Importing a QXF File

Moskose

OK, in the first 24 hours, I have linked all my accounts treated things and started cleaning up and making clean-up notes on the data. I noticed that the linked accounts only include 45-90 days of data but my card provider offers the option to export to a format I could import directly so I have imported all the credit card transactions to Jan 1. My bank account is linked but the data only goes back to June 30 and the bank does not offer export to any formats except XLS, CSV or PDF. I downloaded the CSV file and rearranged the data and changed the headers to match the Quicken CSV export format - is the the correct format to use to import the Jan 1 to June 29 transactions? It looks like concerting to QXF would be the better option to import (vs. QIF) but I'm not certain? Also, what is the best recommendation on a CSV to QXF (or QIF) converter? I will make a backup just before trying the import to be safe.

I also noted the "Adjustment" category of transactions which established opening balances for the accounts. When I import the data, it will be added on top of data based on the opening balance established when the account was linked. What will the impact, on the correct account balance, of the data import?

John_in_NC

It can be confusing: QXF (Quicken Transfer Format) is an entire file import/export method usually used if you are going to Quicken for Windows. It isn't a format for importing of banking transactions. QFX, on the other hand, is the text format used by banks to download transactions you import into a register. 

The CSV import you see is intended for users of Mint coming to Quicken. You could reverse engineer the column order from that, but in my experience from helping here, users spend 10 times longer trying to automate something. Spare yourself the headache and type the transactions in-you will thank me in the end.

There are keyboard shortcuts for nearly all transaction entry things, so entering a transaction is a rather quick affair. 

John_in_NC

First 24 hours? Switch on the Jakes and slow down a bit!

I suspect you mean QFX files, as that is the file format for importing transactions. (QXF does exist, but is an interchange format and not for importing transactions.) 

Using CSV won't work-that is a one time (initial) import method not intended for importing transactions. If your bank doesn't offer older transactions in QFX format, then manual entry is likely your best option. The good side is that you get familiar with transaction entry :-) 

As for your opening balance Adjustment Balance: that will correctly update as you add in older transactions. It will always remain the oldest transaction with an amount so the balance reported from your bank is correct.

Moskose

Thanks! Yes - this is still all new to me and I thought I needed a QFX file but I saw one article that implied that QXF was preferred. I did see that I can't import the data from a CSV file and since my bank only offers CSV, XLS or PDF formats, I am also looking to confirm the proper file format (order of the columns and headers) and for a recommendation for a good converter app to do the one-time QFX conversion needed to avoid the time required to manually recreate all the transactions from Jan 1 to June 30.

John_in_NC

It can be confusing: QXF (Quicken Transfer Format) is an entire file import/export method usually used if you are going to Quicken for Windows. It isn't a format for importing of banking transactions. QFX, on the other hand, is the text format used by banks to download transactions you import into a register. 

The CSV import you see is intended for users of Mint coming to Quicken. You could reverse engineer the column order from that, but in my experience from helping here, users spend 10 times longer trying to automate something. Spare yourself the headache and type the transactions in-you will thank me in the end.

There are keyboard shortcuts for nearly all transaction entry things, so entering a transaction is a rather quick affair.