Windows R62.16 - Year End Archive doesn't trim file

JimC52

I've read the admonishment about only trimming Reconciled records, and the new notice about no doing this on a regular basis anymore. (The days of Floppy discs are over.)

However, I can't get this function to trim ANY records from my current file. I've been using Quicken for more than 15 years and have been occasionally trimming so the file doesn't get overly large. I need to trim it some now (qdata is at 103 MB). I have followed the Help instructions with no successful trimming. ALL of my records remain, regardless of reconciled or not and I don't need online checks going back to January of 2017. Here's what I used:

File → Copy or Backup → Create a year-end-archive → …trans…from 01-Jan-24 → select storage location and start the backup.

What am I doing wrong? —————V

I can answer my own question. I discovered that while the checking account entries have all been reconcilled, those that purchased hard assets (vehicle, properties, etc) still showed up because the assets themselves had not been reconciled.

Quicken Jasmine

Hello @JimC52,

Thanks for sharing all those details—super helpful already! I have a few follow-up questions just to clarify the behavior and help pinpoint where things might be going sideways:

1. When you go through the Year-End Archive process, are you selecting the option that says “Archive transactions before a date and remove them from my current file” or just backing up without trimming?
2. Are the accounts you’re trying to trim marked as Separate or Hidden by any chance?
3. Are there any transfers between accounts in your file (for example, between your checking account and an asset account like a vehicle)? Transfers can sometimes prevent trimming if either side of the transfer isn't fully reconciled.
4. Do you recall the last time the file was successfully trimmed? If so, was anything done differently at that time?
5. Do you happen to use any placeholders or investment accounts? Those can sometimes throw off the archive process too.

Let me know!