New Manual Journals - Compact view
I’m honestly quite dismayed by the recent update to the Manual Journal interface for NZ clients in Xero.
I’m finding the new layout a little difficult to work with. In particular, there seems to be quite a lot of space allocated to the amounts section, while the Account Title and Description columns have less space. I think the interface would be more practical and easier to read if the layout could be made more compact, with more space allocated to the Account Title and Description fields.
Additionally, the date format appears to follow the US/American standard rather than the New Zealand date format. As this is an interface for NZ clients, it would be much more appropriate and intuitive for the date format to follow the NZ standard (DD/MM/YYYY). This is particularly important in accounting, where date clarity and consistency are essential.
Overall, I feel this update has made the Manual Journal screen less efficient, less compact, and visually less appealing. To be honest, it feels like a step backwards rather than an improvement.
Please consider reviewing the layout and functionality, particularly the column spacing and date entry. Ideally, I would strongly prefer if the previous version could be brought back, as the previous interface was much cleaner, more compact, and more practical for everyday accounting work.
I understand that updates are made to improve the user experience, and I appreciate the work that goes into these changes. I just wanted to provide feedback from the perspective of someone who uses Manual Journals regularly, as I found the previous interface easier and more efficient to use.
Elma Alfonso
shared this idea
Thanks for your feedback, Elma. Our product team is paying close attention to this and exploring ways to improve the experience for users working on smaller screens or using split-screen layouts.
The Account and Description columns are responsive, so widening your view will expand these columns and provide more visibility. We understand, though, that this may depend on your individual setup and processes.
I’ve updated the title of your idea to reflect your request for a compact view, which will help us track interest in this improvement.
Regarding the date formatting, dates in manual journals are localised. We recommend checking your browser’s default language and region settings and, if needed, updating them to match your location. For example, selecting English (New Zealand), English (Australia), or English (United Kingdom) will allow you to enter dates in the DDMMYYYY format.
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Anne-Marie Bolton
commented
I have to agree with all the negative comments on this change. Show me an accountant that does all their work on a phone or tablet and needs all this white space for fat fingers and I am sure there are 1000 others who use a widescreen laptop/PC who don't need it. The existing journal layout was fine the way it was. Focus should be spent on things that are required and Xero simply does not provide. For eg a foreign currency debtors/creditors ledger.
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Fraser Hannon
commented
Really not sure if there is any Xero change in layouts/formatting that has genuinely improved the "user experience". If you aren't having people complain about something so basic that mostly only accountants use (manual journals) why update it completely to be totally different. Or maybe ask for some input on what we would like it to remain like/bits not to change. Just a thought Xero, but I don't think there is much that is taken on board anymore. Eg bulk fixed assets disposals, this has been requested for YEARS and nothing has been done about it.
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Gay Breeuwer
commented
Please pass on to Xero developers that the recent change to the layout of manual journals has made our job as accountants slower and not as accurate. They have spread the information over the entire width of the screen. Why? Why have lots of white blank space with no information that our eyes just have to travel across from one side to the other of a wide screen to check all the data. Not practical at all. GRRRRR.
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Dean Welbourne
commented
Regarding the Date Format issue - I am a Windows user, the fix was not in Browser Settings, but in Windows Settings -> Time & language > Language & region, you can change the Regional format to something other than English(US). You can also click on the Windows icon and search for 'Region Settings'
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Claire Hunt
commented
The new manual journals also don't let you manually add a date anymore. You have to refresh even a saved draft journal when you go back into it after adding a new COA code otherwise it won't display.
The cash tick is now in a completely different place to the other tick box, have to re train the brain to look out for it. Fix this please, the new journal format is awful! -
Duncan Holmden
commented
Hi Kelly,
Can you please further explain the date fromatting solution? because we are NZ based and all the dates in xero, including reverting back to old manual journals, have the correct (NZ) date format. Only the New Manual Journals page seems to have the default of the US Format. This can be incredibly problematic, for example a journal for 1 April, keeps defaulting to 4th of January.
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Rochelle Gamman
commented
I agree - I dont like the new layout at ALL and always switch back to the old view.
Can we not have the option to have one view or the other, to accomodate all users preference?