Thank you, let me explain in more detail which the post did not allow earlier.

I've been using QB for years and I do use the Item column.  However when choosing the item, you need to put in the part number EXACTLY starting with the beginning. 

We recently switched from QBO and when entering in the product (item) you could put in a partial number and the item would come up.

Example:  

Item is ABC1234

Desktop you have to enter exactly the beginning characters...ABC and the time will eventually come up.

with QBO, all you have to enter is 1234 without the beginning characters and the item would come up.