Reports: The ABCs
So much of QuickBooks is about entering data. When you want to know what's going on in your business, you need to take a look at how all that data adds up. That's where reports come in.
To create a report:
- Open the Report Center(Reports > Report Center).
- On the left side of the center, double-click the type of report you want to create.
You can stop here and use the standard report QuickBooks provides. If you'd like to customize your reports, see below.
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Other things you can do with reports:
Whenever you change the settings for a report (modify it), you can memorize the report with the new settings and save it in the Memorized Report List. Then, when you want to create a similar report, you go to the Memorized Report List to find it. After you have customized a report, click Memorize at the top of the report. To open a memorized report, click Reports > Memorized Reports.
If you have recalled a memorized report and changed it, indicate whether you want QuickBooks to replace the earlier report (under the same name) or create a new memorized report (under a new name).
Note: When you display a memorized report, it applies the settings you memorized, not the data from the previously generated report. For example, if the report is set to cover “last month” and you memorize the report in September then regenerate it in December, the new report will contain data for November rather than August.
You can export your report in the 'SYLK' format for use with Microsoft Excel 2004, or 'XLSX' for use with Microsoft Excel 2008, Excel 2011, and Apple Numbers 2009.
To export a report to Microsoft Excel or Numbers:
- Display the report you want to export.
- Click Export. QuickBooks opens a copy of report in Excel or Numbers, preserving as much as possible the fonts and colors you set in the original report. You can then use formatting and data analysis features to further customize the report.
- When the file opens, choose File > Save As to save the file where you want it.
Note: QuickBooks opens XLSX files in either Microsoft Excel or Apple Numbers, depending on which application you have set to open XLSX files. To change the default application, locate a XLSX file, right-click, and choose Get Info. On the Open With menu, select the application you want to open XLSX files, then select Change All.

To zoom in for more detail in a report, double-click the amount or transaction you want to investigate.