Text File Importer
This discussion is public.
I have version 2012.5, How do I access the TFI to be able to use it?
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This discussion is public.
I have version 2012.5, How do I access the TFI to be able to use it?
Comments are currently closed for this discussion. You can start a new one.
1
-Kevin N.
on 13 Aug, 2013 11:57 AM
Hi mflynn220,
If you purchased Moneydance from the Infinite Kind website:
Open Moneydance.
Menu bar > Extensions > Manage Extensions
In the resulting window, locate the TFI and click 'Install'.
Once the TFI is installed, it will become an item under the Extensions menu called Text File Importer.
If you purchased Moneydance through the Apple store, you may not have an Extensions menu due to Apple's sandboxing restrictions.
In that case, go to the following post from Moneydance support staffer Jon Hoover:
http://help.infinitekind.com/discussions/questions/6560-extensions#...
Click on the link for the TFI
Save the file for the TFI. (txtimport.mxt)
Drag-n-drop txtimport.mxt onto the opened Moneydance window to install it.
FYI, there is also a CSV Importer extension. Once it is installed, it becomes an item under the Extensions menu called 'Import File'.
HTH -Kevin N.
2
mflynn220
on 24 Aug, 2013 08:45 PM
Thank you Kevin. I was able to download a few CSV files into Moneydance. My question now is how do I download the other side of the transaction ("Category")?
3
-Kevin N.
on 24 Aug, 2013 09:13 PM
Hi mflynn220,
Just so we're clear, it's not a two step process. Either the CSV file has a Category field and you import it along with your txns or it doesn't have a Category field and you don't.
Does the CSV file include a Category field?
In most cases, a bank's CSV file will only contain very generic Categories, if any.
If that is OK, and you are using the Text File Importer, you can include the Category field by adding the appropriate field in the third screen of the TFI and selecting 'Account' as that field.
I hope that that is clear. If not post back and I'll try to walk you through it.
If you are using the CSV Importer, you will need to download the latest beta version from the developer's website. He worked out how to allow the user to include a Category field.
If you need the link to his website, let me know and I'll post it for you.
Your other option, of course, is to manually enter the Categories after the data is imported.
If you need help with either importer, post a small sample of your CSV file so that I can see the column structure and at least one credit txn and one payment txn.
Keep in mind that these are public forums, so redact any sensitive data before posting the file.
HTH -Kevin N.
4
mflynn220
on 24 Aug, 2013 10:59 PM
What is the web page for the developer?
Sent from my iPhone
5
-Kevin N.
on 24 Aug, 2013 11:19 PM
Hi mflynn220,
https://code.google.com/p/mdcsvimporter/
Click the 'Downloads' link near the top of the page.
15.7.13 is the latest build.
What's nice about using the CSV Importer over the TFI is that the CSV Importer incorporates the use of the Confirmation sidebar. This can be advantageous in that it offers the 'Similar Payee' option to choose from which can be helpful by offering up prior Category entries.
You may receive some scary missing certificate notification when installing the extension. This is due to the fact that Moneydance has not yet signed the extension.
HTH -Kevin N.
6
mflynn220
on 26 Aug, 2013 06:26 PM
Kevin, thanks for your help but I am now one step back.
Prior to using Mondeydance I kept track of everything in Excel - many tables, range names, forms and a good deal of VBA code. So i have all the data that I can save as a CSV file and import, the problem is that once I updated to version 15.7.13 I am no longer able to import files using the CSV importer.
I've attached the file that I am trying to download into a checking account named "test", after I select the "Maintain Custom File Reader" and complete the form (that never stores my readers) . The error associated with "File Reader Format" says "No Matches" and there is an "Unsupported CSV file format." message on the bottom of the form.
What am I doing wrong?
7
-Kevin N.
on 26 Aug, 2013 07:25 PM
Hi mflynn220,
I was able to successfully import your CSV file, however I did have to make one small edit in the file.
If you open your CSV file in a simple text editor, you will see that the Paycheck txn dated 08/16/2013, has a comma separating the day 16 from the year 2013.
Wayward commas wreak havoc with the CSV Importer. (as they should) :)
I've attached a screenshot of the processed import as well as the custom file reader that I used. I wasn't really sure about the placement of Field 8 'category name' as many of the Categories in the CSV do not seem to match the Description of the txn.
When you are ready to process the import, select 'Regular' as the 'Import Transactions As' option. Otherwise Categories will not be imported.
HTH -Kevin N.
8
-Kevin N.
on 26 Aug, 2013 07:34 PM
Hi mflynn220,
If the Payment and Deposit fields land in the wrong columns, reverse field 3 -Deposit- and field 4 -Payment- in the custom file reader.
HTH -Kevin N.
9
mflynn220
on 26 Aug, 2013 08:54 PM
Kevin, the reader name I created ("test") is not an option in the "File Reader Format" drop down. how do I save a custom reader so that it is an option in the "File Reader Format" box? I've already added the Reader Name and saved the changes.
