Add ability to track/store Prior Reconciled Statements/periods in Quicken for Mac (256 Legacy Votes)

smayer97

Add ability to automatically track/store Prior Reconciled Statements/periods with the following capabilities, similar to QM2007:

• allow entry of any start and end dates and balances (but default start date to last end date and end date to typical 30 days) (click here to see buried post below that explains how QM2007 handles this).
• store reconciled statement/period
• track discrepancies that may arise (either due to user error or Quicken bug, the Reconcile flag of a transaction (or more) may get changed OR one or more transactions get deleted; this feature alone can turn a task that can take hours or even days into literally minutes or seconds; click here to see buried post below discussing this further)
• allow re-reconciling a statement/period (by resetting the Reconciled flag to Cleared and allowing user all usual edit capability as ordinary reconciliation)
• when re-reconciling, allow ability to unclear multiple transactions, by simply clicking, holding then dragging down/up the list of transactions (like in QM2007)

There are many advantages to that approach:

• you can perform a reconciliation for any given period and it does not get interrupted with being forced to deal with discrepancies outside that period. Makes it purely independent and flexible
• the tracking mechanism identifies immediately where any past discrepancies exist, making it far easier to resolve any issues
• because of the independence of each period, a user can ignore past discrepancies and choose to deal with them at a later time when it may be more convenient, without preventing them from moving forward.
• Other advantages include the ability to re-reconcile a period (I and many other users have noted the need to do this for various reasons), which is virtually impossible to do in the current model

For reference, here is the screenshot of the window in QM2007. Clicking any period below allows re-reconciling that period.



You can read more about how this works in a post below, that has gotten buried among the comments:
https://getsatisfaction.com/quickencommunity/topics/add-ability-to-track-store-prior-reconciled-stat...

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smayer97

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smayer97

Some additional background info presented by another user, here: https://getsatisfaction.com/quickencommunity/topics/dont-agree-with-post-by-quicken-team-re-mac-3-5-...

102_dar_70

This latest version of Quicken, i.e. 2016, is basically destroying the program for me. I depend on picking up where I left off with the last reconciliation. What on Earth are they DOING?? I can't do a reconciliation without an adjustment. How can I go back to the old way on 2015, that worked just fine?

Please indicate what operating system, Quicken version you use and what method of reconciliation used to help identify where your problems might be.

 If by statement (manual), after your verify all transactions against the bank statement, check these areas;

a. Look for old outstanding transactions in this recon that really should be cleared in past recons (3.5.2) will effect your beginning balance;
b. Is the dollar amount in the difference a possible transaction that no longer exists (missing) from your register;
c. Maybe you entered a disbursement as a deposit (divide by two to find the true number that needs adjusting);
d. Last but not least, does the difference match a prior adjustment you entered previously. 

Hope this helps!

102_dar_70

Most of the ideas regarding the tracking of reconciliations completed are real good but I disagree with allowing the beginning  balance to be overridden by the user (I could not change the beginning balance field in 2007).  Quicken needs to protect the integrity of the reconciliation process or it gets out of control and impossible to identify and or provide support for user issues/problems. No point in reconciling at all if it's not going to have a balanced continuation into the next recon as in "2007". You should be able to click on Reports or View Reconciliation History and pull up a list by beginning and ending balances and associated dates corresponding to the bank statements balances and periods showing the difference when balanced equal to 0 or if >0 and if an adjustment entry was made (how much) to balance. 

smayer97

Most of the ideas regarding the tracking of reconciliations completed are real good but I disagree with allowing the beginning  balance to be overridden by the user (I could not change the beginning balance field in 2007).  Quicken needs to protect the integrity of the reconciliation process or it gets out of control and impossible to identify and or provide support for user issues/problems. No point in reconciling at all if it's not going to have a balanced continuation into the next recon as in "2007". You should be able to click on Reports or View Reconciliation History and pull up a list by beginning and ending balances and associated dates corresponding to the bank statements balances and periods showing the difference when balanced equal to 0 or if >0 and if an adjustment entry was made (how much) to balance. 

