Maintain ability to run 2 copies of Quicken for Mac simultaneously (20 Legacy Votes)

smayer97 · November 2017

In the past, it was quite simple to run 2 versions of Quicken at the same time because the versions, and the associated resources (preference file, Application Support files, etc) were differentiated by the associated year version, e.g. Quicken 2015, Quicken 2016, Quicken 2017.

As of 2018, as Quicken moves away from the version numbering using the year, e.g. Quicken 2017 to just Quicken, please be sure to maintain some way to continue to be able to run 2 different versions of Quicken at the same time. Otherwise, with the loss of the year #, there may be resource contentions that prevent this from happening.

Some use cases that require running 2 versions side by side:

needed when trying to compare results of upgrading
comparing data from 2 sets of data files
testing beta version while still running live data version

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smayer97 · November 2017

This IDEA has been added to the List of Requests for Data and File Management Features and the List of Miscellaneous Requests. You may want to click on each underlined link, then follow the instructions to add your vote to more related ideas.

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Bob Myers · November 2017

I think that this capability already exists. When I upgraded to 2018, a new "Quicken" directories were set up in the Application and Application Support directories. The old "Quicken 2017" directories were preserved. I am able to run both instances at the same time.

smayer97 · November 2017

At least as it stands, you can at least run two versions back to back on the same machine. But one must take great care not to accidentally open the same data file with both versions (since each version would automatically open the last opened file from either version). One would have to switch to a dummy file each time before closing the app. Quite a pain. Makes me glad I have a secondary computer that I can run new versions on in parallel while evaluating.

Not all are so lucky ;-p

frank6 · December 2017

I too want to have open two data files at the same time. I like to keep my personal file open on 2018 and also my mom's on 2017.

smayer97 · December 2017

I too want to have open two data files at the same time. I like to keep my personal file open on 2018 and also my mom's on 2017.

QM2018 and QM2017 can be run simultaneously....BUT later updates to QM2018 may (probably will) not unless this is addressed.

jacobs · December 2017

@smayer97: I understand the request, and as someone who helps support others on this forum, I might find it useful. I'm just not sure how feasible an idea this is, since different versions of the program would use the same support files. Working around that would require them to go back to individual, unique applications -- but that would inconvenience 99% of users who will just want seamless updates and not having multiple versions. It hasn't ever been possible to simultaneously run two versions of the same year's product -- e.g. Quicken 2017 v4.6.0 and Quicken 2017 v4.6.7 -- so I'm not sure how this would become feasible with Quicken v5.x and beyond. Also, because users won't be lagging behind on significantly older versions than the current one, the need for an older 5.x version for troubleshooting won't be what it has been in the past.

I think the workaround solution would be to create one or more separate User accounts on your Mac. You could create a user just for Quicken testing, and install an older or newer version there. Or create a separate user for each separate version of Quicken you want to be able to run independently. While it doesn't quite enable side-by-side viewing, it's easy to flip back and forth between logged-in user accounts in a couple seconds.

P.S. In your use case examples, beta testing is likely not an issue, because betas are typically named Quicken Beta and set up their own support files separate from the production releases.

smayer97 · December 2017

@smayer97: I understand the request, and as someone who helps support others on this forum, I might find it useful. I'm just not sure how feasible an idea this is, since different versions of the program would use the same support files. Working around that would require them to go back to individual, unique applications -- but that would inconvenience 99% of users who will just want seamless updates and not having multiple versions. It hasn't ever been possible to simultaneously run two versions of the same year's product -- e.g. Quicken 2017 v4.6.0 and Quicken 2017 v4.6.7 -- so I'm not sure how this would become feasible with Quicken v5.x and beyond. Also, because users won't be lagging behind on significantly older versions than the current one, the need for an older 5.x version for troubleshooting won't be what it has been in the past.

I think the workaround solution would be to create one or more separate User accounts on your Mac. You could create a user just for Quicken testing, and install an older or newer version there. Or create a separate user for each separate version of Quicken you want to be able to run independently. While it doesn't quite enable side-by-side viewing, it's easy to flip back and forth between logged-in user accounts in a couple seconds.

P.S. In your use case examples, beta testing is likely not an issue, because betas are typically named Quicken Beta and set up their own support files separate from the production releases.

Thx. Good reminder about work-arounds...that said, I don't need to be informed about the reasons why it may not work...believe me, there are many ways to make this work. Without knowing how Quicken's internals work, there is no way to propose a solution but there are...then again, it is not about anyone finding the solution either...that is Quicken's work....case in point, if they can make it work for beta versions, they can make it work for any. This should not be a highly complex problem to find a simply solution.

The issue is not whether there are obstacles, the question is if there is enough interest or valid reasons to make this happen. And I believe the first 2 are plenty enough reasons...

