Overview
QuickBooks users may occasionally encounter the following error when attempting to submit an invoice or record a trust deposit:
QuickBooks Error: Validation Exception was thrown. Details: QueryParserError: Invalid content.
This error often occurs when submitting an invoice from the Approved tab to the QuickBooks tab. The root cause is typically the presence of special characters or improperly formatted text within the matter name or ID field.
Identifying the Issue
One common scenario leading to this error is the use of non-standard special characters or Unicode symbols in matter names or invoice details. For example:
Incorrect:
Gym’'s Buddy(Using an irregular apostrophe)Correct:
Gym's Buddy(Using a standard apostrophe)
In this case, the apostrophe may be an unusual Unicode character rather than the expected standard punctuation mark. QuickBooks does not support these special characters, causing the system to throw a validation exception.
Solution
To resolve the error:
Check for Special Characters: Review the matter name, invoice details, and any related fields for special characters, particularly apostrophes, quotation marks, or spaces.
Standardize Formatting: Replace irregular characters with standard ones. For example, replace a Unicode apostrophe (
’) with a standard apostrophe (').Adjust Spacing: If necessary, add spaces between letters and special characters and reformat the text appropriately.
Reconnect to QuickBooks: After making the adjustments, reattempt submitting the invoice or trust deposit to QuickBooks.
Resolution Example
A user encountered this issue with an invoice submission. After identifying that a special character was causing the error, they reformatted the text by replacing the non-standard apostrophe with a standard one and then successfully reconnected the matter to QuickBooks. This resolved the issue.
Preventive Measures
To avoid similar errors in the future:
Use standard characters only in matter names and invoice fields.
Avoid pasting text from external sources that may contain hidden formatting or Unicode characters.
Test invoice submissions with simplified text if encountering validation errors.
By following these steps, users can ensure smooth integration between their invoicing system and QuickBooks without encountering validation exceptions.