Layout designer

Hi there, @byomtov

I appreciate you for personalizing your form. I'm here to address and help customize your estimates template in QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) for Mac.

There's a possibility that you're using standard/sample templates, that's why you're unable to customize it. I'd recommend either duplicate it and change the name or create a new template. This way, you can personalize your form. 

Here's how: 

1. Open the estimates form, then choose either New Template or Edit Current Template. 
2. Choose Header and change the Estimates to Order under Company Name. 
3. Put a check in Print and Screen. 
4. Tap Field then choose the appropriate field. 
5. You can also click the Text, Text Box to enter a new box in the form. 
6. Click File, then choose Save as. 

After that, your new form will now display as an option in the template drop-down menu. For the complete steps, check out this article: Customize form templates.

While creating the estimates, make sure to use the accurate template in the drop-down. See the sample screenshot below. 

Additionally, you can always run any estimates reports and customize them. This way, you can track or review all the transactions you've added. You may refer to this article: Customize reports in QuickBooks Desktop for Mac.

Lastly, feel free to check out this page about QBDT for Mac How Do I questions and other related topics: User guide. 

Feel free to let me know in the comment section if you have further questions about customizing templates. I'm happy to help you. Be safe.

Thank you, but this is not the problem.

The best way to describe the problem is by looking at the attached screen shot.

It shows four windows:

Two Layout Designer windows

The Estimate window

The window describing the item

Notice the following:

1. Instead of listing the sales price -$4 - as specified in the item description, it shows the percentage markup, which I don't want.

2. The column headings in the estimate do not match those in the LD template.

3. Despite my Replacing the word "Estimate" with "Order" in LD, the word "estimate" still appears on the estimate, and in the wrong place.

The problem may have something to do with the fact that this item, like all my items, is a non-inventory item that I buy for and sell to a specific customer. In any event, this simply isn't working correctly.

Hello, byomtov.

Thanks for including the screenshot. I'll share my findings with you regarding the issues you encountered on the Layout Designer. 

For the column headings issue, ensure you're using the correct estimate template when creating it. 

If you're already using the correct template, you'll want to delete and recreate the template. The data might've been damaged, which is why it still shows "Estimate" instead of "Order." 

To delete it, open the Layout Designer then click on File then select Delete Template. You'll be given the option to select the template you want to delete. 

Regarding the issue on the sales price column, this is actually caused by the formatting for the data itself. It uses percentage to display and calculate the amount on your estimate. 

We're unable to change how it calculates the amount. For now, you have the option to uncheck the "Sales price" column. 

After fixing the issue, you can start recording estimates and copying them to an invoice. If you need help with your invoices, you can read this article for a guide: Create invoices in QuickBooks Desktop for Mac. 

I'm willing to help out again if you have concerns regarding your QuickBooks Mac program. Lay down the details here and I'll see what I can do. 

Thank you, but this is not helpful.

I doubt the file is corrupted, since I've made several attempts to do this.

More important, what you are telling me makes no sense. What I am after is an estimate that clearly shows the price I am charging my customer, and you are telling me I can't get that, and that you don't regard that as a serious problem with your product?? You insist that it has to show my markup  percentage (not the price formatted as a percentage, as you claim) and can't be changed? Really?? Come on.

Notice (see attached screen shot) that I also tried setting up selling price, as well as a drawing number, as custom fields in the item description. The Layout Designer picks up neither one.

Hi, byomtov!

I understand that you need to show the sales price of the item instead of the markup percentage. Currently, QuickBooks Desktop for Mac uses this method to calculate the amount when creating the estimate.

You'll want to send feedback about this to our engineers. Please follow these steps:

1. Go to Help, Send Feedback Online, then Product Suggestion....
2. Choose a Type of Feedback from the available drop-down menus.
3. Enter your suggestions/feedback in the Here is my suggestion: field.
4. Select Send Feedback.

You may visit our QuickBooks Blog to stay up-to-date with the latest news and new features.

Also, you may check this link: Create an estimate in QuickBooks Desktop for Mac. This will show the detailed steps on how to create, edit and print an estimate. 

Do you have additional concerns? Let me know by leaving a comment below. Thanks!

OK.

I don't actually consider this acceptable, but it's obvious Quickbooks doesn't care about the issue.

I have bad news, sending a request will not work.  I used to send them all the time for EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM that you just described because I thought surely, i am not the only person who wants their estimate to show thesales price for EACH item ALONG with the total price, but clearly nothing has changed.  I have had this problem along with several other calculation problems involving the ESTIMATE and nothing has changed.  I think they tell you to make a suggestion so you just go away and leave them alone.  Nobody cares.