Sync Issue

Rick Milton

I have had this issue before and it's reappearing:

I'm having problems with Quicken and syncing. I've changed some scheduled transactions and when I sync, the old schedule comes back after I sync. It appears that the scheduled transactions are coming back from the cloud sync, instead of updating the cloud with the new scheduled transactions.

Hopefully I'm making sense with this.

I've changed the splits in both Quicken AND online and saved them. I've reset the cloud data, and it is still there!

I don't know if I'm not accessing the data correctly — I've gone into my calendar and clicked on the transaction and then into the splits that I wanted to change. I've also gone into the memorized transaction to make sure that THIS is also saved correctly, but it SEEMS to pull from the calendar data, not the memorized transaction. This is a weekly scheduled transaction and just is plainly screwed up and keeps coming back after I sync!

HELP!

Rick

[Edited-Readability]

Quicken Alyssa

Hello @Rick Milton,

Thank you for sharing your experience and reporting the issue you are running into with the cloud sync.

Let's try resetting your Quicken cloud to resolve this issue.

1. Go to Edit.
2. Select Preferences.
3. In the left pane, select Mobile & Web.
4. In the right pane, under Quicken Mobile & Web, click Reset your cloud data.
5. In the Reset Your Cloud Data dialog, type yes, and then click Reset to confirm the reset.

Let us know if the issue persists after doing this.

Thanks again!

Rick Milton

I can't see where my reply was posted, so I apologize if it posts twice.

I must not have made myself clear, but I have already done the above reset. When I go in and look at the scheduled transaction online (cloud) it's not correct, so I change it as well as change it in my Windows version of Quicken. I'm not sure how it gets screwed up, but when I go back in and sync again, both the places (cloud and Windows version) both have the same mistakes again — it's has to do with the memo line - I've changed some of the memos on the schedule transaction, but it keeps replacing the what I want with what was there before.

I've also noticed that it screws up the categories the bottom line of the deposit is correct, but the category amounts do not correspond correctly — it's my paycheck, so I do the same deposit each week, but one week the fed withholding is one figure and the next week it's another figure — and the figure that SHOULD be for fed withholding is now recorded for state withholding! Each of the categories is correct each week, it's the figures and the memos are changing by the sync, but the bottom line of the deposit is correct each week! It's madding as I have to go back and check each week and change the figures in my Windows version of Quicken!

It ONLY happens if I sync, which I need to do because I can't have Quicken on two computers like I'd like (home and office).

Rick Milton

I also see that THIS reply didn't post!

I went ahead and made sure that everything was correct in Windows Quicken and then did another rest of the cloud data (not doing a sync before uploading) and when it was done, I checked the cloud. All the amounts and categories were correct, but the memos were incorrect! If I did a reset, everything should have been what I had in my Windows Quicken, exactly, but the memos were all screwed up!

Rick Milton

UPDATE

I deleted the scheduled transaction and reentered it. SO FAR it seems to have taken care of the problem…….stay tuned!

Rick

Quicken Alyssa

@Rick Milton,

Thank you for following up with your progress.

If you need more help, let us know!

Thanks again!

Chris_QPW

It ONLY happens if I sync, which I need to do because I can't have Quicken on two computers like I'd like (home and office).

Just to be clear "Sync to Mobile/Web" isn't a sync between two Quicken Desktop data files. If you have two computers with a data file that was copied from one to the other and now you are running "Sync to Mobile/Web" from both of them to try to keep them in sync, you are asking for all kinds of problems.

The only way to maintain a Quicken Desktop data file on two computers is by copying it from one to the other and only open/edit on the "current copy".

As in you have Computer A, with a data file. You open it and edit and such, and then close it.

Then you copy that data file to Computer B, and open it and edit and such, then you close it.

Then you copy the data file back to Computer A, and repeat.

It is strictly one machine at a time, and which ever computer you are opening the data file on it has to be the most recent copy of that data file.

Rick Milton

I thought things were going well and I was syncing back and forth with no issues. A sync or two ago, I checked my windows schedule transaction for next week (a deposit of my pay check) and noticed that one of the memos in a category was copied. This particular memo had a blank line, but had the memo from another line had been copied into this category's memo. I fixed the scheduled transaction, sync'd it several times as I had made changes or posted other bills, etc. It seemed to stay.

