Any practical way to convert a quicken 2009 file to work in Quicken 2010 running on Windows 10?

bill spurlock

Helping a friend set up her new Windows 10 computer. She has installed a copy of Quicken 2010 in her new machine but from reading it appears that her old Q 2009 file must first be converted in Q 2013, correct? Would it then be backwards compatible to Q 2010? (She went with Q 2010 after reading that was the oldest version compatible with Win 10, and under the assumption that surely Q 2009 would translate to 2010, apparently wrong). And some have said the converted file may not be stable going forward, while others say no problem. Just want to confirm this before I tell her to bight the bullet and start a new file in here Q 2010. Many thanks in advance.

volvogirl

She's going from 2009 to 2010?  That's just 1 year newer.  Then 2013 is not going to help.  No it is not backward compatible.  Did she try just opening her file in 2010?  It should automatically convert it.  

PS......If your Quicken was before 2010 you should have several files making up the data.  The main data file ends in .QDF.  All Quicken versions prior to QW2010 store your data in a series of files all sharing the same filename but with different extensions like  - .QDF .IDX, .QEL, .QPH  and all 4 of those files were rolled into a single-file .QDF starting in 2010. 

volvogirl

How did she get a .qif File? Where is her actual data files?   She might be able to import a .qif into an existing data file but I don't know how that works.  Has she started a new file in 2010?  Then go up to File-Import.

volvogirl

As I said you don't import it.  You just OPEN the .qdf file, go to File-Open.  You will probably need the other files I indicated way up above.  Just Copy the whole Quicken folder from the Documents of the old computer to a usb flash drive.  Or the folder where you find the .qdf file.

Frankx

Hi @bill spurlock,

I believe pretty much all you need to help your friend is located here:  https://www.quicken.com/support/how-and-when-use-intermediate-version-convert-older-versions-quicken

Let us know if you have any followup questions!

Frankx

splasher

QW2010 should successfully convert the QW2009 file without issues.

It used to be that the article that refers to using 2013 used to state 2010.

DO NOT USE 2013.

volvogirl

She's going from 2009 to 2010?  That's just 1 year newer.  Then 2013 is not going to help.  No it is not backward compatible.  Did she try just opening her file in 2010?  It should automatically convert it.  

PS......If your Quicken was before 2010 you should have several files making up the data.  The main data file ends in .QDF.  All Quicken versions prior to QW2010 store your data in a series of files all sharing the same filename but with different extensions like  - .QDF .IDX, .QEL, .QPH  and all 4 of those files were rolled into a single-file .QDF starting in 2010. 

bill spurlock

> @Frankx said:
> Hi @bill spurlock,
>
> I believe pretty much all you need to help your friend is located here:  https://www.quicken.com/support/how-and-when-use-intermediate-version-convert-older-versions-quicken
>
> Let us know if you have any followup questions!
>
> Frankx

Thanks, yes I've read that link several times but others have said the resulting file could be unstable as new data are added.

volvogirl

The article on converting is to get older versions converted to a current version or a version newer than 2013.

bill spurlock

> @splasher said:
> QW2010 should successfully convert the QW2009 file without issues.It used to be that the article that refers to using 2013 used to state 2010.DO NOT USE 2013.

Hmmm, the 2009 file is a QIF but 2010 only seems to allow QDF file imports. Am I looking in the wrong place for the file to import? Thank you.

Frankx

Yes you are - you need the file set that @volvogirl referred to above.

Frankx

bill spurlock

> @volvogirl said:
> She's going from 2009 to 2010?  That's just 1 year newer.  Then 2013 is not going to help.  No it is not backward compatible.  Did she try just opening her file in 2010?  It should automatically convert it.  
>
> PS......If your Quicken was before 2010 you should have several files making up the data.  The main data file ends in .QDF.  All Quicken versions prior to QW2010 store your data in a series of files all sharing the same filename but with different extensions like  - .QDF .IDX, .QEL, .QPH  and all 4 of those files were rolled into a single-file .QDF starting in 2010. 

