# Show, Sort & Filter QuickBooks Reports by Account Number, in Google Sheets

In the modern reports, account numbers get buried inside the account label (or don't show at all), rows sort by amount instead of number, and there's no way to filter a Balance Sheet or P&L to a range of account numbers. Firms that key their templates and reporting entities off account numbers (1-XXX for one entity, 2-XXX for another) are stuck reformatting by hand.

## Why this happens in QuickBooks

The modern reports treat the account number as part of a fixed parent:sub:sub label, don't offer a reliable numeric sort, and dropped the ability to filter by account number. There's no per-report setting to make the account number the primary key or to include only a range of numbers.

In Google Sheets, the account number is just data in a column, so you can display it, sort by it, and filter by it however you want.

## How to solve it

### 1. Pull the report into Google Sheets

Bring your P&L, Balance Sheet, or Trial Balance in with Retriever, account numbers included.

### 2. Show the account number the way you want

Split the parent:sub:sub label so the account number is its own column, and show the number or the plain description, your choice, not a fixed format.

### 3. Sort numerically

Sort the rows by account number so the report reads in true numerical order, with accounts that had activity in either period kept in place.

### 4. Filter by account-number range

Filter to just 1-XXX (or any prefix) to isolate a reporting entity, then refresh, no more manual splitting.

## FAQ

### Can I sort a QuickBooks report by account number?

Not reliably in the modern reports. In Google Sheets you can sort by the account-number column numerically and keep it that way through every refresh.

### How do I split a Balance Sheet into reporting entities by account number?

Filter the pulled report by account-number prefix (for example 1-XXX vs. 2-XXX) in Google Sheets. Each filter is a reporting entity, and it refreshes on a schedule.

### Will new accounts show up with their numbers?

Yes. Retriever pulls the current chart of accounts each refresh, so new accounts appear with their numbers automatically.