When using QuickBooks Online (QBO), it’s helpful to know a few navigating tips.
First, it’s important to choose the right browser. Almost everyone is familiar with Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. It comes with Windows. We all have it on our computer.
Internet Explorer, however, is not recommended for use with QBO. The recommended browser is Google Chrome. Using the recommended browser will make life easier.
If you don’t have Google Chrome, a simple internet search on the name will provide you a link for the free download. It is simple to install. You are up and running in moments.
Another tip is to regularly clear cookies and cache. Internet browsers retain information as we visit various sites on the internet. This information conveniently remembers things like logins, speeding the loading of our favorite sites and the like.
This remembered data can sometimes be a problem for QBO. On the other hand, continually clearing that data can make using the internet less convenient.
An alternative is to use a separate user in Chrome, especially for use with QBO. From Settings, this can easily be done.
Select the menu (arrow 1) and click on Settings (arrow 2). Arrow 3 is inserted to point out the location of the Chrome User’s name. You can see we have already created a special user just for QBO.
Once the Settings selection is made, a tab with multiple sections opens. Navigate to the section labeled People. Click on the button that reads (Add person…). Create your new QBO user.
In QuickBooks Desktop, it is possible to have multiple windows open at one time. A common complaint from new QBO users is the lack of this functionality.
Actually, QBO has this functionality. It’s just that online, this is a function of the browser more than the accounting software.
Let’s open both the check register and a profit and loss report.
In the above screenshot, you can see that we have navigated to the check register in QBO. There is also a menu open in the middle part of the screen. This resulted from a right-click of the Chrome tab on which we are working.
From the menu, we’ll select Duplicate.
The result is a new tab in our Chrome browser that is logged into the same site as the one above. We have the check register open in two tabs.
We’ll simply select the second, and navigate to the new function we want in QBO, in the case, a report.
As you can see from the above graphic, we now have a profit and loss report open in our company file. At the same time, the tab with our check register, same company file, remains open.
If needed, we could create more duplicate windows, using various parts of the program. It’s a good idea to refresh the windows as you move between them.
Hector Garcia, CPA
Certified Advanced QuickBooks ProAdvisor
12401 Orange Drive #136
Davie, FL 33330
954-414-1524
hector@garciacpa.com
