How to Add and Remove Columns
Quick Review
What is it? The ability to customize which data columns appear in your transaction registers.
Why use it? Focus on the financial information that matters most to you while hiding unnecessary details.
How to access:
Web: Transactions > Gear icon (upper right)
Mobile: Column customization not currently available
Key limitation: Date, Payee, Category, and Amount columns cannot be removed.
Overview
Managing transactions in Quicken Simplifi becomes more efficient when you see only the information you need. Column customization lets you control which data fields appear in your transaction registers, reducing visual clutter and highlighting what matters for your financial workflow.
Ashley discovered column customization after feeling overwhelmed by the default thirteen-column view. As a consultant tracking business expenses, they needed Check # and Notes visible but found Tags and Attachments unnecessary. After customizing their columns, Ashley's transaction review time decreased significantly.
The ability to adjust row height further enhances readability, especially when reviewing transactions on smaller screens or during extended reconciliation sessions.
Understanding Column Options
Default Columns
Quicken Simplifi displays these columns by default:
Attachment
Exclusion
Flag
Recurring
Status
Tags
Plus the four required columns that are always visible:
Date
Payee
Category
Amount
Additional Available Columns
These columns can be enabled:
Check # (useful for paper check tracking)
Notes (for transaction details and reminders)
Reviewed (to mark transactions you've verified)
Required Columns
These four columns always remain visible:
Date
Payee
Category
Amount
Ashley's Column Strategy
When Ashley first started using Quicken Simplifi, the thirteen default columns felt overwhelming. Here's how they optimized their view:
Columns Ashley Keeps:
Date, Payee, Category, Amount (required)
Account (to distinguish business from personal)
Check # (for quarterly tax payments)
Notes (for client project codes)
Flag (to mark tax-deductible expenses)
Columns Ashley Removed:
Tags (sees their value but sticks to categories)
Attachment (stores receipts elsewhere)
Recurring (recognizes patterns without the indicator)
This streamlined view helps Ashley process transactions faster during weekly reviews.
How to Customize Columns
Adding or Removing Columns
Navigate to Transactions from the left menu
Click the gear icon in the upper right corner
Check columns you want to display
Uncheck columns you want to hide
Changes apply immediately
Note: Your column preferences apply across all banking, asset, and liability accounts. Investment accounts maintain separate column settings.
Adjusting Row Height
From the same gear menu:
Select Row height
Choose your preference:
Comfortable (default spacing)
Smaller (moderate compression)
Tight (maximum transactions visible)
Ashley uses "Smaller" for routine reviews but switches to "Comfortable" when categorizing new transactions.
Resetting to Defaults
If you want to start over:
Click the gear icon
Select Reset to defaults
All columns return to original settings
Investment Account Differences
Investment accounts use a specialized column set due to their unique transaction types.
Default Investment Columns:
Description/Category
Exclusion
Fee
Notes
Price
Qty (Quantity)
Tags
Additional Investment Columns Available:
Attachment
Check #
Ashley maintains separate column settings for their retirement account, keeping Price and Qty visible for tracking investment performance while hiding Fee (since their accounts have no transaction fees).
Common Scenarios and Solutions
Reconciling Bank Statements
Need: Match transactions with bank statement
Solution: Enable Check # column for check tracking, keep Amount prominent
Tax Preparation
Need: Identify deductible expenses
Solution: Use Flag column to mark tax-related transactions, enable Notes for details
Business Expense Tracking
Need: Separate business from personal spending
Solution: Keep Account column visible, use Notes for project codes
Minimalist View
Need: Reduce screen clutter
Solution: Hide all optional columns, use Tight row height
Best Practices
Based on experience customizing columns for different financial tasks:
Start with defaults - Use Quicken Simplifi for a week before customizing
Remove gradually - Hide one column at a time to identify what you truly need
Consider your workflow - Match visible columns to your review process
Use row height strategically - Tight for scanning, Comfortable for detailed work
Document your system - Note why you chose specific columns in case you reset
Review quarterly - Your column needs may change with financial goals
Remember investment differences - Set investment columns separately from banking
Column Customization Limitations
Understanding what can't be changed:
Mobile app doesn't currently support column customization
Date, Payee, Category, and Amount must remain visible
Column width cannot be manually adjusted
Column order cannot be rearranged
Settings sync across devices but not across different account types
The Bottom Line
Column customization transforms Quicken Simplifi from a one-size-fits-all tool into a personalized financial dashboard. By showing only relevant information, you'll process transactions faster and spot important patterns more easily.
Ashley's advice: Don't feel obligated to display every available column. The best configuration is the one that helps you understand your finances at a glance, not the one with the most information visible.
Hint: Create different column configurations for different financial tasks by taking screenshots of your preferred setups. Before tax season, enable Check # and Notes. For monthly budgeting, focus on Category and Amount. Having these "recipes" documented helps you quickly adjust your view for specific financial workflows without remembering which columns you previously used.