"null" in the memo field
Ever since the late update of MD, I've had the problem (annoyance?) of the word "null" as a default entry in the Memo field of my credit card ledgers. Normally, I do overwrite this with a memo and it's easily remedied with the "find and replace" function but it would be much better if it weren't there in the first place. Any suggestions as to where this is coming from and how to make it stop?
Thanks.
Don
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1 Posted by Ian O on Sep 24, 2016 @ 06:53 AM
Hi Don,
Sorry to hear of the issue you are experiencing. Can you let me know the version of Moneydance you are currently using? You can check this within Moneydance by navigating to Help --> About Moneydance.
Could you also provide a screenshot of the behaviour you are seeing? You can read instructions for taking a screenshot from here - http://www.take-a-screenshot.org/
Ian O
Infinite Kind Support
2 Posted by donberryman on Sep 24, 2016 @ 01:28 PM
Hi Ian,
Thanks for your response. I’m using MD version 2015.7 (1358). Here’s a screen shot of what I’m seeing.
Notice the “null” in the memo fields that I haven’t filled in.
HOWEVER, I’ve been thinking though this some more and there may be another possible culprit. I need to do some more research but this may be coming from downloading my transactions from Chase credit cards. I don’t have this same issue with either of two checking accounts OR as far as I can tell, from Amex credit cards - just two credit cards from Chase and they’ve recently “upgraded” their website and thus the interface for their downloads. While you check into your software for possiblilties, I’ll go down this path with Chase and see what I come up with.
Thanks for your efforts. I’ll keep you posted.
Don
3 Posted by donberryman on Sep 24, 2016 @ 01:48 PM
Hi Ian,
As a follow up on my earlier response - It does appear that the “null” is being inserted when and only when I download transactions from Chase branded credit cards. That being the case, is it “fixable” by the receiving end (Moneydance) or should I pursue it from the sender’s end (Chase)?
Thanks,
Don
4 Posted by Ian O on Sep 25, 2016 @ 06:56 AM
Hi Don,
I believe your best course of action would be to contact Chase. I can't think of any reason that Moneydance would treat this connection differently to others you have set up.
Could you send me the contents of your error console? This may shed some light on the situation. Here's how to get the logs:
1) In Moneydance, click on the Help menu and select the Console Window option. This will open the console messages window.
2) While the Console Window is open, attempt to connect to your bank. Any error messages should be recorded to the Console.
3) Select all of the text in the Console and use the "Copy to Clipboard" button at the bottom to copy the text.
4) Paste the text from the message window into a text file (preferably saved with a .txt extension) and attach that file to your response here.
The debugging logs that this produces will contain your account information. I've made sure that this conversation is private, so the info won't be broadcast to the world, but just to be safe you should redact any account info in the debug logs. Just replace it with something like "ACCOUNT NUMBER HERE" and it should be fine.
Ian O
Infinite Kind Support
5 Posted by donberryman on Sep 25, 2016 @ 07:36 PM
Thanks, Ian. I won't be able to try any of this till I return home on Friday so you can put it on a back burner till then.
I'll be in touch.
Don
6 Posted by donberryman on Oct 02, 2016 @ 08:51 PM
Hi again Ian,
I think you can “stand down” on this one for now. It’s evident to me that this is an issue with Chase and the way they are downloading the data. I spoke with a “tech rep” there who was throughly trained in “responsibility avoidance” and in the face of credible evidence of their own programming error, insisted it must be my “money management software vendor’s issue”.
I downloaded the Chase files in CSV format to a spreadsheet and sure enough, the word “null” is dutifully inserted into the “memo” column on the spreadsheet! Further, no other accounts downloaded into Moneydance have the issue (Amex card, checking account, etc.). The issue also started about the time Chase completely overhauled their website. That was all conclusive enough for me but not this Chase rep. She obviously tired of deflecting my evidence and supposedly recorded my details on a “work ticket” to be given to someone who actually knows something and who is supposed to get in touch with me in 3 business days. I suggest we not hold our breath till then!
Meanwhile, every couple of weeks, I’ll just use the find and replace function on MD to replace “null” with…. nothing!
Thanks for hanging with me on this.
Don
7 Posted by -Kevin N. on Oct 02, 2016 @ 10:33 PM
Hi Don,
If you don't mind my jumping in here, I can reproduce the behavior that you are seeing when downloading a CSV of account activity from the Chase Credit Card website.
