[GNC] Download assistance sought...
Tom Route36
tom.route36 at gmail.com
Thu Oct 1 17:11:39 EDT 2026
Kalpesh,
This is a great way to get around dealing with Quicken's subscription
requirement; and I think your way is definitely less hassle for Steve.
It's also possibly a good way of trying to clean up any issues with the
Quicken data itself. I do have one suggestion though that might make
the data cleanup process better -- or at least more likely to be successful.
You suggest exporting the .qfx file from Quicken Mac 2007; and importing
the .qfx file to Quicken Windows 2013. That would probably work. But
in regard to trying to safely clean up the Quicken data, my suggestion
would be slightly different. I'd take the exported .qfx file from
Quicken Mac 2007 and import it into Quicken Windows *2007* first. That
way you're moving the data between Mac and PC on the same year of
Quicken software (2007), which I think might be safer.
Then once the data has been moved into Quicken Windows 2007, you upgrade
the software on the PC to Quicken Windows 2013. That might be a safer
way to clean up the Quicken data. It's still kinda iffy; and doing
multiple Validate and Repair operations to check for data issues on both
year versions (2007 and 2013) would be highly recommended.
Anyway, that would be my one tweak to your advice for Steve.
Tom
On 10/01/2026 04:02 AM, Kalpesh Patel wrote:
>
> These steps can be reduced where their cloud version is **not** needed
> at all.
>
> Reading
> https://www.quicken.com/support/converting-your-data-quicken-mac-0
> steps to do Mac upgrade but probably isn’t necessary. Since Mac
> version doesn’t provide QIF export, The cleanest route (outside of
> cleaning up the data) is to export out data into QFX format from the
> existing Mac version and then install Windows version of Quicken 2013
> (might not need Virtual Box). There is a link at the bottom of
> https://www.quicken.com/support/how-and-when-use-intermediate-version-convert-older-versions-quicken/?srsltid=AU7gw4UlwroMzIM8S5PREhIkCezAcT3BYQrpq0Ev9KerNVR0jIMjetyY
> for Quicken 2013 Deluxe download for free which is stated to be able
> to import QFX format and export away directly from there into QIF.
> This kind of implies that changes to their internal database was last
> done during version 2013, which make sense as I recall something to
> that effect.
>
> Before exporting the data, I suggest that in Quicken use Validate and
> Repair from File Operations and then from File Operation perform Copy.
> Do this about three times to try to rinse out bad records in Quickens
> internal database (not guaranteed). Then export to QFX, Import into
> Quicken 2013 on Windows. Run this rinse operation three times there as
> well before exporting to QIF format.
>
> This is likely to be the least resistant way of getting to GNC from
> that old data.
>
> *From:*Tom Route36 <tom.route36 at gmail.com>
> *Sent:* Thursday, October 01, 2026 2:35 AM
> *To:* David T. <sunfish62 at yahoo.com>
> *Cc:* gnucash-user at gnucash.org; Kalpesh Patel <kalpesh.patel at usa.net>;
> 'Stephen Lee Phillips' <resqdogz at gmail.com>
> *Subject:* Re: [GNC] Download assistance sought...
>
> David,
>
> The reason for having to go thru this rather long complicated process
> is because Quicken desktop software on the Mac -- all versions, from
> the oldest to the current subscription version -- fails to include any
> option to export a .qif file. I don't have a Mac system myself where
> I could check that; but all the user forums and AI info that I looked
> at seem to confirm that. You have to do the .qif export with Quicken
> Windows software. Ugly, but that's Quicken.
>
> As far as troubles with opening an ancient Quicken 2007 .qdfm file,
> you're absolutely correct. Quite a few users have reported issues
> trying to do that. Unfortunately, if there is a problem opening the
> file with the latest Quicken Classic desktop software, the database
> itself may have issues inherent in the data structures. And even if
> you can successfully open the .qdfm file with the original Quicken
> 2007 software, it's quite likely that exporting it to a .qxf file, and
> then attempting to open it with Quicken Windows (any version) is
> likely to have problems as well. There's no real good way of getting
> around that. If it's any consolation, the encouraging bright spot is
> that the export of the data is likely to export basic checking,
> savings, and credit card accounts and categories in those accounts
> intact and correct (at least based on the reports that I've seen).
