Although I can download my iif files from AMEX and QB 2005 says it is importing the file, no data is actually imported. The same for my bank exports. Is this a limitation of QB on the Mac? How am I ever going to get my costs and expenses into QB? I pay for most of them with my AMEX. Quicken has no problem importing these files...
Jeff ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jefferis Peterson, Pres. Web Design and Marketing
The manual way unless you talk with someone at QB tech support and get the problem figured out. I've seen the same thing happen with the Mac versions (current and two prior) so I gave up on any ability to import transactions.
Well, program dropped from 4 stars to 3. I wonder if I am going to be able to export to Turbotax on the Mac. If not, I'm in the same bad fix as I was with MYOB. 2 programs needed just to do the job of one. Quicken for costs and purchases, QB for time tracking, invoicing.
:-( Jeff
~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jefferis Peterson, Pres. Web Design and Marketing
I had a similar problem with.. believe it or not, Quicken(!) using web connect. Not sure if it was because I had Firefox as my default browser or what, but I found a work around. Instead of opening the file, I SAVED it (that should be an option when you connect). Then, I imported the file.
Now, this is/was a Quicken fix and even in QB I use the Windows version, not Mac - but going on the assumption that two similar pieces of software from the same company might have similar WebConnect issues, you might want to try SAVING the file and then importing. In Windows version of QB there is an option for importing web connect files under File ==> Utilities ==> Import. Good luck and please post back if this works.
On the Mac, I have to log onto both the bank site and AMEX independently and download transactions from their websites before choosing import. I have options like Quicken pre and post version 99 QIF files or Quickbooks iif [or MS Money,e.g.]. So the problem is in the import function rather than in an automation problem. For example, Schwab directly imports to Quicken, but my files from bank or amex fail in QB
~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jefferis Peterson, Pres. Web Design and Marketing
QBP 2005 for Mac doesn't have Web Connect (no lie). The only way to import transactions is via .IIF
Have I mentioned this month that QBP for Mac is still a seriously crippled piece of software that is vastly overpriced???? Its natural for the QB for Windows users to assume that QBP for Mac is the same program. Its marketed as the same program and it finally looks like the same program but its something very different. The concept is the same but the capabilities are not even close. We just now got the ability to make things inactive if that tells you anything.
Umm, yeah. Fails in Quicken too. Unlike the information from Wachovia and Discover, which download directly into my Quicken account, AMEX and MBNA need some sort of interface. In other words, I log into the AMEX or MBNA website, enter my username and password, choose my software format, and click download. Normally the little screen with the computers speaking to one another show up, and when they finish the data is there to be match. BUT lately things are not so normal. So, I click download and SAVE the file and then open it. Then, the transactions show in the register to be matched.
In QB (at least in my Windows version) using Amex I
1) go to the Online Banking Center 2) Choose American Express as my financial institution 3) Click Go Online 4) AMEX website comes up. I enter my username and password 5) At the splash screen with the account summary, I select QuickBooks as my software, and click download. 6) QB gives me the option to open or save my file. I click SAVE (my 'fix' to downloading problems). After I save the file, I STILL have the option to Open, and I do. 7) A QB screen comes up asking me if I want to import my AMEX transactions, and I do. 8) I am at the online banking center... and my American Express QuickStatement is in the bottom half of the window. 9) I click View, and am able to match/add credit card transactions in the AMEX register.Be aware that the requirement for you to import differently using AMEX is on THEIR end, not Intuit's. Same goes for MBNA. SOME institutions work directly with Quicken/QB/Money etc. Other institutions have their own format for download. For example, my Wachovia personal account can be accessed with Quicken directconnect. My Monmouth Community Bank personal account can not. MCB offers online access, and will import into my software, but does not support direct connect. Of course, it may well be that Intuit has a financial relationship with the companies that can use directconnect.
As I stated in my previous post - banks and cc companies that use a web interface as opposed to direct download have been problematic for me, with QB *AND* with Quicken. Sometimes I get the message that the data is importing, yet no data shows up in the online banking window. The fix for me was to not OPEN the downloaded file but instead to SAVE it - even tho I opened it after saving and did not even need to go to the import window. Somehow, the very action of clicking 'save' seemed to keep the data.
I tell you one thing. I don't understand this preference for Windows for financial sites and info. I have had more problems with security, spyware, adware, phishing, fake sites and potential viruses in 6 months on my Win Laptop XP than I had in 15 years of using a Mac. I now don't do anything but web mail and only go to my trading accounts or sites I have personally created on my win machine. This thing is a security nightmare [and wireless connectivity problems, oy veh! But that is another story!].
If it were not for my stock service requiring the Win, I would do nothing on it at all except use it to check websites for cross platform performance.
That is why I just don't get it why stock, banking, and companies like Intuit aren't pushing development on OSX as a safe alternative to the security sieve called Windows....
I know the world uses windows, I just think it is a train wreck waiting to happen. My family, friends, and clients have had all business data completely wiped out by one innocuous click of the mouse in email and going into virus hell. Caveat Emptor.
~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jefferis Peterson, Pres. Web Design and Marketing
You nailed the reason with Windows being what the world knows. Its what's shipped on all non-Apple computers therefore all software developers cater to the Windows platform. Taking the higher road and at least writing for Unix and Dos would be nice but not as financially sound for many companies. Linux isn't close enough to even trying to compete with Windows but Mac is growing stronger.
Also, it won't be long before someone creates a virus for OS X and once it starts there'll be no stopping it. The security holes aren't as serious or plentiful but someone is bound to exploit the few that do exist on OS X. I hope it doesn't happen but I'm not holding my breath. The more popular Macs become in the marketplace the more vicious people will start looking for ways to undermine the OS.
The problem for virus creators is that the Mac OS isn't integrated into the rest of the system like IE/Outlook etc. give to the root level of Win. Most attempts at Mac OSX are trojans which don't have the same self-propagating properties of Win virii. The rely on user admin password approved installation. What little I know about system level operations, I am amazed at how open the win system is. She is like a hooker standing in her doorway waving you in. :-( Jeff
~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jefferis Peterson, Pres. Web Design and Marketing
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