Moving an account record to another Quicken file

TVZ

My wife and I share a quicken file, which we can both access through a shared OneDrive folder. Generally she takes care of the checking account, and I take care of several other accounts. We just realized that we have not actually been using the same file for close to a year—so my copy of the checking account is wrong, and her copies of the other accounts are wrong. So—Is it possible for me to take her copy of the checking account, and import it into my file, so we have everything correct together?

Sherlock

I suggest using either using a QIF or QXF file: If you haven't already, you may want to review:

https://www.quicken.com/support/how-do-i-export-data-quicken
https://www.quicken.com/support/how-do-i-import-data-quicken-windows
https://community.quicken.com/discussion/7150750/faq-how-to-import-qif-files-into-non-cash-accounts-post-q2004

Going forward, I suggest maintaining Quicken on one computer and using a Remote Desktop Client to access Quicken when using another computer.

Frankx

Hi @TVZ,

You should be able to export the checking account transactions from your wife's Quicken file (for the time frame when you were using two different data files) and then import the transactions into your datafile using a QIF file.  But  before you do anything, make sure that you create backups of both files.

First you should determine the first transaction in your wife's file that is missing by comparing the bank balances for various time frames to see when they started to disagree and note that "beginning date", the first transaction info, and the account balance.  I would then suggest that you add a "tag" to all the transactions in your wife's register from that first one through the current date so that you'll be able to quickly identify the imported transactions after they are added to your data file. Use something simply like "Xferd" or "Janes".  You would then Go to "File" > "File Export" > "QIF File...".  Then fill-in the information in the pop-up (see first snip below) including location and name for the new QIF file, the checking account name, the start and end dates, and check only the transactions box.


Next you'll need to open up your data file and Go to "File" > "File Import" > "QIF File..." Then once again, fill-in the information in the pop-up (see 2nd snip below) including location and name of the QIF file you just created, the checking account name, and check only the transactions box. Next, click the Import button.  This should copy the missing transactions into your data file.  Of course, you should carefully review the imported transactions to make sure there aren't any duplicates and then reconcile the account on a monthly basis.


That should hopefully give you a complete file.  If you have any followups, feel free to post back.

Good luck!

Frankx

Sherlock

I suggest using either using a QIF or QXF file: If you haven't already, you may want to review:

https://www.quicken.com/support/how-do-i-export-data-quicken
https://www.quicken.com/support/how-do-i-import-data-quicken-windows
https://community.quicken.com/discussion/7150750/faq-how-to-import-qif-files-into-non-cash-accounts-post-q2004

Going forward, I suggest maintaining Quicken on one computer and using a Remote Desktop Client to access Quicken when using another computer.

Frankx

Hi @TVZ,

You should be able to export the checking account transactions from your wife's Quicken file (for the time frame when you were using two different data files) and then import the transactions into your datafile using a QIF file.  But  before you do anything, make sure that you create backups of both files.

First you should determine the first transaction in your wife's file that is missing by comparing the bank balances for various time frames to see when they started to disagree and note that "beginning date", the first transaction info, and the account balance.  I would then suggest that you add a "tag" to all the transactions in your wife's register from that first one through the current date so that you'll be able to quickly identify the imported transactions after they are added to your data file. Use something simply like "Xferd" or "Janes".  You would then Go to "File" > "File Export" > "QIF File...".  Then fill-in the information in the pop-up (see first snip below) including location and name for the new QIF file, the checking account name, the start and end dates, and check only the transactions box.


Next you'll need to open up your data file and Go to "File" > "File Import" > "QIF File..." Then once again, fill-in the information in the pop-up (see 2nd snip below) including location and name of the QIF file you just created, the checking account name, and check only the transactions box. Next, click the Import button.  This should copy the missing transactions into your data file.  Of course, you should carefully review the imported transactions to make sure there aren't any duplicates and then reconcile the account on a monthly basis.


That should hopefully give you a complete file.  If you have any followups, feel free to post back.

Good luck!

Frankx

TVZ

Thank you Sherlock and FrankX for very helpful answers!