Q: What is the Quicken interchange format (QIF)?

A: The Quicken interchange format (QIF) is a specially formatted text (ASCII) file that lets you to move Quicken transactions:

Note: For Quicken to translate data from a text file into the Quicken register as transactions, the text file must be in the QIF format.

Required File Formatting:

HeaderType of data
!Type:BankBank account transactions
!Type:CashCash account transactions
!Type:CCardCredit card account transactions
!Type:InvstInvestment account transactions
!Type:Oth AAsset account transactions
!Type:Oth LLiability account transactions
!AccountAccount list or which account follows
!Type:CatCategory list
!Type:ClassClass list
!Type:MemorizedMemorized transaction list

You can force Quicken to import all transfers, regardless of whether Ignore Transfers is selected when the file is imported. You must add a line to the file being imported into a Quicken account. Use a text editor or word processor to put the following line right after the header line at the top of the file:

!Option:AllXfr

Items for Non-Investment Accounts

Each item in a bank, cash, credit card, other liability, or other asset account must begin with a letter that indicates the field in the Quicken register. The non-split items can be in any sequence:

FieldIndicator Explanation
DDate
TAmount
CCleared status
NNum (check or reference number)
PPayee
MMemo
AAddress (up to five lines; the sixth line is an optional message)
LCategory (Category/Subcategory/Transfer/Class)
SCategory in split (Category/Transfer/Class)
EMemo in split
$Dollar amount of split
^End of the entry

Note: Repeat the S, E, and $ lines as many times as needed for additional items in a split. If an item is omitted from the transaction in the QIF file, Quicken treats it as a blank item.

Items for Investment Accounts

FieldIndicator Explanation
DDate
NAction
YSecurity
IPrice
QQuantity (number of shares or split ratio)
TTransaction amount
CCleared status
PText in the first line for transfers and reminders
MMemo
OCommission
LAccount for the transfer
$Amount transferred
^End of the entry

Items for Account Information

The account header !Account is used in two places-at the start of an account list and the start of a list of transactions to specify to which account they belong.

FieldIndicator Explanation
NName
TType of account
DDescription
LCredit limit (only for credit card accounts)
/Statement balance date
$Statement balance amount
^End of entry

Items for a Category List

FieldIndicator Explanation
NCategory name:subcategory name
DDescription
TTax related if included, not tax related if omitted
IIncome category
EExpense category (if category type is unspecified, quicken assumes expense type)
BBudget amount (only in a Budget Amounts QIF file)
RTax schedule information
^End of entry

Items for a Class List

FieldIndicator Explanation
NClass name
DDescription
^End of entry

Items for a Memorized Transaction List

Immediately preceding the ^ character, each entry must end with one of the following file indicators to specify the transaction type.

With that exception, memorized transaction entries have the same format as regular transaction entries (non-investment accounts). However, the Date or Num field is included. All items are optional, but if an amortization record is included, all seven amortization lines must also be included.

FieldIndicator Explanation
KCCheck transaction
KDDeposit transaction
KPPayment transaction
KIInvestment transaction
KEElectronic payee transaction
TAmount
CCleared status
PPayee
MMemo
AAddress
LCategory or Transfer/Class
SCategory/class in split
EMemo in split
$Dollar amount of split
1Amortization: First payment date
2Amortization: Total years for loan
3Amortization: Number of payments already made
4Amortization: Number of periods per year
5Amortization: Interest rate
6Amortization: Current loan balance
7Amortization: Original loan amount
^End of entry

Examples of QIF files

Normal Transactions Example

Transaction ItemComment (not in file)
!Type:BankHeader
D6/ 1/94Date
T-1,000.00Amount
N1005Check number
PBank Of MortgagePayee
L[linda]Category
S[linda]First category in split
$-253.64First amount in split
SMort IntSecond category in split
$-746.36Second amount in split
^End of the transaction
D6/ 2/94Date
T75.00Amount
PDepositPayee
^End of the transaction
D6/ 3/94Date
T-10.00Amount
PJoBob BiggsPayee
MJ.B. gets bucksMemo
LEntertainCategory
A1010 Rodeo Dr.Address (line 1)
AWaco, TxAddress (line 2)
A80505Address (line 3)
AAddress (line 4)
AAddress (line 5)
AAddress (line 6)
^End of the transaction

Investment Example

Transaction ItemComment (not in file)
!Type:InvstHeader line
D8/25/93Date
NShrsInAction (optional)
Yibm4Security
I11.260Price
Q88.81Quantity
CXCleared Status
T1,000.00Amount
MOpeningBalance Memo
^End of the transaction
D8/25/93Date
NBuyXAction
Yibm4Security
I11.030Price
Q9.066Quantity
T100.00Amount
MEst. price as of 8/25/93Memo
L[CHECKING]Account for transfer
$100.00Amount transferred
^End of the transaction

Memorized List Example

Transaction ItemComment (not in file)
!Type:MemorizedHeader line
T-50.00Amount
PJoe HayesPayee
MRentMemo
KCCheck transaction
^End of the transaction
T-25.00Amount
T-25.00Company Payee
LTelephoneCategory
KPPayment transaction
^End of the transaction


©Intuit Inc. 1997

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