This article outlines the behavior and use of four key invoice settings related to usage and measurement charges.
The first three settings control how zero-amount invoice lines are handled—giving users flexibility in whether these lines are included, hidden, or excluded during the invoicing process. These settings help manage both internal tracking and customer-facing outputs.
The fourth setting, "Reverse Usage at Credit," is independent of the zero-amount options and defines how usage quantities should be handled when crediting previously invoiced periods—offering control over whether usage is reopened for billing or remains closed.
You can find these invoice settings by navigating to Settings > Invoices > Invoice Lines.
1. Include Zero Amount Lines For Usage Charges Without Any Linked Quantity
Description:
Determines whether invoice lines should be included for usage charges when there is no linked usage quantity and the line has a zero amount.
✅ When Enabled (TRUE):
- An invoice line is included on the invoice, even if no usage quantity was imported for the billing period and the amount is 0.
- Useful when you want to show zero-amount lines to clearly indicate that no charges have been applied for a product due to no usage being recorded (i.e., usage quantity is 0). This helps maintain transparency for the customer across billing periods.
❌ When Disabled (FALSE):
- An invoice line is not included if no usage quantity was imported and the total amount is 0.
- The "Invoiced To" date remains unchanged for service periods without usage, as no invoice lines are created. It will only be updated once the usage charge is included on a future invoice for a service period with a non-zero amount.
- Suitable for users who want to avoid cluttering invoices with zero-amount, zero-quantity lines.
2. Include Zero Amount Lines For Usage and Measurement Charges With Linked Quantity
Description:
Controls whether to include lines for usage and measurement charges that have a linked quantity, but result in a zero subtotal amount (e.g., due to pricing rules).
✅ When Enabled (TRUE):
- If a usage quantity exists but results in a zero amount, the line is included in the invoice.
- Keeps usage tracking complete even if no fee is applied during that period.
❌ When Disabled (FALSE):
- Such lines are excluded from the invoice.
- However, this will leave the related usage unprocessed indefinitely, and the "invoiced to date" on the charge will not update until an invoice line is created in a future period with non-zero amount.
3. Hide Usage and Measurement Lines With Zero Amount
Description:
When either or both of the above settings are enabled, this setting allows you to control whether zero-amount lines that are included in the invoice are also visible on customer-facing documents and integrations.
Current supported integrations for Hide functionality:
- Dynamics 365 BC
- Dynamics NAV
- Exact Online
- Kleer
- Fortnox
- PowerOffice
- Template (PDF invoices)
- Peppol services (XML files)
- Visma Economic
- Netsuite
- Quickbooks
- Xero
✅ When Enabled (TRUE):
- Zero-amount usage and measurement lines are still created and visible in the system invoice.
- However, these lines are:
- Hidden from the PDF output (via Template Manager),
- Excluded from postings to external integrations.
- This ensures invoicing data and charge tracking are complete, without confusing or unnecessary entries appearing to customers.
❌ When Disabled (FALSE):
- Zero-amount lines (included via Settings 1 or 2) are also visible in all invoice outputs and integrations.
Purpose:
Provides flexibility to track all usage data internally while avoiding customer confusion or the perception of unnecessary charges on invoices.
How These Settings Work Together
| Setting | Key Function | Interaction |
| Setting 1 | Includes zero-amount lines with no usage | Use when you want consistent invoice lines even if no usage occurred |
| Setting 2 | Includes zero amount lines with usage | Ensure usage is marked as invoiced even if no fee applies |
| Setting 3 | Hides zero-lines from output | Useful when you want internal tracking without showing lines to customers. |
4. Reverse usage at credit
Description:
Determines whether usage quantities from previously invoiced periods should be re-opened for billing again when a credit is issued—either manually or through an order change.
✅ When Enabled (TRUE):
- When issuing a manual credit or applying a change order that results in credited charges, the original usage quantity is re-opened for invoicing again for the same service period.
❌ When Disabled (FALSE):
- Issuing a credit (manually or via change order) does not re-open the previously invoiced usage quantity.
- To invoice the same period again, you must import a new usage quantity for that specific service period.