10
-Kevin N.
on 26 Aug, 2013 09:07 PM
Hi mflynn220,
Did you replace the comma with a forward slash in Date of the 'Paycheck' txn referenced in my post # 8?
If not the CSV Importer will reject your CSV file.
If you still experience a problem with your file, open it and save it using a simple text editor. Try saving it as a .txt file or whatever the native file format is for the text editor. That may remove any underlying formatting that may be lingering in the file and possibly causing an issue.
HTH -Kevin N.
11
mflynn220
on 26 Aug, 2013 09:51 PM
I get nothing. I've fixed the issue with the file you referenced in your post 8. and opened to file and named it many things - still nothing. There are only 6 options in the file reader format (BBVA Compass Bank NA, Yodlee, Simple Date/Description/Credit/Debit, Wells Fargo, ING the Netherlands & CitiBank Canada - As soon as I select an import file I am unable to select a file reader format.
I think that if I could get the File Reader Format to be the Custom Reader that I create then I would be able to download the file, but I have been unable to do so.
How come you could download my file but I couldn't? is it something in the setup? Is it because I bought MD from the Apple Store and not Infinite Kind webpage?
12
-Kevin N.
on 26 Aug, 2013 11:23 PM
Hi mflynn220,
You might be on to something here. It is my understanding that the version of Moneydance that is sold through the Apple Store must comply with stringent sandboxing restrictions set forth by Apple in order to be offered at the Apple Store.
It is possible that these sandbox restrictions are interfering with the CSV Importer.
It really should be made clear to the customer, up front, that purchasing the version of Moneydance from the Apple Store is purchasing a crippled sandboxed version.
In the meantime, I'll work with your CSV file and try to import it with the TFI
-Kevin N.
13
-Kevin N.
on 27 Aug, 2013 12:11 AM
Hi mflynn220,
In order to import a CSV file, using the TFI, a requirement is that the credit and debit columns be combined into one singular column.
Depending on the type of account that the data is being imported into (bank vs. credit card) the credits and debits would be differentiated by a minus sign.
Since you already have the data in Excel, combining the credit and debit columns into a singular column may be quite easy.
Open your CSV file in Excel. In cell J2, (or the first empty column) enter the following formula into the second row:
=IF(D2>0,D2,-C2)
Drag the formula down the column.
(With your apparent knowledge of VBA, you may very well know of a better formula)
You should now be able to use the TFI to import the file using the combined credit / debit column as the Amount field.
I've attached a screenshot of screen 3 of the TFI that I used to import your CSV file.
Let me know how it works for you. OK?
HTH -Kevin N.
14
mflynn220
on 27 Aug, 2013 01:48 AM
Thanks Kevin. Where you able to import the account (category) using this TFI?
Sent from my iPhone
15
-Kevin N.
on 27 Aug, 2013 02:00 AM
Hi mflynn220,
Yes, Field 9 - 'Account', of the TFI, as displayed in the previous screenshot will bring in the Categories.
I was able to successfully import your CSV file with these settings, working under the assumption that you've combined the credit & debit 'Amount' column and it is now set as Field 10 - 'Amount'.
HTH -Kevin N.
16
-Kevin N.
on 27 Aug, 2013 12:59 PM
Hi mflynn220,
I've attached a screenshot of the results of the import using the TFI. There is one or two txns cut off at the bottom but you should be able to tell if it looks OK.
If the amounts are in the wrong columns, we can fix that with a simple adjustment to the credit - debit column combination formula.
One caveat of using the TFI, is if your CSV has a header row, the TFI will pull in the header row along with your txns. You'll need to manually delete it or I suppose that you could leave it in the register as an indicator of when the last import was performed.
HTH -Kevin N.
17
stantowianski
on 02 Sep, 2013 06:48 PM
mflynn220: the custom reader should work. When you define a reader and when you open a csv file, it tries to use all of your custom readers and all that match will show up in the "File Reader Format" drop down. Your problem is that none of the readers will work with all of your data, and the problem with that is because you have an extra comma in your data. Your data is bad so no reader matches, so your "File Reader Format" list becomes empty.
2264544,,,2081.2,08/16,2013,Paycheck ,,,Home:Maintenance,
2264544,,40.54,,08/16/2013, NATURAL GAS UTIL PAYMT ,,,Home:Maintenance,
your first date has a comma after the 16 as was pointed out so the reader says it is an invalid date so it does not match. See how your 2nd date looks fine. From what I saw it was just the one date that has a problem.
The way it works is it tests all your data, and it all must be valid or it will not let you pick an import reader.
Stan T.
18
stantowianski
on 02 Sep, 2013 06:50 PM
by the way, version 15.7.15 is the newest now:
http://code.google.com/p/mdcsvimporter/downloads/list
System closed this discussion on 31 Mar, 2015 03:58 PM.