Can I rename or merge a subcategory to the parent category, which is also a subcategory? (Q Mac)

Dorothy H

In cleaning up my registers, I accidentally assigned some txns to a subcategory instead of merging them into an already established subcategory. Is there a way to fix?

For example, all Starbucks entries are now categorized as Food & Dining: Coffee Shops: Coffee Shops. I would like them to be simply Food & Dining: Coffee Shops.

I made the same mistake with all Food & Dining entries. Restaurant entries are now categorized as Food & Dining: Restaurants: Restaurants. Would prefer it to be simply Food & Dining: Restaurants.

When I select both subcategories (eg., Food & Dining: Coffee Shops: Coffee Shops and Food & Dining: Coffee Shops), the merge option is grayed out. Any ideas how to accomplish?

jacobs

Yes, you can do what you want -- but there's a trick.

The trick is that you can only merge categories and subcategories at the same level of hierarchy. You can't merge a main category and a sub-category, or a sub-category and a sub-sub-category.

So here's how I'd solve your problem. You have:
   Food & Dining
      Coffee Shops
         Coffee Shops

Rename the lowest subcategory to something different:
   Food & Dining
      Coffee Shops
         To Merge

Then move this sub-sub-category up in the Categories window so it's at the same level as the sub-category you want to merge it with:
   Food & Dining
      Coffee Shops
      To Merge

And now you can click on "Coffee Shops" and "To Merge" and merge them into Coffee Shops.

jacobs

Yes, you can do what you want -- but there's a trick.

The trick is that you can only merge categories and subcategories at the same level of hierarchy. You can't merge a main category and a sub-category, or a sub-category and a sub-sub-category.

So here's how I'd solve your problem. You have:
   Food & Dining
      Coffee Shops
         Coffee Shops

Rename the lowest subcategory to something different:
   Food & Dining
      Coffee Shops
         To Merge

Then move this sub-sub-category up in the Categories window so it's at the same level as the sub-category you want to merge it with:
   Food & Dining
      Coffee Shops
      To Merge

And now you can click on "Coffee Shops" and "To Merge" and merge them into Coffee Shops.

Dorothy H

Thank you! That did it.

brianr13@me.com

how can I delete a category

garysmith87

In Quicken Mac:

Window > Categories ... highlight the category or sub-category you want to delete.  Click on the - (minus) sign at the bottom of the window.  

Alternatively, right click on the category and select Delete Category.

Alternatively, highlight the category and select DELETE from the keyboard.

jacobs

brianr13@me.com said:

how can I delete a category

If you delete a category that's never been used, then deleting it from the Categories window by clicking it and pressing the – button will do it, as explained above. But if it's a category which you've used for transactions in the past, heed the warning which will pop up when you try to delete it: it warns you that removing the category will remove it from all transactions which use that category. All those transactions will become Uncategorized. 

For that reason, I think it's generally a better idea to merge the category you want to remove into another existing category, so you aren't left with uncategorized transactions.