How to search and use lists in AcboBooks

In this lesson you will

Search by name, document number, amount, date or memo
Open a search result
Find every list under the Lists menu
Edit list entries and make old ones inactive

Before you start

A tour of the home screen

Search

Step 1: Search for a name or document

Click the search box in the top bar and start typing. Results appear as you type, each with a tag that says what it is: customer, vendor, employee, item, account, invoice, bill, estimate, purchase order or transaction.

Type part of a name, such as Acme, to see the customer and its invoices.

Search results for Acme: the customer Acme Corporation and invoices 1004 and 1001

Step 2: Search for an amount

Type an amount to find any posted transaction for that amount, such as 1,500. The same works for a date, a reference number or words from a memo. Use the arrow keys and Enter, or click a result, to open it.

Search for 1,500 finding invoice 1003 for 1,500.00 to Riverside Cafe

Tip: Documents open on their list screen. Checks, deposits and journal entries open ready to edit, unless your role is View only.

Lists

Step 3: Find the lists

The Lists menu holds Customers, Vendors, Products & Services, Classes, Custom Fields, Sales Tax Rates, Sales Reps, Exchange Rates and Import Data for bringing lists in from a spreadsheet.

Step 4: Work with a list

Every list works the same way. Here is Lists → Customers.

+ New Customer adds an entry.
Show inactive shows entries you have made inactive.
Edit, Make inactive and Delete for each entry.

The Customers list with callouts on New Customer, Show inactive and the row buttons

Careful: Delete removes the record permanently. For a customer or vendor you have done business with, use Make inactive: they leave your dropdowns but their history stays in reports.

Recap

You can search by name, number, amount, date or memo.
You can open a search result with the mouse or the keyboard.
You know which lists live under the Lists menu.
You can keep lists tidy with Make inactive.

Saved in this browser only. No account needed.

Questions

Search did not find a transaction I know is there. Why?

Search looks at posted transactions and at names, items, accounts and document numbers. Try fewer characters, the amount without the dollar sign, or the document number on its own.

Where is the Customer Hub?

Under the Customers menu. The hub shows one customer's details, transactions and balance in one place; the Customers list under Lists is the quick list for adding and editing.

Screenshots from AcboBooks 0.2.2 with the built-in sample company. Updated October 25, 2026. Your screens may differ slightly with another version or window size.

Find anything with search and lists