QMac: Add option to identify reports that need to be updated when a new Category or Tag is created

smayer97

(+3 Merged Votes)

Problem: When a new category or tag is created, it is challenging to identify and modify reports that need to be updated to include the new category, sub-category or tag.

Proposal: When a Category, Sub-Category or Tag is created, present user with a list of reports with the following criteria:
- list reports that filter its contents based on Categories (including those that allow All Categories) or Tags, respectively
- in both cases, allow user to select which reports to update to add the newly created category, sub-category or tag or to dismiss the list
- create 3 user selectable options to only present this dialog box for each selected category, sub-category, or tag, otherwise behave as it does now, that is, do nothing

- the above could be refined further for sub-categories to only present reports that  filter its contents based on the MAIN category for the newly sub-category.

BTW, though I do not use budgets, this feature could also be applied to budgets.

NOTE: Other very related IDEAs  here:

• Add option to identify reports that need to be updated when a new Account is created
• Add option to identify reports that need to be updated when a new Payee is created

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smayer97

This IDEA has been added to the List of Requests for Report Related Features.

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MSO

from: QMAC. Automatically update Report filters for new Account, Category, Tag, Payee

If I add a category now, none of my existing reports will include that category, even if I have the report set for All categories. Same for the other master data.

If I leave the radio button on All Categories, then when new categories are added they should be added to the Select list as Yes, not as No. Same for the other master data.

If I choose the radio button for Select Categories, new categories should be added as No, even if I have Selected All from the list. If I DO Select All under Select I should get a message like " new Categories will not be selected - choose the All button if you want them automatically selected". Same for other master data

Thank you

jacobs

@MSO  I think you make a good point. Most people who add a new category or sub-category won't necessarily think to visit every saved report to add that category; most people who add a new credit card account won't think they also need to add that account to every expense or cash flow report.

The key, I think, it making it easy and also obvious. I'd suggest a small tweak in how this could be implemented by adding one Preference setting like this:

   When adding an Account, Category, Tag or Payee, should Quicken add that item to all reports
   set to show All of that type? (For example, when adding a Category, should Quicken add
   that Category to any reports set to show All Categories?)
      o  Add to existing reports automatically
      o  Ask me each time
      o  Don't change existing reports

As you said, for reports set to show only selected Accounts, Categories, Tags or Payees, adding a new item should not affect those reports. 

smayer97

These idea requests already exist here:

• Add option to identify reports that need to be updated when a new Category or Tag is created
• Add option to identify reports that need to be updated when a new Account is created
• Add option to identify reports that need to be updated when a new Payee is created

Add your vote to each.

jacobs

@smayer97  While your suggestion is the most comprehensive, it also adds complexity for users which the developers aim to avoid (sometimes rightly, sometimes not). My suggestion above is simpler for users to understand and control, and simpler and perhaps more likely for developers to implement because it wouldn't require a whole new user interface for selecting reports to be mass-edited. Although it isn't as granular as separate settings/preferences for each field, and showing all possible reports to be mass-changed, I think it would be good enough for most users.

I also don't think this needs to be four separate enhancement requests for adding accounts, categories, tags and payees; I think it can be rolled into one request which covers all four types of fields. (And I think it would attract more interest and votes from users as one setting, as @MSO requested in the post which has been merged into this thread; as four separate Idea requests, none is attracting enough attention to get implemented.)

MSO

Thank you @jacobs and @smayer97. Just because an idea has only 4 votes doesn't mean it isn't worth doing, of course. This is a problem people either don't realize they have or have long since given up hope of having fixed. Is there a way to reach the Quicken folks other than a lot of votes? Thanks again.

jacobs

No, attracting more votes and comments here is what leads the moderators to push any Idea request to the product team for consideration.

smayer97

Another avenue is submitting requests via Quicken Support.

jacobs

smayer97 said:

Another avenue is submitting requests via Quicken Support.

I might be mistaken, but I don't think Quicken Support takes submissions from customers for product enhancement ideas; they direct them here. (Quicken Support administrators from time to time bring issues which are generating a lot of support calls to the attention  of the product development teams.)