Categories and Transfers

[Si]

I have been using Microsoft Money since 1998 and I am currently
running Microsoft Money 2003 (UK version). I have a question about
categories, more specifically remember categories for downloaded
transfer transactions.

I am familiar with recognition of previous categories and MS Money
remembering it the next time it is downloaded, i.e. when I first visit
Coles and assign a category, the next time I download a transaction,
it remembers 'Food - Groceries' for the subsequent transaction.

As for Transfers between accounts however, for some reason MS Money
does not 'remember' the categories and I am wondering if it is
possible to remedy this?

My downloaded transfers look like this:

Transfer from xx8884 NetBank
Transfer to xx8884 NetBank
Transfer from xx3670 NetBank
Transfer to xx3670 NetBank
Transfer from xx7830 NetBank
Transfer to xx7830 NetBank
etc.

I did not mask the account number in the description, this is how they
are downloaded.

I then assign 'Transfer' then the appropriate account the money is
coming from/going to.

Despite doing this regularly, MS Money never 'learns' the category for
my transfers. Is there a way for me to fix this?

The transaction descriptions are distinct. I have tried changing the
account numbers for the accounts in 'Change account detail' from the
full account number to the masked account number so to match the
downloaded description, and I mainly only download transactions from
my 'day to day' account rather than from the above savings account (I
can only download transactions from one account at a time for my
financial institution).

I am downloading my data from my Bank in QIF format. Although my Bank
'provides' the option on their website to download in OFX format, when
I import this into Money I get the error "The file you attempted to
import appears to be invalid or contains corrupt data. Please download
the file again. If this problem continues, please contact your
financial institution'. I only get this from my Bank and not for
example from my credit card company. I have written to my Bank about
this issue.

Many thanks in advance for your assistance.

Si.

 

[Cal Learner]

Despite doing this regularly, MS Money never 'learns' the category for
my transfers. Is there a way for me to fix this?

Sorry, no. I wish there was such a thing. When you process the
first transaction of the transfer, mark it as a transfer. If you
download the other half, it should match up. If it does not, you
will have to change it.

If the amount was always the same, there might be a way. But for a
variable amount, then no.

 

[genexxer]

ctrl-h ie. global search and replace tool

No, I have yet to discover a way to do what you ask. However I do know how to bulk replace the category value in many transactions at once. This won't work to make the future downloaded transfers follow the categorization though.

It's ctrl-h. or tools->replace->choose payee from the drop down->in the payee field type out the first few characters->it should auto complete as you type so you just keep on typing it out to narrow it down or just delete the unwanted last part of the sub string of characters->click replace->it should bring up a list of transactions matching your string->click replace again->fill the check box next to each row for which you wish a change in category->in the drop down choose category->in the next field over from that choose the category you wish to be the new category->hit replace at bottom->hit finish.