How to delete old transactions without affecting balance of accounts.

Question

I have been using Quicken for 20 years.  Is there any way to delete old transactions (say over 10 years old) in an efficient way without impacting the current balances in my accounts?  Would love to reduce the volume of transactions and accounts in my data file.

NotACPA · Answer

The size of your data file has almost nothing to do with the performance of the file, since it's a database and only what's needed is brought in.

SO, other than aesthetics, is there a particular reason that you want to do this?  Because,  once you trim the file it's next to impossible to  "put Humpty together again".

BUT, having said that you can do a backup and then do a Year-End Archive to trim the file  to only non-investment transactions that occur after a date that you specify. Investment transactions won't be trimmed.  FILE, Copy or Backup, Create a year-end archive.

volvogirl · Answer

If you delete old transactions (or add old ones) you need to adjust the beginning balance in the account for them.

kayak · Answer

First, make a backup and then open up and experiment with THAT file instead of your main .QDF file.

Under File, Copy or Backup, there are several options to trim back the time span of transactions in your current data set.  Play around with those settings and see where it takes you.  I also have a huge data file, spanning back to 1999, and have pondered trimming it down to more current transactions and accounts.  The only downfall I can imagine will be the loss of history for research purposes, ie: how much money have I paid Comcast over the last 25 years!!!  (Better off NOT knowing some things!!!)

I would be interested to hear how my suggestion addresses your concerns, ie: will trimming back the years affect balances in current accounts?  I am curious to know the outcome.