[GNC] Download assistance sought...
Tom Route36
tom.route36 at gmail.com
Thu Oct 1 19:13:28 EDT 2026
John,
Thanks for that. I feel dumb now. I guess somehow a bunch of us missed
the option available to import QFX files directly.
Tom
On 10/01/2026 03:56 PM, John Ralls wrote:
> If you can get a QFX then you’re done. GnuCash can import those *more
> reliably* than QIF files.
>
> Regards,
> John Ralls
>
>
>> On Oct 1, 2026, at 14:52, Kalpesh Patel <kalpesh.patel at usa.net> wrote:
>>
>> Tom – I agree with your intermediate step of going from Mac 2007
>> version to Windows 2007 via QFX format.
>>
>> Also wanted to add clarification on the rinse-&-repeat three times
>> process that I mentioned in that for the next iteration open the file
>> that was copied using the “File Operation perform Copy” from the
>> previous rinse-&-repeat cycle; not the same file. For each iteration
>> you want to improve on the previously improved one. Do this
>> rinse-&-repeat three times as the very first step, then when data is
>> in Windows 2007 version (if you perform Tom’s intermediate step) and
>> finally when data is in Windows 2013 version before exporting to QIF
>> format.
>>
>> David T. – this path might also bring your 2006 version to stable
>> 2013 version if you are looking to keep copy of it to look back if
>> that is what you do.
>>
>>
>> From: Tom Route36 <tom.route36 at gmail.com>
>> Sent: Thursday, October 01, 2026 5:12 PM
>> To: Kalpesh Patel <kalpesh.patel at usa.net>
>> Cc:gnucash-user at gnucash.org; 'Stephen Lee Phillips'
>> <resqdogz at gmail.com>; 'David T.' <sunfish62 at yahoo.com>
>> Subject: Re: [GNC] Download assistance sought...
>>
>> 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 <mailto:tom.route36 at gmail.com
>> <mailto:tom.route36 at gmail.com>> <tom.route36 at gmail.com>
>> Sent: Thursday, October 01, 2026 2:35 AM
>> To: David T. <mailto:sunfish62 at yahoo.com
>> <mailto:sunfish62 at yahoo.com>> <sunfish62 at yahoo.com>
>> Cc:gnucash-user at gnucash.org<mailto:gnucash-user at gnucash.org
>> <mailto:gnucash-user at gnucash.org>> ; Kalpesh Patel
>> <mailto:kalpesh.patel at usa.net <mailto:kalpesh.patel at usa.net>>
>> <kalpesh.patel at usa.net>; 'Stephen Lee Phillips'
>> <mailto:resqdogz at gmail.com <mailto:resqdogz at gmail.com>>
>> <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
>> <mailto:tom.route36 at gmail.com <mailto:tom.route36 at gmail.com>>
>> <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
>> athttps://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 <mailto:tom.route36 at gmail.com
>> <mailto:tom.route36 at gmail.com>> <tom.route36 at gmail.com>
>> Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2026 12:08 AM
>> To: 'Stephen Lee Phillips' <mailto:resqdogz at gmail.com
>> <mailto:resqdogz at gmail.com>> <resqdogz at gmail.com>
>> Cc:gnucash-user at gnucash.org<mailto:gnucash-user at gnucash.org
>> <mailto:gnucash-user at gnucash.org>> ; Kalpesh Patel
>> <mailto:kalpesh.patel at usa.net <mailto:kalpesh.patel at usa.net>>
>> <kalpesh.patel at usa.net>; 'David T.' <mailto:sunfish62 at yahoo.com
>> <mailto:sunfish62 at yahoo.com>> <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<https://archive.org/search?query=quicken&tab=all
>> <https://archive.org/search?query=quicken&tab=all>> &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. <mailto:sunfish62 at yahoo.com
>> <mailto:sunfish62 at yahoo.com>> <sunfish62 at yahoo.com>
>> Sent: Tuesday, September 29, 2026 2:32 AM
>> To:gnucash-user at gnucash.org<mailto:gnucash-user at gnucash.org
>> <mailto:gnucash-user at gnucash.org>> ; Stephen Lee Phillips
>> <mailto:resqdogz at gmail.com <mailto:resqdogz at gmail.com>>
>> <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
>> <mailto:resqdogz at gmail.com <mailto:resqdogz at gmail.com>>
>> <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*
>>
>> *Education • Intervention • Transport • FosteringPre-adoptive Home
>> Visits • Avocational Bodhisattva*
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>> David T.
>>
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>> David T.
>>
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