Actually, in QM2007 you can change the beginning balance. There are valid cases to allow for this, as identified in the 1st and 3rd advantages listed above (though these should be rare situations, yet I have needed to use that in the past...but I got everything in order after the fact).

But if you do, QM2007 comes up with a warning that the starting balance differs from the calculated balance by QM2007 of cleared items.



I would advise having such a warning but enhanced to drive home the implication of potential reconciliation discrepancies if you don't identify the root source.

When combined with the built-in tracking of QM2007, it has never been difficult to track down any outstanding discrepancy. In fact, it has been far easier than the process in v3.5.x because it does the heavy lifting for you.

102_dar_70

Most of the ideas regarding the tracking of reconciliations completed are real good but I disagree with allowing the beginning  balance to be overridden by the user (I could not change the beginning balance field in 2007).  Quicken needs to protect the integrity of the reconciliation process or it gets out of control and impossible to identify and or provide support for user issues/problems. No point in reconciling at all if it's not going to have a balanced continuation into the next recon as in "2007". You should be able to click on Reports or View Reconciliation History and pull up a list by beginning and ending balances and associated dates corresponding to the bank statements balances and periods showing the difference when balanced equal to 0 or if >0 and if an adjustment entry was made (how much) to balance. 

I guess I never tried to alter the "standard" reconciling procedure then given my background.  But I really don't understand why you would need to change your starting balance anyway.  

When you don't balance that reconciling month, you have the option of entering an adjustment to force a balanced condition which if you have a reconciliation History and option of going back and re-reconciling (removing the adjustment) as in 2007, then you will be able to confine the issue and resolve it later as you stated.

 Also in 2007 there is a "Clear All" in the reconcile function you can click on to remove all check marks and start the reconciliation over again.  I have always said, if the Quicken team today would only go back and examine the 2007 version that has such a large and loyal and satisfied user base to this day, they could gain a lot from it to improve the functionality of  todays version and the bottom line is increase revenue for Quicken. I know I would pay more for a better product. 

This should go without saying but to highlight the importance "The Quicken beginning balance should always match the bank statements beginning balance without user manipulation to begin the next reconciliation" for Quicken to insure it's integrity.  

smayer97

Most of the ideas regarding the tracking of reconciliations completed are real good but I disagree with allowing the beginning  balance to be overridden by the user (I could not change the beginning balance field in 2007).  Quicken needs to protect the integrity of the reconciliation process or it gets out of control and impossible to identify and or provide support for user issues/problems. No point in reconciling at all if it's not going to have a balanced continuation into the next recon as in "2007". You should be able to click on Reports or View Reconciliation History and pull up a list by beginning and ending balances and associated dates corresponding to the bank statements balances and periods showing the difference when balanced equal to 0 or if >0 and if an adjustment entry was made (how much) to balance. 

Suffice it to say that though I could agree to having some more control to modifying the starting balance, like a confirmation dialogue box to making such a change, with more clear implications defined, I do not see it as necessary to completely block the changing of this value. QM2007 allows it and has enabled valid scenarios to be handled with no ill effect.

So as not turn this thread into an ongoing discussion, please see my related reply here: https://getsatisfaction.com/quickencommunity/topics/dont-agree-with-post-by-quicken-team-re-mac-3-5-...

Please continue any further discussion there.

smayer97

You may want to VOTE for the related feature request to Have Debits and Credits Tallied Separately for Reconciliation Process, here:
https://getsatisfaction.com/quickencommunity/topics/add-option-to-have-debits-and-credits-tallied-se...

Be sure to click on the link above go there, then click VOTE at the top of THAT page to increase the count and therefore its visibility to the developers.

(If you find this reply helpful, please be sure to click "Like", so others will know, thanks.)

smayer97

You may want to review and VOTE for other feature requests related to the Transactions Downloading Acceptance and Matching workflow, here: https://getsatisfaction.com/quickencommunity/topics/restore-transactions-downloading-acceptance-and-...

