I run Quicken 2010. I would like to do the following for when I'm on vacation, if I could. Can somebody tell me whether it's possible, and if so, how to do it.
Install a copy of Quicken on my laptop, but have none of my financial information (account numbers, balances, etc.) on it. The only things I would want would be my checking account (for ATM transactions) and a credit card account.
I'd like to record transactions in those two accounts, and then when I returned home transfer all of those transactions to my desktop copy of Quicken.
Setting up Quicken on the laptop and recording the transactions is easy, but I don't know of a way to transfer them to the desktop. Can somebody help?
that's what I usually do EXCEPT that OP only wants to take selective accounts with him and then transfer the info back to the Q file on the desktop.
It might be easier to create a file that only has the selective accounts in it. This can be transferred back and forth bwt computers without any problems. Create a second file that has all of the remaining accounts and keep that file only on the desktop file.
When you get home, export the transactions from the laptop to QIF files. Import the QIF files to your desktop.
I think you could tell the QIF file export to export all (two) accounts, then tell the QIF file import to import all accounts ... if that produces the results you like, no special processing would be necessary. You could test this with test copies of your existing data, before you leave for vacation. Be sure to name your laptop accounts exactly the same as your desktop accounts.
If you can't use the "all accounts" option, you can export the two accounts on the laptop to two different QIF files, then use the instructions in the following post to get the QIF files into your desktop Quicken.
Well, the problem with that is that I'm concerned about the possibility of the laptop being lost or stolen. That's why I said "install a copy of Quicken on my laptop, but have none of my financial information (account numbers, balances, etc.) on it. The only things I would want would be my checking account (for ATM transactions) and a credit card account."
And to add to that, I don't want all the history of those accounts on the laptop.
Thanks very much. I'll ask you the same question I asked moments ago in this thread. When I import a file, will it do a merge? If so, I hadn't realized that.
I'll take a look at the post you cite later when I have more time.
If you do not want account info (bank name, account number, etc) on the laptop I think you will have problems having Q absorb any data after you return.
The simplest solution would be to make a Q report for the checking account with enough info to satisfy your possible needs while traveling and then import it to the laptop as an Excel file. Then you can add any formulas to show continuing balances and manually add activities as you desire for your records.
When you return running a normal bank update in Q will bring it up to date and you can compare your Excel records to the Q D/L for accuracy.
Personally, rather than try to export/import just certain accounts/transactions, I'd prefer to have the whole data file. You can easily handle the security problem using TrueCrypt
formatting link
Using TC, you could create a single encrypted file that TC mounts as an encrypted drive letter. The filename and location could even masked if you want. For instance, call it C:\Program Files\Games\CoolGame.exe. If anyone stole the laptop and happened to find that file, they might try to run it, but it's not an executable file, so nothing will happen. However, TC will mount the file as, say drive letter E: (with the correct password you've assigned). With the encrypted file mounted as a drive letter, you can use it just like a real hard drive and copy your Quicken data file to/from it.
Absolutely secure:
1) If the TC file isn't mounted, Quicken can't access it. In fact, to an observer, it would look as if you had your data file stored on a USB device you've removed from the computer.
2) If someone knows what TC is and sees that you have it installed on your laptop, they still won't know that the encrypted file is stored right there on the laptop's hard drive.
3) Even if they _did_ locate the encrypted file, they wouldn't be able to mount it without your password. (Use a different one than your Windows password, which is easily hacked.)
My 2 cents.
BTW, it may sound a little complicated, but it's really not. Very easy, in fact.
When you import a QIF file (after about Q2000); Quicken will (should) present the imported QIF file transactions just as if they were downloaded from your financial institution ... you will have to decide whether the imported transactions should be "New" transactions or "Match" transactions.
[The above is based on importing one QIF file per one Quicken account. I can't tell you how the import of "all accounts" will be handled (just that it probably does not need special treatment of the QIF file, before importing).]
I still suggest you should test with a copy of your existing data.
Ken Blake wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:
Sorry, coming a little late to the thread. Work had to be done ...
I would suggest either the Truecrypt option, or using Q on the laptop and the data file(s) on a flash drive. Carry the flash drive around your neck rather than with the laptop. You could even encrypt the flash drive.
Notan wrote in news:HNOdnQL17KtewijWnZ2dnUVZ snipped-for-privacy@giganews.com:
A quick search found that it is "industry standard encryption" (AES?). IMNSHO, If you are that concerned, you shouldn't use the vault password system at all.
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