> Where problems are more likely are with stock and mutual fund type
> accounts, especially when they involve tracking stock splits and
> capital gains. I suspect that no matter how the conversion goes for
> Steve there's going to be a lot of manual tweaking involved in
> Gnucash. It's the reality of dealing with nearly 20 year-old software.
>
> Tom
>
> On 09/30/2026 11:54 PM, David T. wrote:
>
> Tom,
>
> I hope you're right, but I'll note that I've seen some troubling
> pages from the Quicken websites that suggest that the current
> versions of Quicken won't directly open a Quicken file from 2007.
> That would complicate things drastically.
>
> Also, I'm not certain, but wouldn't Quicken for the Mac also have
> a QIF export?
>
> David T.
>
> On October 1, 2026 7:54:44 AM GMT+05:30, Tom Route36
> <tom.route36 at gmail.com> <mailto:tom.route36 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Steve,
>
> I think Kalpesh's advice is on the right track here. But I
> think there's a simpler way of getting to where you want to
> go. (Well, maybe not simpler. There's a bunch of steps
> involved.) My suggestion would be to let Quicken provide you
> with the means of converting that data. First (and don't get
> scared off just yet) it *will* involve you purchasing a
> Quicken subscription. *But* you should be able to ultimately
> accomplish all this on the cheap -- i.e., for FREE! Bear with
> me here while I explain.
>
> If you go to the Quicken website (not a third-party, that's
> important) and purchase a subscription from Quicken for
> "Quicken Classic (Windows and Mac)" (that specific product
> name is also important), you'll get the current Quicken
> desktop software. Once you get that program loaded on your
> Mac computer, as soon as you go to start it for the first time
> (after logging in with your new Quicken ID), the program
> should ask if you have an existing file you want to open.
> That's where you specify your Quicken 2007 .qdfm file. I
> would avoid any requests or options to cloud sync your data.
>
> Once you've opened the .qdfm file on your Mac computer with
> the latest Quicken Classic desktop software, don't try to
> change anything. Just immediately go and export the data (all
> accounts and categories) to a .qxf file. Be sure to save that
> .qxf file somewhere where you can access it from a Windows PC.
>
> Next, go to your Windows PC (or borrow one if needed), and go
> back again to the Quicken website, this time on the Windows
> PC. Login to your Quicken account (using the same Quicken ID
> you just created earlier on the Mac). And download and
> install the same Quicken Classic software that you previously
> installed on the Mac. Your subscription should allow multiple
> installations of the software. Once the Quicken software is
> installed on the Windows PC, select the option to create a new
> empty Quicken file. Once you've got the new empty Quicken
> file open, then go and import the .qxf file that you
> previously created on the Mac.
>
> Now that you've imported the .qxf file to create a Quicken
> database on the Windows PC, you can finally export the data
> from there (on the Windows PC) into a .qif file. And be sure
> to save it someplace safe. That's the file that you need to
> get the data into Gnucash.
>
> So you're finally done. Uh, not quite. Remember what I said
> about doing this for free. Well, this is where you go back
> and contact Quicken customer support. You tell them you tried
> their software and didn't like it. And so, you'd like to take
> advantage of their "30-day Money Back Satisfaction
> Guarantee". You should be able to get a full refund of all
> your money.
>
> Anyway, I think this is probably the most straightforward way
> of getting the .qdfm file converted for Gnucash.
> Hope this helps,
> Tom
>
>
> On 09/30/2026 04:04 AM, Kalpesh Patel wrote:
>
> In that case MacOS is the only way in Virtual Box instead
> of Windows OS it sounds like. Two possible routes instead
> of one – 1) Older MacOS running an older Quicken version
> in Virtual Box and then export it out as QIF, or 2) let
> newer version of Quicken on MacOS upgrade that version
> into modern format, and then either export to QIF directly
> from there or bring it over to Windows and export. Note
> that Windows has been using QDF proprietary format to
> store Quicken data.
