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jriley1414
February 17, 2021
Question

re: "Flat data" reporting

  • February 17, 2021
  • 2 replies
  • 0 views

We have QB Desktop. Is there a way to have a report exported into Excel so that the data is "flat" - meaning no indents on the left-hand side?

 

For instance: I need to take a trial balance from Quick Books and export it into Excel and dump it into a mapped Excel model. I have to manually remove the indents (time-consuming). Is there a way to have the data export flush left (meaning the account names & numbers)?

 

Thank you in advance!

2 replies

R
Ryan_MModerator
Moderator
February 17, 2021

Hi @jriley1414,

 

This specific option you want for the Excel export feature is unavailable.

 

Let's take for example the report you stated above, which is the Trial Balance report. There's a single column indent for the account names to differentiate the Total row at the bottom of the report. 

 

In case you encounter any issues with the export process, keep this article for reference: Fix export to Excel issues in QuickBooks Desktop. 

 

Post a reply if you need clarification with this process, and I'll get back to you. 

J
jriley1414Author
February 22, 2021

Hi Ryan,

 

Unfortunately, this suggestion did not solve my issue. As QB does not offer a working trial balance (except in the accountant's version), I must utilize the attached Excel report ("comparative trail balance") as I need beginning and ending totals with +/- change.  This report has multiple levels of indents similar to a P&L.

 

Again, I am working in a mapped Excel model and the model cannot be changed. I can send along a report we run out of AccountEdge to get this data so that you can see what I am talking about. I have redacted any sensitive information on the attached that has come out of QB.

 

Thank you!

 

Jeannine

 

 

JoesemM
JoesemMQuickBooks Team
QuickBooks Team
February 22, 2021

Hello there,@jriley1414.

 

 I appreciate you for getting back to us and provide more details about your concern. Let me chime in and share some ideas about exporting reports into an Excel file.

 

Yes, you're right. Once you export your report into Excel it has multiple indentions since it's a normal behavior of QuickBooks. That's why you'll need to manually modify the report according to your preference.

 

However, you can search for a third-party app in our QuickBooks Desktop Apps Center. Just look for a Trial Balance Importer that you can try. 

 

All of the apps listed on this site are integrated with the program. This way, it would be easy for you to import your IIF files into QuickBooks. 

 

Here's how:

 

  1. In your QuickBooks Desktop, go to the Help menu and select App Center: Find More Business Solutions.
  2. In the Apps for QuickBooks Desktop Marketplace window, make sure to enter a keyword in the search field to narrow down the process.
  3. Then, select the app from the list.

 

You can also check our Firm of the Future site. This is where we share recent happenings and future developments, such as updates to newly added features in QuickBooks.

 

Additionally, here's an article that'll further guide you in managing the growth of your business using QBDT: QuickBooks Help Articles. It includes topics about account management, banking, and expenses, to name a few. You can click the + More topics to view additional selections.

 

Please know that I'm only a post away if you have any other issues or concerns. I'll be more than willing to help.

J
JTBCPA
March 19, 2021

I have the same issue.  I don't know how you are "getting rid of the indents" but this is what I do:

1.  Insert column on the left.

2.  Use the equation =B5&B6&B7&B8.  This will put the title of the line item in that first column.

3.  Copy the formula down to the bottom.

4.  Select the column

5.  Copy then Paste Values on top of the same column.

6.  Now all the titles are in the first column.  

7.  Delete all the extraneous columns.

8.  Now the amounts are next to the titles with no indents.

It's the quickest work-around I know.

 

    J
    Jim Schnepp
    May 9, 2023

    Shouldn't the formula stay on the same row, but advance columns...as in: =B50&C50&D50&E50&F50&G50

     

    That's how I do it...

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