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When I create invoices, Xero uses the first name field of the primary person in the contact record as the name after “Dear”. I create my contacts by importing them from another system via CSV, but there does not appear to be any way to populate that field automatically on import. That means I have to manually edit the contact in Xero every time I create a new one.

As a developer, I cannot begin to explain how irritating that is when you are doing it for the 200th time.

Hi. Please can this be done?
Yes you can create a new contact and add the email address but when you then send the invoice its has no primary contact name to input into the email and so just starts
Hi ,

So allowing me to add the primary contact first and last name when creating a new contact via a sales invoice means i dont have to click, click and click through to the contact editing page to add their name before sending the email.

I still don't know why this has not been implemented. It seems such an easy but useful change. I'm wondering if the Xero developers aren't fully understanding what's being asked.

When you are in an invoice or a bill, for that matter, and entering a client name for the first time. It allows you to enter the contact name (e.g. "Jack Brown"), email address, and some other information. But it doesn't allow you to enter the first and surname. The consequence of this is that when you click "Approve and email" ... the email can't address a specific person (e.g "Dear Jack"). The only way to achieve this is to open a new tab and go through and edit the contact details.

Please see attached.

We've just joined Xero and can't quite believe this is the state of play after struggling to find a way around this for the last couple hours. Come on Xero, get it added!

Unfortunately, Xero doesn't seem to do testing with groups that actually think logically and give feedback, or they do and completely ignore it.

The status is only "submitted" and it was 9 months ago that Kelly needed to actually clarify what was (very obviously) being requested... madness

I can't understand why this wasn't implemented when they forced us to be their test team for the upgrade. (which, by the way, with few exceptions I currently like.) I also suggested this back then (2 or so years ago???? )
Instead of a simple field entry on the new invoice screen, it takes multiple screens (then back and forth if you forget and only find it when you email the invoice). Please, please please implement this.

Will be a great time saver

This should be a given.
We invoice companies but also need to put in the employees name / contact details in as well, causes a 5 step delay in doing this manually after entering the invoice.

@sam gray agreed!

@Lee. It's ridiculous that Xero made new invoicing, added an edit contact button, and didn't make it so you can edit the gotdamn name that the invoice will be emailed to 😭

@sam gray - not sure what the ridiculous part is??

This is so ridiculous 😂😭

Agree, we need to send our invoices to different people in the same client company.. would be very helpful to be able to select which name should appear on the invoice instead of editing the primary contact each time.

The ability to edit a contact name on the invoice contact edit screen would also be helpful - saves having to close out of the invoice find the client on the contact screen make the edit and then go back to the invoice or statement to send. Would also be helpful to display the contact first name in the invoice contact view so that you can check the contact first name is the correct match - currently you don't know it is wrong until you go to send the invoice email and then you may or may not notice it is out of date and if you only fix it on the email it is still wrong next time.

This would be very useful.

Kelly, yes..... Lee means the 'first name' and 'last name' fields. Currently only the 'contact name' is collected when entering an invoice/bill for a new client. When using Xero to email the invoice/bill, the email can only be personalised when the 'First Name' field has a value.

I know that you go into the contacts details and add the 'first' and 'last' names, then send the email....but it is time consuming.

I agree with Lee..... when adding an invoice with a new contact, being able to add the contacts first/last name of the contact would be useful. At the minute, only the business name can be entered during invoice creation....you then have to navigate to the contact details to add a first/last name before you can then email the invoice (at least if you want the email to say 'Dear John, ....')

I would suggest that is would be rare to add a new contact/business and NOT want to add a specific person.

When entering a new contact, in the invoice screen, have the ability to turn on or off required fields for quick entering, without having to open full Contact tab. We have lots of clients who I would like to record their names but they want their invoice made out to their business or Trust.

Thanks - yes there is no way to add the contact's primary person first/last name (see attached). You can create a new contact from within the invoice but there is no where to add a first/last name, so when you go to send the invoice the email starts with "Hi ," instead of "Hi John,". I have to create the new contact (within in the invoice) and then open a new page to edit that contact so I can add in a first name.

When adding a new contcat from within an invoice, it would be useful to be able to add the contact first/last name. Currently you can only add the business name, email, phone number and addresses. That means unless you open up the new contact in a separate page to add in the contact first/last name (which is time consuming), then when the invoice is completed the email cant be addressed to the person's name. Would be much simpler to have first/last name field within the new contact section of the invoice.

I have one client with multiple client contacts that I do work for. Each contact (all within the same company/business) want their invoices and quotes addressed to them (and to appear on the invoice) as they fall under different divisions and budgets within the overarching company.

It would be super helpful if we could easily select which client contact we wanted to appear on any given quote or invoice. At the moment I have to manually go into the contact and change the primary person each time I want to send a new invoice which is laborious and time-consuming.