Not sure where this should go - patience, please...

Tomthompson

Am trying to make fresh start with Quicken. Have 'spotty' data filz going back to 2004. Gaps are due to horrific crashes, motherboard exchanges, etc.
What I want to do is return my new (subscription) Quicken to a more or less virginal state. I want to remove data filz prior to 01/01/2021 and have Quicken present me with all my old accounts, but with zero balances in each account. There are way too many uncleared transactions for me to attempt an Archive or Start New Year as Quicken suggests by material I have looked at so far. This way - I can populate the accounts with accurate beginning balances and continue on with only 2021 data in my machine.
Admittedly a Novice, but I need to know if and how I can reach the state I'm asking about, or I'll be forced to simply eat the program and abandon Quicken. Help?

Chris_QPW

File -> File Operations -> Copy...
Put in a From: date of 1/1/2021, deselect including the uncleared transactions and the investment transactions (maybe on this on).

The one that is going to be the most problematic is the investment transactions.  Since you buys will be in the past not including them means you won't have any shares in those securities and will have to add them back maybe with an averaged cost basis.  Or you might try with them included and see where you can go from there.

Tomthompson

Since I do not track investments in Quicken - they should not be a problem. I'll check out your suggestions and with your permission maybe get back to you ?

Chris_QPW

Well then without investments it should work pretty well, but certainly if you have any more questions feel free to posts them in a comment.

Tomthompson

Chris_QPW (That QPW isn't radio code, is it)?
I choose file>File Operations>Copy
I input From Date of 1/1/2021
DESELECT "Include all prior uncleared transactions"
DESELECT "Include Attachments"
I THINK I'm ready to select OK? Right so far? What happens when I do hit OK?

Chris_QPW

It will create th new data file with just the transactions for this year in it.
The default name for the data file will be the current one with Cpy tacked on the end.
When it finishes it will give you an option to open the copy or the original.

Tomthompson

it definitely has just the 2021 transactions, but the beginning balance is wrong on a couple of accounts. any way to delete what's there and put in the correct beginning balance? Truly beholden to you for sticking with me.

Chris_QPW

To correct the beginning balance if there is an opening balance transaction then just change its amount.  If not then put in a transaction with a date before your first transaction in that account, call the Payee something like Opening Balance and make the category [Account], where "Account" is the name of the account you are in, and then the correct amount for the opening balance.

I don't think you would actually want to delete anything that is there, because they are the transactions for 2021 (with the exception of an opening balance transaction and it "changes")

Tomthompson

I thank you so much for your patience and attitude. Believe I have it from here. Appreciate you being here.

Tomthompson

Chris.....
One last tip.... When I bring up QUICKEN after a reboot or initial start - it takes me to the old QW rather than the /copy. it gave me a choice only once and I figured choosing the copy would make that the default start, but it didn't!!

Chris_QPW

It should take you to the last one you had opened.

You can also switch by selecting File and its name at the bottom of that menu.

Another thing you can do is double click in the data file itself in File Explorer.  Or to make it easier Right Click on the data file and drag to your Desktop and then select to create a shortcut there.  Then by double clicking on that shortcut Quicken will open that data file.

Tomthompson

You're amazing!!! list me as dependent on your IRS!