Creating an *.iif File from Excel

[John Baker]

Hi:

I just started exploring how to import Payroll and Invoice data into Quickbooks, and see
that you can import from Excel by creat8ing a *.iif file. Unfortunately, my version of
Excel (Office 2000) does not offer that extension when saving a file. Can someone tell me
how to create an *.iif file from Excel.

Thanks

John Baker

 

[Gary]

Hey John,

Do save from Excel, just choose Text (tab delimited) as your option to save
as. After you have saved, use explorer to locate the folder and the file,
right click on the file and change the name from .txt to .iif. It may be
easier to do if you have unchecked the box under explorer that says hide
extensions of known file types.

Another way is to choose Text (tab delimited) as your save as type while in
Excel, in the file name dialog box put the filename in quotes such as
"payroll.iif", it will then save that name as a delimited file.

cheers
gary

 

[John Baker]

Thank you...thats very helpful

Best

John

Hey John,

Do save from Excel, just choose Text (tab delimited) as your option to save
as. After you have saved, use explorer to locate the folder and the file,
right click on the file and change the name from .txt to .iif. It may be
easier to do if you have unchecked the box under explorer that says hide
extensions of known file types.

Another way is to choose Text (tab delimited) as your save as type while in
Excel, in the file name dialog box put the filename in quotes such as
"payroll.iif", it will then save that name as a delimited file.

cheers
gary

 

[John Baker]

Gary:

Do you know of any piece of software that will do this automatically? I have an
unsophisticated user who will mess up the process of changing the extension.

Best

John

 

[Gary]

John,

Sorry I don't know of any process that does this automatically. However if a
person opens an existing IIF file, Excel will import. Then you can click
save and it will retain the name. I also suppose one could create a macro
(or via code) to assist the user.

Gary

 

[John Baker]

Gary:

Thanks.. that points me in he right direction.

.. Out of Access, I will create a file .xls format containing the appropriate data.
.. I will program have an .xls spreadsheet which will contain macros which will
. open an .iif file the appropriate name
. clear out the current contents
. copy the Access produced xls data into the iif file
. and then save it.

I think that will work.

best

John

 

[Karl Irvin]

Why not just have Access write the IIF file?

Gary:

Thanks.. that points me in he right direction.

. Out of Access, I will create a file .xls format containing the appropriate data.
. I will program have an .xls spreadsheet which will contain macros which will
. open an .iif file the appropriate name
. clear out the current contents
. copy the Access produced xls data into the iif file
. and then save it.

I think that will work.

best

John

 

[Mike Block - Tax Cut C.P.A.]

You would be better off studying the
free QuickBooks SDK interface at
http://www.developer.intuit.com/

It is only a matter of time before Intuit
leaves IIF out of QuickBooks. To the
contrary, they actively support the SDK
with free forums and recently said QB
& SDK upgrades would not make QB
add-ons stop working.

Mike Block, C.P.A.
Intuit paid me to make QuickBooks better!
http://www.blocktax.com/
http://www.quickbooks-add-ons.com/

 

[John Baker]

Karl

I have Access 2000, and it does not appear to permit the creation of .iif files as far as
I can see.

Are you aware of any methings I could use (besides crteating an xls file and changing the
extension) to creat an iif from Access?

Best

John

 

[Karl Irvin]

IIF files can be either comma separted (csv) or tab delimited files. The IIF
denotes a specific layout required by QuickBooks. Use the Access "Write"
statement to create a csv file with IIF fomatted data in it. You can give
the file an iif extension.

 

[Simone]

Hey John,

Do save from Excel, just choose Text (tab delimited) as your option to save
as. After you have saved, use explorer to locate the folder and the file,
right click on the file and change the name from .txt to .iif. It may be
easier to do if you have unchecked the box under explorer that says hide
extensions of known file types.

Another way is to choose Text (tab delimited) as your save as type while in
Excel, in the file name dialog box put the filename in quotes such as
"payroll.iif", it will then save that name as a delimited file.

cheers
gary

Gary

Your reply is very useful!
Just add some more in case someone who cannot see the file name extension of ".txt".
Here is the step to unhide the file name extension:
1. go to "Computer" as usually we are looking for a folder.
2. go to top left corner and click "Organize"
3. Click "Folder and search options"
4. Click "View" tab
5. Under "Advanced settings", find "Hide extensions for known file types", remove the check mark.
6. click "Apply" then click "Ok".
After these steps, I got to see the file name extension and changed the file from "txt" to "IIF" successfully.
Again, thanks for your simple and efficient way to convert a excel sheet to IIF file without any third party apps.
Just make sure the excel format matches what export from Quick-books.

Simone