Importing Only Quicken Category List

[Chuck Waggoner]

> Derek Atkins <warlord at MIT.EDU> wrote:
> 
> > Chuck Waggoner <chuck.waggoner at gmail.com> writes:
> >
> > For the last 8 years, I have not had a reason to use accounting
> > software, but my circumstances have changed, and I need to begin
> > again.  Previously, I was using Quicken but now desire to use
> > GnuCash.
> >
> > I am having a problem importing Quicken categories from my
previous
> > Quicken program.  I have--and want--only the categories; no
> > transactions (which I do not have, and can no longer access).  I
> > have examined and experimented with the GnuCash sample QIF
> > files--which contain both categories and transaction
information.  I
> > find that if I remove the transactions from those sample files
(to
> > simulate what I have) NOTHING imports--categories are not
converted
> > to GnuCash accounts.
> >
> > Am I doing something wrong, or what is the matter?
> >
> > My categories are fairly complex, coming from a combination
which
> > combines both personal and a sole-proprietorship business.  It
would
> > really be a nightmare to create all those accounts by hand in
> > GnuCash.
> >
> > I searched using both the GnuCash user list search engine and
> > Google, but--unbelievably--can find no one else who has
experienced
> > this problem.
> >
> > Any ideas?
> 
> Unfortunately, no, the QIF Importer cannot import a set of 
> accounts.  It only imports transactions, and will only create 
> the accounts necessary based on the transactions it wants to 
> import.  So no, you cannot use the QIF importer to create an 
> empty account hierarchy.
> 
> Do none of the existing GnuCash hierarchies come close to 
> your existing hierarchy?
> 
> -derek

  Thanks, Derek.  Unfortunately, no.  The hierarchy is around 300
numbered accounts mostly related to film/video production and were
designed to match an Excel-based spreadsheet related to budgeting
for grant proposals.

  I would suggest that the GC documentation and tutorials should be
revised to make it clear that categories alone are not imported,
because I certainly inferred that they could be.

  Is it possible to do a search and replace on my QIF list to turn
them into zero balance account transactions that would be imported?

--Chuck