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Convert Quicken for Mac Data File to Quicken Essentials for Mac

Updated: 7/30/2012 | Article ID: GEN83162

If you have upgraded to and/or are running OS X 10.7 Lion and need to convert your file

We have released a Quicken File Exchange Utility that is compatible with Mac OSX 10.7 Lion. You can download the utility here.

Notice: There are two versions of Quicken Essentials: a retail version, available from Intuit and off the shelf in retail stores; and a Mac App Store version, available by clicking the App Store icon on your computer or by visiting the App Store website. To adhere to the technical guidelines established by Apple, the App Store version of Quicken Essentials does not support the conversion of Quicken for Mac data files.

If necessary, please contact Quicken Support at http://quicken.intuit.com/support/mac.jsp. We sincerely apologize for this inconvenience.

Once you have downloaded the utility

  1. Double-click on Quicken File Exchange Utility you've downloaded.
  2. Click Continue.
  3. In the Open dialog box, locate and highlight your Quicken for Mac 2007 data file and click Open. Preparing and copying the file may take a few minutes.
  4. Once the conversion is successful, you will receive a dialog box that reads Conversion and export succeeded. A .qdfx file is created in the same location as your data file.
  5. Press OK.
  6. Open Quicken Essentials for Mac.
  7. Choose File > New and create a new Quicken data file.
  8. Choose File > Import, and then select the .qdfx file created in step 3 and click Open.
  9. Once the import is complete, your data will be available to use in Quicken Essentials.

If you installed Essentials from a CD

Create a copy of your Quicken 2004 - 2007 data file: 

  1. In Quicken for Mac, create a copy of your current Quicken for Mac data file, by choosing File > Save a Copy and complete the prompts to make a copy of the file (such as: "Copy of data.qdfm").
    Important: You'll want to use the copy for the conversion. Do not use your original data file.

Preparing your file for conversion:

  1. Launch the Quicken File Exchange Utility (it's located on your Quicken Essentials disk in the Converting? folder).
  2. Follow the on-screen instructions to locate the copy of your old data file and then convert your data from Quicken for Mac to Quicken Essentials.
  3. Open Quicken Essentials, and start with a new data file with no accounts.
    Note: If you want to import your old data into a new Quicken Essentials data file that you've already started using (optional), make sure that the new data file is now open in Quicken Essentials.

Complete the conversion:

  1. Choose File > Import, and then select the .QDFX file that you just created during the conversion process (example: copy of data export.qdfx).
    Note: The conversion file has a .QDFX extension. You'll find it in the same folder as the copy of your old Quicken for Mac file.
  2. After the conversion is completed, you should verify your accounts/balances between Quicken 2007 and Quicken Essentials to ensure the conversion was successful.

If you installed Essentials from a download

Create a copy of your Quicken 2004 - 2007 data file: 

  1. In Quicken for Mac 2007, create a copy of your current Quicken for Mac data file, by choosing File > Save a Copy and complete the prompts to make a copy of the file (such as: "Copy of data.qdfm").
    Important: You'll want to use the copy for the conversion. Do not use your original data file.

Preparing your file for conversion:

  1. Launch the Quicken File Exchange Utility (it's located in your Quicken Essentials in the installer file you downloaded in the Converting? folder).
  2. Follow the on-screen instructions to locate the copy of your old data file and then convert your data from Quicken for Mac to Quicken Essentials.
  3. Open Quicken Essentials, and start with a new data file with no accounts.
  4. Note: If you want to import your old data into a new Quicken Essentials data file that you've already started using (optional), make sure that the new data file is now open in Quicken Essentials.

Complete the conversion:

  1. Choose File > Import, and then select the .QDFX file that you just created during the conversion process (example: copy of data export.qdfx).
    Note: The conversion file has a .QDFX extension. You'll find it in the same folder as the copy of your old Quicken for Mac file.
  2. After the conversion is completed, you should verify your accounts/balances between Quicken 2007 and Quicken Essentials to ensure the conversion was successful.
 
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