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Adjusting Invoice Templates

Once you've created an invoice template, you can adjust it as needed in the Invoice Template Detail dialog box. For information about previewing changes, see Creating Invoice Templates.

To adjust an existing template:
  1. Choose Company > Manage Invoice Templates.
  2. In the Invoice Templates dialog box, review the list of existing templates.
  3. To adjust an existing template, select the template and click the Detail button, or double-click the invoice template's name.
  4. In the Invoice Template Detail dialog box, make any necessary adjustments and click OK.
  5. To save any changes to the Invoice Templates dialog box, click OK.

Viewing Content

To view the content in a container:
  • Select the container in the Containers & Contents list.

Adjusting Fonts

If you change the font for a content item, Brass Jacks Bookkeeper changes all characters in the content item.

To adjust the fonts for any selected content item.
  1. In the Containers & Contents list, select the container.
  2. If necessary, click the plus sign (+) next to the container's name, and then click the contents name.
  3. Click the Font tab.
  4. To change the font, select a different font from the Font list.
  5. To change the size of the characters, select a different point size from the Size list.
  6. To change the color of the characters, click the ... button next to the color sample. In the Color dialog box select a color in the Basic colors area or the Custom colors area, Then click OK. (For details on creating a custom color, see Creating Custom Colors.)
  7. To make characters bold, select the Bold check box. (To make bolded characters regular, clear this check box.)
  8. To make characters italic, select the Italic check box. (To make italicized characters regular, clear this check box.)

Showing and Hiding Containers and Content

In the Invoice Template Detail dialog box, you show or hide a selected container or the selected content item by selecting or clearing the Visible check box on the Position tab.

For label fields, on the Other tab, you can change the label or eliminate the characters in the Display Value box.

There are a few items that you can actually delete from the invoice, but for most items you either show or hide the item.

Adding Fields

You can add fields to the Header 1, Header 2, and Line Items containers. Once you add a field to one of the headers, you cannot add it to the other header. With these containers, you don't show or hide fields, you add or delete fields. You can show or hide the entire container.

To add a field:
  1. In the Containers & Contents list, select the Header 1, Header 2, or Line Items container.
  2. Click the (click to add a xxx field).
  3. In the list, select one or more items and click Select.
    To select multiple items, press Ctrl as you click each. To select a range of items, select one, press Shift, and select the last item in the range.
    (To not select an item, click Close.)
  4. In the confirmation message box, click Yes.

Deleting Fields

When you add fields to the Header 1, Header 2, and Line Items containers, you can delete those fields from the template. If you delete a field, you cannot undo the deletion, but you must add the field back in. When you delete one of a pair of fields, Brass Jacks Bookkeeper deletes both fields.

To delete a field:
  1. In the Containers & Contents list, select a content field in the Header 1, Header 2, or Line Items container.
  2. Press the Delete key.
  3. In the confirmation message box, click Yes.

Repositioning Containers or Fields

You can move containers or the fields within them on the invoice template.

To reposition a container or field:
  1. In the Containers & Contents list, select a container or content field.
  2. If necessary, click the Positional tab.
  3. Adjust the X Position and Y Position values.
    You can type values or click the arrows.
  4. For fields, to align the contents of the field within the field, specify an alignment in the list.

Showing and Hiding Borders

Each container and field has a border around it. You can show or hide the borders. If you show the borders, you can specify the borders' width and color.

To show (and adjust) or hide borders:
  1. In the Containers & Contents list, select a container or content field.
  2. If necessary, click the Other tab.
  3. To show borders, select the Border check box.
    To hide borders, clear the Border check box.
  4. If you show borders, to adjust the thickness, specify a Border value.
  5. If you show borders, to color the border, click the ... button next to the Border Color box. In the Color dialog box, select a Basic color or a Custom color and click OK. (For information about adding custom colors, see Creating Custom Colors.)

Changing the Background Color

You can change the background color for fields within containers. (For information about adding custom colors to select in the Color dialog box, see Creating Custom Colors.)

To change a background color:
  1. In the Containers & Contents list, select a content field.
  2. If necessary, click the Other tab.
  3. Click the ... button next to the Background Color box.
  4. In the Color dialog box, select a Basic color or a Custom color.
  5. Click OK.

Formatting Data

Brass Jacks Bookkeeper places data in certain fields when you create an invoice. You can format these fields to show data as you wish.

To format amount data:
  1. In the Containers & Contents list, select a content data field for an amount (such as Subtotal Data).
  2. If necessary, click the Format tab.
  3. Indicate whether the Amount Format should include cents or not.
  4. Specify a Currency symbol.
  5. Select the currency Symbol Position: Before or After the amount.
  6. Indicate how Negative amounts should appear.
To format date information:
  1. In the Containers & Contents list, select a content data field for a date (such as Due Date).
  2. If necessary, click the Format tab.
  3. Indicate how to format the Month, Day, and Year (for example, 5/1/2014 or 05/01/14).
  4. Indicate the Field Order for the date (for example, 05/01/14 or 01/05/14).
  5. Select the Field separator (/, -, ., space).