Bud27 · October 2020

I manage finances for a couple of family members, so I have 3 Quicken data files. I recently moved from [Removed] back to Quicken after many years. In [Removed] I could have all of the data files open at the same time, each with its own window. That was useful because there are transactions to record that affect multiple user accounts (e.g., one person paying the other for something). I would do that very often in [Removed] Now I can't seem to do that anymore so I can't copy/paste an amount easily from one user account to another, or copy a payee name without opening/closing each data file to go back and forth. Now I have to complete the work in one data file, close it, open the next one and remember (or make a separate note to copy from). Another example is a joint account that exists in two data files because it belongs to both users' set of accounts, but requires manual update (no available transaction downloads). I can't switch back and forth easily to update an identical transaction in both files.
Any chance a feature Quicken update would support multiple data files open simultaneously?

Quicken_Tyka · October 2020

Hello @Bud27

Thank you for taking the time to visit the Community to post your question, although I apologize that this feature isn't currently offered.

I have changed your post to an idea so that others may vote on this feature. Be sure to navigate to the top of this post and click the up arrow to add your vote!

When Ideas have gained enough traction, they are reviewed by our development team for future consideration.

Thank you,

-Quicken Tyka

JohnL.Miller · October 2020

You can come close to what you want to do by running a second instance of Quicken in a virtual machine. I do it all the time for my personal and business accounts.

Bud27 · October 2020

> @JohnL.Miller said:
> You can come close to what you want to do by running a second instance of Quicken in a virtual machine. I do it all the time for my personal and business accounts.
Thanks for the suggestion John!

smayer97 · October 2020

Another alternative that USED to be possible is the ability to duplciate the Quicken app and run duplicate copies of Quicken. BUT both macOS AND Quicken have made changes that makes this difficult BUT you CAN run a beta version of Quicken side by side....SO it is still EASILY technically possible IF Quicken would make it possible like it once was....

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gb24119 · November 2022

My use case for this is for creating a new file after having trouble with one that has transactions going back 14 years. I'd like to have old and new up side by side to get started with some things.

Homestar · February 2023

I agree this feature should be supported in Quicken by now. The workaround I have used to open two instances at the same time is to use Sandboxie-Plus (free) to run a "sandboxed" virtual space on my Windows machine. I can then launch a second instance there and open a file for comparison.

smayer97 · August 2023

for consideration?

Quicken Kristina · September 2023

Hello All,

The status of this Idea has been changed to Under Consideration as it has reached enough votes and has been submitted to our Product and Development team for further review.

Thank you!

smayer97 · September 2023

https://community.quicken.com/discussion/comment/20335629#Comment_20335629

That is a Windows app. This is for the Mac version.

smayer97 · September 2023

Consider adding your vote here instead

Maintain ability to run 2 copies of Quicken for Mac simultaneously

Delaw · November 2023

Customers need to be able to open multiple quicken files on the same computer.

NotACPA · November 2023

They can. Just not all at the same time.

Cary Kittner · January 2024

I want to vote for this change to happen. I don’t see where to vote for it.

Cary Kittner · January 2024

Never mind, I finally saw the little tiny up arrow!

Quicken Anja · June 2024

Hello All,

The status of this Idea has been changed to Under Consideration as it has reached enough votes and has been submitted to our Product and Development team for further review.

Thank you!

cwreid3 · June 2024

Any chance we will be able to open 2 different Quicken files simultaneously soon?

jacobs · June 2024

Any chance we will be able to open 2 different Quicken files simultaneously soon?

@cwreid3 No one here can answer that. Only the development team knows if such a change is being worked on, or even under active consideration — and they don't share their plans. Except on Idea posts, and there's an existing Idea for this topic:

https://community.quicken.com/discussion/7625693/maintain-ability-to-run-2-copies-of-quicken-for-mac-simultaneously-20-legacy-votes

The status of that Idea shows "Under Consideration", which means it reached enough user votes to be forwarded to the developers to evaluate. It stays as "Under Consideration" until they either make it "Planned" or "Not Planned". The latter — rejection — is pretty rare; more typically, ideas which aren't nixed but aren't high on the developers' priority list sit as "Under Consideration" indefinitely. It can only become "Planned" if they not only agree with the feature request, but have assessed the work involved to make it happen, and have found a place on their development schedule for that work to take place.

Bottom line: since the feature request status shows "Under Consideration", it's unlikely you'll see it implemented soon. (It sometimes happens that they implement something where the status here wasn't updated to show it was "Planned" for a w while — but that's rare.)

jess8887@ · January 8

See Bantivity on how this should be done!

TF13 · July 9

have an ability to call up more than 1 file at a time-similar to calling up multiple excel files at once

Quicken Anja · July 10

Hello @TF13,

Thank you for reaching out with your request.

Your idea has been merged into this already active Idea thread regarding the same request.

Thank you!

Maintain ability to run 2 copies of Quicken for Mac simultaneously (20 Legacy Votes)

Under Consideration · Last Updated November 15

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