Start at the top for the first one, then scroll down the reply list for additional related feature requests. Be sure to go to each link separately, then click VOTE at the top to increase the count and therefore its visibility to the developers.

(If you find this reply helpful, please be sure to click "Like", so others will know, thanks.)

102_dar_70

In reviewing this request for improvement, the premise is to have a History report of details on reconciliations completed in Quicken 2016 like in QM2007 which allows for re-reconciling is much needed.  The part about changing the beginning balance in the reconciliation process does not fit in this scenario and confuses things.  Reason I didn't vote. 

102_dar_70

Really the better approach in lieu of  changing Quicken beginning balances for flexibility to skip recon periods for what ever reason, is NOT to change the Quicken calculated beginning balance but use the  "Adjustment" feature available when you click on the gear icon.  Just enter each statement period ending balance and date and click the Adjust function and done for each period you don't want to reconcile  the difference which then I hope would become part of the new History report and allow you to re-reconcile at a later date if you so choose.

There's also currently a "Start Fresh" feature too you might want to check out. So Quicken did address some variables without compromising it's integrity.    


The other point to consider is Quicken has to insure their support team is able to resolve issues for all users where they can hook on to the users PC and be able to trouble shoot based a straight forward formats and numbers that are generated by Quicken that are not any number a user can override Quicken with and make data unreliable.     

smayer97

In reviewing this request for improvement, the premise is to have a History report of details on reconciliations completed in Quicken 2016 like in QM2007 which allows for re-reconciling is much needed.  The part about changing the beginning balance in the reconciliation process does not fit in this scenario and confuses things.  Reason I didn't vote. 

That has nothing to do with the feature request and is not part of it. It was only used as a use case example. 

smayer97

Really the better approach in lieu of  changing Quicken beginning balances for flexibility to skip recon periods for what ever reason, is NOT to change the Quicken calculated beginning balance but use the  "Adjustment" feature available when you click on the gear icon.  Just enter each statement period ending balance and date and click the Adjust function and done for each period you don't want to reconcile  the difference which then I hope would become part of the new History report and allow you to re-reconcile at a later date if you so choose.

There's also currently a "Start Fresh" feature too you might want to check out. So Quicken did address some variables without compromising it's integrity.    


The other point to consider is Quicken has to insure their support team is able to resolve issues for all users where they can hook on to the users PC and be able to trouble shoot based a straight forward formats and numbers that are generated by Quicken that are not any number a user can override Quicken with and make data unreliable.     

This comment has nothing to do with the feature request. Don't confuse the two by discussing the issue about the opening balance here.

102_dar_70

In reviewing this request for improvement, the premise is to have a History report of details on reconciliations completed in Quicken 2016 like in QM2007 which allows for re-reconciling is much needed.  The part about changing the beginning balance in the reconciliation process does not fit in this scenario and confuses things.  Reason I didn't vote. 

I'm sorry you have me confused now.  Below is a copy of what you listed as part of the enhancement request I was referring to:

• allow entry of any start and end dates and balances

smayer97

In reviewing this request for improvement, the premise is to have a History report of details on reconciliations completed in Quicken 2016 like in QM2007 which allows for re-reconciling is much needed.  The part about changing the beginning balance in the reconciliation process does not fit in this scenario and confuses things.  Reason I didn't vote. 

The intent of that line is to say this is functionality as is today, so to leave that as is (which btw, has been like this since as far back as I can remember, and I have been using Quicken since '92).

You are wanting to change (and lock) the ability to modify the starting balance. That request is a separate issue (albeit related) and should be handled separately. That issue does not take away from the need for the above feature to make reconciliation easier.

