How can I use a backup file to view transactions without impacting my active file

Question

The debacle with Chase has trashed my transaction history with my Checking and Savings accounts. This all occurred after I called with Tech Support because of errors I was receiving trying to download transactions.

After my call with support, I had to put transaction placeholders/adjustment in my checking ($19,800) and savings ($50,175) just to balance Quicken with the bank balances. These adjustments had to be added because of the missing and duplicated transactions.

So, I have lots of backup files, yet. How do I use one (not impacted by the Chase fiasco) to view/lookup old transactions without impacting my current/active file that I am now using daily?

Tell me the steps I need to take.

Chris_QPW · Answer

I would suggest against this. And use what @Greg_the_Geek suggested instead.

Both the current and the backup files are going to have the same unique file Id that ties them to the Quicken Cloud dataset. And it has been shown that the new Restore function in Quicken does a sync with the Quicken Cloud dataset as part of the restore.  This can cause problems.

Instead of one renames the .QDF-backup file to .QDF and opens it, it won't immediately try sync with the Quicken Cloud dataset.  You can then look for the information you want, and close it (don't try do any online updating).

NotACPA · Answer

You can restore that backup file to another name, and then open it ... which will result in no impact upon your existing file.Q can only have 1 file open at time, so you can't open both and simply switch back and forth.

Frankx · Answer

Hi @Greg Semple

It sounds like you want to be able to lookup the missing transactions - in the backup file - and then recreate them in your current datafile.  Depending on the number of transactions involved this may be the easiest route.

One option that you might want to use depends on whether you have access to another computer with the same operating system as the one you use for Quicken.  If so, you could install Quicken on it and then open the backup copy of Quicken on it and fill-in the missing data on your current datafile.

The other option would be to save your current datafile and then restore your backup on your current machine.  I suggest that you first make notes of the accounts and the dates of the missing transactions from your current file for reference.  Then you can restore a the backup file and perhaps print out portions of the account registers where the missing transactions are located.

If, on the other hand, there are a multitude of transactions, you could potentially use a file export (using the .QIF export) to create files from the backup file to be imported into your new datafile.

Frankx