Add Option to Turn Off Auto-Categorization of Downloaded Trans in Quicken Mac (113 Legacy Votes)

smayer97

This used to be an option that was taken away. Please restore this option.

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smayer97

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Unknown

Not just downloading. Manually entering, too.

smayer97

Not just downloading. Manually entering, too.

There is a function in QMac when entering a new transaction to do this: if you press Opt-Tab none of the amount, categorization, or split info from the memorized payee is entered.

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Unknown

Not just downloading. Manually entering, too.

So, instead of just being able to just turn off autofill, for every transaction, every manually entered transaction requires this keystroke combination?? Really? Do the folks at Quicken give a crap about user experience? 

smayer97

Not just downloading. Manually entering, too.

You can add your VOTE to Add Option to Disable Autofill.

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.

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smayer97

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Just to be clear, this feature request implies the auto-categorization of Categories AND Tags.

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Unknown

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This is dumb.  There is a big difference between categorization and tags.  The auto categorization works pretty well.  However, I use "Tags" to identify customers which are usually new and different.  The very fact that you have two different ways to identify a Payee means you probably have at least two different ways to identify payees.  Quicken auto fill assumes you will have the same category and Tag for every payee.  If this is so, why have two?  Dumb!

Unknown

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Auto-categorization working well? Whenever I download my transactions, several of them say "Transfer" for the category. No, it's not a transfer, it's groceries. Or gas. And when I shop at Target, I'm just as likely to be buying clothing or housewares or electronics as I am to be buying my last purchase of "Groceries." It's AWFUL!

Unknown

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I absolutely HATE this feature and can't wait to be able to TURN IT OFF. Same thing happens to me. I shop at Walmart one day and my transaction is categorized as "groceries". The next time I make a purchase it comes up as groceries again when it is actually prescription meds or a TV or clothing. I find myself having to double check Quicken. I called their support line with the problem and the girl eventually hung up on me. YIKES. I hate the 2018 Quicken for MAC. 

Unknown

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It did this in Q2015/2017, too. I've been complaining about it for 2 years. Giving feedback, voting, and more. Quicken is some of the most frustrating software I use, and I also run Quickbooks Win on a virtual machine. And I'm a web designer, so I use A LOT of software.

Unknown

Not just downloading. Manually entering, too.

I've been voting as often as possible, where possible, for the last 2 years. But hey, at least the current updates are handling Canada. My feelings about how Quicken does their changelogs they give with their minor updates is another post. That, too, is awful. It feels like they don't know what they're doing, on some level.

Unknown

Not just downloading. Manually entering, too.

You should be able to turn off auto-categorization. But this should not be a program wide setting. It should be a setting for each PAYEE. Some payees always have transactions categorized the same way, others the category is always different. 

smayer97

Not just downloading. Manually entering, too.

The alternative way that other versions of Quicken handle that is to be able to lock the Payees that do not change. So alternatively, you can add your VOTE for the 
Ability to LOCK a payee and categorization.

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.

While you are at it, you may want to add your VOTE to related IDEAS found on the 
List of Requests for Downloading Data into Quicken. Click on the underlined link, then follow the instructions to add your vote to more related ideas. Your VOTES matter!

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Unknown

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Especially useful for MEGA store transactions like Amazon.com, where purchases are from multiple categories, multiple tags

Unknown

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I'm so ANNOYED THAT THIS FEATURE HASN'T BEEN ADDED! If the feature is available in Quicken for Windows, why would it not be in Quicken for Mac? I absolutely cannot stand having to sift through transactions that were categorized incorrectly and fix them...leaving the possibility open that I miss a miscategorized transaction...which I inevitably do...which then throws off my budgets. I would rather just have all newly downloaded transactions uncategorized and quickly go through and categorize them myself so I know things are where they should be.

smayer97

I think the status of this is incorrect.... there is currently no way to turn off auto-categorization of downloaded transactions. If there is, users are not aware of how.

smayer97

@Quicken Marcus?

Quicken Marcus

We never took away this feature. Go to Preferences : Connected Services and uncheck "Automatically improve the quality of downloaded payee names and categories". This turns off all auto-categorization and payee re-naming.  You'll get the raw data from the bank.  Also note that if you create your own categories or started with categories from 2007, we can't auto-categorize them because we have no idea what your categories are and how to map them to the data we're getting from Intuit.  If you use the default Quicken categories, they are all pre-mapped to Intuit category mappings and the categorization is pretty good for the most part.

I think what most are asking for are renaming rules and memorized transactions.  I can't say when this feature will be added but let's just say beta users will be able to test something that will make people in this forum post pretty happy in the not too distant future.

smayer97

@Quicken Marcus I do not think this was ever clear to anyone, including long time users, e,g. SUs, that this feature also turned off auto-categorization. Many have been asking for this but no one knew clearly to direct them to this. I think it may be because of the wording and the documentation around this. 

Thanks for the clarification. 

smayer97

@Quicken Marcus 
BTW, on the flip side of this request are those that are looking for improved categorization, in particular, using categorization that users have used already, when the downloaded payee does match an existing payee. 

I do not want to turn this thread into a discussion about this and hijack it, but just clarifying what I have seen users asking for on the other side of the coin. Not sure if this is in line with what you are already planning. If it is, that would be great.

Robert-Johnson

I would rather have the renaming rules turned off since they are all wrong, and I have to edit every transaction anyway. I want the rules off, and all the rules cleared. Every set of directions I find is for quicken for windows.

Quicken_Tyka

Hello Robert-johnson,

I have moved your post to the ongoing Idea thread for this request.

At this time, the Mac doesn't offer renaming rules or the ability to turn off auto-categorization.

Renaming rules for the Mac is a very popular topic and there is something in the works to address this, however, I am unable to offer an ETA or any specific details.

Thank you for your patience!

-Quicken Tyka

smayer97

As noted by Quicken Marcus above, this feature apparently already exists...
Simply turn off "Automatically improve the quality of downloaded payee names and categories"

Quicken_Tyka

Thank you for pointing that out, I stand corrected.

@Robert-Johnson

Please go to the Quicken menu in the top left and choose Preferences > Connected Services and uncheck the option that states:
 
'Automatically Improve the Quality of Downloaded Payee Names and Categories'

Let us know if this takes care of the issue after your next download!

-Quicken Tyka

Robert-Johnson

Thank you! I have turned it off and will watch it for a week or so.

KevinB

I agree with Robert-Johnsons first post. I have had this setting turned off for at least 6 months and I have seen zero improvement in the behavior.