Why don't the Invoices show up in numerical order, on the customers page?

Hi there, @cataldoandson1.

Welcome to the Community. I'm here to provide some insights into why your invoices aren't showing in numerical order on your customers' page.

You can sort your invoices depending on your choice either in ascending or descending order by clicking on the header column for the invoice page. (Please refer to the screenshot attached). 

If the problem continues, you can try switching to another browser. This is to verify if the issue is browser related. 

Here are the different keyboard shortcuts to open a private browser:

1. Google Chrome: press Ctrl + Shift + N
2. Mozilla Firefox: press Ctrl + Shift + P
3. Internet Explorer: press Ctrl + Shift + P
4. Safari: press Command + Shift + N

If it works fine, you can go back to your regular browser and clear its cache. Please follow the outlined steps in this article depending on the browser you're using: How do I clear my browser cache and temporary Internet files?

That should do it! Please don't hesitate to post any questions that you may have. Have a prosperous day!

My invoice numbers are not in numerical order when I scroll back through them as they've been entered.  I'm using Desktop 2018.  How do I get them in order?

Hi there, @Bravehawkforge.

Thanks for joining this thread. Allow me help ensure that you're invoice number are in numerical order.

We don't have any open investigation about this issue. In this case, let's process the steps provided by my colleague BettyJaneB which is to sort your invoice number either in ascending or descending order. To do this in QuickBooks Desktop version, please refer to the screenshot below:

If the issue still persists, there's a possibility that your lists can be damaged. To resolve this, the damage can often be repaired by re-sorting which puts a list back to its default order. You can follow the steps in this article for the detailed steps: Re-sort lists.

If you need further assistance with the steps, I encourage you to contact our QuickBooks Desktop Support Team. They have additional tools to pull up your account and do a remote session. 

Here's how you can contact our phone support: 

1. Click this link: https://help.quickbooks.intuit.com/en_US/contact.
2. Select US version of QuickBooks Desktop, and click Contact Us.
3. Type-in Technical Support on the search bar.
4. Click Get the phone number below. 

If you have any other questions about Invoice, don't hesitate to click the Reply button below. I'm always here to help you out. 

It is really horrible that I can't make invoices sort numerically by default.

Like, make me not want to use QuickBooks anymore horrible.

Seriously, I have to click the header every time I switch pages in Quickbooks?

Lame.

I'll have a less 'prosperous day' wasting my time on this, along with other time consuming and frustrating flaws in the software.

I agree, it's extremely frustrating that you can't set a default sorting for the voices view. I mean - why would I want to see some super old invoices first? It doesn't;t make sense.  I literally have to sort this every time I open the invoices tab and every time it takes 15seconds to a minute whilst loading. Not sure why it's taking so long, my PC has an i7 + 100Mbps internet so it should be super fast, shouldn't it? Anyway, we will be moving over to some alternative software purely due to the sorting issue. 

Still doesn't work.  Has anyone come up with a way to sort invoices / estimates in numerical order?

Hello, AVI32216. 

I'll ensure you're able to sort your invoices or estimates in numerical order. 

Depending on your estimate or invoice sequences, the sorting order will affect on how they are set up. This goes the same for QuickBooks Online and the Desktop platform. 

I'd like to know how you number your transactions. That way, I can come up with a way to help you sort them out numerically. 

Do the invoices and the estimates have the same numbering sequence? If so, this might've been the reason why they're not sorted out properly. You'll want to change the sequence for both transactions. 

When you create a new invoice or estimate, enter a new sequence in the INVOICE # or ESTIMATE # Box (for Desktop). 

For QuickBooks Online, use the Estimate no. or Invoice no. box. 

If they don't have the same number sequence, what happened when you try to sort them out? More details would definitely help. 

If they don't sort out properly as they should, this might be caused by a data or a webpage cache problem. Follow the steps provided by BettyJaneB to clear the cache (if you're using QuickBooks Online) or JanyRoseB in resolving data integrity issues in the Desktop version. 

After resolving the sorting issue, you can check out other articles in our general help page. They'll guide you in managing your books and other routinely processes in QuickBooks. 

The thread is still open for your replies. I'm here to help you with any other concerns for QuickBooks. 

