Accepted pending transaction edits disappear

djreiswig

I have the current version of Quicken for Windows. I have it set so pending transactions show in the register. If I edit the information for the transaction such as adding a memo, the transaction turns dark & the hourglass disappears as expected. I assume this means it's the same as if I had manually entered it.

Later on when I return to Quicken after the transaction has posted and OSU has run, the memo field information I previously is missing and has been replaced with info that appears in the memorized payee list (since this payee is memorized). I don't think the memorized payee list should override the manual edits I have made. I keep my accounts current and would like to have all pending transactions appear in the register. The only way I can get this to work is to edit them in some way, but then my edits don't stick. Frustrating.

I've also had goofy behavior with extra blank lines showing up between transactions in the register when working with pending transactions. For example, after the last posted transaction there will be a blank line & then the next line has the first pending transaction. Normally the only blank line always appears at the bottom of the register. It's impossible to cause blanks to appear in the middle of the register.

Quicken Kristina

Hello @djreiswig,

To help troubleshoot this issue, please provide more information. When did you first notice this issue? Which version of Quicken were you using when the issue started? Is this happening in just one account register, or in multiple? Do you have automatic entry turned on or off in the problem account register(s)? If automatic entry is on, when new transactions download, you'll see a blue dot next to each new transaction. If automatic entry is off, new transactions download to a section beneath the register.

Have you noticed anything that seems to trigger the blank line behavior? For instance, does this happen only when you edit a pending transaction? If possible, would you please provide a screenshot of these extra blank lines in the register (making sure to redact any personal information)? If needed, please refer to this Community FAQ for instructions on how to attach a screenshot. Alternatively, you can also drag and drop screenshots to your response if you are not given the option to add attachments.

I look forward to your reply!

djreiswig

I always have the current update as soon as it's available. I just noticed the missing memo line info right before I posted to the forum. I have only noticed this happening in one credit card register, since it's the one I use most. It could happen in other ones, but I don't recall. I have it set so that the pending transactions appear in the register automatically, but they are in gray. When I edit the memo field, the transaction turns black. I am getting the blue dot once the transaction posts, but this is when the memo lines are changed. It's like the pending transaction is being completely replaced by the downloaded posted transaction.

The blank lines are related to when pending transactions are modified. The selection bar doesn't move to the next transaction after the pending one is entered, and sometimes blank lines appear above them.

Not sure what a picture of a register with a blank line in the middle of the register will show you. It's pretty much like it sounds. Filled in lines then a blank line, then a few more filled in lines. Normally the only blank line is at the bottom.

I like the pending transaction feature, but I wish I could just have them entered automatically like the posted one are. Maybe a red dot instead of a blue dot would notate them. I don't need a list or hourglass icons, or the ability to keep them out of the balance. The way I look at it, does it matter if the transaction has posted or not? I already spent the money.

Quicken Kristina

Thank you for your reply,

I tested in my Quicken to see if I could replicate the issue. When I add a memo to a pending transaction, Quicken changes it to a manual transaction (black with the red pencil icon next to it). Is that the same as what you see when you edit your pending transactions? Is the memo column the only column that you edit? If not, what other edits do you make?

I'm not getting any blank lines though. Could you provide the exact process you're going though when you edit the pending transactions? I'm just wanting to verify the process you're using so I can mirror it exactly and see if the blank lines appear in my Quicken also. Additionally, do these lines appear with every pending transaction you edit, or only some?

Thank you!

Boatnmaniac

When I edit a pending transaction I get the same results as @Quicken Kristina described with the edited pending transaction being converted to a manual entry transaction so it is no longer a pending transaction. Then when the posted transaction later downloads it gets matched to that manual entry transaction and everything is good.

I've often wondered if downloaded pending transactions are actually entirely separate from the later downloaded posted transactions. So when the posted transaction downloads it is a new transaction, not a pending transaction that has been changed to a posted transaction. And then the pending transaction is deleted from the register at the same time.

