How can I keep my customer list to stay in hierarchial format? I have already tried all suggestions in support.

Normally it just stays that way by itself - stays however you left it last.  What's happening in your case?

I understand that's what's normal.  This is not the first time this has happened in my system.  When I leave the customer center to do something else and then come back I find it out of hierarchal mode.  Support has given me several fixes, all of which I have tried and it seems fixed for while, then happens again.  I am beyond frustrated.  Thanks for any suggestions.

We also have the exact same issue.  Our main user always sees customers in hierachical view.  The rest of us would like to see it that way too but we have to manually change it EVERY time.  Even if we are still working in the same customer, it immediately goes back to flat view just after one action.  We are all very frustrated with this.  Our staff has tasked me with finding the answer as to how we can change our settings to keep it in hierarchical view.  We assumed you could change it in settings, view or preferences but we can't find anything that works.  Please help! 

Keeping your customer list to stay in a hierarchical format is my priority, @Shala1. 

Yes, you're correct. There's a specific desktop setting where you can set QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) to stay in a hierarchical view. This way, you and all other staff members can always see the list of customers in an orderly manner.

Here's how:

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. I've attached a screenshot below for your reference.

In case the issue persists, I encourage you to run the Verify/Rebuild Utility tool. This will help identify common data issues within your company file. Then, restart your computer to ensure all components are updated.

Keep me posted if you have other questions about managing your customer list in QBDT. I'll make sure to address it right away. Have a great day.

Hello there, @CSAA. It's nice to have you here.

I'll be providing some details about additional columns in QuickBooks Desktop.

When your customer lists are in Hierarchical format, you can still add columns and they'll not be removed.  Let's just make sure to do it in the Customer Center.

The steps below will walk you through completing the task:

1. Go to the Customer menu.
2. Select Customer Center.
3. Right-click on any of your customers or jobs.
4. Then, select Customize Columns.
   
5. Add all the available columns you need. Click the column you want to add > Add.
6. Then, hit OK.
   

Other columns cannot be seen directly because many columns are displayed under Customer & Jobs.

To view all the columns, you need to drag the right line by placing your mouse pointer. Then, release the mouse button. Also, you can adjust the width of each column. This helps to have the desired width, so it is wide enough to contain the data of each column. 
 

I've added a sample screenshot below. As we can see, we have now a bigger space for all columns. Doing this helps us view all the data/columns we've applied.

If the same thing happens, you can run the Verify/Rebuild Utility tool. It resolves common data issues within your company file. Afterward, you'll have to restart and re-open your QuickBooks Desktop to make sure the fix applies to your book.

Let me know how it goes. I'll be around if you need further assistance with your concern. Take care and stay safe.

This does not work.  I am in QB Desktop Pro - went thru all the steps.  The customers still appear as a flat view.  I will have to call technical support - good luck with that - as no one wants to actually speak to another person anymore!

Appreciate all your efforts in following the steps provided above, @notafraidtoask1.

I want to stop this from happening to you. I have other troubleshooting steps to ensure you can see your customer lists in a hierarchical view. 

I'd recommend resorting to the customer list. This way, the original order will return. Proceed with the following steps below: 

1. Go to the Customer menu and choose Customer Center.
2. Right-click with your mouse and select Re-sort List. 
3. Hit OK. 

For more information, see this article: Re-sort lists in QuickBooks Desktop.

If the issue persists, I'd recommend contacting our technical support team. Our experts can review your account settings in a safe place and provide additional troubleshooting steps.

Go as follows: 

1. Press F1 on your keyboard to open the Help page.
2. Click Contact Us.
3. Enter your concern in the box and select Continue.
4. Choose either Start messaging or Get a callback.
5. Complete the required data and submit the request.

Make sure to contact them within business hours to ensure a swift response.

You can use the articles below to learn how to manage your customer transactions, reports, payments, and other related topics: Sales and Customer FAQs. 

Please let me know if you have any additional inquiries about managing your client list in QBDT. I'll make sure to take care of it immediately. Be safe always. 

Thanks for your advice, CSAA...it is currently working for me.  I really hope it "sticks" in Hierarchal view.  I'll be passing this along to other users as well, since it's the only thing that's worked for me thus far.