102_dar_70

Really the better approach in lieu of  changing Quicken beginning balances for flexibility to skip recon periods for what ever reason, is NOT to change the Quicken calculated beginning balance but use the  "Adjustment" feature available when you click on the gear icon.  Just enter each statement period ending balance and date and click the Adjust function and done for each period you don't want to reconcile  the difference which then I hope would become part of the new History report and allow you to re-reconcile at a later date if you so choose.

There's also currently a "Start Fresh" feature too you might want to check out. So Quicken did address some variables without compromising it's integrity.    


The other point to consider is Quicken has to insure their support team is able to resolve issues for all users where they can hook on to the users PC and be able to trouble shoot based a straight forward formats and numbers that are generated by Quicken that are not any number a user can override Quicken with and make data unreliable.     

I'm not, it's what you posted in your bulleted breakdown of the Featured Enhancement Request and that's a fact as shown below. 

• allow entry of any start and end dates and balances

This has no place as part of the request for a Reconciliation History Report I agree.

smayer97

I also highly recommend that you browse through the IDEAS section of this forum and VOTE for the request of each of the missing features to be added back into Quicken for Mac....to help direct the priorities of the developers.

To do that, I suggest you read this FAQ on how to filter the IDEAS to just show the ones for the Mac version, then VOTE to your heart's content:
https://getsatisfaction.com/quickencommunity/topics/quicken-getsat-faq-how-to-filter-conversations-d...

The following are some of the many feature requests you will find:

• List of Requests for Report Types
• List of Requests for Report Related Features
  
• Restore Transactions Downloading Acceptance and Matching workflow 
• Improve the Bill Reminders Graph (aka Forecast or Projected Balance)
  
• List of Requests for Reconciliation Process
• Add QuickMath functionality
  
• True multi-currency conversion support
  
• Loan Amortization
  
• Budget features
• List of Requests Related to Investments
  
• List of Requests for Data Entry and Usability Options and Features
  
• List of Requests for User Interface Options and Features
  

and many others.

Be sure to scroll down each page, as some contain lists of related features. Click on the link to EACH IDEA separately that you are interested in, then click the VOTE button at the top of EACH page that opens up respectively to increase the count and therefore its visibility to the developers.

If you do not click VOTE at the top of the page of each feature, your vote will NOT be counted for THAT specific feature!


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102_dar_70

Most of the ideas regarding the tracking of reconciliations completed are real good but I disagree with allowing the beginning  balance to be overridden by the user (I could not change the beginning balance field in 2007).  Quicken needs to protect the integrity of the reconciliation process or it gets out of control and impossible to identify and or provide support for user issues/problems. No point in reconciling at all if it's not going to have a balanced continuation into the next recon as in "2007". You should be able to click on Reports or View Reconciliation History and pull up a list by beginning and ending balances and associated dates corresponding to the bank statements balances and periods showing the difference when balanced equal to 0 or if >0 and if an adjustment entry was made (how much) to balance. 

I can't post there this since this is not in response to the team post.  

So I disagree and don't believe leaving the beginning balance that should agree with the bank statement if you reconciled the previous month anyway (including adjustments as stated above) open to be tweaked by users is valid or has integrity in programming the History of reconciliation feature. 

smayer97

Most of the ideas regarding the tracking of reconciliations completed are real good but I disagree with allowing the beginning  balance to be overridden by the user (I could not change the beginning balance field in 2007).  Quicken needs to protect the integrity of the reconciliation process or it gets out of control and impossible to identify and or provide support for user issues/problems. No point in reconciling at all if it's not going to have a balanced continuation into the next recon as in "2007". You should be able to click on Reports or View Reconciliation History and pull up a list by beginning and ending balances and associated dates corresponding to the bank statements balances and periods showing the difference when balanced equal to 0 or if >0 and if an adjustment entry was made (how much) to balance. 

Ok. You've made that abundantly clear.

smayer97

You can now VOTE for the feature to Reconcile should remember and apply start/end dates automatically, here: https://getsatisfaction.com/quickencommunity/topics/reconcile-should-remember-and-apply-start-end-da...