If this hypothesis is correct and if @djreiswig's edited pending transactions are not being converted into a manual entry transaction, then when the posted transaction later downloads the pending transaction is simply deleted and replaced by the posted transaction. So, the entered memo in the pending transaction is not being replaced by anything. It is instead that the entire pending transaction is being replaced by the posted transaction.

What caused me to think this is that there have been times (not just in my experience, but also as others have posted) that sometimes when a posted transaction downloads the previously downloaded corresponding pending transaction does not go away. That then resulted in there being duplicate transactions in the register…one was the pending transaction and one was the posted transaction. That made me think that they are totally separate and independent transactions.

So, for me, the question is the same as asked by @Quicken Kristina: When @djreiswig edits a pending transaction does it remain a pending transaction or is it converted to a manual entry transaction?

djreiswig

It is converted to a manual transaction. Then somehow when the transaction is posted it's like it was never there before, but just newly downloaded.

I'm not sure on the steps that cause the blank lines. It just randomly happens. They go away when I reopen the file, so I guess it's not a huge deal.

Maybe I'll just turn off the automatic entering of pending transactions and enter them manually like unused to do. It would be nice to have them automatically appear, but the process seems to be buggy. Probably not worth the time to try and figure it out.

djreiswig

Started with 3 pending transactions today. I forgot to get a picture of them before any edits, but they were all 3 in the register in gray text with the hourglass icon.

Here's the process I used to get the blank lines. I'm waiting until they post and then I'll reply back with the results of the missing memo field.

Change memo of Walmart $30.12 to "a"

Transaction text becomes dark

Change memo Walmart $23.29 to "a"

Transaction text becomes dark

Delete memo in Wamart $30.12

Now shows 2 Walmart $30.12 transactions and a blank line where the Homestead Convenience transaction was

Notice the line to enter a new transaction has the date, but the line above it is blank

I also noticed (you can't see it because I covered the balances) that the running balance on the right is correct for the incorrect transaction amounts that are displayed. So the balance on the line of the duplicate transaction is the balance of the line above minus $30.12. So it's not just a painting issue, but Quicken actually thinks I've entered 2 transactions that are identical.

Click sort by date twice to get the register to refresh.

(Tried selecting a different account, but the register looked the same when I reselected the offending account.)

Now the 2nd Walmart ($23.39) transaction is back with the correct amount and the blank line now shows the pending Homestead Convenience transaction again.

Enter memo in Homestead Convenience transaction.

Transaction text becomes dark.

Register looks normal now.

Now for the memo test. To be continued…

Change memos in 3 transactions to a,b,c respectively.

Will memos stay when transactions post?

Quicken Kristina

Thank you for your replies and the screenshots,

I'm still not able to replicate the issue you're seeing, which indicates that this may be a file-specific issue. To start troubleshooting for a file-specific issue, please try validating and/or super validating your data file.  Please save a backup file prior to performing these steps. 

Validate: 

1. File
2. Validate and Repair File...
3. Validate File
4. Click OK
5. Close the Data Log
6. Close Quicken (leave it closed for at least 5 secs)
7. Reopen Quicken and see if the issue persists.

If the issue persists, proceed to Super Validate. If the issue is resolved after performing validation, then please disregard the instructions to Super Validate. 

Super Validate:

1. File
2. Hold CTRL + Shift and click Validate and Repair File...
3. Super Validate File
4. Click OK
5. Close the Data Log
6. Close Quicken (leave it closed for at least 5 secs)
7. Reopen Quicken and see if the issue persists.   

Please let me know how it goes!

Boatnmaniac

I still have not been able to duplicate this issue. I agree that this could be a file-specific issue. But it might also be a Quicken installation issue. Validate and Super Validate can resolve some file issues but they can also resolve some software installation issues.

If the Validate and Super Validate do not resolve the issue for you, you might want to try uninstalling Quicken and then downloading a fresh copy of Quicken from https://www.quicken.com/activate and installing it.

djreiswig

Okay. Strange that it just happens in the accounts that download pending transactions and only after this feature was introduced.

I'm waiting for the transactions to post to see if my memos disappear. Then I'll try validating.