Blogiversary Top 20 (#3) Basic column layout options for NAV Account Schedules

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Column layouts in NAV account schedules are what you build to add more flexibility to your financial statements. You can have an unlimited number of column layouts to match together with your already existing row setups. In general, most basic row setups contain general ledger numbers and column layouts contain dates. As an example, when I produce my income statement, I will have one row setup that reflects a summarized income statement and at least four different column layouts that reflect different configurations of month to date, year to date, comparisons against budget, and twelve month trended views.

Just like with row setups, there are many available options in the column layouts. This large variety of options can sometimes be overwhelming to the new account schedule user. I’ll show you which columns to choose in the column layouts for account schedules as a beginning point, and go through some simple explanations of how they are used.

Fields to start with:

Column No. – The column number is completely optional, but highly recommended.  This simple element of the column layout will eventually be one of the key features of your account schedule, allowing you to calculate and organize with ease.

Column Header – This is where you’ll define, in words, what you’re showing in each column of your report.  Keep it short; there is a 30 character limit.

Column Type: Net Change, Balance at Date, or Formula – There are actually seven options to choose from here, but I recommend that you limit yourself to these three when you’re just getting started. The key here is knowing what type of accounts you’re reporting on. If you’re using income statement accounts (Revenue/Expense), then you need to use net change. If you’re using balance sheet accounts (Assets/Liabilities), then you need to use Balance at Date. Formula allows you to perform calculations in a column.

Ledger Entry Type – This column will allow you to define what type of ledger entries you will show. This is where you can choose actual general ledger entries or budgeted general ledger entries.

Formula – If you’ve chosen Formula as the Column Type, this is where you’ll put the formula.

Comparison Period Formula – This column allows you to define date formulas that are used to calculate the amounts shown.  I generally recommend that beginning account schedule users start out using the comparison period formula field instead of the comparison date formula field.  The comparison period formula field references the accounting periods set up in the fiscal year, so this option seems the most consistent, and is especially necessary for companies that may not follow a calendar fiscal year.  Common data labels used in this field are CP for current period or -1CP for previous period and FY for fiscal year or -1FY for prior year.

Shown below are both the design view and the user view of a column layout for a summarized income statement showing year to date and prior year to date information in the columns to demonstrate the use of these six basic options in an account schedule.

Role Tailored Client

Classic Client

For more information on row setups, please see these posts: Basic row setup options for NAV Account Schedules and Complete row setup options for NAV account schedules.

If you’re just beginning to use account schedules, see Getting started with a new account schedule.

Basic column layout options for NAV Account Schedules

Column layouts in NAV account schedules are what you build to add more flexibility to your financial statements. You can have an unlimited number of column layouts to match together with your already existing row setups. In general, most basic row setups contain general ledger numbers and column layouts contain dates. As an example, when I produce my income statement, I will have one row setup that reflects a summarized income statement and at least four different column layouts that reflect different configurations of month to date, year to date, comparisons against budget, and twelve month trended views.

Just like with row setups, there are many available options in the column layouts. This large variety of options can sometimes be overwhelming to the new account schedule user. I’ll show you which columns to choose in the column layouts for account schedules as a beginning point, and go through some simple explanations of how they are used.

Fields to start with:

Column No. – The column number is completely optional, but highly recommended.  This simple element of the column layout will eventually be one of the key features of your account schedule, allowing you to calculate and organize with ease.

Column Header – This is where you’ll define, in words, what you’re showing in each column of your report.  Keep it short; there is a 30 character limit.

Column Type: Net Change, Balance at Date, or Formula – There are actually seven options to choose from here, but I recommend that you limit yourself to these three when you’re just getting started. The key here is knowing what type of accounts you’re reporting on. If you’re using income statement accounts (Revenue/Expense), then you need to use net change. If you’re using balance sheet accounts (Assets/Liabilities), then you need to use Balance at Date. Formula allows you to perform calculations in a column.

Ledger Entry Type – This column will allow you to define what type of ledger entries you will show. This is where you can choose actual general ledger entries or budgeted general ledger entries.

Formula – If you’ve chosen Formula as the Column Type, this is where you’ll put the formula.

Comparison Period Formula – This column allows you to define date formulas that are used to calculate the amounts shown.  I generally recommend that beginning account schedule users start out using the comparison period formula field instead of the comparison date formula field.  The comparison period formula field references the accounting periods set up in the fiscal year, so this option seems the most consistent, and is especially necessary for companies that may not follow a calendar fiscal year.  Common data labels used in this field are CP for current period or -1CP for previous period and FY for fiscal year or -1FY for prior year.

Shown below are both the design view and the user view of a column layout for a summarized income statement showing year to date and prior year to date information in the columns to demonstrate the use of these six basic options in an account schedule.

Role Tailored Client                                                              

Classic Client                                                                          

For more information on row setups, please see these posts: Basic row setup options for NAV Account Schedules and Complete row setup options for NAV account schedules.

If you’re just beginning to use account schedules, see Getting started with a new account schedule.

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