>
> I found number of Vagrant boxes for older MacOS that can
> run in Virtual Box at
> https://portal.cloud.hashicorp.com/vagrant/discover?query=macos.
>
>
> In either case, though, you will end up with export-import
> cycle which is the best route.
>
> *From:*Tom Route36 <tom.route36 at gmail.com>
> <mailto:tom.route36 at gmail.com>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 30, 2026 12:08 AM
> *To:* 'Stephen Lee Phillips' <resqdogz at gmail.com>
> <mailto:resqdogz at gmail.com>
> *Cc:* gnucash-user at gnucash.org; Kalpesh Patel
> <kalpesh.patel at usa.net> <mailto:kalpesh.patel at usa.net>;
> 'David T.' <sunfish62 at yahoo.com> <mailto:sunfish62 at yahoo.com>
> *Subject:* Re: [GNC] Download assistance sought...
>
> Hi Steve,
>
> After I saw Kalpesh's advice, it got me curious about
> those old versions of Quicken, and I decided to run a few
> tests. If you did get a Windows instance up and running,
> you wouldn't need to worry about which version of Windows
> it was. For my testing here on a current Windows 11
> system, I was able to successfully install and run both
> Quicken 2014 and Quicken 2007.
>
> The bad news though is Quicken Windows can't open a
> Quicken Mac (.qdfm) file. So I don't think doing that
> will help in your case. As David mentioned already, you
> need Quicken (specifically a Mac version of it) to open
> that .qdfm file so that you can export it in one of those
> generic formats.
>
> A piece of good news for you though is that newer versions
> of Quicken (post-2007) can most likely open your .qdfm
> file. I tested and confirmed that Quicken 2014 can open a
> Quicken 2007 file. At least it worked for me on Windows.
> So even if you don't have a Mac system with Quicken 2007
> anymore, I think if you can find someone with a Mac system
> that has *any* version of Quicken, there's a good chance
> it will be able to read your old .qdfm file -- which would
> then allow you to export it as a .QIF file.
>
> Hope this helps,
> Tom
>
>
> On 09/29/2026 07:25 PM, Kalpesh Patel wrote:
>
> Your only and, one and only one real option is run a Windows instance in a VirtualBox (Vagarant can provide a lot of plumbing if you know how) where you can install Quicken 2006 and export it out as a QIF format (OFX and CSV formats for export are not available in Quicken) to import into GNC. Even that is not strait forward as semantics of two system differ in many ways. I would venture to think that you would probably need either Windows XP or Windows 7 as a compatible OS to possibly run that old of a Quicken version. You should be able to get a copy of it from the archive machine (https://archive.org/search?query=quicken&tab=all <https://archive.org/search?query=quicken&tab=all>).
>
>
>
> I remember writing up good hints to minimize pain to this group many years ago from my experience of migrating over two decades of data from Quicken 2017 into GNC inn 2020 (and I am still fixing up some of that data).
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>
> From: David T.<sunfish62 at yahoo.com> <mailto:sunfish62 at yahoo.com>
>
> Sent: Tuesday, September 29, 2026 2:32 AM
>
> To:gnucash-user at gnucash.org; Stephen Lee Phillips<resqdogz at gmail.com> <mailto:resqdogz at gmail.com>
>
> Subject: Re: [GNC] Download assistance sought...
>
>
>
> I'm pretty sure you won't find any success getting at that data from outside the Quicken universe. Your only option, I believe, is to open the data file in Quicken and export your data in a generic format like OFX, QIF, or csv and then importing that into another accounting program.
>
>
>
> David T.
>
>
>
> On September 29, 2026 7:16:35 AM GMT+05:30, Stephen Lee Phillips<resqdogz at gmail.com> <mailto:resqdogz at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Trying to find conversion for .qdfm (Quicken Data for Mac) file from
>
> 2007 and was directed to GnuCash, however I've been unsuccessful in
>
> finding, downloading, and extracting/opening the correct iteration to
>
> run on Intel Mac OS Sonoma 14.8.9: Any suggestions would be most
>
> gratefully appreciated...
>
>
>
> Thank you!
>
>
>
> Steve
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *Advocacy • Legislation & Ordinance Preparation*
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> David T.
>
>
>
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