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Backup Quicken 2015 for Mac files

Unknown Member
edited January 2019 in

Is there any risk putting the Quicken 2015 data files in iCloud Drive thus assuring a constant offsite backup?

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  • splashersplasher SuperUser ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited October 2018
    The working copy of the data file or your backups?  Your question is not clear.  Use reply to respond.
    -splasher  using Q since 1996 -  Subscription  -  Win10
    -also older versions as needed for testing
    -Questions? Check out the  Quicken Windows FAQ list

  • Unknown Member
    edited July 2016
    Sorry if I wasn't clear. I mean the working copy of the data because in Quicken 2015 you have to remember to manually backup and I am not very good at like that so I figures if it was safe to put the data files in iCloud I would have in effect an automatic backup. I seem to recall reading somewhere that this could result is a corrupted data file if it is synced at the wrong time.
  • Unknown Member
    edited July 2016
    1 - Not to be sarcastic, but Time Machine and an offsite redundant backup is my solution.  I'm not sure I trust the cloud (yet) with the data in Quicken.
       2 - Regarding corrupted data, I found out the hard way that if you want to work on your .quickedata file from, e.g., your iMac and your MacBook the only safe way is to copy the .quickendata file from one computer to the other and working on it that way rather than trying to work on the file resident on my iMac from my MacBook.  Then to be on the safe side, re-sync after switching from one computer to the other.
       Hope this helps with your situation.
  • splashersplasher SuperUser ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited October 2018

    Intuit does NOT support keeping the data file on a shared or network drive: http://knowledgebase.quicken.com/support/help/downloading--installing--upgrading-and-converting/can-i-insta...


    Potential data file corruption is possible since Quicken is constantly reading/writing to the data file and doing it over a network (though one would like to think it is perfect) could produce errors in the file.
    -splasher  using Q since 1996 -  Subscription  -  Win10
    -also older versions as needed for testing
    -Questions? Check out the  Quicken Windows FAQ list

  • Unknown Member
    edited July 2016
    splasher said:


    Intuit does NOT support keeping the data file on a shared or network drive: http://knowledgebase.quicken.com/support/help/downloading--installing--upgrading-and-converting/can-i-insta...


    Potential data file corruption is possible since Quicken is constantly reading/writing to the data file and doing it over a network (though one would like to think it is perfect) could produce errors in the file.

    Thank you for the reply but it doesn't quite answer my question. I do not wish to use multiple instances of QM15 on different computers using the same data file. Nor do I want to save the Quicken data file directly to a networked or shared drive. I want to use a single instance of QM15 on a single computer but I want to put the data files in  iCloud (or Dropbox) in which case the files are stored on a local hard drive then synced to cloud storage. For years I stored QW backups on Dropbox(and a network drive before DB was available) with no difficulty...I never forgot a backup because QW offered me the opportunity to save a backup every time I closed the app. This does not happen with QM15 so I am looking for a safe way to accomplish the same thing until Intuit restores this valuable feature to the Mac version
  • John_in_NCJohn_in_NC SuperUser ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited March 2017

    The only thing I suggest you keep on any cloud based drive (iCloud, DB, etc.) is a compressed backup of your datafile.


    I know tools like DB keep the copy local until you are done with it, and then it syncs to DB. Many people have had success with this, but I also have seen too many problems to suggest doing such.


    The problem stems not so much from Quicken, but the fact that the MacOS can get cranky with data file package permissions. If you have ever tried to move other data file packages (iPhoto library, iMovie projects) around, you might be familiar with the problem. I have even seen Quicken files restored from Time Machine give permission problems. Luckily, those can usually be fixed. Also, compressing the file as noted above avoids all the permission problems.


    That said, If you simply want to Save a Backup directly to iCloud (and skip the compress step) you probably will be fine. Worse case, you likely could still fix the problems if they did occur. And if you frequently backup, you would have multiple backups to fall back on should one be bad. But to answer your questions, there really isn't going to be an automated way of backing up.


    The more catastrophic data file failures occur when the active data file is kept local, but in a manner that is always getting uploaded/download (such as keeping your data file in the DB folder) And if the file is accessed via DB from multiple machines (albeit the copy is still considered local to each user), that exacerbates the permissions problems-especially if each user as different user account permission settings.
  • splashersplasher SuperUser ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 2016
    splasher said:


    Intuit does NOT support keeping the data file on a shared or network drive: http://knowledgebase.quicken.com/support/help/downloading--installing--upgrading-and-converting/can-i-insta...


    Potential data file corruption is possible since Quicken is constantly reading/writing to the data file and doing it over a network (though one would like to think it is perfect) could produce errors in the file.