TODAY after syncing, I went to next week's scheduled deposit. MANY of the blank memo lines had the memos that I had put for other categories into the blank memo lines. Also the deposit amount (bottom line) was correct, but ALL the category figures had changed. If I had that $100 was a category for fed withholding, it changed that to $100 for state withholding. If I put $25 for state withholding, it put that down for FICA — it changed all the figures, but kept the bottom line of the withholding the same!

I thought I had it fixed by deleting the scheduled transaction and then re-entering, it but it seems that something is happening in the syncing process that is messing with the transaction. I don't know if it's happening with the online/mobile or with the windows Quicken. I just know that I'm very frustrated and it keeps reappearing and if I don't check it after EVERY sync, I don't have any idea if next week's scheduled transaction will be correct or not!

I've had something similar happen with other scheduled transactions where it either changed the date (birthday checks) or changed the amount of the checks. I must be the only one with this issues, but I don't know what to do!

ALSO — I'd LOVE to be able to copy my database from my home computer to my office computer, open it review things or pull a report, but NOT CHANGE data, but was told that I couldn't do that — it wouldn't work, so I deleted the Quicken for Windows on my office computer and was told to only use the mobile version if I wanted to review things. I just want to review things at the office, not post bills or anything else. IS THAT POSSIBLE?? I back up the data to dropbox after every session.

HELP, please!

Rick Milton

So I completely deleted the scheduled deposit transaction and sync'd, checking to make sure it was removed from the cloud, which it was after syncing. I then went back in and re-entered the transaction, using a different name and making it a scheduled transaction. I then reset the cloud with the data.

After doing this, I went back to the scheduled transaction and noted that the order of the categories that I had put them in (as per the order of the deductions on my paycheck) had all switched. All the amounts (so far) have stayed the same, but blank memo lines were changed with lines that I had put for other categories!

I'm at a total loss! I'm about to give up on syncing, reinstall Quicken on my office computer, only look at things on the office computer, and hope that I don't mess up my home (where I do all the work and enter data) computer's data file.

Something is messed up badly!

[Edited - Readability/Langage]

Chris_QPW

I like a lot of long-time users including the SuperUsers don't trust Sync to Mobile/Web not mess things up, too many reports of such problems.

On the using the same data file on two different computers. Of course, the first thing people think of is putting their Quicken Desktop data file in a cloud folder and then just have it "sync it" to the other computer and use it there. In fact, Quicken's default location for the Desktop data file is in OneDrive if you turn on OneDrive to back up your Documents folder. But there are warnings about doing that.

The first is that it is possible for such a service to try to sync your data file when Quicken doesn't have it in a good state, or it might lock it when Quicken wants to access it, giving errors. Or for the very naive person opening the data file on both machines at the same time and changing things (there is no way for these services to know how to do a proper syncing of data from two different edits)

This problem can be eliminated by doing one of two things. Either turn off that sync while using Quicken. Or have the data file outside of the cloud folder, and when you are finish close Quicken and use Windows File Explorer to copy the data file to the cloud folder. And then on the other machine copy it out of the cloud folder to a local folder and open it there.

Quicken really doesn't care what computer you open the data file on, but it is extremely important that you are always opening the "most current copy". Ever data file is connected to some online data. As you change your data file and do things like One Step Update, you aren't just changing data in the data file, you are also changing data on the server. And those two need to stay in sync.

Following these steps you not only can view your data on the other machine, but you can also do whatever edits and online services that you like.

Rick Milton

Thanks — I've already decided that sync to the cloud is NOT working and have discontinued it.

So you are saying that if I do all my work on my home computer, but access the cloud folder at the office to merely look up a payment or a check and then close it (without changing any data), I could be screwing up the cloud data folder?

I'm a long time, OLD user that just wants a simple way to look something up if I need to during work hours……

Thanks

Rick

Chris_QPW

https://community.quicken.com/discussion/comment/20542590#Comment_20542590

If all you are doing in the other computer is looking at the data, that shouldn't cause any problems provided that you have closed the data file on the first computer and Cloud folder on the other machine has been synced before you open it on the other computer.

Actually, forgot the main problem. If you have your data file in a Cloud folder and syncing is on, that syncing can interfere with Quicken trying to access the data file. So, the problem isn't on the "read-only" computer it is on the main computer.

