Customizing Column Sets in QuickBooks Fixed Asset Manager
How to create, edit, and copy column sets in QuickBooks Fixed Asset Manager so reports and asset listings display exactly the fields you need.
QuickBooks Fixed Asset Manager lets users tailor their workspace by building custom column sets — saved configurations that control which data fields appear in asset listings and reports. Community questions about how to add, modify, or duplicate these sets come up regularly, particularly from users managing depreciation schedules across large numbers of assets. The accepted guidance walks through three related workflows: creating a new column set from scratch, editing an existing one, and copying a set as a starting point.
Creating a New Column Set
When the default column layouts do not show the fields a user needs, the solution is to build a custom set. The process is driven entirely through the view options dialog.
Open the View menu at the top of the Fixed Asset Manager window and choose View Options. Navigate to the Columns tab, then click the New button. Enter a descriptive name for the new column set and click OK to confirm.
Two lists dominate the screen: Available Columns on one side and Selected Columns on the other. To populate the set, double-click any field in the Available Columns list, or highlight a field and click the Add » button. Both methods move the column into the active layout. Removing a column works the same way in reverse — double-click it in the Selected Columns list, or select it and click « Remove.
Columns appear in the order they are added. To reorder them, highlight any column and use the Move Up and Move Down buttons until the layout reads correctly.
Each column also carries its own width setting. To adjust it, select the column and click Properties. Make the desired change, then click OK to save the properties and dismiss that window. Finally, click OK again to save the entire column set and return to the main workspace.
Editing an Existing Column Set
Established column sets often need adjustment — a field may no longer be relevant, or a new depreciation detail needs to surface. The editing path mirrors the creation process.
Return to the View menu, select View Options, and go to the Columns tab. This time, instead of clicking New, select the name of the existing column set from the list. Click Edit to rename it if needed.
From there, the mechanics are identical to building a new set. Double-click fields in the Available Columns list — or use the Add » button — to insert them. Double-click entries in the Selected Columns list — or use « Remove — to take them out. Reorder with Move Up and Move Down, and adjust individual widths through the Properties button, remembering to click OK to save each column’s properties before moving on. Users can continue adding and removing columns in a single session, then click OK to commit all changes and close the window.
Copying a Column Set
When a user wants a variation of an existing layout — say, one version for internal review and another for an external accountant — the copy function avoids starting from scratch.
Go to View, then View Options, then the Columns tab. Select the column set to duplicate and click Copy. Fixed Asset Manager creates a clone and automatically appends a number to the name. A set called “Asset Listing” becomes “Asset Listing(2),” for example. The tool allows multiple copies, so a third version would carry the next sequential number.
Once copied, the duplicate is fully independent. Click Edit to give it a distinct name, then add, remove, reorder, or resize columns using the same steps described above.
A Note on Workflow
The key detail to keep in mind is that column order follows selection sequence. Users who find their layout jumbled should use the Move Up and Move Down buttons rather than trying to delete and re-add columns in a specific order. The Properties button is also easy to overlook — it governs only the width of the currently selected column and must be confirmed with its own OK before the broader column-set changes are saved.
For broader help with QuickBooks Desktop workflows and troubleshooting, including issues that extend beyond Fixed Asset Manager, additional resources are available across the community.