Why are some categories 'checked' on all reports; can be 'unchecked' & saved; but return?

kayak

I am running reports on select categories. Windows Classic Premier version…. User since late '90's.

I modify the reports ('show ((hidden categories))' is checked; I do not see "Switch back to old interface" at the bottom of the report customization as suggested by @Jim_Harman in a similar post).

I have a dozen or so categories, some pretty obscure (ie: profit sharing & profit sharing spouse) that are checked, by default it would seem. I 'Clear All', choose what categories I want, view and Save the report, got back into the report or never leave the report but go back into Report Settings and those same dozen or so bizarre and obscure categories are checked again… I cannot permanently eliminate them from some of my Saved reports. Others, that I just modify and save a 'new report' for current year, do NOT exhibit this behavior.

Why does Q insist on putting these same default, obscure, never-used-before categories in Reports? It is 'new' behavior as far as I can tell, but frustrating to have to make the changes every time I view the reports.

As an aside, it would be nice to be able to set up a default report template that would open with each new report. I've been using the same .QDF file since 1999 and have dozens of closed accts., custom categories, etc. that I've drug along with me all these years. It would be nice to pop up a new report and just have current, open accts. and other custom categories that, by default, are checked instead of having to view all accounts, categories, settings, etc. for each new Report to look for bogus stuff.

NotACPA

After you customize the report, by unchecking some categories, why can't you save the report back to the same (prior) name?

kayak

@NotACPA thanks for responding.

To clarify, the year-to-year reports that I have used for years and just save to the current year, with a few modifications, ie: Tax Summary, do NOT exhibit this behavior.

However, newly created reports, regardless of how I save them - overwrite using the same report name, save to a new report, etc. DOES NOT REMOVE OR HONOR the Category changes I make. The bogus categories are checked again when I revisit the Settings….

This happens on every fairly new Report; Q does not honor the Categories I choose for any given Report. The only bright spot is, these bogus Category selections are so obscure and/or involve custom Categories that I created and used years ago and are no longer valid so it doesn't affect the narrow scope of my new Reports.

kayak

It seems to be the same (2) dozen or so 'bogus' Categories that default to 'checked' condition, regardless of my choices.

I can immediately go right back into Settings after making the changes - never resaving or leaving the Report - and they are checked again!!

Jim_Harman

Go to Edit > Preferences > Early access and if the Customize reports box is checked, un-check it. The new customization interface sometimes selects unwanted Categories.

If old, unused accounts are being included in your reports by default, you can click on the gear at the top right of each unwanted account, select Edit account details, and on the Display options tab, check the appropriate boxes. Marking the account Separate will exclude it from the built-in reports by default. Making this change should not affect your saved reports.

kayak

@Jim_Harman Thanks, but no cigar!! The Early Access had nothing checked, BUT, I got to thinking (always dangerous!) and went ahead and put a checkmark in Early Access / Customize Reports and low & behold, IT SEEMS TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM!!

I will experiment further with the beta versions of these two options; I've already noticed a few minor glitches, ie: inside the customization/categories of the one Report I've checked so far there are no scroll arrows on the right slider and the fonts have gotten a bit larger. But, the bogus Categories are no longer default checked in new or recent reports and my choices are honored and maintained.

Good Deal.

As for your second suggestion, I am fully aware of my options for retired accts. Even if the acct. is closed during the year, for example a CD has matured and we didn't roll it, I close those accts. but don't "Hide Account" nor "Keep this acct. separate" until year-end Tax Summary report time; then, after TurboTax has its way with that data, the accounts are closed and hidden away. There are multiple Categories however, that are old and unused and to that extent, I've hidden those in the Categories listing to remove them from the drop-down choices on new transactions.

All good; thanks for inspiring me to greatness!!

Jim_Harman

Thanks for the update @kayak

So checking the Early Access > Customize Reports box fixed the problem for you.

Out of curiosity, if you go to the report customization, do you now see the new or the old style customization menus? The new style menus have much more room for the Account, Category, and Payee names and have a "Switch back to the old interface" link at the bottom.

kayak

@Jim_Harman yes, as noted above, the fonts are bigger, roomier and "Switch back…." is there, at the bottom.

From previous post:

I've already noticed a few minor glitches, ie: inside the customization/categories of the one Report I've checked so far there are no scroll arrows on the right slider and the fonts have gotten a bit larger.

kayak

What's more, it seems to have 'fixed' "all" of my newer reports in that it saved my choices within each Report's modifications despite continually reverting back to the bizarre Categories. By switching to this BETA display choice, all of my modifications/choices appear as I intended, without further interaction. It didn't require me to fix everything 'one last time' and re-save; merely changing to BETA brought out my intended choices.