Be sure to click on the link above to go there, then click VOTE at the top of THAT page to increase the count and therefore its visibility to the developers.

If you do not click VOTE at the top of the page of THAT feature, your vote will NOT be counted!

(If you find this reply helpful, please be sure to click "Like", so others will know, thanks.)

 

smayer97

You can now VOTE for the feature to add service charge or interest during reconcile, here: https://getsatisfaction.com/quickencommunity/topics/add-ability-to-add-service-charge-or-interest-du...

Be sure to click on the link above to go there, then click VOTE at the top of THAT page to increase the count and therefore its visibility to the developers.

If you do not click VOTE at the top of the page of THAT feature, your vote will NOT be counted!

(If you find this reply helpful, please be sure to click "Like", so others will know, thanks.)

smayer97

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Just for Reference, the way that QM2007 tracks and presents the info is as follows:



As you can see, you can quickly know if there is a problem if the Cumulative Discrepancy is NOT $0 and Quicken shows EXACTLY where the discrepancy can be found next by displaying which reconciled period has a discrepancy.

Has been VERY useful in the past to quickly track down problems, e.g. missing/deleted transaction, transaction no longer reconciled, etc.

We need something like this in the new Quicken for Mac.

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102_dar_70

Well, now that Quicken rolled out 2017, they won't make any further improvements to 2016 (enhancements) just support security and fixes for a while longer. I'm not interested in upgrading until Quicken for MAC has made major product improvements. Right now, it's one fix after another.  To each his own if or when you trust upgrading. Some here are still  personally using QM2007 but advise others on more current versions?  

 

smayer97

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Just for the record, I just want to capture the reasons for needing this tool:

Discrepancies can arise for a variety of reasons: 

• a reconciled transaction gets accidentally unreconciled or deleted
• wrong transactions get selected or matched during the process (maybe because amounts added up to the same and did not get noticed)

Note that the cause could be user error or software error. Regardless, this kind of situation can and does happen. Restoring  a tool like this as is available in QM2007, to track down discrepancies and with the flexibility to re-do a reconciliation can turn an endeavour that could take hours, days, or even weeks into a matter of only a few seconds or minutes. 

Since the return of performing reconciliation based on the running balance from the opening of the account , this feature should be part an parcel of that approach.

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Debbie

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It is also helpful to see both reconciled and unreconciled transactions in the desired reconciliation period.  I have occasionally cleared the wrong transaction, especially when the amounts are the same.  It's very helpful to see the whole picture, all the parts of the job at hand.

102_dar_70

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I agree, in QM2007 history you see the snap shot like the one posted above.  When you highlight the period and click reconcile again, you will see everything that was in the original reconciliation, but do note it will be all cleared of any check marks so you now "have to" reconcile it again.  I would also like to see a column added for "adjustments" so if the user decides to opt for an adjustment entry verses finding the discrepancy, there is  record in history of that stands out and easily noted (besides a cleared (checked) adjustment entry in the register which is necessary for Quicken to calculate an accurate "Starting Balance" for the next recon). 

smayer97

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That would be really good to add!

meg dietz

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It is a real setback to lose this feature

Steve Schneider

I  am confused.  This would be a great feature - but I do not remember QM2007 having this capability.  I have not used QM2007 for several years as I went to iBank when Quicken effectively abandoned the Mac.  In fact, iBank has this feature and I thought it was a great advantage that iBank had (has) over Quicken.  Was it added when QM2007 was updated to run under Lion?

smayer97

I  am confused.  This would be a great feature - but I do not remember QM2007 having this capability.  I have not used QM2007 for several years as I went to iBank when Quicken effectively abandoned the Mac.  In fact, iBank has this feature and I thought it was a great advantage that iBank had (has) over Quicken.  Was it added when QM2007 was updated to run under Lion?

Yes it did (can't remember the first version but a very long time). Yes it does (that is where the screenshot came from). I am still on QM2007 LC.

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