My quicked data file is too large and is concerning. How to archive older years out of the file.

Orion13

Is there a way to archive years of older data out of my working Quicken data file? My goal is to reduce the sized of my working quicken data file, but not permanently lose the records from the years I archive out. Is this possible?

GeoffG

Yes this is possible, but is not recommended by any SuperUser as you will eventually find it difficult or impossible to access the old data if you do not actively update the files to new versions. Once separated, the data can never be merged back.

Users have data going back decades, without issue. Before embarking on this path, provide the size of the data file and what your are trying to resolve.

Sherlock

If you haven't already, you may want to review: https://community.quicken.com/discussion/7149937/faq-year-end-copy

GeoffG

Yes this is possible, but is not recommended by any SuperUser as you will eventually find it difficult or impossible to access the old data if you do not actively update the files to new versions. Once separated, the data can never be merged back.

Users have data going back decades, without issue. Before embarking on this path, provide the size of the data file and what your are trying to resolve.

Sherlock

If you haven't already, you may want to review: https://community.quicken.com/discussion/7149937/faq-year-end-copy

Orion13

GeoffG - File Size is 148,020 KB My primary concern is program performance. About the last 3 months, any transaction work in my largest account (checking) in the file is painfully slow. You can hit the save button for a transaction, and everything goes into molasses mode. It can take 45 seconds while you watch the screen flicker and resized over the windows control bar at the bottom of the screen several times, the sound file for the transaction may eventually sound, but it will be maybe 1/2 minute longer before the register balance updates itself. Mainly noticeable on the checking account, with my most transitions. So I was thinking data file size. It also sometimes has felt like the update feature is continuously trying to run maybe... as if the delays are similar to when you are downloading transaction prior to reconciling. Any thoughts?

And Sherlock - I read the post you sent. Ok - I'm convinced I shouldn't. So I guess my question converts to the explanation above.

Sherlock

The data file is not too large but you have a performance issue to resolve.  Unfortunately, there are many possible contributors to a degraded performance. Regarding the screen flicker, you may want to review: https://www.quicken.com/support/screen-flickers-flashes-or-jumps-when-using-quicken-windows

splasher

For that large checking account, I would start a new checking account.  Move the non-reconciled transactions to it and then do transfer of the remaining balance from old to new, which should make the ending balance correct, if not tweak the opening balance.

Then, when you run reports against checking, include both accounts, but the day-to-day workings of that account will not be slowed by all of the old transactions.

Nobody asked if you have attachments which will bloat a file but generally does slow Quicken down.

Doing Help->About Quicken with the CTRL key held down will give you some statistics on your file.  The QDF file size it references is the size of the QDF file inside the overall QDF file.  Back in 2010 they combined all of the separate files used by Quicken into a single compressed file, so it will be smaller than the file size shown in Windows Explorer.

Orion13

Thank you Sherlock. Resetting the cloud data from another answer you provided seems also to be improving program performance back to normal. I'm checking some additional items out too, but syncing issues in the background may have been causing the performance issues.