A method and system for enabling a user to hide or rename an item in a list of items. The user identifies an item or a set of related items and then designates whether to hide or rename the item(s). The hiding or renaming can be applied to printed lists or to lists displayed in online systems, or both. Various options exist for footnoting the hidden or renamed item, and for compensating for hidden items in printed lists. Original item data including date, description and other information are always retained in the database.