---
title: "Formatting the accounting templates"
slug: "formatting-the-accounting-templates"
description: "Set global formatting rules for an accounting export template: file name templates and delimiters, attachment names, and date, number, and amount formats."
updated: 2026-10-19T12:28:22Z
published: 2026-10-19T12:28:22Z
canonical: "payhawk.com/formatting-the-accounting-templates"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://payhawk.com/help/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Formatting the accounting templates

Once you create your custom template, you can set global formatting rules that will be applied to the template files and sheets.

> [!TIP]
> You can create formatting rules for individual files and sheets. Such rules will take precedence over any conflicting global template rules.

You can configure the formatting of your custom template by opening the app switcher in the top-left corner and going to **Settings** > **Exports**:

1. Select the desired template.
2. Under its **Formatting** tab, you can:
  - [Define a template for the name of the template files or sheets](/help/formatting-the-accounting-templates#h_81d67c56f5).
  - [Specify the format in which the expenses will be exported and the template name of the attachments](/help/formatting-the-accounting-templates#h_06e2e42fc2).
  - [Apply date, number, and amount formatting rules](/help/formatting-the-accounting-templates#h_9cd7930625).
3. Click on **Save**.

![Formatting tab of an export template with the file, attachment, text and number formatting settings and the Save button](https://cdn.payhawk.com/Navigation%20images%20Desi_20261009/formatting_tab_20261009_ai.png)

## Defining the filename template and delimiters

To set a template for the names of the template files from the **Formatting** tab of the selected template:

1. Under **Files**, click on the **Settings** icon.
2. In the dialog that opens, select the data you want to see in the file name - account name, start or end date of the period, or add your custom input.
  - To include yet another data field, click on **Add data field**.
  - To add your custom text to the file name, click on **Add static text**.
3. From the **Delimiter** drop-down menu, select the type of delimiter you want to be applied to the file name.
4. To set a specific file extension for your template file, fill in the desired format under **File extension**.
5. Click on **Save**.
6. Back to the **File** screen, from the respective drop-down menus, select the column delimiter.
7. From **Row delimiter**, select the type of line breaks for the template:
  - **Windows (CR/LF)** - Carriage Return and Line Feed moves the cursor to the beginning of the line while a line feed character moves the cursor to the next line.
  - **Unix (LF)** - Line feed moves the cursor to the next line without returning to the beginning of the line.

![Settings icon next to the filename template on the Formatting tab and the Filename template dialog with data fields, delimiter and file extension](https://cdn.payhawk.com/Navigation%20images%20Desi_20261009/files_filename_template_2_20261009_ai.png)

## Defining settings for expense attachments

You can also define settings from the **Formatting** tab of the selected template for the expenses you want to attach to your exports.

1. Under **Expense attachments**, select the format in which you want to attach the expenses.
2. Define a template for naming the attached files by selecting the **Attachment filename template** > **Setting** icon.
  - In the dialog that opens, enter the data you want to include in the name of the attachment. In the **Value** field, start your input with the at symbol (**@**) and choose from the list of available options - for example, the supplier name, the date of the expense creation, and more.
  - From the **Delimiter** drop-down menu, select the type of delimiter you want to be applied to the attachment name.

Note that if a file name is duplicated, the system will automatically add a unique identifier to the repeated names thus enabling you to distinguish between the files.
3. Click on **Save**.

![Expense attachments settings, the Attachment filename template dialog and its open Delimiter drop-down menu](https://cdn.payhawk.com/Navigation%20images%20Desi_20261009/attachment_filename_template_2_20261009_ai.png)

## Configuring dates, numbers, and amounts

You can define settings from the **Formatting** tab of the selected template for the text, dates, numbers, and amounts included in the template.

1. Under **Text formatting**, specify the desired language for the export.
2. Define the date format you want to apply to the export.

![Text formatting settings with the Language and Date format drop-down menus open](https://cdn.payhawk.com/Navigation%20images%20Desi_20261009/date_format_2_20261009_ai.png)
3. From the respective drop-down menus, set the desired decimal delimiter, decimal places, and the preferred way to display the negative values.

![Number and amount fields settings with the Decimal delimiter, Decimal places and Negative amounts drop-down menus open](https://cdn.payhawk.com/Navigation%20images%20Desi_20261009/number_amount_formatting_2_20261009_ai.png)
4. If you want to use quotes to wrap the included content in the export template, select the checkbox.

![Wrap content in quotes checkbox selected under Text](https://cdn.payhawk.com/Navigation%20images%20Desi_20261009/wrap_content_in_quotes_20261009_ai.png)

> [!WARNING]
> The global date-formatting settings for a template can be overridden by defining a specific date format for a cell through the export field options such as **Current date** or **Last review date**.

## Useful resources

- [Managing accounting templates](/help/managing-the-accounting-templates)
- [Managing the template files and sheets](/help/managing-the-template-files-and-sheets)
- [Configuring rows, columns, and cells for files and sheets](/help/configuring-rows-columns-and-cells-in-files-and-sheets)