'Null' in the Memo field of each txn.
I do not however see these results when using direct-connect to Chase. Have you?
When Chase updated their website, they changed the location to activate your account(s) for 'Financial Software Access'. or direct-connect.
To do so now, you should click on the head & torso icon in the upper right-hand corner of the Chase website.
Click on 'More Settings'.
A side bar will open on the left side. Scroll all the way down to the bottom for 'Financial Software Access'.
You may or may not get a notification email from Chase when you first try to access your account through Moneydance. They will want you to check your 'Secure Message Box' at Chase's website so as to verify your identification.
HTH -Kevin N.
8 Posted by donberryman on Oct 03, 2016 @ 04:15 PM
Hi Kevin,
Thanks for jumping in! I had not known of this feature/requirement for setting up “Financial software access”. I thought you might be on to something but no. When I followed your instructions the message stated that I was already enrolled in the program and should I want to “disenrol"l I should call them.
I then downloaded new transactions on two different Chase cards directly to Moneydance (as I’d been doing) and both show the “null” in the memo field.
I still have not received any contact from Chase but the work week is young. We’ll see.
Thanks for your involvement.
Don
9 Posted by -Kevin N. on Oct 03, 2016 @ 09:38 PM
Hi Don,
Can you confirm that you are NOT manually downloading the (CSV or QIF) files from the Chase website and that you ARE using direct-connect through Moneydance?
I can see the 'Null' Memo designation in both the CSV file and the QIF file offered by Chase for manual downloads.
However, using direct-connect through Moneydance, I do not get the 'Null' designation in the Memo field.
-Kevin N.
10 Posted by donberryman on Oct 03, 2016 @ 09:52 PM
Hey Kevin,
Thanks for sticking with me on this. I’m starting to get that unwelcome, sinking feeling one gets when it starts to feel like they’ve been a Bozo. Ever since I’ve had Moneydance (many years), I’ve been able to download my USAA accounts “directly” by going to “online” and there in the dropdown menu was a choice of “download USAA checking account” which allowed me to download transactions without opening the USAA webpage. That was never possible with credit cards so I’ve always (including now with Chase) went ahead and opened their webpage from the dropdown in “online”. Since your last email implied that method might be considered something other than “direct-connect”, I went to the Chase account within MD and again went to “online” and the “download (Chase card) transactions is greyed out.
Should I have done something else to set up the “direct connect” option? If so, please tell me how and we can solve this with my apologies for being the above referenced “Bozo”.
Thanks,
Don
11 Posted by donberryman on Oct 03, 2016 @ 10:10 PM
OK, Kevin, it’s official. I will sign this email “Bozo”.
With my new revelation expressed in my last email, I went into MD and “applied” for “online banking” from Chase. Put in my passwords, etc. and instantly got an email asking, as you indicated they might, for verification via their secure messaging section - which it did. I repeated the task for the other Chase card but it seemed to be covered by the initial verification. I signed out of MD then back in and miracle of miracles, the “download (Chase account)” in the online dropdown was no longer grey!!
I can now download cc transactions without opening the website! Like the baby elephant who can’t break his leg chain and assumes it will always be that way and quits trying - I was never able to do this with old credit card technology so I never attempted it. Color me embarrassed but thankful for your guidance and perseverance.☺️
Signed,
Bozo
12 Posted by -Kevin N. on Oct 03, 2016 @ 11:36 PM
Hi Don,
That's great news! Don't be embarrassed. :)
If you want to take this one step further, you can have Moneydance remember your User Id's and Passwords (for those accounts that are set up for direct-connect) and then use key-combo CTRL-SHIFT-D to download all of them at once. Alternately, Menu bar > Online > Download All Accounts.
You will first need to set a Master Password for your data file. (If you haven't done so already) Menu bar > File > Passwords. Check mark the two boxes there and create a password. Do Not Forget The Master Password there is no means of recovery.
After that, you may or may not need to enter your User Id's and Passwords one more time so as to have Moneydance 'learn' them.
This procedure isn't really necessary, just tossing it out there.
Glad to hear that you were able to get things working with Chase.
-Kevin N.
Ian O closed this discussion on Oct 04, 2016 @ 06:30 AM.