Data File Redo: any suggestions for efficient ways to rebuild from scratch a bad Quicken data file?
dewalker167
Member ✭✭✭
I have a large (202841K), Bug-Splat prone Quicken data file that I have built over decades of Quicken use. I have had frequent crashes, and the official Quicken technical help I have received points to my data file as the problem, and they say it should be replaced. (Validate and Repair does not improve my situation.)
What do experienced Quicken users suggest as helpful steps towards an efficient, time-saving redo/rebuild of an existing Quicken data file that can preserve my past work in making accounts, categories, securities, bills, scheduled transactions, etc as much as possible? For instance, is it best to avoid the export/import features? Is it best to keep the data file as small as possible and begin data collection in the next calendar year? Is it best to have a file with only active accounts, and another file with old, unused and closed accounts? These are some of my questions. I would be interested to hear of other's experiences here, especially those who have had to do a data file rebuild themselves.
Thanks for your consideration.
I am running Windows 10, version 1909.
I am using Quicken Premier 2020 R28.18
What do experienced Quicken users suggest as helpful steps towards an efficient, time-saving redo/rebuild of an existing Quicken data file that can preserve my past work in making accounts, categories, securities, bills, scheduled transactions, etc as much as possible? For instance, is it best to avoid the export/import features? Is it best to keep the data file as small as possible and begin data collection in the next calendar year? Is it best to have a file with only active accounts, and another file with old, unused and closed accounts? These are some of my questions. I would be interested to hear of other's experiences here, especially those who have had to do a data file rebuild themselves.
Thanks for your consideration.
I am running Windows 10, version 1909.
I am using Quicken Premier 2020 R28.18
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Best Answers
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You did not mention File>File Operations>Copy as having been tried? As long a you do not see a damaged data block in the validation it can probably be repaired.
Turning off Sync in Mobile & Web Preferences is the first step, followed by Copy, Validate, Super-Validate. Hold Ctrl key while clicking Help>About Quicken to show the actual data file size along with some other useful info you should report back with.5 -
The quicken qdf is actually a container file like a zip file. The file size from the screen shot shows the transaction portion of the container. So it being about half the size of the windows reported size means you have a bunch of attachments stored (one of the sub files in the container), a lot of electronic download data which may be the case since it is old, but more likely some bloat accumulated over the decades.
The Copy, Validate, Super-Validate sequence should remove any bloat. Turning off sync is meant to simplify the process. If the file is repaired, the sync can be turned back on after you are confident the file is performing better.
If you have not performed a clean installation of the software in a while, updating over the top of existing installs for a period of years can cause issues. A process called QCleanUI can get you to a clean machine install state.5
Answers
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You did not mention File>File Operations>Copy as having been tried? As long a you do not see a damaged data block in the validation it can probably be repaired.
Turning off Sync in Mobile & Web Preferences is the first step, followed by Copy, Validate, Super-Validate. Hold Ctrl key while clicking Help>About Quicken to show the actual data file size along with some other useful info you should report back with.5 -
No I have not tried this and will give it a try. I appreciate your quick response and help here, Marcus.
Here is my Quicken Data File information.0 -
The quicken qdf is actually a container file like a zip file. The file size from the screen shot shows the transaction portion of the container. So it being about half the size of the windows reported size means you have a bunch of attachments stored (one of the sub files in the container), a lot of electronic download data which may be the case since it is old, but more likely some bloat accumulated over the decades.
The Copy, Validate, Super-Validate sequence should remove any bloat. Turning off sync is meant to simplify the process. If the file is repaired, the sync can be turned back on after you are confident the file is performing better.
If you have not performed a clean installation of the software in a while, updating over the top of existing installs for a period of years can cause issues. A process called QCleanUI can get you to a clean machine install state.5 -
So far so good with this copy, validate, super-validate procedure. I have not had a crash yet...1
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dewalker167 said:So far so good with this copy, validate, super-validate procedure. I have not had a crash yet...Shhhh! Not so loud! Mr. Murphy might hear you!:-)2
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