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mwmurdy
July 11, 2023
Question

Customized Estimate Template is View Only

  • July 11, 2023
  • 4 replies
  • 0 views

Hi - While I am new to QuickBooks, I am utilizing a feature that should be pretty intuitive.  I have customized an estimate to use, but I cannot select it from the Estimates side panel.  Under "Other Templates", it indicates "(view only)".   I can see the template I created, but upon selection, nothing changes in the main screen.   Only the "Recommended Template" (modern) can be used.   Please advise.   

4 replies

A
Archie_B
July 11, 2023

Hi there, mwmurdy. I'll share some information about customizing sales forms in QuickBooks Online.

 

I can see that you're using the new layout experience for invoices and estimates in QuickBooks. In this new layout, the customization feature is already available in each form you create. 

 

But you can continue using the old layout designs you created in Other Templates, and your customer will see them in the attached PDF once you send it to them. However, the old templates are not supported in the new experience, which explains why they are not visible on the main screen, the Email view, or the PDF view screens. 

 

I'm adding this article for more information about personalizing estimates and invoices: Customize invoices, estimates, and sales receipts in QuickBooks Online.

 

Learn more about the new invoice and estimate by checking this link: See what’s new with estimates and invoices in QuickBooks Online.

 

Feel free to let me know if you still need assistance or have other concerns about estimates. I'll be around if you need me. Take care.

M
mwmurdyAuthor
July 13, 2023

Thanks for the feedback.  This makes sense now.  Although, I had done some searching and found quite a few posts regarding changing "Estimate" to "Quote" which the old templates appeared to support.   I cannot find a way to effectively do this in the new layout.   Am I missing something or is this not possible?   If it is not possible, is it on the roadmap to improve?   Seems like it was a pretty common request.  

 

Thanks.

M
Maybelle_S
July 13, 2023

I'll clarify your concern with the Quotes or Estimates in QuickBooks Online (QBO), mwmurdy.

 

We appreciate your interest in having the Estimate or Quote functionality in QBO. We have recently introduced a new layout for estimates and invoices in QuickBooks that aims to assist you in securing projects, facilitating workflow, and improving payment speed. However, due to the limitations of the new interface, customizing the template to change the term "estimate" to "quote" is not currently feasible.

 

Furthermore, you have the alternative to revert to the previous layout by clicking it at the top. This way, allows you to make the desired modifications.

 

To customize your estimate and alter the form name, please adhere to the following instructions:

 

  1. Go to the Gear icon ⚙ and then select Custom form styles.
  2. Click the New style dropdown and choose Estimate.
  3. From the Content section, tick the header section. 
  4. Go to From names and modify it to Quote. 
  5. Tap Done to save.

 

Once done, you can select the drop-down in the Action column and click Make default.

 

When printing the form, you'll now be able to see the changes.

 

I can see the importance of having this option for your business. With that, I suggest sending feedback to our product developers so they can review it and might consider adding this in our future updates.

 

  1. Go to the Gear icon.
  2. Under Profile, select Feedback.
  3. Enter your suggestion.
  4. Hit Next.

 

If you need more help customizing your sales forms to make them more professional, here's an article you can check out for a guide: Customize invoices, estimates, and sales receipts in QuickBooks Online. 

 

Additionally, to learn more about the new layout you can refer to this link: See what's new with estimates and invoices.

 

Do you have more questions about using templates or layouts? Or do you have any concerns regarding QuickBooks? Let me know, and I'll help you out. 

M
mrsmck
July 15, 2023

I too am having the same issue.  What is the point of being able to customize a template if one cannot select it?  I need a more simplified template to send estimates to customers. 

    S
    sandsinds
    July 30, 2023

    My custom invoices are all view only as well. When I email them to the client, they look nothing like my custom invoices. This seems to be an ongoing bug ... how to I get my invoice to work properly?

    R
    Rea_M
    July 30, 2023

    Hello, sandsinds.

    I want to ensure you're able to send customize invoices accordingly in QuickBooks. Therefore, I would like to ask a few verifying questions. 

    Can you provide more details on what format of invoices do your customers receive? Or can you send a screenshot of what it looks like when you email invoices to your clients? Any additional info will help me provide the appropriate resolution of the issue.

     

    Keep me updated in the comments below. Hope to hear from you as soon as possible. Take care and stay safe!

    C
    collins12
    August 15, 2023

    This is so awful. I am not able to create an invoice that works for my business since I am not able to make any changes to customize the columns on the invoice to include the information I need. I pay a lot for this service, this is very upsetting to me. Please help. 

    K
    KW9802
    January 6, 2024

    I'm having a similar problem. I have edited the default master form to reflect how I want all invoices and estimates to appear and work for me. When I print or send them to customers, they do not look anything like what I am previewing. I found that if I go into the right column of either invoice or estimate where you choose to save, download, print, email etc .... under design, it is automatically set to Modern (which is what I believe to be the issue). When I choose Standard (which is my default) it sends and prints exactly how it looks when previewed. Is there a way to set design automatically to Standard so I don't have to manually change that in every single estimate or invoice transaction?

    J
    jeanbiverly_
    January 6, 2024

    It's great to have you here in the Community, @KW9802!

     

    I can help you set the Standard design as your default sales form template. To do so, you can remove your current default template in the Custom form styles settings.

     

    Here's how:

     

    1. Go to Settings and choose Custom form styles.
    2. Find your current default template.
    3. Click the dropdown in the Action column.
    4. Select Remove as default.

     

    After completing these steps, please select Standard in the Design section again. This will ensure that the Standard template is the default for all your sales forms from now on.

     

    For more information on personalizing your sales forms, you can refer to this article: Customize invoices, estimates, and sales receipts in QuickBooks Online.

     

    If you need help receiving and recording invoice payments, you can read this article: Record invoice payments in QuickBooks Online.

     

    Please let me know if you have any further concerns about setting a sales form template as your default. I'd be glad to assist.

    K
    KW9802
    January 6, 2024

    I only have the standard default sales form that I edited for all forms. The drop down menu only allows me to choose Preview PDF. In the Design section of editing, it does not allow me to choose standard. I can only choose standard (as opposed to modern) when I create an estimate or invoice for a customer. 

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