Backup - add date to file name not remaining selected

Don Click

Quicken does a local backup after 3 times of opening. For years, the checkbox for Add Date to File Name has remained selected. I just updated to R60.15 and now have to check that box each time. There is no option in the Preferences > Backup section to add the date to backup. Has something changed? I'm using Windows 11 on HP laptop.

Quicken Kristina

Hello @Don Click,

I attempted to replicate this in my Quicken, but was not able to. Could you clarify how you're accessing the backup screen (File>Copy or Backup file… or is it the window coming up automatically when prompted to create a manual backup prior to exiting Quicken, or another way)?

I look forward to your reply!

Don Click

In the Preferences >Backup, there is an option to check to indicate how many times Quicken is used before it asks if I want to do a manual backup when I close Quicken. I have it set to 3, so every third time I close Quicken, I get a popup asking if I want to do a manual backup. I select that I want to do a manual backup. This takes me to another popup entitled "Quicken Backup" - Backup your file now. It lists the current data file name, the backup file name and has a "box" to check "Add date to backup file name." When I check that box, it inserts the date after the name of the file, before .QDF-backup. I checked that box and click Save Backup. In the past, the box remained checked and did not require being selected each time. It's only one more click, but out of habit I click "Save Backup" and it asks if I want to write over the last back since there is a backup out there without a date. Quicken recently did an update and that's when I noticed it changed. I'm currently on Windows 11, Quicken R60.15. An update should not remove a option as simple as this.

Quicken Jasmine

Hello @Don Click,

Thank you for providing more information.

If you don’t mind, could you please provide a screenshot of the window that you are seeing now? 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. Please remember to redact any personal information as needed.

Thanks!

Don Click

Attached is a screenshot of the two pop-ups I referenced.

Thanks for looking at this.

Quicken ScreenShot for Backup.pdf

Quicken Jasmine

Hello @Don Click,

Thank you for providing that screenshot. Both Quicken Kristina and myself were unable to replicate this issue, which leads me to believe this may be data-file specific.

To start with, I suggest that you please try validating and/or super validating your data file. However, I do recommend that you first 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.

I hope this helps!

Don Click

I performed the step to Validate and Repair the file - No Change. I then performed the step to Super Validate and Repair the file. No change. Both times, I waited well over 5 seconds before restarting Quicken. As I stated earlier, I don't believe this started until I did the last update to 60.15, but if it was others should experience the problem. The box to add the date has remained checked for years. I have worked in IT for decades and this has the feel of something not having been regression tested. I have over 20 years of data and the QDF is 147,863 KB. That shouldn't matter, but…

You said neither of you were unable to replicate the problem. I'm assuming you set up Quicken to ask about a backup when closing and you were able to check the box to add a date and subsequent closing of Quicken, the box was checked.

Thanks for looking into it. Any other thoughts?

Rocket J Squirrel

As a random fellow user, I can say I am not experiencing the same thing. My "add date" box stays checked.

Quicken Kristina

Thank you for your reply,

If you haven't already done so, please try restoring a backup from before this issue started, and see if the issue is resolved in that newly restored backup file.

Please let me know how it goes!

Don Click

I restored several files trying to find one that worked, and it was not a pleasant experience. I kept going farther back, and I think I found a backup from mid-November that kept the "Add Date" box checked. Being that old, getting caught up on transactions was not worth it. So, I went back to my most recent backup, and for some reason, three of my accounts had to be "reauthorized," which took a little time to figure out. I finally have everything back to how it was, but the "Add Date" box does not remain checked after the previous closure. I even tried unchecking the "Manual Backup Reminder" (MBR) box on Preferences > Backup, then closing and reopening Quicken several times, then checking the MBR box and closing/opening Quicken several times - no change. I unchecked the MRB box and validated the file again - went through the same steps again, no change.

I no longer believe it started with the new release since others are not able to replicate it. While restoring so many backups, I remembered that sometime in mid-November, my checking/savings accounts failed to download (OLE 220-A Error) and I had to deactivate and reactivate both accounts. That fixed the download problem, but I now wonder if it caused the Add Date check box to remain unchecked. BTW, I've had to Deactivate several times with no issues.

Something caused the Add Date box to no longer remain checked and it appears to be a setting stored in the QDF file. It seems that the Quicken code is the only thing that would update that setting/file.

Thoughts/Comments?

Quicken Kristina

Thank you for your reply,

Since restoring a backup wasn't a viable option, the next step would be creating a copy of your data file, which will rebuild all of the internal lists and database tables. If successful, you would then move forward with the copied file. To create a copy, please navigate to File > Copy or Backup File... > Create a copy or template (see examples below) which will also allow you to select a date range to move forward with.

If you wish to move forward with your entire data file, please check the full date range of your entire data file before copying so you can enter the correct date range if you do not wish to "shrink" your file by eliminating certain dates. Note - The only time you would need to "shrink" your file is if you suspect older data is the cause of the issue you're encountering.

It's important to know that all online services will be disconnected in the copied file, and you will need to sign back in with your Quicken ID and reconnect all of your online accounts, online billers, Quicken Bill Manager services, etc if you plan to use that copied file going forward. The reason for this is that the new copy also creates a new and separate dataset ID. I recommend verifying that the issue is resolved before reconnecting everything.

If the issue is not resolved in the copied file either, then feel free to switch back to your original file.

Thank you!

