit menu.
2. Choose Preferences.
3. Select the Desktop View menu.
4. From the My Preferences tab, mark the Keep previously saved desktop button. If you do NOT see “Keep previously saved desktop” select the Save current desktop option.
5. Click OK.
6. Open the Preference screen again.
7. Select Keep Previously Saved Desktop.
8. Click OK.

After that, make sure that your Customer Type List is using the Hierarchical View option. Here's a screenshot below as your visual guide.

If it still didn't work for you, I'll let you contact our QuickBooks Live Team so they can create a case and hand it over to our Product Team for further investigation.

I'm adding this article to help you do more on your list entries in QuickBooks Desktop: Add and edit multiple customers, vendors, and items.
 

Stay in touch with me on how the contact goes. Or leave a comment below if you have additional questions. I'm always right here to help you.

I just started having the same problem.  Everyday QuickBooks has changed my customer view to "Flat View".  So everyday I have to change back to "Hierarchal View".  I know how to fix it but this obviously an issue.  Why is this happening?