Importing Quicken Data
I am having trouble with Quicken Classic and tried uninstalling my software to fix the problem. Quicken wouldn't let me reinstall. I got an error message saying that the computer that I have been using is not compatible with the software that I have been using. I have been a customer of theirs for 25 years.
I have data files from all of those years. Can I import those files and/or switch them to a form that is compatible with Money Dance?
Thanks,
Dave
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Support Staff 1 Posted by Maddy on 11 Feb, 2025 01:05 PM
Hi David,
Thank you for contacting Moneydance support.
Ideally you'll export one QIF file that contains all of your account data. Use the option to export 'all accounts' within one QIF file if this is available within the software you're using.
If not, you should export one QIF file for each account in your file.
Make sure you export any closed or inactive accounts containing transfers to your open accounts. You may need to re-open these accounts before exporting.
If you're using Moneydance for the first time, when you open the program, you'll see the Welcome window. Choose “Create a new account set” and setup a new data file.
If you have opened Moneydance previously, you can create a new data file by choosing File --> New --> Create a New File. Then follow the prompts to enter a name and currency for your new file.
When viewing your new data file, choose File --> Import. Then navigate to and select the QIF file.
You'll be asked which account you want to import your data into. If you have data for multiple accounts within one QIF file, you can pick any account.
Below this, Moneydance will automatically try to determine the date format and decimal character used within the QIF file.
If you want to check this, open the QIF file with a text based program like NotePad or TextEdit. This will allow you to check which date format and decimal character are being used.
Choose 'Import' and wait a moment while your accounts and data are imported into Moneydance.
If it appears some of your accounts are missing from the left side bar, press the '+' button at the bottom of the side bar. Choose 'Advanced'. You should see the missing accounts in the panel on the left - highlight the account name and press 'Add' to move the accounts into the panel on the right. When you're done press OK and these accounts should then be available for selection from within the side bar.
Some QIF files don’t include an 'Initial Balance' for your accounts (sometimes referred to as a beginning balance or a starting balance). If this is the case, you'll see all transactions have imported but the account balance will show a discrepancy.
To fix this, select the account and choose Account --> Edit Account. In this window, you can enter an amount into the 'Initial Balance' field.
For investment accounts, QIF file don’t always carry security prices other than buy/sell prices, so investment account balances may be wrong until you update with the current security prices.
Reminders are not included in QIF files as the QIF file format has no ability to include reminder data.
Finally, it may be worth referring you to this article of the Knowledge Base on Possible Problems After QIF Import.
We would encourage you to download our free trial version and experiment with the program prior to consider purchasing a license for it.
You can download the trial version of Moneydance from our website on this page.
The trial version is fully functional and allows you to manually enter 100 transactions. Imported transactions are not limited, so you'll be able to fully test downloading data from your bank, and importing data from other personal finance software.
If you decide to purchase the program at a later date you can keep all data you have entered during the trial period.
You can find the Moneydance knowledge base here which will be useful if you're using the program for the first time. I'd be happy to provide guidance if you have any questions or need assistance getting setup.
Side note: May I ask what operating system are you running?
Thank you
--
Maddy, Infinite Kind Support
2 Posted by David Johnson on 11 Feb, 2025 02:55 PM
Maddy,
I tried using Proper Convert (From Propersoft.net) to convert my QDF file to a QIF file. Proper Convert did not recognize the QDF file. I looked at getting a Quicken SImplifi subscription for a month but they don’t import QDF files and I’m not sure they would have allowed me to export a QIF file.
I think my best bet is to try to find someone with Quicken and do the conversion. I have 25 years of data with Quicken. I should have left them years ago. Their customer service is lousy. I left TurboTax a few years ago.
Dave
3 Posted by dwg on 11 Feb, 2025 10:05 PM
QDF is a proprietary format only Quicken understands it
4 Posted by dtd on 11 Feb, 2025 11:28 PM
Intuit no longer owns Quicken, hasn't for years. (re your Turbotax comment, which Intuit does own). But yes customer service with Quicken is definitely not the best.
As for converting/exporting a QIF file, can't you use the Quicken software you've used for 25 years - oh, i just re-read... you uninstalled it and can't reinstall. Ok, yes, you need to find a way to load your QDF file into Quicken, then export everything (everything you can get) into a QIF file - check all the boxes when you get to that.
5 Posted by dtd on 11 Feb, 2025 11:40 PM
One issue that isn't clear - "Quicken Classic" doesn't tell much. What year? You mention "files" versus one QDF file, so sounds older? Especially since you were told you couldn't reinstall?
Also, is Quicken Classic a full version of quicken, or one of their "less featured" products? Is Simplifi a lower version of Quicken?
