Importing CSV Files

How to Import CSV Files:

1. To import CSV files into your transaction register start by selecting an account from the Account List and select the Transactions View for that account. Then from the program's "File" menu select "Import" -> "Transactions...".
2. Now find the CSV file you would like to import in the "Open" file browser. Select the appropriate option from the drop down list for "File Was Created By:". Then click "Open". Wait for a moment while SEE Finance gathers the information from the selected file.
3. Next the CSV import window will raise and show the transactions imported from the file. Check to verify whether or not you want to import these transactions. You can check individual transactions to be imported or not using the "Import" column in the table of transactions. Select the appropriate values for "Start Row" and "End Row" in case the file has header information in the first row(s) and/or summary information in the last row(s). Next select the date format that specifically matches the transactions found in the file (formats showing "-" separators are for all formats using any kind of separator such as: "/", ".", or "'"). Also, check and set the decimal separator used for numbers found in the file. If the numbers are using periods for decimal separators select "Period" (like "50.00"), if the numbers are using commas for decimal separators select "Comma" (like "50,00"). If you do want to import any of these transactions, match all the columns to the information they represent using the pop up buttons for Date, Payee, Amount, Type, Category etc. If you are importing into an investment account you will be able to match the columns to the security information they represent using the "Security Info" column choices. If there is not a column to match to a certain pop up button's data type to, leave it set to "NA". Next, choose the type of category matching you would like to be done once you click "Import". Check the "Run Imported Transactions through Filters" checkbox if you want to use your activated transaction filters. If you would like to have these transactions set as reconciled (cleared), check the "Mark All Imported Transactions as Reconciled".

   Notes:

   • Make sure you have selected the appropriate values for "Start Row" and "End Row" in case the file has header information in the first row(s) and/or summary information in the last row(s).
   • Make sure you have chosen the proper date format from the date format pop up button when importing the CSV file. 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: "12/31/10", "12 31 10", "12-31-10", "12.31.10", "12/31'10", etc. However, using the "MM-DD-YY" date format for a transaction with a date such as "12/31/2010" would result with the transaction having the year of 2020 (use the "MM-DD-YYYY" date format instead).
   • Make sure you have selected the proper decimal separator for numbers (period or comma). If you choose comma and the numbers in the file actually use the period a number like "500.00" will be set to "50000".
   • If the Action column is not set for investment transactions it will use the Type column choice for the action.
   • If the Type or Action for investment transactions is not found in the list of transaction types it will look for common terms in the listed Type (contains "transfer" translates to "Transfer", contains "buy" translates to "Buy", contains "bought" translates to "Buy", contains "sell" translates to "Sell", contains "sold" translates to "Sell", contains "sale" translates to "Sell", contains "dividend" translates to "Dividend", contains "reinvestment" translates to "Buy").
   • Make sure to select the type of category matching you prefer to be done once you click "Import". Select "Don't Match Categories" if you don't want these transactions to have categories. Select "Use Exact Match for Categories" if you only want transactions to have a category if they match up exactly to one currently in SEE Finance. Select "Use Closest Match for Categories" if you would like SEE Finance to try to match the imported transactions with the closest matching category.
   • Make sure you have selected the "Mark All Imported Transactions as Reconciled" checkbox if you want these transactions to be marked as reconciled. Otherwise you will have to mark each one as reconciled manually.
   • You can toggle the on/off status of the checkboxes using the space bar.

4. Select the "Import" button and you're done! If any possible duplicates are identified while importing these transactions you will be presented with the duplicate transactions check window in order to check for duplicates.

Notes:

• SEE Finance can import CSV files using either comma separated columns or semicolon separated columns. In the Transaction Preferences you can set which to use or you can set it to request which to use each time you import a CSV file.