1. Why do some transactions have a number below the date in foreign account registers?

This number is the exchange rate used in the transaction. When the exchange rate in the transaction is 1.0, no number is displayed.
Note: This doesn’t apply to account registers set to display one line per transaction.

2. Why do I get a message that the Download Exchange Rates feature isn’t available?

If you’ve set your home currency to anything other than the US dollar, the Download Exchange Rates feature won’t be available.
To verify what your home currency is set to:
1. Go to Edit>Preferences>Multiple Currencies.
2. Click the Company Preferences tab.
Your home currency setting is listed in bold.

3. Why can’t I edit the home currency amount on foreign credit card charges or foreign bills?

When you enter a foreign credit card charge or bill, you’re being charged in that foreign currency so the foreign currency drives the editable fields on the transaction. QuickBooks allows you to directly edit the foreign amount on the transaction and indirectly edit the home amount by updating the exchange rate.

4. Why is the Realized Gains & Losses report blank?

The Realized Gains & Losses report only shows data when there is a change in the exchange rate on related transactions. Examples of related transactions are invoices & payments and bills & bill payments.
If the report is blank, either there are no related transactions entered or the exchange rates on the related transactions are the same.

For example:
Related transactions: a bill and its associated bill payment

Scenario:
Say you enter a foreign bill on the 28th of the month for 1000.00 CAD.

On the date you entered the bill, the exchange rate was I CAD = .9000 USD making the home currency amount of the bill $900.00 USD.

On the 13th, you’re ready to pay the bill using the exchange rate for the 13th, which is .9500. Your bill payment check is sent out for 1000.00 CAD/$950.00 USD.

Explanation:
You’ve now got 2 related transactions with different exchange rates: the bill and the bill payment. QuickBooks records the gain or loss based on the difference in exchange rates on the Realized Gains & Losses report.

5. Why does the A/R Aging Summary report not include a grand total for foreign amounts?

When you view A/R or A/P Aging Summary reports in the transaction’s currency, the report shows balance totals for each foreign currency. A grand total of these foreign balances isn’t possible because they represent values in separate currencies. Only a grand total of balances in your home currency is possible.

6. How do I record foreign income and expense?

You don’t. Income and expense accounts always use your home currency. Only accounts that are directly affected by foreign currencies are assigned a currency such as accounts receivable and payable, bank, and credit card accounts. Accounts that are secondary to foreign transactions, like income and expense accounts, are always in your home currency.

7. Can I use an "other" name on a foreign transaction?

No. Foreign transactions are limited to vendors and customers. If you’d like to record foreign transactions for an "other" name entry you use, create a foreign customer or vendor to use on those transactions. Although you can change an "other" name to a customer or vendor, keep in mind that if the "other" name has transactions against it, QuickBooks will assign your home currency to the customer or vendor the other name was changed to.