The effect of long account names is that the subaccounts are not visible in a form (e.g. a check), register, or report. It also makes data entry cumbersome because access to the subaccount names is more difficult.

The example below shows that in the Chart of Accounts, "Automobile Expenses" is a parent account. "Lease Payment on car" and "Lease Payment on van" are subaccounts of "Automobile Expenses".

In the register below, you cannot see whether the expense is applied to the lease payment on the car or the lease payment on the van because of the length of the account name.

In the check below, you cannot see whether the expense is applied to the lease payment on the car or the lease payment on the van because of the length of the account name.

The solution is to abbreviate the account names. Begin by renaming "Automobile Expense" to "Auto" (we already know it is an expense).

Procedure:

1) In the Chart of Accounts, click on "Automobile Expense".

2) With "Automobile Expense" highlighted, click on "Account".

3) Click "Edit".

4) In the "Name" box delete the words "Automobile Expense".

5) Type "Auto" with only the initial letter in caps.

6) Click "OK".

7) In the Chart of Accounts, create a new expense account called "Lease" and make it a subaccount of "Auto".

8) Rename "Lease Payment on car" to "Car" and make it a subaccount of "Lease".

9) Rename "Lease Payment on van" to "Van" and make it a subaccount of "Lease".

We have saved 38 keystrokes in the length of the account names (including "Automobile Expenses").

The subaccount is now visible in the register.

Before we abbreviated the account names, the word "Car" was not visible in the "Write Checks" screen.

After we abbreviate the account names, the word "Car" is visible in the "Write Checks" screen.