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Subject Author Date
Categories with _ Barbara L 11-15-2006
Posted by Barbara L on November 15, 2006, 12:16 pm
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 I'm reviewing & cleaning up my categories among other things. I've had
quicken back from Q3 or earlier & now have Q06 Premier. I'd like to delete
any unused categories and merge similar ones. I have a whole series of
categories that begin with an_. Are those ones I should be using rather than
the same thing not underline?

example Div income vs. _Div income

Also if I delete unused categories can I verify they are empty if the right
side of the categories screen is empty. Does it include any entries from old
hidden accounts.

Thanks,

Barbara L



Posted by Russ on November 16, 2006, 9:47 am
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Barbara L wrote:
> I'm reviewing & cleaning up my categories among other things. I've had
> quicken back from Q3 or earlier & now have Q06 Premier. I'd like to delete
> any unused categories and merge similar ones. I have a whole series of
> categories that begin with an_. Are those ones I should be using rather than
> the same thing not underline?
>
> example Div income vs. _Div income
>
> Also if I delete unused categories can I verify they are empty if the right
> side of the categories screen is empty. Does it include any entries from old
> hidden accounts.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Barbara L

That's a great question and I don't know the answer. I worry about
previous items of say 3 years ago that were categorized a certain way
and if you delete the categories, will itshow as uncategoized in your
reports and on the register if the data from three years ago is needed.
Generally every two years , I do a year end copy and I'm afraid that
the past years will be in total disarray if I don't keep the categories
that same. Sorry I couldn't answer your question. Thanks Russ Bird


Posted by JM on November 16, 2006, 11:27 am
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Barbara L wrote:
> I'm reviewing & cleaning up my categories among other things. I've had
> quicken back from Q3 or earlier & now have Q06 Premier. I'd like to delete
> any unused categories and merge similar ones. I have a whole series of
> categories that begin with an_. Are those ones I should be using rather than
> the same thing not underline?
>
> example Div income vs. _Div income

Either of these work the same for tax reporting purposes. The '_DivInc'
category [and some others] are added to the category list when you
create the first Investment Account in a new file. For a user who does
not add an Investment Account , the dividend and interest categories
are in the list by default - I assume for income in cash flow accounts.

The categories that begin with the underscore [e.g., _DivInc'] can not
be deleted - they are 'hardwired' so-to-speak.

>
> Also if I delete unused categories can I verify they are empty if the right
> side of the categories screen is empty. Does it include any entries from old
> hidden accounts.
>

What I do when 'cleaning house' as you propose:

First make a good safe backup - and more backup as you proceed.

Check the option to 'View Hidden Accounts' - this is important to find
out if this category has ever been used.

In the category list, select the category you want to delete and then
check 'Report' [at the top of the window]. Select 'Include all dates'
in the Date Range.
You must erify that the report includes ALL dates, ALL accounts and ALL
securities - per the customization dialog.

You will either get transactions to edit or you will get a 'blank'
report and a message to the effect that QW could not find any
transactions.

Again the key here is to make sure that all dates, all accounts and all
securities are included in the category report. This is the area that
can cause you great pain - I speak from experience - more than once
too!!! Thus the need for frequent backups as you proceed - your
'escape' route.


Posted by John Pollard on November 16, 2006, 11:35 am
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> I'm reviewing & cleaning up my categories among other things.
> I've had quicken back from Q3 or earlier & now have Q06
> Premier. I'd like to delete any unused categories and merge
> similar ones. I have a whole series of categories that begin
> with an_. Are those ones I should be using rather than the
> same thing not underline?
>
> example Div income vs. _Div income

You will probably not be able to delete those categories that
begin with an underscore, even if you have no transactions that
use them. Those are special Quicken categories that are
required if you have the Quicken account types that use them.
For example, if you have any Quicken "Investment" accounts, you
will not be able to delete any of the investment categories that
begin with an underscore, like "_DivInc". Quicken will
automatically use that category for certain transactions.

Whether you *should* use the same category for transactions
where you control the category; I can't tell you. But I do not
recall ever hearing of any downside to doing so.

> Also if I delete unused categories can I verify they are empty
> if the right side of the categories screen is empty. Does it
> include any entries from old hidden accounts.

The "Transaction Usage" pane does not include activity for
hidden accounts.

You could create an Itemized Categories report for "All Dates",
that shows hidden accounts and hidden categories, and shows
"Totals Only"; that will give you one line per category. I
believe categories with no transactions do not appear in the
report.

--
John Pollard
First initial underscore Last name at mchsi dot com
Please reply to newsgroup




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