How do I remove old, closed and hidden accounts from the dropdown lists?

RonSR209

I was glad to see that others have asked the same question as to how to remove old closed and hidden accounts from the transfer dropdown list or at least block any expenses from be entered on them once they are closed. I was saddened (and a bit miffed) to find that there does not seem to be an answer.

Despite this problem being raised by others going back a number of years now, has Quicken still not addressed this?

If it has been addressed, please provide instructions.

NotACPA

Well, you don't want to delete them, since that will screw up your history, and any transfers to/from them.

What you can do, however, is rename them to start with ZZZZ (or something similar) so at least they drop to the bottom of those lists.

CaliQkn

@RonSR209 - your data file was probably created years ago. I can tell you that the issue you have doesn't exist in newer data files. In newer files, closed and hidden accounts do not show in transfer dropdown lists. In fact there is no way to make them show.

That being said, the only way to "fix" this issue is to create a new data file. Or use a workaround like @NotACPA suggested.

Chris_QPW

https://community.quicken.com/discussion/comment/20488127#Comment_20488127

In fact, the truth is much more complicated than that.

It is clearly a bug not to be able to hide them in an old data file if you can do it in a "new" data file. Just as it has been a long-standing bug that in a "new" data file you can't show them with "show hidden".

But even more than that the whole approach is "a bug".

This isn't an account: [This Account]. And it isn't a category for that matter; it is a transfer.

The problem stems from the fact that they reused the category field for transfers (and balance adjustments), and then on top of that they have decided to be totally inconsistent in that notion/syntax.

If you look you will not find [The Account] syntax in any "Account List". Where you find it is in the category lists.

Clearly, if they used their own syntax where you should be selecting to hide the transfers is in the Category list above (which you can't do because they have that disabled and didn't write code consistently). They have chosen to use the inconsistent "account list hide" and that doesn't even work properly.

CaliQkn

@Chris_QPW I think though it is whether or not the fix is "retroactive" or not. I remember in my working days that if IT put a fix in place, they always told us if the fix was retroactive or only applied to new accounts. Quicken doesn't tell you that.

RonSR209

https://community.quicken.com/discussion/comment/20488127#Comment_20488127

Good catch. You are correct in your observation. My data file is VERY old — at least in computer years. I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I started using Quicken back in the late 1980s (when it was in MS-DOS). Although I'm pretty sure this isn't the original file that I started in the '80s (I vaguely recall the file getting corrupted at one point and having to start a new data file), the current file still has to be at least 20 years old.

The age of the data file would never have crossed my mind. I know they have supposedly made a lot of updates so that they could justify the exorbitant reoccurring pricing structure they've put in place, and I assumed that as my software got updated, so too would be my data file — the way Microsoft does when they introduce a new version of Word or Excel. Clearly, I had too high of an expectation of Quicken. Actually, I have been disappointed with Quicken for so long now that I shouldn't be surprised.

When you say, "create a new data file" do you mean start from scratch setting up each account, entering opening balances, linking them to online banking, etc., or is there a shortcut here?

If I do need to start from scratch, this may actually be my lucky day. I have wanted to leave Quicken for many years now but felt that the hassle of moving was just too painful. This may finally be my liberation day! lol Any suggestions of other programs out there similar to Quicken, that aren't too complex, provide easy access to support and don't overcharge?

Thank you very much!

UKR

BTW, have you looked in Tools / Manage Hidden Accounts? Here you can easily set options to close, show or hide multiple accounts.
How well this works in reality I can't say. There aren't many changes happening in my world when it comes to opening or closing accounts.

Changing closed accounts' names to have a "ZZZZ" prefix is a very good suggestion, just to keep them sorted to the bottom of the selection lists and have an eyecatcher, to prevent unintended use.

CaliQkn

@UKR it seems that hiding or closing the account doesn't hide the account on the transfer list in older data files.