IMPROVMENT REQUEST: Increase length of Memo field in transactions

piyushjain

It looks like Quicken Classic for Windows currently supports 64 characters in the Memo field. Often this is insufficient and it is not possible to fully describe the transaction. It would be very useful to increase the limit to 128 characters, or at least 96.

rich

I am using Windows 10 Pro version 22H2 Build 19045.4291 64 bit and Quicken for Windows Premier 27.1.55.26. I just verified that 64 is the character limit for the Memo field. I agree that's too small; make it at least 128 if not 255.

Jim_Harman

I suppose you would also want reports that include the Memo field to be able to show it on multiple lines rather than cutting it off?

That might be a tall order.

Rocket J Squirrel

Does the Notes field not serve the purpose of allowing long strings of text to be associated with transactions? What about that field does not fulfill your needs?

rich

Hi Rocket. The notes field is currently limited to 70 characters and is not possible to use with a QIF file (neither import or export) as far as I know. Why are the memo and notes fields separate anyway ? One choice would be to combine them into the memo field but still make it bigger. Granted, I don't max out the memo and notes fields in every transaction, or even most of them, but quite a few. I put alot of info in those:

ie for medical transactions: usually the payee is not the doctor but some company the doctor uses; I create a scan (pdf) for every bill. so the memo might be:

Dr. XYX Claim 24.02.11.InsCompany-R.pdf

Sometimes the transaction's posted date is not the actual real date so in the memo i include "RealDate=1/2/24".

Sometimes the transaction's description is long, ie:

EREF
AD08-D-2024-01-17-23.45.33.903737MREF
KARTENABRECHNUNGCRED
DE45ZZZ01518301218SVWZ
KREDITKARTENABRECHNUNG 17.01.24 5XXXXXXXXXXXXXX2

thornev

I use the MEMO field extensively for confirmation numbers (which can be quite long), descriptions of what was purchased (which can contain multiple items) and various other data. I've been using Quicken since before 1994. I use the Quicken Classic Deluxe app on a PC, not the web nor phone app.

EDIT: I just discovered the NOTES field after all these years which allows more chars than MEMO. I don't like it on the same line as the PAYEE though.

Rocket J Squirrel

Notes do not have to occupy register space at all.

Get rid of the Notes column. Enable the "Flags" column in your register. Then when you select a transaction, you'll see a small flag just under the date field. Click the flag and you can type lengthy notes into the resulting dialog. You won't see them until the next time you click the little flag or notes icon.

Rocket J Squirrel

@Rich I can enter a lengthy note such as yours above.

Jim Coupal

The issue I have is that when I download transactions from my bank, they use the Memo field for the transaction description. Most every transaction has more than 64 characters in the description, and the result is that the remainder, which has text of value, is cut off. Admittedly, the text the bank provides could be made better, but why would they have to adhere to Quicken's limitations? Can the Notes be populated with a QIF parameter from the bank? If you can expand the width of the Memo, that would be best. No need, IMO, to make the Memo in the Register any different than it is now, just let it scroll further. That would be a huge help! Thanks!!