Many thanks. In 2009 I did File/Export and got a QIF file which 2010 does not recognize. I guess I need to go back and find just the QDF file and try to open it in 2010?

volvogirl

How did she get a .qif File? Where is her actual data files?   She might be able to import a .qif into an existing data file but I don't know how that works.  Has she started a new file in 2010?  Then go up to File-Import.

volvogirl

I didn't see your last post.  Yes find the .qdf and any others.  They should be in Documents then in a Quicken folder.  Search the computer for all files ending in .qdf.  Then you just open it in the new program.  Not import it.

bill spurlock

> @volvogirl said:
> How did she get a .qif File? Where is her actual data files?   She might be able to import a .qif into an existing data file but I don't know how that works.  Has she started a new file in 2010?  Then go up to File-Import.

In 2009 I believe I clicked on File/Export and the resulting file was a QIF. But maybe (likely) I'm confused there. I will look again to find the data files location and locate the QDF. No new file started yet, should we do that before trying to import? Thanks again.

volvogirl

As I said you don't import it.  You just OPEN the .qdf file, go to File-Open.  You will probably need the other files I indicated way up above.  Just Copy the whole Quicken folder from the Documents of the old computer to a usb flash drive.  Or the folder where you find the .qdf file.

bill spurlock

> @volvogirl said:
> As I said you don't import it.  You just OPEN the .qdf file, go to File-Open.  You will probably need the other files I indicated way up above.  Just Copy the whole Quicken folder from the Documents of the old computer to a usb flash drive.  Or the folder where you find the .qdf file.

Thank you, I will report back tomorrow.

splasher

The cleanest process with 2009 -> 2010 while changing computers is to do a Quicken Backup on 2009 and a Quicken Restore on 2010.
Also, has anyone mentioned downloading and running the last 2010 patch release that you can get at this link: Quicken Patches
Do this before doing the Restore.

bill spurlock

> @splasher said:
> The cleanest process with 2009 -> 2010 while changing computers is to do a Quicken Backup on 2009 and a Quicken Restore on 2010.
> Also, has anyone mentioned downloading and running the last 2010 patch release that you can get at this link: Quicken Patches
> Do this before doing the Restore.

Tried that but 2010 did not recognize the backup file, and the backup file was only 1 kb so it was obviously not right. File would not attach. Will try again tomorrow.

thecreator

Hi @""bill spurlock" ,

You are helping a friend, so this begs to ask: Are you restoring to Quicken 2010, or to Quicken 2020, because the procedures are completely different.

If she is indeed using Quicken 2010 and not 2020, then create a Brand New Folder on the Desktop of the older operating system, called Quicken Backup. Now simply use Quicken 2009 to do a Manual Backup to that New Folder, called Quicken Backup.

Now copy the folder to a NAS Hard Drive or a USB Thumb Drive.

Then plug the Thumb Drive into the new computer. Use Quicken 2010 to restore the file from the USB Thumb Drive. You may need to copy the folder to the Desktop.

bill spurlock

> @bill spurlock said:
> > @volvogirl said:
> > As I said you don't import it.  You just OPEN the .qdf file, go to File-Open.  You will probably need the other files I indicated way up above.  Just Copy the whole Quicken folder from the Documents of the old computer to a usb flash drive.  Or the folder where you find the .qdf file.
>
> Thank you, I will report back tomorrow.

Success! Thank you volvogirl, this simple process worked perfectly. I had read multiple places that I had to first go through Q 2013 so that got me off on the wrong foot, then I misunderstood Export/Import, then finally the 2009 backup files were empty files for some reason. So just copying the old Quicken file to a thumb drive and doing File/Open in the new machine worked perfectly. It's installed and backed up.

Thanks to all who replied for your generosity.

volvogirl

QB file?  QB means QuickBooks not Quicken..  

bill spurlock

> @volvogirl said:
> QB file?  QB means QuickBooks not Quicken..  

Right, I saw my mistake but did not see a way to edit a post.

Greg_the_Geek

Click on the Gear in the upper right of your post.

bill spurlock

> @Greg_the_Geek said:
> Click on the Gear in the upper right of your post.

Fixed, thanks.