Quicken Migration

The purpose of this page is to list any hints and tips that may assist users in migrating their books from Quicken to GnuCash.

Benefits of migration

• You gain the full control of your data. The data is stored in an open format (XML, or SQL databases) and accessible to various other standard utilities and report tools. This becomes important as the technology progresses and old Quicken versions are no longer supported.

Overview

Quicken stores the data in .QDF format. This is Quicken's proprietary format. It is encrypted and not readable by other applications.

The only way for migrating the book data from Quicken is through .qif files. Quicken provides a way to export accounts into this format.

GnuCash will also import OFX/QFX but not all Quicken versions provide the ability to export into this format. The data in this format is mostly provided by financial institutions.

Steps

Currently, the recommended way for Quicken to GnuCash migration is (moved from the FAQ page):

1. Start by making an account tree in Gnucash. There is a druid to help you, but keep at this stage to very similar names as you have used for categories and accounts in Quicken.
2. Next export your Quicken data to a QIF format. Save this file.
3. From the Gnucash menu select File > Import > Import QIF. Open your QIF file and follow the prompts. Match each category very carefully to your Account tree. Clicking on a highlighted line will allow you to choose from your new account tree. Match as much as you can. Then complete the import process.
4. Look at the results and be prepared to alter the account structure and start again if you have too many "Unspecified" entries.

An alternative approach to creating the account tree in Gnucash first is to include your categories and accounts in Quicken's QIF export. This option is available in many versions of Quicken. If you have this data in the QIF file, Gnucash will create your accounts automatically. After the import is completed, you can edit individual Gnucash accounts and reassign them as needed.

Note that you cannot import a QDF file into GnuCash, and there are no plans to add "QDF" support anytime soon.

Tips

• Multi-currency: Currently the GnuCash's QIF importer can import only one currency per file. Pay attention when migrating multi-currency books as GnuCash will create duplicate accounts (in case of money transfers, and for categories paid in different currencies) for each currency during the import process. For example, if you import a .qif file where Groceries were paid first in EUR and then in USD, you will end up with two accounts for Groceries - one in EUR and one in USD.

• Investment records: There are issues with migrating the investment records via QIF. Sometimes the import will fail. A more detailed diagnostics of the import process is required.

• It is generally recommended to import smaller chunks of transactions step-by-step. You can divide the transactions by account first and then by a time period (i.e. week or month) and migrate these smaller sections. GnuCash would detect most transfers in this fashion, preventing the creation of duplicate transactions.

• Split memos might not be imported (requires verification).