Clarification on whether Import/Export still exists in Q/2005 or Q2006

Here you go:

Gary

Actually ,that does not address my question! Pleae not that the subject was not "Why can't QIF work?" It was "Clarification on whether Import/Export still exists in Q/2005 or Q2006" - and nowhere in that question do I reference QIF except that it is gone!

The question remains: Can one import and export transaction files between Quicken FILED [not!! Accounts} and between machines. Note, also, that no refernece is made to Financial Institutions ("FIs").

This is NOT a question about QIF!

OK, if it's any help to you, the only option that drops down for 'EXPORT' in my copy of Q2006 is 'QIF File'. 3 options appear on IMPORT - TURBOTAX, Web Connect, and QIF.

If this is between machines, and you're not talking QIF, what's wrong with BACKUP and RESTORE (or OPEN/CONVERT if you're using a upleveled Q on the receiving machine?)

whoa, i didn't realize that. i thought *all* QIF import had been disabled in Q2006 so i've been holding on to Q2004 because i have need of QIF import into investment accounts.

is it true that i can import QIF files into investment accounts in Q2006? if so, i think i'll upgrade!

Only if you are willing to put in some extra work, and only if you are willing to lose the ability to "match" downloaded transactions to existing "register" transactions.

okay, this is confusing, so let me be clear. i want to IMPORT QIF transactions; i do NOT want to DOWNLOAD QIF transactions. let's pretend i hand-code a "Buy" transaction in QIF format. i want to be able to go to an investment account and IMPORT that QIF file. that's it, period, no online stuff is involved at all, just importing and exporting.

Ignore the "downloaded", it was just a slip; substitute "imported". No change to the meaning.

"John Pollard" wrote

what's throwing me is that you are talking about "matching" transactions. but when i import a QIF file in the scenario i described, NO matching ever occurs, because i'm entering brand new transactions.

so if i disregard the "downloaded" comment, then all that's left is "only if you are willing to put in some extra work." but i don't understand how extra work has anything to do with it; either Q2006 reads a QIF file and inserts the transactions into an invetment register, or it doesn't.

please, what am i missing?

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By the way, you do understand don't you that the source of the QIF file is absolutely meaningless. The file could come from your fi via the internet, it could come from your accountant across country on a floppy disk, it could come from you exporting transactions from one of your own files, it could come from you manually entering QIF transactions in a word processor. Quicken has no idea where or how the QIF file was created, and Quicken doesn't care. It is the import process that Quicken knows about and it is that import process that has been restricted by Intuit.

Well, I couldn't read your mind, I do not know exactly what conditions you have now or will have in the future. I made my statement as a general statement about the limits of QIF importing. If the limits don't affect you personally then they don't affect you. Obviously if every qif file transaction you import is supposed to be new, then you don't have to worry that you will not be able to match to existing transactions.

Remember, this discussion came about because the rules for importing QIF file have changed, I am referring to the differences.

And with those rule changes in mind; the process for getting imported QIF file transactions into checking, savings, credit-card, and investment accounts is different than it was, it is more work than it was; and for some people it will either not be worth it, or it will create problems of its own (such as for those who DO have transactions that should match existing transactions).

What you see is not always what you get. If the link you quote were being precise, it would say that *direct* import into checking, savings, and investment accounts (credit-card accounts for Q2006) is no longer possible.

It's more what he is not say>> is it true that i can import QIF files >> Only if you are willing to put in some extra work, and only if you are

QIF will only import into a very limited number of account types, a cash account being one. You import into that account and then copy/paste then into the proper account. At least that is how it works for checking/savings accounts.

okay, i give up and will stop posting to this thread... after one final comment...

"Disciple" wrote..

i asked about investment accounts. i just tried importing investment transactions into a cash account and it doesn't work, which is no surprise considering that there is considerably different info in an investment transaction.

of course i can edit the QIF file (e.g. change account type) to get the transactions to import, but there is content loss during the import process (investment transactions have more complexity than cash transactions).

if someone has actually gotten this to work, i would very much appreciate finding out how. in the meantime, i think my original understanding of the reduction/disabling of QIF capability is still valid, i.e. you can't use it to import into investment accounts in Q2006.

You spent so much time fighting the responses, and digressing from the solution, that it was not clear what your real intent was. You asked if "Q2006 does or does not support the ability to import and export transaction data files [files containing multiple transactions] so as to be able to move transactions between Quicken Files [not accounts] or between machines?".

I said yes, with qualifications. Many people howl and scream that the qualifications are onerous and that they will be changing to Money because Intuit has made qif import impossible/too difficult. So I just answered the question you asked and left the continuation up to you. QIF file importing has always been problematic and with the new restrictions beginning with Q2005, the process is more problematic than before. Because of that, I am sometimes reluctant to get into the how-to discussions about qif file importing; I'm not interested in hearing the complaints any more and I'm not much interested in helping those who, ultimately, don't want to participate in the process.

I'll offer you this to get you started.

Assuming that the first record in your current qif file looks like this:

!Type:Invst

Use a word processor and add the following four records *before* the first record in your current file.

!Account NMyInvestmentAccount TInvst ^

Substitute the name of your Quicken investment account for "MyInvestmentAccount".

Initiate the import qif file process. Select your qif file. Select a Cash (or Asset or Liability) account to import to (if you don't have one of those, create a dummy account of one of those types and select it). Click "Next"

Quicken will tell you that there are transactions for your investment account to be imported and ask you if you want to import them. Say yes.

"John Pollard" wrote

um, no i didn't. re-read the thread.

right, well, i'm not sure what i have to do to demonstrate my willingness "to participate in the process." actually, i'm not even sure what that means...

thanks, works great. this is a pleasant surprise and i will likely grab a copy of Q2006 at Costco this weekend.

Bravo, John Pallard!

Now, can I ask a basic question? You seem to be very conversant with the QIF process, so perhaps you could direct me (and seemingly many others) to a source that can establish standards on the question of "Where is the financial industry going in regard to transfer of financial data?"

I have endured several "blind alleys" with several versions Quicken in pursuit of a path to collect and track my (small) household financial transactions (sparing this news group of my travails).

I see no reason why Quicken can (except for it's large number of subscribers) dictate to the financial industry what it will and won't support. QIF seems to have basic acceptance as a format by Intuit itself for such things as diagnostic and basic format; why not continue to support QIF *in addition* to OFX?? Who gets impacted except that Quicken would not have their mantra of "...OFX offers customers an easier, faster and more accurate download experience."

Who cares about the ultimate "experience" if users cannot settle on a Quicken version that can assure them of importing financial data on a reliable basis with a defined version of Quicken. Quicken 2004 sounds to this Quicken neophyte as the best that Quicken has to offer, but only if the FIs cave in to (presumably) Quicken/Intuit pressure to abandon the QIF format.

When all FIs have settled on a format for the future, maybe then will be the time for users to migrate to whatever financial package developer commits to this format, defines the benefits and costs and provides code to support it. If not Inituit, then ...

Hopefully,

Bob Lear

Hey bub, I quoted you. Don't tell me to reread the thread: you reread the thread. Do you actually know what a quote is?

You have a very bad attitude; this will be our last communication.

Why not simply use:

I started the previous thread on importing/exporting capability or the lack thereof into and from Q2005/6 specifically hoping that someone who had installed either product would address the question of whether or not there is an import and export function.

Instead every single poster chose to argue about the QIF issue.

I am not going to get into the fight over Intuit's pig-headedness and short-sightedness on eliminating the QIF function and failing to realize that it had utility for more than FIs. In fact the group hurt worst appears to be their own support personnel.

That said, can anyone provide information as to the question asked?