That is why when you are using Quicken "in write mode" you either need to turn off the Cloud folder syncing for OneDrive or whatever one you are using or keep your data file out of such a folder and copy it into a Cloud folder for use on the other machine.

Rick Milton

So for us dummies who need step by step — my home computer is "write mode" (I don't know how I put it IN or OUT of that mode). I backup the Quicken file (from home) to Dropbox, which sync with my office computer and IF I hope Quicken there (right now I've deleted it as I was trying to use Mobile because Quicken tech support — if I remember, said you shouldn't access the file on two computers.).

I am no longer syncing to the cloud and have had no problems so far with any data changes that I was having when I did sync to the cloud.

I guess I still don't totally understand — long time Quicken user, used to be a good on computers, but things may be passing me by as I age!

Any more help would be appreciated. Thanks

Chris_QPW

• Post messed up by forum editor.

[Edited-Language]

Chris_QPW

You mention Backing up, so I will point out that I wouldn't use Quicken's backup and restore. Here are the steps I would use for Dropbox. Start with the data file not in the Dropbox folder. For Dropbox the default folder of Documents\Quicken is fine.

1. On the home computer. Open and use Quicken and then close it.

2. Use Windows File Explorer to copy the data file to the Dropbox folder.

3. On the work machine. Use Windows File Explorer to copy the data file to a local folder on your machine from your Dropbox folder. For Dropbox the default folder of Documents\Quicken is fine.

4. Open Quicken on the work machine from that local folder. (Since you aren't going to change things here you don't have to copy the data file back to the Dropbox folder after you close it. But if you want to make changes here, then you should use Windows File Explorer to copy the data file back to the Dropbox folder. And would have to copy it back out of Dropbox on the home computer before opening).

When at home start at step #1 again.

Note you can still backup to Dropbox from Quicken if you like, it is just that using Quicken's Restore constantly can lead to problems.

Another approach to this would be to use a script. If you put the following in a file created with Notepad, and saved to a file name like Quicken.cmd (the Quicken part of the file name can be whatever name you like, but you have to use Save As and change the type from .txt to .cmd).

@echo off
set DATA _FILE=Current.qdf
set DATA_DIR=c:\Quicken
set QUICKEN_BACKUP_DIR=%USERPROFILE%\OneDrive\Documents\Quicken
IF EXIST %DATA_DIR% GOTO DIR_EXISTS
mkdir %DATA_DIR%
:DIR_EXISTS

copy "%QUICKEN_BACKUP_DIR%%DATA_FILE%" "%DATA_DIR%%DATA_FILE%"

IF %ERRORLEVEL% == 0 GOTO COPY_PASSED
start /wait cmd /C "ECHO %QUICKEN_BACKUP_DIR%%DATA_FILE% copy of data file failed. && PAUSE"
GOTO END

:COPY_PASSED
"%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Quicken\qw.exe" "%DATA_DIR%%DATA_FILE%"

copy "%DATA_DIR%%DATA_FILE%" "%QUICKEN_BACKUP_DIR%%DATA_FILE%"
IF %ERRORLEVEL% == 0 GOTO ENDstart /wait cmd /C "ECHO %DATA_DIR%%DATA_FILE% copy of data file failed. && PAUSE"

:END

You need to change the first three set lines to match your setup. "Current.qdf" is the name of your data file. DATA_DIR is the "local folder". For me that is C:\Quicken because with OneDrive "Documents" is actually in a OneDrive folder as you can see and that is what I'm trying to avoid. Yours could be:

%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Quicken

%USERPROFILE% expands to like this:

C:\Users\YOUR_USERNAME

The last set is the "cloud folder". That would be something like:

%USERPROFILE%\Dropbox\…

You can use this script on both machines. What it does is first check to make sure the local directory exists, and if it doesn't it creates it. Next it copies the data file from the "cloud folder"/QUICKEN_BACKUP_DIR to the local folder. And then it opens it with Quicken in that local folder. It waits until you close Quicken and then copies the data file back from the local folder to the "cloud folder".

Rick Milton

I truly appreciate your help, but this old guy says it's just too a little to complicated for me. Using scripts is way beyond me!

I think I'll just use my home computer and if I need to look something up during the day, it's just going to have to wait until I get home.

Sure with it was just a little easier, but thanks.

I liked it when you could just open the file, use it on one machine, then back it up and use it on the other machine with no issues, but those were the good old days!

Rick