Backup size not changing

branzburg

Good morning. I backup my Quicken data file regularly; I have noticed that for the past few weeks the backup size is not changing. In the past, it has increased with each backup. Any ideas why this is so?

I use Quicken Classic Deluxe for Windows, version R65.29

Thanks.

The Keeper

This behavior is actually quite common with newer versions of Quicken and is usually normal, especially given the version you’re running (Quicken Classic Deluxe R65.29). The most likely reason your backup size has stopped growing is because Quicken backup files are compressed archives, similar to ZIP files.

• When you add new transactions, they are mostly small text/data records
• Compression is very efficient at handling repetitive financial data
• Once compression “stabilizes,” adding new data may not increase the file size at all, or it may change only occasionally. So even though your data file is growing internally, the compressed backup may remain the same size.

Backup size tends to increase when you add things like: New accounts - Attachments (PDF statements - receipts - new securities with long histories - new images or documents.

If the last few weeks have been routine transactions, scheduled bills or downloads from financial institutions, then the backup size may stay flat.

splasher

If you recently deleted a bunch of transactions, Q does not release the file space, it just refills it with the new stuff and the file would not need to grow until all of the recently deleted space is refilled.

mshiggins

@branzburg do you keep multiple backup files or do you keep just one and overwrite it each time you back up?

q_lurker

To clarify, all Quicken files (since 2010 or so) are ZIP-style compressed files; not just backups. There is no distinction in that manner between a regular Quicken QDF file and a QDF-backup file.