last backup date not updating

Question

This is just a minor annoyance.. when I exit Quicken I regularly choose to backup my Quicken data file, but the "Last Backup Date" shown on the screen doesn't seem to be getting updated. For example, we are now in October, but the last backup date shown is in May, and I have backed up the data at least 20 times since May.  There are evidently circumstances under which this "Last backup date" does get updated, but I haven't figured them out. Anyway to force the "last backup date" to properly update? (I am using the latest Windows 11 build of Quicken.)

Ps56k2 · Answer

yeah - what are you doing with your filenames and backup locations - why/how does the QDF filename have a "20231012" name ?

Are you opening your BACKUP files - or going back and physically renaming your QDF data file - ???

You should have a normal simple QDF filename - C:\Users\Owner\Documents\Quicken\QData-JDK.QDF

and then the backup will ADD the date/time to the extended backup filename.

Its confusing just trying to follow along here….. keep it simple and use the [x] Date and [x] Time -

UKR · Answer

Thank you for the images.

It looks to me as if you're changing the name of the "current data file", i.e., the name of the currently open data file, to include the date.

When looking at the "last backup date" message, there may be no more recent backup file, because the current data file name was changed.

Usually, one keeps the name of the "current" data file always the same, e.g., QDATA.QDF (or, in my examples below, UKR.QDF)

Then, when creating backups, on the "Backup your file now" panel you enable the "Add date to Backup file name" option and each backup file will have a unique name with a date stamp, e.g., QDATA-2023-10-13.QDF-backup or UKR-2023-10-13.QDF-backup

I'm also using the additional "Also add time to name" so I can create more than one backup file per day, if it should become necessary to do so.

As to setting backup preferences, please read the following:

I recommend you review your backup settings in Quicken to ensure that you create a backup every single time you close Quicken at the end of the day. That minimizes the number of lost changes since the last backup, should you have to restore your data file.

How to properly set up Quicken Backup

How to make Quicken create a backup for you automatically every time you close Quicken

What Quicken backups are available where?
﻿For the sake of this discussion it is assumed that your Quicken data file is located in the Default (and recommended) place: C:\Users\username\Documents\Quicken

For this discussion it is also assumed that your Quicken data file is named, for example, QDATA.QDF
Review the backup settings available in Quicken (under Edit / Preferences / Backup).

In there you will find two types of backup: Automatic and Manual Backup.

Automatic Backup should be enabled and by default goes to a \Backup folder that's part of the folder which contains your current Quicken data file, e.g. \Documents\Quicken\Backup. Set it to create a backup after running Quicken [1] times and to keep [9] (or more, your choice) backup copies.﻿

The file name for Automatic Backup files contains a date and time stamp as part of the file name, e.g. QDATA-2020-03-22.PM03.45.QDF-backup

To create a Manual Backup copy of your Quicken data file on an external device (USB-hard drive or USB memory stick recommended), put a checkmark at "Manual Backup Reminder" to enable the function and set "Remind me after running Quicken [xx] times" to [1].

Click OK to save the changes.

From now on, when you close Quicken using the red X button, you will get a popup window.

When you get this window for the first time, on some versions click the radio button for "Backup on my computer".

Change the Backup File name's drive letter and path to point to your external device so that it looks something like this: ﻿E:\Quicken Backup\QDATA-2020-04-01.QDF-backup

﻿or use the Change button and work your way through the dialog.

Do not change the filename portion! Just overtype the drive letter and choose a backup folder name. If the folder does not exist, it will be created.

Also choose the option to "Add date to backup file name".

Every day when you run Backup or close Quicken, an additional backup file is created. Without the Add Date option you only have 1 backup copy which is overwritten every day ... and that may prove bad in a problem recovery situation.

Allow this backup to run to save the changes made on the screen.

Of course, once in a while you will have to go in and delete some of the oldest backup files, at your discretion, to avoid filling up your USB device.

One can never have enough backups of a Quicken data file. BTDTGTS to prove it!

JC4576 · Answer

The "last backup date" is the one shown on this window which pops up every third time I exit Quicken:

Of course, when I was getting this screen shot the date was updated (showing 10/13/2023) but my problem is that this last backup date does not get updated consistently.

When I click on the Backup button, this window opens

I change the backup copy location to be a file with the current date, then click the save backup button.  But the last backup date as shown in the previous window does not always change.