Importing .QIF files creates separate new account

Steve Horrocks
Steve Horrocks Quicken Windows Subscription Member ✭✭

A brokerage house stopped supporting transaction downloads in .qfx file format but still supports .qif format downloads. I downloaded the .qif files and directed Quicken to import the .qif files into the proper pre-existing four accounts in my QW Classic ver 54.16 build 27.1.54.16. QW created a separate NEW account for each of the four existing accounts instead of directly importing the data into the proper pre-existing account. I used QW functions (Actions dropdown/Move Transactions) to move the imported transactions from the newly created account to the proper pre-existing account. Effective but time consuming.

Is the creation of new accounts an expected action when attempting to import .qif files into existing accounts? Why did QW create new accounts when it was directed to import the data to an existing account?

Is this a feature?

Thanks

Steve

Quicken user since the dark ages of DOS.

Best Answers

Answers

  • QuickUserPSP
    QuickUserPSP Member, Windows Beta Beta

    @Steve Horrocks if you are specifying the exact account when you import the file, duplicate accounts are usually created when the account name in the QIF file is not the same as what is set up in Quicken.

  • Chris_QPW
    Chris_QPW Quicken Windows Subscription Member ✭✭✭✭

    If the QIF file has the account and type information in it, it will override any GUI selection for the account.

    Like this:

    !Account
    NTestOFXOut
    TCCard
    ^
    !Type:CCard

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  • Ps56k2
    Ps56k2 Quicken Windows Subscription Alumni ✭✭✭✭
    edited February 29

    just following along - -

    Here is a QIF download from my Chase checking acct - the "N" field is sent as "N/A"

    !Type:Bank
    C*
    D02/13/2024
    NN/A
    PCHECK 7240
    T-80.00
    ^
    C*
    D02/12/2024
    NN/A
    PATM WITHDRAWAL
    T-100.00
    ^

  • Chris_QPW
    Chris_QPW Quicken Windows Subscription Member ✭✭✭✭

    That is a "different" N field. It is the check number field. You are in the transaction section of the QIF file.

    Note that almost no financial institution actually uses the !Account section, but it is the only way I know that will override what you select in the GUI.

    BTW do note that the QIF files in Chase credit cards are messed up, they are missing the trailing ^ in each transaction.

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  • Ps56k2
    Ps56k2 Quicken Windows Subscription Alumni ✭✭✭✭

    yup -

    !Type:CCard
    C*
    D02/13/2024
    NN/A
    PAPPLE.COM/BILL
    T-0.99

    C*
    D02/11/2024
    NN/A
    PJEWEL OSCO 1111
    T-25.73

    C*
    D02/11/2024
    NN/A
    PJEWEL OSCO 0362
    T-3.22

    C*
    D02/09/2024
    NN/A
    PPayment Thank You - Web
    T416.68

  • Ps56k2
    Ps56k2 Quicken Windows Subscription Alumni ✭✭✭✭

    @Steve Horrocks - can you post the beginning of your downloaded QIF file - so we all can see what you are actually receiving -
    If the QIF has an exact acct number - just "9" it out -

  • Steve Horrocks
    Steve Horrocks Quicken Windows Subscription Member ✭✭

    OK. I am attaching a part of a QIF file from my brokerage firm. Hope it is enough of a file.

