Hello, EdVS. 

I appreciate your time doing the suggested steps above. I'll share some solutions to help you fix the 256 column issue when exporting a report. 

The column issue might also be caused by Excel itself (limitations from earlier versions).

Before doing anything else, ensure you're using the latest version of Excel. You can check Microsoft's support channels if you need help. 

The issue can be caused by several reasons. One common example is that there's a damaged report component in QuickBooks. You'll want to run the Tool Hub utility to fix this:

1. Download and run the latest QuickBooks Tool Hub version.
2. Open and run the installer.
3. After installing, run the Tool Hub. 
4. Click the Program issues tab, then follow the prompts to start the troubleshooting steps. 

Another way to resolve this is to repair your QuickBooks Desktop program: Repair your QuickBooks Desktop for Windows. 

However if it still gives you the same error, I'd recommend calling our support. They can check investigate what's causing the issue and report it to our engineers. Here's how to reach them: 

1. In QuickBooks Desktop, press the F1 key.
2. On the Have a question? window, click the Contact Us link. 
3. In the box, enter something like "experiencing the 256 column issue when exporting to Excel."
4. Click Continue, then choose how you want to reach us. 

Need to manage your inventory after fixing the issue? The articles here can help you out: QuickBooks Enterprise Set up inventory topic. 

I'll be around to help you out again if you have more questions about your reports. If you're ready to tackle other tasks, please let me know and I'll assist you.