Given my lack of knowledge on your situation, here is one concept if your product is older than 2013, but still a full featured quicken. It's even endorsed by Quicken site, and gives you a full version of Quicken Deluxe 2013.
https://www.quicken.com/support/how-and-when-use-intermediate-version-convert-older-versions-quicken/
Doesn't mean this will work for you, given I really have no clue as to what you've been using for 25 years.
One thing above all - make a. FULL BACKUP (maybe even two) of all the files you say you have, as you will be trying to make a conversion, basically to Quicken Deluxe 2013.
And I'm "just a user" here - so anything you do is based on your evaluation of whether this will work. I'm just pointing to a free quicken version, provided by quicken. Only you can know at this point what might or might not work.
6 Posted by David Johnson on 12 Feb, 2025 03:40 PM
I was able to load Quicken on a laptop and export a QIF file. I have successfully imported my data from the last two years. I have another QIF file with my data from the 23 years before that. I will import that as I get more comfortable with Money Dance.
I will look at registering my Money Dance.
Thanks,
Dave
7 Posted by David Johnson on 12 Feb, 2025 04:29 PM
This comment was split into a new private discussion: Moneydance +
I have imported my QIF files but to be able to import my transactions from USAA I need to have a Money Dance+ license. It seems that I have to wait 30 days for the trial period to end to upgrade to a plus license. Can I get around that and get a license immediately?
Dave
8 Posted by dwg on 12 Feb, 2025 08:37 PM
Moneydance and Moneydance+ are by default not tied.
In other words you can sign up to Moneydance+ while you are in trial mode with Moneydance and try that out as well.
9 Posted by dtd on 12 Feb, 2025 08:38 PM
That's correct, USAA now requires MD+ to download. I do it to all my USAA accounts almost daily.
You can get MD+ during your MD trial period - appears your question was broken into another thread, so I'll stop at this point.
10 Posted by David Johnson on 12 Feb, 2025 09:33 PM
Thanks,
Dave
11 Posted by David Johnson on 12 Feb, 2025 09:38 PM
DTD,
I have Money Dance Plus on my computer now. I was told that I had to enable my accounts at USAA to allow third party access. Did you have to do that?
The people at USAA don’t seem to be familiar with money managing software. I have Money Dance all set up the way I want it except for being able to download my transactions. If you could get me through that, I would be grateful.
Thanks,
Dave
12 Posted by dtd on 12 Feb, 2025 09:48 PM
Yes, you do have to do that. USAA has to give MD+/Plaid[the aggregator] permission to access accounts.
MD+ understands many banks and how to get access. I did have access set before, so maybe it was easier for me.
There is a "how to use MD+" area, I'll try to get a link.
Basically, though, you: Online/Setup Moneydance+/Setup/Connect Accounts/Pick the Bank, and so on. (You may have to pick the bank first - it has been a long time) - let me find a link for you.
13 Posted by dtd on 12 Feb, 2025 09:51 PM
https://infinitekind.tenderapp.com/kb/moneydance/connect-accounts-with-moneydance
If you do eventually buy, I personally recommend buying Moneydance as a standalone and then subscribing yearly to MD+. .... there are other options, but hey, I'll give my recommendation to a fellow USAA member.
14 Posted by dtd on 12 Feb, 2025 09:53 PM
Oh, and before you begin, if you haven't already, create the accounts in Moneydance where you want the downloaded transactions to go to.... otherwise you don't have the account bucket.
i.e. for me:
USAA Checking
USAA Credit Card
you do this for every bank right at the beginning. Given your import, these accounts likely already exist.
15 Posted by David Johnson on 13 Feb, 2025 04:50 PM
DTD,
I am downloading transactions for USAA and American Express. Thanks for your help!
The key to access permission seems to be using the software to sign in and access is automatically granted. I had access at USAA before I talked to them and American Express told me to revoke my Quicken access permission and go ahead and sign in and it worked.
The other key was to set up the accounts like you said. I hadn’t done that.
I need to spend some time figuring how to match downloaded transactions to transactions in my register.
I was with Quicken for 25 years – I hope it’ll be 25 years until I think about changing from Money Dance. By then I’ll have my bank auto-pay the old folks home each month and that should be the only bill I have.
Thanks for your help. The customer service from Money Dance is light years better than what they pretend to have at Quicken.
Dave
16 Posted by dtd on 13 Feb, 2025 07:42 PM
It's both users helping and Customer Support. Combined, the two groups try to help everyone in a timely manner. (I'm a user...)
17 Posted by dtd on 13 Feb, 2025 07:45 PM
re matching transactions - check out the merge feature in the kb area.