What happens if you edit the first three columns of the downloaded opening balances template?

Editing the first three columns of the downloaded opening balances template will lead to an error message from Xero, preventing the import from being successful. This is because these initial columns are critical for Xero to correctly interpret the data structure and ensure the financial information is aligned with the accounting principles and formats it requires.

For instance, if the first three columns contain essential identifiers or mandatory fields like account codes, descriptions, and balance types, any alteration to them could disrupt the data integrity and validation that Xero relies on to process the information accurately. Therefore, maintaining the original structure of these columns is crucial; otherwise, Xero won't be able to recognize the data properly and will halt the import with an error message.