How to Share data file on Dropbox? (Q Mac)

John Allen

How do I share my data file with my book keeper on Dropbox so we can both edit the same file?

Alin

short answer: not supported. https://www.quicken.com/support/can-i-share-my-quicken-file-between-multiple-computers-using-dropbox

 various people on this forum have posted ways around it...YMMV. worst case scenario if you do this: you can end up with a corrupted database

Alin

on a slightly different note: I see this question in the forums a lot, which tells me lots of people would want a solution, me included. 

I haven't seen anything from quicken people if they are working on a solution or even if a solution is on their radar.  I hope it is on their radar, sharing data between users has become the norm nowadays. 

jacobs

@John Allen  You should only move a backup copy or a .zip copy (in Finder, File > Compress) between a Mac and Dropbox. If you can coordinate with your bookkeeper a way to keep track of who has the current "live" file, you can pass a (compressed) file back and forth as needed.

But you can't both share a live file hosted on Dropbox; you should never try to open a Quicken file on Dropbox, because even though it may appear to work fine initially, there are many reported issues with record and file locking that get messed up which can lock you out of your file permanently. 

@Alin  I think the direction the company has moved is that Quicken will remain a desktop product due to the nature of the databases involved, but there is a mobile app and web interface to allow certain work to be done remotely or be shared between users. And there is the new, completely separate Simplifi product by Quicken which is entirely web-based for people who prefer a cloud-based solution. Because there are many Quicken users who adamantly don't want their data in the cloud, I think this approach offers a range to suit different users: entirely desktop-based, entirely cloud-based, and desktop-based but with access to most data via web login or mobile app.

Alin

short answer: not supported. https://www.quicken.com/support/can-i-share-my-quicken-file-between-multiple-computers-using-dropbox

 various people on this forum have posted ways around it...YMMV. worst case scenario if you do this: you can end up with a corrupted database

Alin

on a slightly different note: I see this question in the forums a lot, which tells me lots of people would want a solution, me included. 

I haven't seen anything from quicken people if they are working on a solution or even if a solution is on their radar.  I hope it is on their radar, sharing data between users has become the norm nowadays. 

jacobs

@John Allen  You should only move a backup copy or a .zip copy (in Finder, File > Compress) between a Mac and Dropbox. If you can coordinate with your bookkeeper a way to keep track of who has the current "live" file, you can pass a (compressed) file back and forth as needed.

But you can't both share a live file hosted on Dropbox; you should never try to open a Quicken file on Dropbox, because even though it may appear to work fine initially, there are many reported issues with record and file locking that get messed up which can lock you out of your file permanently. 

@Alin  I think the direction the company has moved is that Quicken will remain a desktop product due to the nature of the databases involved, but there is a mobile app and web interface to allow certain work to be done remotely or be shared between users. And there is the new, completely separate Simplifi product by Quicken which is entirely web-based for people who prefer a cloud-based solution. Because there are many Quicken users who adamantly don't want their data in the cloud, I think this approach offers a range to suit different users: entirely desktop-based, entirely cloud-based, and desktop-based but with access to most data via web login or mobile app.