Don Click

I appreciate everyone's input on this. I tried the "create a copy or template" approach for the entire file (transactions dating back to 1990) and found the same problem. I did it again choosing transactions back to 01/01/2000 to current, same issue, then 01/01/2010, still having the same issue. I'll live with it before I'll trim any transactions. Due to the previous testing with backups that I mentioned in a previous post, it seems to have started mid-November, so it seems logical trimming transactions before then will not resolve the problem. I'm open to other suggestions but have resolved to live with it. Maybe whatever "flipped the bit" will "flip it back" in the future. If Quicken stores the preferences within the data file, as it seems, it seems odd that those preferences can't be re-selected and restored.

Quicken Kristina

Thank you for your reply,

Since the file troubleshooting didn't resolve the issue, if you'd like to try troubleshooting for a possible program issue, the next step is to try re-installing the current patch. To do that, please follow the directions in the article linked below:

https://www.quicken.com/support/update-and-patch-20182019-release-quicken-windows-subscription-product/

Please let me know how it goes!

rayseidlinger

I have the same problem. Frustrating.

Quicken Kristina

Hello @rayseidlinger,

To help troubleshoot this issue, please provide more information. Do you keep your Quicken file directly on your local hard drive? Is the file synced with any cloud services, such as OneDrive, iCloud, or Dropbox? When did you first notice this issue?

Is this happening when you initiate a backup by going to File>Copy or Backup File…?

Is this happening when you use a backup reminder to create a backup when closing your file?

Does this happen every time you create a backup, or only sometimes?

What troubleshooting have you already attempted?

I look forward to your response!

rayseidlinger

It happens when I exit (the preferences are set to back up each time) for when I go through backup tab.

It started recently and many people are having this issue so I am not sure why the information is not available from Quicken.

The backup is only saved to the hard drive.

It now happens every time I backup.

I have tried the recommended methods below:

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.

This is one of the quicken community comments:

Quicken does a local backup after 3 times of opening. For years, the checkbox for Add Date to File Name has remained selected. I just updated to R60.15 and now have to check that box each time. There is no option in the Preferences > Backup section to add the date to backup. Has something changed? I'm using Windows 11 on HP laptop.

Quicken Kristina

Thank you for your reply,

Do you have the backup reminder set for every 3rd time you close Quicken, like in the comment you quoted? If not, then what interval do you have it set to (every time you close Quicken, every 5th time, etc.)?

Since the Validate/Super Validate did not correct it, the next step is to try restoring a backup from before the issue started and test to see if the issue persists in that newly restored backup.

Thank you!

JimDE

I am experiencing the same issue as the original poster. I recently subscribed to Classic after using Quicken 2015. In Q2015, I checked the Add Date Box once, and it remained checked for each backup upon exiting the program. The subscription Classic requires me to check the Add Date every time. I have my program set to back up every time I exit the program.

Don Click

I started this discussion and can report that the symptoms have changed. I tried all of the above suggestions except reinstalling the latest fix. However, I recently installed an update and I'm now on R60.20 Build 27.1.60.20 - Windows 11. While doing some year-end processing, I manually backed up the file and selected to add a date and time. Now, after closing 3 times (as I have chosen in Preferences), both the date and time are checked each time. Even when I uncheck the box to select that the time be appended to the file name, the next time I'm asked if I want to back up, both date and time are checked. The core problem is that the selection will not remain/hold from one backup to the other. I prefer being able to make a selection and it remains for all future backups. The next best option for me is to have both date and time selected each time, rather than having neither selected.

I'm not sure this helps, other than to say my problem has changed. I'm not sure if it's related to the latest Quicken update.

Quicken Kristina

Thank you for the follow-up @Don Click,

It is interesting that the issue changed after the update, going from not remaining selected to always being selected. Was there anything else that happened around the same time that the behavior changed? Does it make any difference whether you backup your file using File>Copy or Backup File or the manual backup prompt on closing?

Thank you!

Don Click

I wish I could tell you the sequence, but I wasn't paying attention. I know I did a manual backup (File > Copy or Backup -- Create a Complete Backup) for my year-end processing. I know I selected the date and I think the time to be appended to the filename. It was sometime after that when I noticed that the date and time boxes were checked when I received the pop-up (triggered from preferences > backup). Somewhere in this time frame (although I'm not sure when) I received a Quicken update. I had resolved that I would always have to check the box(es) for each pop-up, so I haven't paid close attention to any events or sequences until I noticed that both boxes were checked from the pop-up. I can confirm both stay checked each time now, which for me is better than neither of them being checked.

Early on, I felt it was related to a Quicken Update. But after trying one of the suggestions to try a previous back, I found a backup that was working as designed, but it was too far back for me to bring the data current. We have another Quicken Update in the timeframe with this most recent change, so that raises a question this may be related to the update(s).

Quicken Kristina

Thank you for your reply,

What you said about it working as expected in an older backup makes me think this behavior may be file specific. If you'd like to continue troubleshooting this issue, I recommend creating a "test file", so that you can test if the backup popup remembers your preferences properly in a completely new file.

To create a test file, please follow these steps:

1. Choose File menu > New Quicken File.
   
2. Select New Quicken File.
   
3. Click OK
4. In the File name field, enter the name of the new file, then click Save. Use a name like "Test File" to tell it apart from your main file.  Avoid using any of these characters: * ? < > | " : \ / (asterisk, question mark, left and right-angle bracket, pipe, straight quotation marks, colon, BACKSLASH, FORWARD SLASH). Also, don't add the .qdf extension; Quicken does that for you.
   
5. Select to not use Mobile.
   
6. Click Add Account because it won't let you proceed otherwise.
   
7. Close the Add Account window and test to see if the backup dialogue remembers your preferences in the new "test" file.

Please let me know how it goes!