Need help moving transactions from offline account to online account

msoultan

I started with an offline account where I was manually entering in my transactions (mostly invoice payments), and I'd like to shift over to an online account so that I'm not having to enter everything manually. I already created the online bank account and I can download my transactions, but what's the best way to shift over to the new online account and not mess up anything in the process?

Thanks!

Mike

UKR

I'd say, leave the offline account's transactions where they are. You don't want to cause problems.

• Now designate a "cutover date", e.g., old account has all good transactions until 7/31, new account starts with 0.00 Opening Balance on 7/31 and has all good transactions beginning 8/1
• Make sure there are no duplicate transactions between both accounts.
• Enter a (internal to Quicken only) transaction to transfer the account balance from the old to the new account.
• Reconcile the old account to 7/31 and, optionally, close the account register in Quicken.
• Ensure that the new account register has correct running balance matching the bank statement balance.

UKR

I'd say, leave the offline account's transactions where they are. You don't want to cause problems.

• Now designate a "cutover date", e.g., old account has all good transactions until 7/31, new account starts with 0.00 Opening Balance on 7/31 and has all good transactions beginning 8/1
• Make sure there are no duplicate transactions between both accounts.
• Enter a (internal to Quicken only) transaction to transfer the account balance from the old to the new account.
• Reconcile the old account to 7/31 and, optionally, close the account register in Quicken.
• Ensure that the new account register has correct running balance matching the bank statement balance.

msoultan

Ok, that makes sense. I was messing around with a test file and moving stuff around and it looks like linked transactions break, so I was wondering how to handle that. So ultimately, it sounds like leaving the original account alone is the best course of action.

Thanks!

UKR

You can "move transactions around", however …
To not break linked transfer transactions, select a block of transactions in the old register, then right-click one of the selected transactions and pick "Move transactions" from the popup. Enter the destination account from a selection list and go.

If the selected block of transactions contains reconciled transactions you will be prompted for each of those if it's OK to move reconciled transactions. PITA.
Workaround: First change all selected transactions from Reconciled to "cleared" or blank (uncleared) status, then select those transactions again, move them. After move select these transactions in the new register and mark as Reconciled again.

I know this works in banking account registers.
A/R, A/P registers … I haven't tried those. Not sure if that would mess up lists of unpaid vs. paid invoices, etc.
Investment registers … again, haven't tried those. Never had a need to. Don't know if that would mess up selecting lots for sale and gain/loss calculations. (Anyway, that would be a different discussion)

As always, create a backup of your data file BEFORE you start making changes that impact many transactions.

msoultan

Cool - thanks for your help on this! I will definitely proceed carefully, if I do even try and move stuff. I'll probably go with your initial advise and just start new accounts with appropriate starting balances.