sub-subcategories don't collapse in Spending view?

Question

This is for Quicken Classic Deluxe on Windows.

While trying to get more insight in long-term spending, I divided the Utilities:CableTV category into sub-categories like XFinity, Netflix and Disney+.

What I expected to see in the Spending graph if I drilled down into Utilities was just the next level of sub-categories, so

Utilities:CableTV

Utilities:Gas&Electric

Utilities:Water

etc, with then the option to drill down into CableTV for more detail.

But instead it shows all the sub-sub categories instead of the parent one for Cable, so showing

Utilities:CableTV:Comcast

Utilities:Gas&Electric

Utilities:Water

Utilities:CableTV:Netflix

Utilities:CableTV:Disney+

which is a pity because I don't get a good overview of what percentage CableTV in general is of the overall utilities.

It works fine if I make CableTV its own category with sub categories (I tried that), but not as a sub-category of Utilities with sub-sub-categories.

Any suggestions or ideas?

Frankx · Accepted Answer

Hi @Gerard_biking

As far as I know, Quicken is designed such that it only allows us to go down to 2 levels - i.e. the category and the subcategory - but not to a third subcategory level.  I think that if you need that level of detail, you should make Cable TV its own category (as you have tried) and then set up an off-line excel spreadsheet to show you the percentages you seek.

I am afraid that is the best you can do.

Frankx

UKR · Accepted Answer

As far as I know, Quicken is designed such that it only allows us to go down to 2 levels.

At least in Quicken for Windows, that is incorrect. You can go down the subcategory levels until you reach 16 levels, if you so desire. Try it in a test data file if you want to.

However, the longer the category:sub:sub:sub:…:subcategory string becomes, the more complicated it will be to display this on views or reports due to limited column lengths, limited screen size or limited paper width in reports.

Here's an example of a budget view with a 16 level subcategory test.

About your question:

In the Spending Graph you shouldn't need the 3rd Utilities subcategory level for

Utilities:CableTV:Comcast

Utilities:CableTV:Netflix

Utilities:CableTV:Disney+

Having all your transactions under Utilities:Cable TV with distinct Payee Names, Comcast, Netflix, Disney should suffice.

Drilling down in the Spending Graph first click on Utilities. Next click on Utilities:Cable TV and the next level graph should give you a breakdown by Payee Name, Comcast, Netflix and Disney … at least, it would do so for me if I had more than one payee name recorded in the Cable TV subcategory. In this image, Xfinity Comcast is the Payee Name