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Best way to start, from quicken

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perew1

03 Jan, 2024 11:34 PM

I imported from quicken, and now have all sorts of accounts that are added. Some are same name with an x.
Also some don't seem to be in the proper category i.e. a credit card wanting a check number.
I suspect it would be quicker to set up all new accounts instead of trying to figure how to correct the inport mess.
Suggestions?

1. 1 Posted by dwg on 04 Jan, 2024 12:49 AM

   

   It is always quicker to set up from scratch, that is almost a given.

   It comes down to your objectives, how much do you want to keep the history etc.

   Yes you will get some messy data when you come from Quicken we all have, Quicken does not follow accounting rules so what it does can be rather free form. Moneydance does follow accounting rules so it is stricter. The Moneydance importer has to make do with what is coming in, which can also be less then precise and somewhat ambiguous.

   Non-investment accounts are generally fairly straight forward to get into shape after the import. Investment accounts are more work, for a variety of reasons.

   So in the end it is your call. Will the other users help sure, we have seen many of the problems before.

   • Edit

2. 2 Posted by perew1 on 04 Jan, 2024 02:35 AM

   

   Thanks so much for your 5 star responses. I'll delete all, and start from
   scratch putting in the data manually, hopefully in much better order.
   I'll also make the purchase tonight for the new install

   On Wed, Jan 3, 2024 at 5:50 PM dwg <[email blocked]> wrote:

   • Edit

3. 3 Posted by derekkent23 on 04 Jan, 2024 08:22 AM

   

   I am not support staff, just a user.
   Hi Pere

   If you want to try importing your data gain then FILE – NEW.

   You need to use Quicken to export your data in a QIF/QMTF file type. Ensure any closed account that have transfers to any open accounts are included in the QIF/QMTF file, re-open these accounts if necessary. Export everything Quicken export will allow.

   Open the QIF/QMTF file in a text editor. You are looking for the date format used in the file e.g., D25/03'2019 Day Month Year or D5/ 17'19 or D05/31/2017 Month Day Year etc. You will need this information later. If you get this wrong, it will be apparent as the dates in Moneydance will be all over the place and you will need to start again creating a new data set.

   QIF/QMTF files were never meant for transferring data from one program to another, but it’s all that is available, you will need to spend time cleaning thing up when import is complete.

   When you first start Moneydance it opens in the Welcome window click on “Create a new account set”. If you have opened Moneydance before creating a new data set under FILE (MONEYDANCE on Mac) – NEW.
   Select “Create New File” (Data Set) and click NEXT. Type in an Account Set Name (Data Set) and click NEXT. Change Primary Currency (base currency), if required. File Type, leave at “Standard Account set”, click FINISH.

   In the Side Bar (list on left) under BANK deleted the two default Bank accounts, highlighting them in turn and using ACCOUNT – DELETE ACCOUNT.

   NOTE: If you have accounts with currencies that are not in your base currency (foreign currencies) perform the steps under NOTE 1 before importing your QIF/QMTF file as follows.
   Drag and dropped the QIF/QMTF file into the Side Bar (list on left).
   Wait for the Analyzing data window to close, this can take a few minutes. Nothing may appear to happen until the Import window opens.

   IMPORTANT: Checked all listed accounts are of the correct type and currency and changed if required.

   The “Date Format” should be set to the date format used in the QIF/QMTF file not the date format you want to use in Moneydance. Select the correct Decimal Character. Later Builds of Moneydance may also include a Text Encoding dropdown, leave at default selection.

   Click Import and wait, the process can take some time. Again, nothing may appear to be happening until the process is complete, indicated by the Merging data window closing.

   IMPORTANT: When import is complete close and reopen Moneydance.

   Some or all of the accounts maybe hidden in the Side Bar, list on left. To make accounts visible click the “+” at the bottom of the Side Bar, then Advanced, then OK. If this does not help, try closing and re-opening Moneydance.

   Any accounts that are inactive (closed) should be made inactive. This will remove them from the Summary Page, two columns on the right, in the Account Section as well as from reports. There are two methods to accomplish this:
   1. By highlighting the account in the Side Bar and clicking ACCOUNT – EDIT ACCOUNT and ticking the inactive box – OK.
   2. Click TOOLS – ACCOUNTS and in the windows that opens double click on the Account Name and in the window that opens tick the inactive box - OK. In the list of Account names Accounts in lighter text are inactive. After making the required changes click DONE.

   To remove Accounts from the Side Bar, right click and select REMOVE FROM SIDE BAR.

   You can also click the “+” button at the bottom of the Side Bar, click Advance then use the Advance window to determine which items are visible in the Side Bar.

   On the Summary Page, two columns on right, if you have Investment Securities, they will be shown in a section STOCK PRICES. This may include securities in which you no longer have holdings. To remove these from the list double click on Security Name – EDIT and then untick SHOW ON SUMMARY PAGE box – OK - X

   Some QIF/QMTF files don’t include initial account balances. If you think this is the case you can add initial balance to affected accounts as follows.
   Highlighting an account, then click ACCOUNT – EDIT ACCOUNT and add an Initial Balance.

   For investment accounts QIF/QMTF file don’t always carry security prices other than buy sell prices, so investment account balances maybe wrong until you update with current security prices.

   The NET WORTH value on the Summary page is the addition of selected account values. To see the breakdown click on NET WORTH. The accounts that are included are those selected under GRAPHS & REPORTS – REPORTS – NET WORTH - EDIT

   Reminders are not included in QIF/QMTF files.

   Now the real work starts to check balances and tidy thing up. This is especially true of investment accounts as not all action types are supported. But worth it in the end.

   For information on how to use Moneydance see https://infinitekind.tenderapp.com/kb

   Note 1: This section only applies if you have accounts with currencies that are not in your base currency. For these currencies ensure “Show on summary page” box is ticked under TOOLS – CURRENCIES – highlight subject currency and double click – EDIT.
   Note: QIF/QMTF file do not contain exchange rates. To overcome this QIF/QMTF file shortcoming the Currency/Security History window under TOOLS – CURRENCIES - highlight subject currency and double click must have current and dated exchange rates filled in which cover the date range of transactions in non-base currency account. If your version of Quicken allows you to export a CSV file for a given currencies exchange rate this is the way to go. Use IMPORT button in Moneydance under the Currency/Security History window to import the exchange rates. If this route is not available you can manually add exchange rates or you can import CSV exchange rate files downloaded from sites on the web. If you have investment account, their balances will probably be incorrect. This is due to the fact that the currency set in the security history windows will be in the Moneydance base currency. You can change to the correct security currency and provided exchange rates exist the values will be converted. As you do this re-calculation occurs, but I think the results should be correct. No guarantees the section will work correctly.

   Hope this helps.

   • Edit

4. System closed this discussion on 04 Apr, 2024 08:30 AM.