Customizing the Accounting Module Layout (Columns & List Views)

Overview

Fr8Labs lets you tailor the Accounting module screens so your finance team can work faster and reduce scrolling and data entry errors.

This guide covers two common customisation needs:

• Child table columns inside invoices (e.g., Sales Invoice Items and Purchase Invoice Items tables)

• Columns shown on the invoice list pages (the Sales Invoice list, Purchase Invoice list, etc.)

Why this matters:

• Updating the invoice item table improves data entry (what users see when adding line items).

• Updating the list view improves daily processing (what users see when searching, filtering, exporting invoices).

• If you only change the item table but not the list view, users will still struggle on the listing screens (and vice versa).

The URL to customize the accounting module layout is something like this. https://[YOUR_COMPANY].erpnext.fr8labs.co/app/customize-form/Customize%20Form But the easiest way to access it is to search “customize” in the accounting module, and click on “Customize Form”. On the Customize form page, you need to find the Form Type you want to edit by searching in the “Enter Form Type” field. Common options are Sales Invoice, Purchase Invoice, but almost any form can be customized.

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How it works

What gets customised (important concepts)

When you customise an Accounting screen, you’re usually changing one of two places:

1) Invoice screen (data entry / line items)

• Example: Sales Invoice → Items table

• This is controlled via Customize Form for the relevant table (example: Sales Invoice Item).

2) Invoice list page (processing / searching / reporting)

• Example: Accounting → Sales Invoice (list)

• This is controlled via the List View column settings (Columns button + saving the view).

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Customising invoice item tables (Sales Invoice Item / Purchase Invoice Item)

When to use this

Use this when your team says things like:

• “We always need to see the Income Account / Expense Account at line level.”

• “The Description column is too narrow.”

• “We don’t use these 5 columns — can we hide them?”

Step-by-step: Update the item table columns (and width)

1. Open this page (replace YOUR_COMPANY):

   • https://[YOUR_COMPANY].erpnext.fr8labs.co/app/customize-form/Customize%20Form

2. In Customize Form, select the table you want to change:

   • For Sales invoices: Sales Invoice Item

   • For Purchase invoices: Purchase Invoice Item

3. In the Fields list, find the field you want to adjust and update:

• In List View (checkbox)

  • Enables the column to show inside the invoice’s item table.

• Columns (number)

  • Controls the column width inside the item table.

  • Larger number = wider column.

4. Click Update (top-right). 5. Refresh your invoice screen and verify the item table layout.

• Go to Accounting → Sales Invoice → open any invoice and confirm the Items table looks correct.

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Field behavior reference (what each setting does)

In List View (checkbox)

• ✅ Shows the field as a visible column in the invoice item table (line items grid)

• ❌ If unchecked, the field may still exist, but users must open the row details to see/edit it

Columns (number)

• Affects width in the invoice item table (line items grid)

• Does not control the width on the invoice list page (that’s configured separately via List View)

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Customizing Invoice List Pages (List View columns)

Why you must do this

Even if you set “In List View” and adjust “Columns” in Customize Form, users might still complain:

• “My Sales Invoice listing still doesn’t show what I need.”

• “We can’t see key fields when reviewing invoices in bulk.”

That’s because the invoice listing screen uses List View columns, which are configured separately.

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Step-by-step: Set default columns on Sales Invoice / Purchase Invoice list

1. Go to the invoice list:

   • Accounting → Sales Invoice

   • or Accounting → Purchase Invoice

2. Click Columns (usually near the top of the list).

• Select the columns your team needs for daily work (examples below).

3. Optional but recommended: Apply any filters your team always uses (e.g., Status = Unpaid / Overdue).

4. Save the view so it can be reused:

• Save it as a named view (example: “Finance – Default Processing View”).

5. If your company wants a consistent team-wide standard:

• Ask your system administrator to confirm the view is saved and shared appropriately for your team’s roles (so everyone uses the same baseline columns and filters).

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Suggested default columns (practical examples)

These are common “high-signal” columns for finance teams. Adjust based on your workflow.

Sales Invoice list (AR processing)

• Invoice No.

• Customer

• Posting Date

• Due Date

• Status

• Currency

• Grand Total

• Outstanding Amount

• Company (if multi-entity)

• Job / Shipment reference fields (if your team uses them for shipment-based invoices)

Purchase Invoice list (AP processing)

• Invoice No.

• Supplier

• Posting Date

• Due Date

• Status

• Currency

• Grand Total

• Outstanding Amount

• Company (if multi-entity)

• Job / Shipment reference fields (if required)

Tip: Keep default views focused. Add “nice-to-have” columns as a second saved view (e.g., “Audit / Investigation View”).

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Examples

Example 1: Make “Description” easier to read in invoice item table

Goal: Reduce mis-billing by ensuring descriptions are clearly visible.

• In Sales Invoice Item:

  • Find Description

  • Enable In List View

  • Increase Columns (wider)

• Then update Sales Invoice List View:

  • Add key columns like Outstanding Amount, Due Date, Status for faster follow-up

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Example 2: AP team needs line-level account visibility

Goal: AP reviewers want to confirm each cost line posts correctly.

• In Purchase Invoice Item:

  • Enable line-level account fields in the item table (via In List View)

• In Purchase Invoice list view:

  • Add columns that help triage what to pay next (Due Date, Outstanding Amount, Status)

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Best practices & notes

Recommended approach (avoid breaking day-to-day work)

• Start small: Add only the columns that reduce real friction.

• Test with 1–2 invoices first: Confirm nothing important became hidden or confusing.

• Standardise with saved views: Use saved list views so the team processes invoices consistently.

• Separate “entry” vs “review” layouts: What data entry users need is different from what reviewers need.

Common pitfalls

• Pitfall: Only changing Customize Form

  • Result: Invoice item table improves, but invoice list pages remain hard to use.

• Pitfall: Showing too many columns

  • Result: The table becomes cluttered and harder to scan quickly.

• Pitfall: Assuming “Columns” controls list page width

  • It does not. You must configure list views separately.

Change management note

• Layout changes impact user experience immediately. Roll out changes intentionally (ideally after aligning with finance lead + ops lead).

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FAQ

Will this affect all users?

• Invoice item table changes typically affect users who access that form layout.

• List view changes may depend on how your organisation manages saved/shared views and role access. If you want everyone to see the same default columns, coordinate with your system administrator.

I updated “Columns” but the Sales Invoice listing didn’t change — why?

Because:

• “Columns” in Customize Form controls the invoice item table (inside the invoice).

• The Sales Invoice list page has its own Columns configuration.

Can we have different views for different roles (e.g., AR vs AP vs Manager)?

Yes — create multiple saved views (e.g., “AR Follow-up”, “AP Payment Prep”, “Finance Manager Overview”) and have each role use the relevant pinned/saved view.

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Documentation owner: Fr8Labs Customer Success. Text reviewed: 21 September 2026.