    What you do with a backup file is your choice, but you said that you wanted to keep the working copy of the file in the cloud.  That means using a network connection for Quicken to read/write to that file.  As stated in the article, that process is not supported and will probably cause data file corruption.
    -splasher  using Q since 1996 -  Subscription  -  Win10
    -also older versions as needed for testing
    -Questions? Check out the  Quicken Windows FAQ list

  • RIckRIck Member ✭✭
    edited January 2019
    Why not create an Automator application, put an alias in your Mac toolbar and run it when you close Quicken? I have attached a screenshot showing the steps. Note: "Rick" is a 4 GB flash drive in my example. You could change this to another folder on your Mac, a folder on an attached drive, iCloud, etc.

    Outside of TimeMachine or automatic backups to DB or iCloud this is the easiest way.

    If you want to Compress the datafile, then use the "Create Archive" function instead of the "Copy Finder Items".

    image
  • Unknown Member
    edited July 2016
    RIck said:

    Why not create an Automator application, put an alias in your Mac toolbar and run it when you close Quicken? I have attached a screenshot showing the steps. Note: "Rick" is a 4 GB flash drive in my example. You could change this to another folder on your Mac, a folder on an attached drive, iCloud, etc.

    Outside of TimeMachine or automatic backups to DB or iCloud this is the easiest way.

    If you want to Compress the datafile, then use the "Create Archive" function instead of the "Copy Finder Items".

    image

    Thank you for this. It looks like the most promising solution. I will experiment to see if there is a way I can get it to activate when I close Quicken
  • RIckRIck Member ✭✭
    edited December 2016
    RIck said:

    Why not create an Automator application, put an alias in your Mac toolbar and run it when you close Quicken? I have attached a screenshot showing the steps. Note: "Rick" is a 4 GB flash drive in my example. You could change this to another folder on your Mac, a folder on an attached drive, iCloud, etc.

    Outside of TimeMachine or automatic backups to DB or iCloud this is the easiest way.

    If you want to Compress the datafile, then use the "Create Archive" function instead of the "Copy Finder Items".

    image

    I never found a way to automatically run this when Quicken Closes - but you may be more motivated.  I just put it in my Mac toolbar and click it after I close Quicken.

    Note too that I add the date to the filename and then the time.  This will allow you to keep more than 1 daily copy if desired since the "time" will always be different.  Here is an example:   
    Wilson 2015 10/23/2014 16-40-47.quicken2015

    This was 10/23/2014   at 4:40 and 47 sec PM
  • splashersplasher SuperUser ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 2016
    RIck said:

    Why not create an Automator application, put an alias in your Mac toolbar and run it when you close Quicken? I have attached a screenshot showing the steps. Note: "Rick" is a 4 GB flash drive in my example. You could change this to another folder on your Mac, a folder on an attached drive, iCloud, etc.

    Outside of TimeMachine or automatic backups to DB or iCloud this is the easiest way.

    If you want to Compress the datafile, then use the "Create Archive" function instead of the "Copy Finder Items".

    image

    I'm a Windows user, so I've never used this Automator program you are referring to, but could you, as part of the process, have it begin with starting Quicken, so that when Quicken closed, it would then go on to complete your established process?
    -splasher  using Q since 1996 -  Subscription  -  Win10
    -also older versions as needed for testing
    -Questions? Check out the  Quicken Windows FAQ list

  • RIckRIck Member ✭✭
    edited December 2016
    RIck said:

    Why not create an Automator application, put an alias in your Mac toolbar and run it when you close Quicken? I have attached a screenshot showing the steps. Note: "Rick" is a 4 GB flash drive in my example. You could change this to another folder on your Mac, a folder on an attached drive, iCloud, etc.

    Outside of TimeMachine or automatic backups to DB or iCloud this is the easiest way.

    If you want to Compress the datafile, then use the "Create Archive" function instead of the "Copy Finder Items".

    image

    I don't think Automator will stop while you are using Quicken.  IF it would even open/run Quicken to start with.
  • SarahSarah Member ✭✭
    edited July 2016

    I've been keeping my Quicken data file in Dropbox ever since I've been using Quicken (~2007). That has been Quicken Windows (the latest version) up until a few weeks ago, now I'm using Quicken Mac 2015. If you are not planning on opening the file on more than one computer then you should be fine. I've only had issues when I forgot to close Quicken on one computer before opening it on another computer, or when I didn't let Dropbox sync full before opening Quicken.


    I also store the Quicken backups on Dropbox and haven't had any issues with that either.


    This is just my anecdotal experience, so take it with a grain of salt.
  • Unknown Member
    edited July 2016
    Thank you. I keep my backups there (when I remember to do them) I hope Intuit adds a backup prompt on shutdown as in QW soon
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