Sample Quicken data file with lots of data/history in it for demo purposes?

Andrew Angell

I'm a huge fan of Quicken, and I often find myself wanting to show other people how to use it.  Of course, it's not always a great idea to be showing them my own personal Quicken file, so I've been trying to find a sample/demo file I could use, but I haven't been very successful.

What would be perfect is a sample file that has an "average person's" income and expenses setup in it as paychecks and bills, with at least a few years worth of transaction data included in it.  

With this I could show people how to use manage their income and bills, budget, use savings goals to plan for future purchases, etc.  Anybody happen to have a sample like this I could get from ya?  

UKR

Quicken doesn't appear to provide a demo file. And I very much doubt you'll find anybody willing to give his/her personal file.

But why not take a copy of your own data file and change all your personal data around to John and Jane Doe at ACME Anvils Credit Union?
You know, rename all the bank accounts (and disconnect them from online services), Find/Replace all Payee Names and use fake names. Strip it down to this year's data only. Leave only a few of the accounts that you can use to show the functions and features without giving away your personal information. Delete the rest. Add a few fake things that you don't own, again, to explain functions like foreign currency bank or cash accounts, houses and mortgages, etc. Fake buy a few shares of companies you wish you'd own (like BRK, BRK.A, FB) to spruce up your investments.
Something in that direction would probably do.

NotACPA

Within recent Q products, there's a function under the HELP menu "Sanitize Data File Copy"

Since that produces a workable Q data file, while removing personal data, why not try that to create your own "sample" file?

Obviously, inspect that sanitized file carefully before you pass it around.

Rocket J Squirrel

NotACPA - QW HBRP 2019 said:

Within recent Q products, there's a function under the HELP menu "Sanitize Data File Copy"

Since that produces a workable Q data file, while removing personal data, why not try that to create your own "sample" file?

Obviously, inspect that sanitized file carefully before you pass it around.

Sanitized files are not suitable for the OP's purpose because most of the strings in the data are reduced to gibberish, while some data remain in the clear.

smayer97

NotACPA - QW HBRP 2019 said:

Within recent Q products, there's a function under the HELP menu "Sanitize Data File Copy"

Since that produces a workable Q data file, while removing personal data, why not try that to create your own "sample" file?

Obviously, inspect that sanitized file carefully before you pass it around.

IIRC, the Sanitize function has been found to not delete attachments... 

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

mshiggins

The other problem will be the Quicken ID. Each data file must be activated with a Quicken ID. And each Q2018 subscription is good for one Quicken ID only



You definitely don't want to be sharing your Quicken ID. Especially if you use any cloud services.

Unknown

mshiggins said:

The other problem will be the Quicken ID. Each data file must be activated with a Quicken ID. And each Q2018 subscription is good for one Quicken ID only



You definitely don't want to be sharing your Quicken ID. Especially if you use any cloud services.

That really shouldn't be a problem as long as a person logs out before sharing the data file.  Edit -> Preferences -> Quicken ID, Mobile & Alerts -> Sign in as different user -> yes, and then close the data file.

mshiggins

mshiggins said:

The other problem will be the Quicken ID. Each data file must be activated with a Quicken ID. And each Q2018 subscription is good for one Quicken ID only



You definitely don't want to be sharing your Quicken ID. Especially if you use any cloud services.

Sure. What could possibly go wrong?

Unknown

mshiggins said:

The other problem will be the Quicken ID. Each data file must be activated with a Quicken ID. And each Q2018 subscription is good for one Quicken ID only



You definitely don't want to be sharing your Quicken ID. Especially if you use any cloud services.

Sure. What could possibly go wrong?
.

With the Quicken Id?

Nothing really.

Even if a person forgets to "log out" when the person that gets the copy of the data file tries to open it on another machine it will prompt them for the Quicken Id password, which they won't be able to provide and will be forced to sign in with a different one at that time.

Signing out is just "cleaner" and doesn't expose your Quicken Id to the person getting the data file.

Now on "leaving personal information in the data file" well yeah there are plenty of ways to get "in trouble" there.