I've tried everything in this thread it has not worked..   Below are screenshots of what is happening

I appreciate you for trying the steps shared by my colleagues, AVI32216.

At this time, I'd recommend reaching out to our Phone Support team so we can investigate what causes the issue. Here's how you can contact them:

1. Click the ? Help icon.
2. Go to the Assistant button.
3. Click Talk to a human.
4. Enter The invoice and estimate are not sorting out numerically.
5. Enter I still need a human.
6. Click Get help from a human.

Also, if you're ready to create an invoice out of the estimate, you can check this guide: Convert an estimate into an invoice in QuickBooks Online.

I'm just a post-away if there's anything that I can help. Keep safe!

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@AVI32216 wrote:

I've tried everything in this thread it has not worked..   Below are screenshots of what is happening

 

---

@AVI32216 

The issue is simple, quickbooks online only sorts invoices, estimates and possibly any other sales form "no." identifier column, by the first 11 characters. You can put more than 11 characters, but it will only sort by the first 11, which is what you are experiencing. Easily testable, easy to reproduce.

In your example, it stopped sorting at "20-6092560-", anything after that is just decoration for your eyes.

This limitation seems to have been carried from quickbooks desktop for literally no reason at all. Databases don't have this limitation, mysql, sql server, mongodb, postgresql, or implementation languages, javascript, c#, c++, literally anything you can think of doesn't limit this. Completely arbitrary and absurd.

And you know what the best part of this is? You got no help from any supposed quickbooks "employees", essentially, they are clueless about their own software and none of them even bothered to troubleshoot, besides that, it doesn't seem to be document anywhere.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I find it extremely irritating, if I have to accept a payment for a customer and only have the invoice number, with no surname to match it to....the invoices are not in numerical order, they are scattered all over, and its just a horrible program.   I am having second thoughts as to whether to switch to another on line accounting program...I like the desktop verson so much better.   

I can find no answer to my problem, its just the worst program I have ever come across. 

Not happy, Jan.

This has been going on for years and QB does nothing about it. Receiving payments and "hunting" the invoices up and down is a waste of time. Cannot sort invoices in receive payment. 

 NO Early pay option, you need to go to the invoice apply the discount and than go back to receive payment. Imagine doing this one a time when a customer pays us 75 invoices per pay period. Why not add early discount column like desktop QB.

QB online is 10 steps backwards for us. Frustrated that nothing gets updated when customers voice their opinions and or concerns. 

Hi there, @hugob.
 

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I understand how it would be helpful and efficient to have an early payment discount option in QuickBooks Online. Rest assured that I'll relay this message to our team in concern here on my end and add your vote for this one

You can also share your thoughts and ideas through your account. Our product development team reviews all the feedback we receive to ensure we’re meeting the needs of our customers. 

Here's how:
 

1. Select the Gear icon at the top, then Feedback.
   
2. Enter your comments or product suggestions then select Next.
3. You'll be provided a list of suggested Help articles related to your comment. You can read through them or select Skip and send message.
4. From the drop-down, choose the appropriate category, then select Send message.

For your reference, check out this link: How to Submit Feedback. 

I'll be sure to keep a lookout for any updates on this. Please let me know if there's anything you need help with. We're always here to assist. Take care always, @hugob.

 Liera Marie, 

Thank you for the comments and links. I have submitted this request numerous times.

In regards to sorting invoices at receive payments do you have a method how to achieve this? The invoices never appear in order even though they are created the same day. 

If there is a way to force the invoices to appear in numerical order I would appreciate your guidance.  

I appreciate the screenshot you've provided, hugob.

Right now, there isn't a way to appear invoices in numeral order when receiving payments. I'd suggest selecting the invoices you'll need to pay by order.

While it's unavailable, I'd recommend submitting feedback within your QuickBooks Online (QBO) account.

This way, it goes to our product developers to help improve your experience while using the program. You can follow the details steps provided by LieraMarie_A in sending your idea.

Additionally, you can visit the following write-up: Sales and customers. This will provide you with links on how to manage your company income as well as customer-related concerns.

Should you need additional assistance while working in QuickBooks, please let me know. I'll be more than willing to lend you a hand.