Syncing files between machines

Question

I use Quicken Deluxe on my I-Mac when I am at home and on my MacBook Pro when I am on the road.  Can I sync the two so that they update each other automatically?

smayer97 · Answer

Yes, a few of earlier versions of QMac (starting with QM2017 v4.6.8 back in Jan 2018, even into versions of QM2018) did introduce an early attempt to sync some parts of desktop files (e.g. asset & checking accounts only at the time) via the Quicken Cloud BUT it was half-baked, very poorly documented and only partially implemented with limitations and issues. Since then there has been no further information nor obvious development in this capability.

It appears that the ongoing focus has been to only make it work between desktop and its mobile and web data complements. It is unclear if Quicken pulled that code or not and if it has any intention to  resume development on this feature.

jacobs · Answer

No. Quicken isn't built to do that. (There was some obscure reference to being able to do this in the release notes about two years ago, but I don't believe it was accurate.) The Quicken Cloud is built to sync between a estop base Quicken Mac or Quicken Windows data file and the mobile app/web interface, but not between two desktop data files. If you try it and it appears to work, I'd be afraid that somewhere down the road you will face corruption issues.

The approved/recommended way to use two Mac is to move the data file between the two computers. And don't move the actual data file; move either a compressed .zip copy of the data file (click the data file in the Finder and select File > Compress) or a backup (.quickenbackup) file between the two machines. Moving the live data file without one of these wrappers will lead to oil corruption/access restriction issues at some time down the road. To move the file back and forth, you can use a flash drive, email it to yourself, use Mac File Sharing, use AirDrop, use Dropbox -- and way you'd move any file between the two computers.