    !Option:AutoSwitch
    !Account
    99999999999999
    TInvst
    ^
    !Type:Cat
    NDistributions & Income
    DDistributions & Income GS Category
    T
    I
    ^
    !Type:Cat
    NDividends
    DDividends GS Category
    T
    I
    ^
    !Type:Cat
    NReturn of Capital
    DReturn of Capital GS Category
    T
    I
    ^
    !Type:Cat
    NFees
    DFees GS Category
    T
    E
    ^
    !Type:Cat
    NInvestment Management
    DInvestment Management GS Category
    T
    E
    ^
    !Type:Cat
    NTrading Expenses
    DTrading Expenses GS Category
    T
    E
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NAmer Finl Group
    SAFG
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NMarketaxess Hld
    SMKTX
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NGenie Energy-B
    SGNE
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NIdacorp Inc
    SIDA
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NDonaldson Co
    SDCI
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NBoston Pptys
    SBXP
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NPotlatch Corp
    SPCH
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NVentas Inc
    SVTR
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NUbiquiti Inc
    SUI
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NBio-Techne Cp
    STECH
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NApa Corp
    SAPA
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NSandy Spring
    SSASR
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NEnergy Tran Lp
    SET
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NSouthstate Cp
    SSSB
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NCostco Whole Cp
    SCOST
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NNnn Reit Inc
    SNNN
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NFirst Source Cp
    SSRCE
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NSmith (Ao) Corp
    SAOS
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NSTRATEGY SHS GOLD HDGD BD ETF
    SGOLY
    TMutual Fund
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NHexcel Corp
    SHXL
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NFranklin Elec
    SFELE
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NStag Industrial
    SSTAG
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NCal-Maine Foods
    SCALM
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    ND R Horton Inc
    SDHI
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NCoca Cola Bottl
    SCOKE
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NNucor Corp
    SNUE
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NIshars-1-3Ytb
    SSHY
    TMutual Fund
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NSPDR BARCLAYS CAPITAL INTERMEDIATE TERM
    SSPIB
    TMutual Fund
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NSPDR BARCLAYS CAPITAL 1-3 MONTH T-BILL E
    SBIL
    TMutual Fund
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NLennar Corp -A
    SLEN
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NGraco Inc
    SGGG
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NFIRST TR EXCHANGE TRADED FD IV FIRST T
    SFTSM
    TMutual Fund
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NSimulation Plus
    SSLP
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NNatl Healthcare
    SNHC
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NMid-Amer Apt Cm
    SMAA
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NEog Res Inc
    SEOG
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NFIRST TRUST TCW OPPORTUNISTIC FIXED INCO
    SFIXD
    TMutual Fund
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NFIRST TRUST LOW DURATION MORTGAGE OPPORT
    SLMBS
    TMutual Fund
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NWatsco Inc
    SWSO
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NBrady Corp Cl A
    SBRC
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NWd 40 Co
    SWDFC
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NEnsign Group
    SENSG
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NCentral Pac Fin
    SCPF
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NArtisan Ptnr Am
    SAPAM
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NA-Mark Precious
    SAMRK
    TStock
    ^
    !Type:Security
    NMarkel Group
    SMKL
    TStock
    ^
    !Clear:AutoSwitch
    !Type:Invst
    D1/30/2024
    NDiv
    YBoston Pptys
    U5.16
    T5.16
    M Distributions & Income
    L[Investment:Distributions & Income:Dividends]
    ^
    D1/30/2024
    NCash
    U-0.2800000011920929
    T-0.2800000011920929
    MFDIC.CASH (Buys) - FO:1086ET94
    ^
    ^
    D1/30/2024
    NSell
    YMarkel Group
    I1501.39
    Q0.18855
    T283.08
    ^
    D1/30/2024
    NBuy
    YA-Mark Precious
    I27.35
    Q17.22602
    T471.19
    ^
    D1/30/2024
    NSell
    YArtisan Ptnr Am
    I42.18
    Q7.59297
    T320.26
    ^
    D1/30/2024
    NSell
    YCentral Pac Fin
    I19.7
    Q17.22697
    T339.28
    ^
    D1/30/2024
    NBuy
    YMarketaxess Hld
    I276.07
    Q1.70675
    T471.18
    ^
    D1/31/2024
    NDiv
    YBrady Corp Cl A
    U1.2
    T1.2

  • Chris_QPW
    Chris_QPW Quicken Windows Subscription Member ✭✭✭✭
    edited February 29

    This will definitely override the GUI setting, and import (create if it doesn't exist) into the account name given.

    !Option:AutoSwitch
    !Account
    99999999999999
    TInvst
    ^

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  • Steve Horrocks
    Steve Horrocks Quicken Windows Subscription Member ✭✭

    Thanks for all the responses.

    @QuickUserPSP implies that the name of the QW account and the 3rd line of the .qif file after the "N" character must exactly match the existing file name in order for the import to not create a "new" account. For example:

    !Option:AutoSwitch
    !Account
    NABC123456

    The account name in QW must be ABC123456. Is this correct?

    Steve

  • QuickUserPSP
    QuickUserPSP Member, Windows Beta Beta
    edited March 1 Answer ✓

    @Steve Horrocks that is correct. However, if you are importing transactions for only one account, I think you can leave the account section altogether and just note the account in the GUI setting. The account name in the QIF file is required when you are updating multiple accounts from a single file.

  • Chris_QPW
    Chris_QPW Quicken Windows Subscription Member ✭✭✭✭
    Answer ✓

    If you want that QIF file to import into an account other than ABC123456, you need to either change ABC123456 in the QIF file to what you want, or remove this section, and select the account name you want in the QIF import dialog:

    !Option:AutoSwitch
    !Account
    NABC123456
    TInvst
    ^

    If the account name is in the QIF, it will ALWAYS win out over what you select in the QIF import dialog.

    Example:

    QIF:

    !Account
    NNameInQIF
    TInvst
    ^

    Selection in Quicken:

    Selected Import.

    Select Yes.

    Select Yes.

    Select Done.

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  • Steve Horrocks
    Steve Horrocks Quicken Windows Subscription Member ✭✭

    Thank you for all the help.

    I think that covers my questions.

  • Ps56k2
    Ps56k2 Quicken Windows Subscription Alumni ✭✭✭✭
    edited March 1

    always learning a little something - never played with QIF -

    and the brokerage QIF file is very different than my test download from Chase -
    It appeared the brokerage QIF had a complete set of CAT and TYPE entries to build an entire schema,
    and then the actual numerical data elements followed - vs just the simple transaction data like from my Chase download.

    Wonder if the brokerage had a choice - download entire account as QIF vs just transactions ?

This discussion has been closed.