how can I create a customized list for estimator to use when creating invoices.
I have place a field on all invoices called Estimator but I only want certain names in this area and I would like a pull down menu to select from.
That isn't how these fields work.
Have you considered using the Sales Rep function? You can read about this in the Help system.
We use the sales rep identifier for zip code because we have to a zipcodes as a sortable field. I just need some additional sortable fields but would like to control the input.
You can't create your own dropdowns. Custom fields are meant for documenting something, not selecting from something on a list. And they aren't very reportable.
It really depends on why you need to do what you are asking, to be able to tell you about other tools you might consider.
Zip Code is already part of the sales data.
Actually, in Enterprise 11 and 12 you CAN create your own customized dropdown list. You would create a "custom field" in the customer list, and with Enterprise you can define that custom field to be a dropdown list, and specify the values that show in that dropdown list.
This isn't found in Pro or Premier, but it is found in Enterprise.
Also in Enterprise, you can set this is a date field or not, and it checks the validity of the entry.
Charlie, is it any more reportable than Pro and Premier? I don't recommend custom fields because of the QB limitations for reporting.
Which particular limitations are you referring to? In transaction based reports you can usually add custom fields to the reports. Not always.
In any case, I'll often recommend using a custom field for a user-defineable field rather than trying to take a different field (like a sales rep) and using it for a different purpose. And, there are very few fields that you can take over to use for a dropdown list.
Before making a determination on what the best approach would be, I think it would be better (if I were doing this on a consulting basis) to step back and find out what the real requirement is. I was pretty much just answering the question as asked. If a report is needed, then I would ask what report that was and see if it could be modified to use a custom field or not...
