Q2007 Premier - category entry in register

Memorize a transaction for that payee with the correct category?

Thanks for the suggestion. I guess that would work in a limited set of transactions but doesn't really solve the problem.

Why the program behavior was changed seems very bizarre. If I start typing in a category name it inserts the [ to match a transfer account rather than the category I was typing so I have to type another 3 characters back and forth to get to where I was before. I've never seen this in any previous version.

Been that way since at least Q2005. Most recently used categories for payee are at the top of the list. I doubt there's any way to make it work perfectly for every user for every transaction.

Don't you get the entire 'category' field selected/highlighted when it brings up a category? If so, just typing the first character(s) of the category you do want should bring it right up (and you can +/- forward/back once there - what a neat trick I wish I had learned longer ago!).

I haven't installed my Q XG 2007 yet, so am not sure whether this may change, but my 2006 XG version still shows this behaviour. (I just read John Pollard's post re: this being true since 2005 - perhaps it's a difference of the US vs. Cdn versions?)

Just re-read your post - you say you start typing category name and in brings in '['.

I have been able to recreate your problem. I don't often see this behaviour because I use 3- or 4-digit numbers to start off most account (leading digit

1,2 or 3) and category (leading digit 4 or 5) names, but not all. When there is duplication in the first character of account and category names, it defaults to the account name, and I have to painfully edit as you do. eg: [440-xxxx] RRSP Account 401 Rental income Category Typing in 401 always brings up the account, UNLESS I have a previously memorized transaction for that payee. By the way, I have QuickFill preferences selected. That probably explains why I don't see this too often, as most of my transactions are recurring.

So I suppose adding a distinctive 1st character to conflicting account names should also work. Yes it does - I have just added * at the beginning of first 440- account, and typing 401 brought up the 2nd 440- account. I think I'll be adding * to the beginning of all my conflicting account names!

hth, vcard

: >> The popup list seems sorted with the transfers at the top : >> so you have to scroll down to get where you want to be. I : >> haven't found any setting the orders a preference for : >> this. : >>

: >> Can anyone tell me how to get it to fill a category : >> before a transfer? : >

: >Memorize a transaction for that payee with the correct category? : : Thanks for the suggestion. I guess that would work in a limited set of : transactions but doesn't really solve the problem. : : Why the program behavior was changed seems very bizarre. If I start : typing in a category name it inserts the [ to match a transfer account : rather than the category I was typing so I have to type another 3 : characters back and forth to get to where I was before. I've never : seen this in any previous version. : :

Well it doesn't work that way in my Q 2005 Premier H & B - R5.

On an existing payee, it will default everything from a previous entry. On a new payee, the fill list pops up on entry into the category field with the first income or expense category highlighted, depending on the transaction so far. It will proceed to match the category as I type it. In no way does it presume to insert the [ symbol and select a transfer account unless I type it.

The entire popup list in 2005 is sorted alphabetically; within income categories first, then expense, then accounts last. That is not the sort that I see in 2007 Premier.

My question was originally prompted by a friend who recently bought

2007 Premier, showed me what it was doing and asked if I knew of a preference option or any other way to fix it.

Thanks for validating my observation of the program's behavior. As I replied to John, the issue was presented to me and I saw it in operation briefly. It does not occur in the 2005 version I currently use. (And will be using for a long time to come.) In the 2005 version, and all previous versions I've used, the category will match incrementally as typed and will only insert the account after all expense or income category matches fail.