Home → Problems →

Issues with QIFs

• Edit

Simon

11 Jul, 2012 11:59 AM

I am in the UK and when I download QIFs from many places the values are transposed between deposits and payments.

I would have thought that there would be a mechanish to batch change these values but I havent been able to find one.

Is there any way to do this either on the import or once the data has been imported?

Alternatively is there a Mac app that could do this as I have also not been able to find one that is suitable.

Simon.

1. 1 Posted by james f on 11 Jul, 2012 12:32 PM

   

   You are experiencing poorly written QIF data files by your Financial Institutions.

   QIF was never standardized. Therefore, Financial Institutions write the file as they see fit.

   QIF was not created to be used as a data transfer system into Financial Management Programs. It was created as an Internal Use system by Intuit as a diagnostic tool.

   That said, QIF is a plain text file that can be edited by any text editor.

   The following link will give you some idea of the basic layout and properly (or somewhat properly) written format for the QIF file.

   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quicken_Interchange_Format

   • Edit

2. 2 Posted by Simon on 11 Jul, 2012 12:40 PM

   

   Thanks for the speedy reply James.

   While I am sure everything you said is true simple batch update to transpose negative to positive values and vice versa would solve this for users experiencing theses issues, wouldn't it?

   Another alternative would be to have some kind of step to review the input before its put into Moneydance, this would be beneficial for other issues too.

   The functionality requirement seems trivial compared to manually hacking plain text files.

   • Edit

3. 3 Posted by Scott Meehan on 11 Jul, 2012 02:51 PM

   

   Hi Simon,

   I've filed a ticket in our ticket system asking the developers to look into how this could be implemented in Moneydance. Unfortunately, I don't have any other suggestions in the meantime for how this process can be streamlined.

   Please let us know if we can be of further assistance!

   Scott Meehan
   Moneydance Support

   • Edit

4. 4 Posted by james f on 11 Jul, 2012 04:44 PM

   

   Simon and Scott,
   There is a "step to review the input before its put into Moneydance". It is during the Merge process.

   You need to configure Moneydance Network Preferences according to the attached screenshot.

   Then, during the Merge / Confirmation process, you can change each transaction individually as needed.

   • NetworkPreferences.png 136 KB
   • Edit

5. 5 Posted by Simon on 11 Jul, 2012 08:08 PM

   

   I have found this program and while it does more than is required its still worth it:

   QIF Master

   http://thewoodwards.us/sw/QIFMaster/

   • Edit

6. 6 Posted by dave on 12 Jul, 2012 05:38 AM

   

   MD should be able to import the data without having to "massage" each individual transaction! This should be a simple case of "this is how the bank sends the info, that is how I want it saved, now remember that for future downloads from this bank"

   Unfortunately, it seems that your request will be added to the bottom of the pile, and high priority requests take over 18 months. You can guesstimate your timeline from there!

   Sorry if that sounds flippant, but that is what 3 years of MD's lack of service will do for you! Most of the answers you find on this site were posted by users, not by support staff, and never by developers!

   Dave

   • Edit

7. 7 Posted by james f on 12 Jul, 2012 12:38 PM

   

   dave,
   There is no way whatsoever for any Personal Finance Management program to intuitively know if the correct amount given by a Financial Institution ought to be a possitive or negative amount except for what the Financial Institution writes it to be in whatever file format they choose to use, be it QIF, OFX, QFX, CSV.

   You are expecting way too much from any Personal Finance Management program if you expect it to intuitively know what the correct amount given by a Financial Institution ought to be a possitive or negative amount.

   • Edit

8. System closed this discussion on 31 Mar, 2015 03:46 PM.