New Problem

Oct 11, 2008 10 Replies

Ok, I am getting the idea of just how incredible a program Quicken has become since I last used it 3 or 4 years ago, it's become almost completely automatic! Greet Stuff!!!



Anyway, I am at the point where I can start to import my checking account data beginning with 2004. The files that I have to do this with are all .qif files, which seemingly can no longer be imported. I beg of you, oh wise ones, guide me...


Actually, not a totally new problem, rather an extention of the current problem. I guess this is where I start adding the 4 lines to the top of each .qif file...right? My question becomes why, when you are given the option to import .qif files doesn't it work? Learning.

Using Quicken 2008 Deluxe Release R 7. XP Pro SP2. Will check forums, thanks. So far, I'm doing OK. Working things out as I go.

Thanks for the help!

I periodically get a list of checks etc. from someone else as an Excel sheet. Is there any way I can import that information into Quicken, other than hand typing it by myself?

Take a look at XL2QIF found here:

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Disclaimer: I have never used it but it has been suggested several times in this newsgroup.

Thank you Laura. It looks like XL2QIF might do the trick except there is no field for class. Class allows you to identify different properties. There is a field for subcategory, which I do not use and which is not a real substitute for class, which is one more field in the database (almost). (Quicken thought of the field 'class'descendents too late). Otherwise it looks like just what the doctor ordered. I thank you. John Polasek

That one was a freebie and has not been updated since 2005.

Here is another tool but it costs money. It does have the class field that you need;

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I've used other Big red consulting tools and they do work.

"Class" has generally been a part of the Category field.

I have done quite a bit of work with xl2qif. I have not double checked this - and won't until/unless you do the leg work on your end - but I believe that you do not need a separate "field" (Excel column) for "class". Class should be found as a suffix to the category name, separated from the category name by a forward slash ... just as it would be in Quicken.

You can even check this out by looking at a QIF file exported from Quicken with classes. Note the Category "record" in the QIF file.

In other words: try xl2qif (it's free), and post back if you find it can't handle classes.

Thank you for all the help. But it just occurred to me that each time I update Quicken it seems as if they change the format of the file storage, and the old one has to be converted to the new one. Do you think that will present a problem? I am using Q5, which is at least my fourth update.

It's too bad that 15 years ago or so when Quicken found they needed the new field 'class' that they didn't make it a legitimate separate field, but chose to use the side-saddle slash. From what you say, putting category/class in one column of Excel should work. Thank you very much.

I've used xl2qif

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for years. Mike

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