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Suggestion for Archive Function (9 Legacy Votes)

This is a suggestion for a better way to archive in Quicken (either Mac or Windows). The idea is that there is a working file and a single archive file. The working file can be whatever one wants for immediate access--for example I might choose to keep the last 5 years here. There is also an archive file, which contains everything over 5 years old. Periodically, such as once a year, I remove the oldest year from my working file and ADD it to the archive file.
The advantage over the current method is that there is only one archive file, rather than multiple ones. The working file can stay at a reasonable size for good performance, but I can use the archive file to find anything that is old-- in which case I don't mind waiting a little longer to work with a big file. Of course, if I wanted to permanently delete really old stuff from archive, I could do that.
As far as I can tell, there is no archive function yet in Quicken for Mac. There is an archive function in Quicken for Windows, but I'd love to see an option as noted above. Thank you.
Randal Hundley
The advantage over the current method is that there is only one archive file, rather than multiple ones. The working file can stay at a reasonable size for good performance, but I can use the archive file to find anything that is old-- in which case I don't mind waiting a little longer to work with a big file. Of course, if I wanted to permanently delete really old stuff from archive, I could do that.
As far as I can tell, there is no archive function yet in Quicken for Mac. There is an archive function in Quicken for Windows, but I'd love to see an option as noted above. Thank you.
Randal Hundley
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Comments
I assume that there is no way to change the ending date on the archive file. Currently, when I tried to archive, the default ending date was 12/31/2016 when I really wanted 12/31/2010.
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COMPLETE list of Product Ideas - Quicken for Mac to VOTE onObject to Quicken's business model, using up 25% of your screen? Add your vote here:
Quicken should eliminate the LARGE Ad space when a subscription expires
(Canadian
First, click on the underlined link above to go there, then click VOTE at the top of THAT page, so your will vote count for THIS feature and increase its visibility to the developers by seeking to have the features you need or desire end up in the latest version.
This IDEA is also found on the List of Requests for Data and File Management Features. Click on the underlined link, then follow the instructions to add your vote to more related ideas. Your VOTES matter!
(If you find this reply helpful, please be sure to click "Like", so others will know, thanks.)
- Where to find a Help Guide for Quicken for Mac?
- Quicken Mac FAQ list
- Quicken Windows FAQ list
- Help Guide and FAQs for Quicken Mobile
COMPLETE list of Product Ideas - Quicken for Mac to VOTE onObject to Quicken's business model, using up 25% of your screen? Add your vote here:
Quicken should eliminate the LARGE Ad space when a subscription expires
(Canadian
1) I can't find the criteria for archiving transactions in Quicken help. So I have to come to the community for this information. Putting it in the Help would reduce the posts on the subject in the community.
2) Why wouldn't it archive un-reconciled transactions in or linked to closed accounts? If that's a problem then when an account is closed, all the transactions in that account should be marked as reconciled. For example, when I posted my paycheck, my 401K contribution went into my 401K account. That is an investment account so the transactions are never deleted. But when I retired I rolled the 401K money into an IRA and closed the 401K account. I no longer need those transactions or the links to them from my checking account. But they won't archive. For some reason those checking account transactions, going back to 2005, are not reconciled although I am sure I reconciled my checking account every month. Now I'm afraid that if I go back and manually reconcile the checking transactions it may alter my account balance.
3) Another reason for archiving transactions is to reduce the size of the file, not for performance reasons. Just to manage disk space.
4) For the reasons stated above I would not be in favor of a single archive file that keeps growing unless transactions could be deleted from that file without the rules currently governing linked transactions, etc.
My file contains my data records back to when I bought Quicken in the year 2000.
I want to be able to keep 7 years of active data, archiving a file when it becomes 8 years old year, whether an account is reconciled or not. I do NOT reconcile all accounts - I create some accounts for my own use which do not involve any outside entity for which there is neither need nor desire to reconcile.
I used Kiplinger's program followed by Managing Your Money until BofA gave it up and with both I could choose my archive dates and what I wanted archived. I wish Quicken would do the same.
(Editing to add that I'm not lobbying against Quicken building archive functionality to Quicken Mac for those who want it; I'm just noting that having many years of data is more feasible than it used to be.)
Unfortunately, the Mac version doesn't offer the ability to archive a portion of the file.
I have moved your post to an ongoing Idea thread to add this ability to the Mac version.
Idea threads are reviewed by our Development team to see what people would like Quicken to offer.
Be sure to Vote at the top of this thread!
Thank you!
Hello All
This Idea seems to have fallen stagnant and due to the Age of the request and lack of User Votes/Comments, will be archived within the next 7 business days.
If you would like to see this Idea kept alive and considered for possible future implementation in Quicken, be sure to Add your Vote and a comment explaining how this Idea would be beneficial for you.
More information, including steps to vote and how to submit your own Ideas for future product features/improvements, is also available here.
Thank you,
Quicken Community Support Team
- Where to find a Help Guide for Quicken for Mac?
- Quicken Mac FAQ list
- Quicken Windows FAQ list
- Help Guide and FAQs for Quicken Mobile
COMPLETE list of Product Ideas - Quicken for Mac to VOTE onObject to Quicken's business model, using up 25% of your screen? Add your vote here:
Quicken should eliminate the LARGE Ad space when a subscription expires
(Canadian
- Where to find a Help Guide for Quicken for Mac?
- Quicken Mac FAQ list
- Quicken Windows FAQ list
- Help Guide and FAQs for Quicken Mobile
COMPLETE list of Product Ideas - Quicken for Mac to VOTE onObject to Quicken's business model, using up 25% of your screen? Add your vote here:
Quicken should eliminate the LARGE Ad space when a subscription expires
(Canadian
https://community.quicken.com/discussion/7361161/year-end-copy-for-quicken-for-mac-64-legacy-votes/p1
That thread has 83 votes but is marked as "not planned". And the thread was closed, was closed, so people end up posting here if they want some version of archiving/year-end copying of their Quicken file. Archiving this thread will just force people to start yet another thread, since there are ongoing regular requests for some version of this functionality.
I also point out that there is ANOTHER idea thread similar to the Year-End copy...
- Where to find a Help Guide for Quicken for Mac?
- Quicken Mac FAQ list
- Quicken Windows FAQ list
- Help Guide and FAQs for Quicken Mobile
COMPLETE list of Product Ideas - Quicken for Mac to VOTE onObject to Quicken's business model, using up 25% of your screen? Add your vote here:
Quicken should eliminate the LARGE Ad space when a subscription expires
(Canadian