Automatic Categorization upon Download
V 2024.2 (5130)
Windows 10
There is one particular bank account that auto-categorizes certain transactions when downloaded. How can I stop this?
(I've searched and all answers are multi-years old)
Thanks in advance!
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1 Posted by mhoggie on 29 Oct, 2024 07:00 PM
just a user,
MD will always try to assign a category if it finds a recent transaction (time adjustable in settings under network settings), amount or description . Otherwise it will use the first category in your category lists or the one set up in your MD account settings. I created a category named EXPENSE that I use as a default account category. You can probably turn off most of the auto category suggestions by just changed the date range in the preferences under the Network tab to 1 day.
2 Posted by fj58 on 30 Oct, 2024 10:22 PM
@mhoggie
Thanks for the input, but the behavior I see is different.
Of my ~20 bank accounts with regular transactions, only for a single account (and a single vendor for that account only) does MD offer auto-categorization upon download. All others are simply blank waiting for me to input what I wish.
YMMV
3 Posted by dtd on 30 Oct, 2024 11:48 PM
Hmmm, that's odd, what happens if you don't enter anything in the category field for the ones that DON'T auto-categorize? i.e. the ones you say are "simply blank".
Moneydance is a double entry accounting system, so the category cannot stay blank - it must have some type of entry.
4 Posted by dwg on 31 Oct, 2024 12:41 AM
The only way I can think of the get an apparent "Blank" category is to create a category with no name.
5 Posted by mhoggie on 31 Oct, 2024 01:05 AM
just a user,
fj58, could you elaborate a bit more. I don't think MD will allow a blank category unless somehow an expense category was created with no name. Then MD would put it first in the list of categories and default to it if there is no default category set for an account. I created one my self, so it can be done. That may be the source of your problems. Here is my category listing with the blank one at the top.
6 Posted by mhoggie on 31 Oct, 2024 01:10 AM
just a user,
If you find that is your problem. you will need to do a bit of work to re-categorize the blank one on existing transactions before you can delete it. You could do that in bulk using the Find and Replace extension
7 Posted by fj58 on 31 Oct, 2024 05:48 PM
@dtd, @dwg, @mhoggie
Thanks for your inputs.
1. Not a problem; it is desired: I have created a blank category for the express purpose of leaving the category blank (empty) unless I touch the transaction.
2. A problem I want to fix: There is one account where MD auto-categorizes a specific vendor with a value that is frequently not what I want. I would like that particular vendor in that account to default to "blank" (empty) category so that I may categorize it when I see fit with what I see fit.
Thanks again for the inputs.
8 Posted by dtd on 01 Nov, 2024 12:27 AM
1. I assume you know that the category is NOT blank (empty) - it is a category that has the category name as [blank] - there is a significant difference.
2. Are you certain that MD is auto-categorizing, versus the account providing a category? The fact that this is the only account where this is happening suggests that the bank is providing the category.... otherwise, I'd think you'd have more than one doing this. Also, I assume the default for this account is also set to "blank"
9 Posted by fj58 on 01 Nov, 2024 06:23 PM
@dtd
Thanks for the inputs:
1. Yes, understood; pardon my earlier terminology.
2. Yes, certain (the category that is auto-populated is meaningful only to me and would not be generated by any bank).
2a. Yes, default for the account is set to "blank"
10 Posted by mhoggie on 01 Nov, 2024 10:11 PM
just a user,
Now that I understand your issue better, I'm guessing the categorizations are being downloaded from the bank. That is possible with QIF, but not with QFX OFX.
11 Posted by dtd on 02 Nov, 2024 02:20 AM
Given your response, I'll admit I have no clue why that one account is auto-populating via MD, versus all your other accounts. Is there anything unique about that account versus others?
I'd suggest that you rename the "blank" account to something else to avoid confusion. I use "Anything", many others have their own term, like "Unassigned", but blank (no letters) invites confusion with truly nothing there (which isn't allowed, but still..)
A simple batch change would fix that quickly.
12 Posted by dwg on 02 Nov, 2024 03:29 AM
The problem I think we are having is that none of us have ever seen Moneydance apply anything other than the default category on import unless there are categories in the imported file.
Certainly on manual entry Moneydance will suggest a category based on the description you enter.
13 Posted by fj58 on 03 Nov, 2024 04:50 PM
All
It is impossible that the import file contain a category "AOIMM" -- that category only has meaning to me and certainly is not part of the bank's system.
14 Posted by mhoggie on 03 Nov, 2024 08:28 PM
just a user,
Are you wanting all the categories to be blank and stay blank?
MD will always try to find a category that matches withing the time allotted in settings
15 Posted by fj58 on 12 Nov, 2024 06:20 PM
@mhoggie:
What do you mean by "within the time allotted in settings?" I am not familiar.
16 Posted by mhoggie on 12 Nov, 2024 09:15 PM
just a user,
in the file, preferences, network tab. You will find a setting at the bottom of the page called "Only match downloaded transactions when they are at most _____ apart"
That's the only setting I'm aware of where you can control the download transaction matching feature. I'm thinking that if you set it to "1" it might help you.
17 Posted by fj58 on 13 Nov, 2024 02:29 PM
@mhoggie
Thanks for the input.
From what I understand that setting is used to set transaction merge preferences -- not auto-categorization. Will nevertheless give it a try.
18 Posted by fj58 on 13 Nov, 2024 04:52 PM
Nope -- no change in behavior.
19 Posted by mhoggie on 13 Nov, 2024 09:05 PM
just a user,
Your right, only affects merge activity. I guess there are no controls on the auto category feature. Looks like your just left with doing bulk changes to force the categories as you need. Advance search and Find and Replace would be the tools for that.
20 Posted by fj58 on 13 Nov, 2024 10:34 PM
@mhoggie
Thanks for the input.
Yup, I've figured out the work around, just trying to figure out if I need to be executing the multi-step work around or if the software can solve this for me...