How Do You Fill Out a Columnar Pad?

By Staff Writer | Last Updated August 4, 2015

To fill out a columnar pad, begin by writing headers across the top of the pad. Date, description, account number, debit and credit are all helpful headers. In the blanks below, fill out the information relative to each header.

While a columnar pad is very similar to the registry of a checkbook, it allows the accountant to entry more information in more categories, creating a more comprehensive record of a company’s expenses and revenue. It allows the accountant to enter information manually before moving to software, such as Microsoft Excel, leaving little room for mathematical errors or mistakes. Columnar pads also act as a backup in case files on a computer are lost or corrupted. Accountants can ensure that all information is correct and precise before entering it into any accounting software.

Columnar pads vary in size and number of columns. A company with multiple accounts or subsidiaries needs a columnar pad with more columns or may need accountants to use more than one pad. Accounting students and professionals may find that using columnar pads in conjunction with accounting software deepens their understanding of how the general ledger process works. Columnar pads are useful for keeping track of stocks, accounts, budgets and itemized figures.