Move company data from QB99 to QB2006?

When you install QB 2006, install it in it's own folder and keep your existing install of QB99 in case something goes haywire in the new version and you need to start over (not likely, but just to be safe).

You might want to consider going to QB 2007 instead. QB switched to a new database format with v2006 and there seem to be some fixes and improvements in v2007.

1. Make a copy of your QBW file (company data file) as a backup and rename it to mycomp-QB99-backup.qbw.
2. Open the current file in QB99 and do a full rebuild (it's somewhere on the File menu).
3. Close QB99 and make another copy of your QBW file and rename it to mycomp-QB99-backup-postrebuild.qbw.
4. Open QB 2006 and open the current company file and follow the steps to update it.

Keep the backups around for quite awhile.

(The reason I recommend making copies of the QBW file rather using QB's backup utility is that I have seen QB fail to load a QBB backup file one too many times to fully trust it.)

I do not know but, are you sure once upgraded to 2007 the new bookkeeper can still open the file in 2006?

I am sure that the bookkeeper will NOT be able to open a QB 2007 data file in QB 2006.

So the original poster should only get QB 2007 if the bookkeeper will do so as well.

Good point to bring up.

Thanks so much for the detailed instructions. Sounds like QB 2006 can just read a (good) QB99 company file directly. That should be very convenient.

I have a couple of other questions though to clarify a few things. My (old) accountant dropped by a diskette this afternoon (presumably containing all my company data). He called it a "back-up". What I'm not sure is whether it is an actual copy of the company file or just a backup of the company data (generated, I assume, using some backup facility built into QB). If it's the later, will QB 2006 still be able to read it? If not, I actually have QB 99 Pro (not Standard) on my PC. Would it work to restore the data using that, and then follow the procedure you outlined above?

Thanks again for the help.

Pat

Yes, it is a good point.

The new accountant suggested I buy QB 2006, since that would include (very likely) a free upgrade to 2007. That would then give me the option of using either, so that's probably what I'll do. Sounds like she plans to upgrade to 2007 regardless, so I think I'm safe either way.

-Pat

You would only get a free upgrade from QB2006 to QB2007 if you had purchased QB2006 shortly BEFORE QB2007 was released. Since QB2007 has been released you are out of luck. Either find an old copy of QB2006 (there are some internet stores that carry old versions) or get QB2007 as that is the version currently in stores and available through Intuit.

Check the extension of the file on the disk. If it a qbb then it is a QB backup file. If it is qbw then it is the normal company file.

Assuming it is a qbb file, then use the built in Restore process (found under File) in QB99 to create the company file (qbw) before following the directions given above. That way you have the original backup file plus the rebuild files in QB99. You could just restore the backup in QB2006 but if there are any problems with the backup file then you will have problems restoring it or later on down the road. Its best to run the rebuild process using the version that originally created the file.

Thanks for the info. I guess I'll just go with the 07 version then, since prices for the two almost the same.

Pat

The is no free upgrade.

Thanks Laura.

He had provided a backup (*.QBB). But I was able to restore in QB99 Pro with no problem, although I could not find any way to "Rebuild" it, as suggested in the instructions from klunk. I'm guessing that's only in later QB versions.

I've emailed the company file to the new bookkeeper, and am now waiting to see how that goes.

Thanks again for the help.

Pat