SEE Finance

Switching from Other Software
Most software provides a QIF file exporting option. Usually this option is found as an "Export" option through the software's "File" menu or other menu choice. If given the option for file types to export, the QIF file export is usually the best selection. If given options about what to export choose to export all accounts, categories, securities, and any other options that appear relevant. Save this QIF file to a location you can easily access on your Mac. The following software is known to export account information as QIF files: Quicken®, Microsoft® Money, iBank™, Moneydance®, MoneyWell®, Money®, CheckBook Pro®, Liquid Ledger®, My Money®, moneyGuru®, Squirrel® Prospects®, Budget®, FinanceToGo®, FinanceToGo®, and Stash®.

Importing Accounts from QIF Files into SEE Finance
Now that you have a QIF file containing your accounts from your previous software you can simply create a new SEE Finance file by opening SEE Finance and selecting "File" and then "New SEE Finance File". A new file will be created and a drop down window will appear welcoming you to SEE Finance and asking how you would like to get started. Choose the "Get Started by Importing Account(s) from File" option. Then navigate to your QIF file from your previous software and the file's information will be imported. Be sure to select that this "File Was Created By: Other Financial Software or Website" from the drop down list option beneath the file browser.

Once the file's information has been finished being read into SEE Finance and there are categories found in the file, a "Categories Found in QIF File" window will show requesting if you would like to import this list of categories and whether or not to delete the existing default categories or to merge these categories with the default categories. You can also select to import or not import individual categories in this list. Then click "Import" to import these categories or "Cancel" if you wish not to import any of these categories.

Next, an "Accounts Found in QIF File" window will show with two tables. In the top table is a list of all the accounts found in this QIF file and in the bottom table is the list of transactions for the selected account in the top table. Here you can choose which accounts to import, set their name, their account type and subtype, the currency the accounts are in and whether or not to import individual transactions. Underneath the tables you need to select the date format that specifically matches the transactions found in the file (see note below). You can choose whether the values in the number column are check numbers or transaction numbers. Select the kind of category matching you prefer. Check the "Run Imported Transactions through Filters" checkbox of you want to use your activated transaction filters. If you would like to have all these transactions set as reconciled (cleared), check the "Mark All Imported Transactions as Reconciled" (otherwise it will use the reconciled setting found in the file). Once you are ready click "Import" to import the selected accounts or "Cancel" if you wish to cancel this import.

Notes:
Make sure you have chosen the proper date format from the date format pop up button. If you don't the transactions will not have the proper dates and may be given a strange date or might not be imported at all. Note that formats showing "-" for separators are for all similar formats using any kind of separator. For example, the date format "MM-DD-YY" would be appropriate for dates such as: "12/31/99", "12 31 99", "12-31-99", "12.31.99", "12/31'99", etc.

When exporting a QIF file from a previously used program, make sure to select to export all available information otherwise the missing information from the imported file could result in inaccurate account information. If you are exporting investment accounts, make sure to export the security list, security price list, and the entire investment transaction history into the QIF the file otherwise the imported information will not be correct. Also, due to SEE Finance's specific handling of bonds, make sure any bond funds listed in the previously used program were not listed with the "Bond" security type. Bond funds should be listed with the "Bond Fund" security type or another security type since these securities are not actual bonds.

We have seen many files exported from all kinds of different software and in our experience only three can successfully export account data reliably without error: Quicken®, Microsoft® Money and SEE Finance. While we have tried to accommodate for as many of the errors in the exports of other software as we can, many of them are simply exporting transactions in incorrect formats. If you run into any issues we are more than happy to offer help with your transition. Just contact us at SEE Finance Email Support.