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TimN
February 6, 2025
Solved

Custom Fields

  • February 6, 2025
  • 2 replies
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I am trying to add a custom field (PO #) to my invoices.  I watched the video help, but when I enter the custom field name, I get the error "Name should not exceed characters" . Seems like the error should state how many characters, but it doesn't.  No matter how many characters I add, I get the error upon saving".  I tried to find a customer support page where I can message Quickbooks Tech Support, but I keep getting linked back to the "Assistant".  

Best answer by TimN

Hello TimN,

 

Thanks for letting us know and sharing the attachment. Just to clarify, when you tried using a different browser, did you get the same error message? Knowing this will be helpful.

 

I am looking forward to your response. See you soon. 


Ok, so I just noticed a reply to a message I posted in the Help Assistant yesterday.  The reply stated that since my subscription is Simple Start, custom fields are not included in that subscription.  It would have been helpful and a huge time saver if the error message said that rather than rather than characters exceeded.  

2 replies

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RheaMaeH
February 7, 2025

It's a pleasure to see a new member here in the QuickBooks Community, TimN. Thank you for your patience and for bringing your concern with adding a custom field to your invoices. I understand how frustrating it can be when you encounter an unexpected error and the challenges you've had reaching direct support. Many users find this feature beneficial, and I'm here to help you resolve this issue.

 

In QuickBooks Online (QBO), each field in your account has a character limit. For custom fields, you are allowed to input up to 30 characters. Please be aware that the ability to add custom fields may vary depending on your subscription plan. For example, the Simple Start plan may not include this feature.

 

If you're subscribing to another plan, sometimes the error you encountered might be caused by your browser being overwhelmed with frequently accessed resources like cache and cookies, which can lead to unexpected behavior. To troubleshoot, try opening your QuickBooks account in an incognito window. Here are the keyboard shortcuts for accessing incognito mode in different browsers:

 

  • Safari: Shift + ⌘ + N
  • Google Chrome: Press Ctrl + Shift + N
  • Microsoft Edge: Ctrl + Shift + N

 

If accessing QuickBooks through an incognito window resolves the issue, we recommend clearing your browser's cache to refresh the system. If the problem persists, I suggest switching to a different supported browser.

 

Regarding contacting our support team, please ensure you reach them during business hours. Their availability is as follows:

 

  • Plus, Essentials, Simple Start: Monday to Friday, 6 AM to 6 PM PT, Saturday, 6 AM to 3 PM PT
  • Advanced: available anytime, any day

 

For more information on contacting them, refer to this article: Get help with QuickBooks products and services.

 

Additionally, you may find this article helpful for learning how to personalize and add specific information to your sales forms: Customize invoices, estimates, and sales receipts in QuickBooks Online.

 

I hope these suggestions help you resolve the issue with adding the custom PO field to your invoices. If you continue to experience difficulties or have any further questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. We're here to help and will keep you updated on any developments regarding this matter.

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TimNAuthor
February 7, 2025

Thank you for your quick reply.  I followed your instructions and attempted the process of creating a custom field using a Chrome incognito window, but I still get the same strange error.  I attached a picture.  Its no big deal if it doesn't work, since I can simply create a blank line item in the invoice and enter the PO # in the description of that line.

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SashaMC
February 7, 2025

Hello TimN,

 

Thanks for letting us know and sharing the attachment. Just to clarify, when you tried using a different browser, did you get the same error message? Knowing this will be helpful.

 

I am looking forward to your response. See you soon. 

S
SW_BBB
February 11, 2025

I'm seeing the exact same thing in a client's Simple Start account.

 

A single Custom Field is supposedly being added to Simple Start in February, as part of the phase-out of QBO's 'Tags' feature. I'll excerpt part of the email I received from Intuit in December on this topic:

 

"As of March 8, 2025, you and your clients will no longer be able to create tags for reporting insights purposes. Instead, included in all QuickBooks Online plans, your clients will be able to migrate their tags to a custom field for tracking and reporting purposes.... This change is being rolled out to all customers, regardless of their use of tags. Custom fields will support both sales and expense forms.

In February 2025, you and your clients will have the option to migrate all tags to a custom field. Watch for an email from the QuickBooks team in the first week of February.

 

Week of February 3, 2025 - Both you and your clients will receive an email notification. It will include a link to a tags → custom field migration tool and a how-to FAQ."

We are of course past Feb 3 and I haven't received the email yet. As a guy who previously worked in software development, I'm guessing the issue we're seeing with creating Custom Fields in Simple Start is a bug related to this deployment, and they've encountered a delay with the full implementation.

My plan is to keep trying weekly to create a Custom Field, and I'd expect it'd work at some point.  It'd be nice if Intuit would do some proactive communication around the missed deadline, though ...

 

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    TimNAuthor
    February 12, 2025

    SW_BBB, Thank you for your detailed reply.  It's very helpful.  I will take your advice and attempt a custom field again next week and thereafter expecting that it will work at some point in the future.

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