Kalpesh,

This got confusing with the QFX versus QXF.  But to be clear here for Steve's sake, your advice (and my tweak) for him are still the way to go, except that he should read QXF instead of QFX in those recommendations, right?

Tom


On 10/01/2026 06:17 PM, Kalpesh Patel wrote:

Not quite for me; I overlooked transpose of few characters. Nonetheless you are right, John, that if it in QFX then sailing would be way smoother.

Quicken and GNC can import in QFX (Quicken Financial Exchange format) but not export. Exporting would have been great.

Export from Mac 2007 to Windows 2007 is in QXF (Quicken Transfer Format) format which is the only way to go between two platforms.

*From:*Tom Route36 <[email protected]>
*Sent:* Thursday, October 01, 2026 7:42 PM
*To:* John Ralls <[email protected]>
*Cc:* [email protected]; Kalpesh Patel <[email protected]>; Stephen Lee Phillips <[email protected]>
*Subject:* Re: [GNC] Download assistance sought...

John,

Another question about this.  Although QFX files can be imported directly into Gnucash, isn't that more for importing transactions from individual accounts?  Aren't QIF files what you want to use when trying to import a full Quicken database (all accounts and categories)?  I know that I used the QIF format when I made the move to Gnucash.  I'm not sure what the differences are between importing data using QFX versus QIF format.

Tom

On 10/01/2026 05:13 PM, Tom Route36 wrote:

    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
            <[email protected]> <mailto:[email protected]> 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 <[email protected]
            <mailto:[email protected]>>
            Sent: Thursday, October 01, 2026 5:12 PM
            To: Kalpesh Patel <[email protected]
            <mailto:[email protected]>>
            Cc:[email protected]
            <mailto:[email protected]>; 'Stephen Lee Phillips'
            <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>>; 'David
            T.' <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>>
            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:[email protected]
            <mailto:[email protected]>> <[email protected]
            <mailto:[email protected]>>
            Sent: Thursday, October 01, 2026 2:35 AM
            To: David T.  <mailto:[email protected]
            <mailto:[email protected]>> <[email protected]
            <mailto:[email protected]>>
            Cc:[email protected]
            <mailto:[email protected]><mailto:[email protected]
            <mailto:[email protected]>> ; Kalpesh Patel
             <mailto:[email protected]
            <mailto:[email protected]>> <[email protected]
            <mailto:[email protected]>>; 'Stephen Lee Phillips'
             <mailto:[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>>
            <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>>
            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:[email protected]
            <mailto:[email protected]>> <[email protected]
            <mailto:[email protected]>> 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
            <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  <mailto:[email protected]
            <mailto:[email protected]>> <[email protected]
            <mailto:[email protected]>>
            Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2026 12:08 AM
            To: 'Stephen Lee Phillips'  <mailto:[email protected]
            <mailto:[email protected]>> <[email protected]
            <mailto:[email protected]>>
            Cc:[email protected]
            <mailto:[email protected]><mailto:[email protected]
            <mailto:[email protected]>> ; Kalpesh Patel
             <mailto:[email protected]
            <mailto:[email protected]>> <[email protected]
            <mailto:[email protected]>>; 'David T.'
             <mailto:[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>>
            <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>>
            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><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:[email protected]
            <mailto:[email protected]>> <[email protected]
            <mailto:[email protected]>>
            Sent: Tuesday, September 29, 2026 2:32 AM
            To:[email protected]
            <mailto:[email protected]><mailto:[email protected]
            <mailto:[email protected]>> ; Stephen Lee Phillips
             <mailto:[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>>
            <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>>
            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:[email protected]
            <mailto:[email protected]>> <[email protected]
            <mailto:[email protected]>> 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


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