Import Quicken Data Files
Although the documentation claims GnuCash can import QFX and / or QIF files, it cannot. I exported one Quicken account file (a brokerage firm account file containing stocks, cash "category" / "account" mutual funds and annuities. For the QFX import, a blank "Generic Import transaction matcher" window appears. Clicking the "OK" button does nothing. Clicking the close window gadget closes the window but nothing appears in the main window. No new account.
For QIF, paging through numerous panes makes it look like the import is happening until the final "QIF Import" pane after the "Book" options panel selections are made. Multiple alerts, "A bug was detected converting the QIF data" appear. After the last one ("A bug was detected while detecting duplicates.") is closed SOME of the holdings in the account appear, others do not.
Also, it appears that prices for securities need to be manually input as they were not imported (imported "accounts" show values of $0) and I find no way to get an online price update. So there appears no way to track profit-loss / capital gains for tax purposes without manually setting up "Lots" and entering 30 yrs of price, stock split, and dividend re-investment info making the whole point of the program kinda useless.
Finally, it appears to have no way to deal with annuity contracts held in "Trading" accounts whether imported or not.
Without adding / fixing all the above, GnuCash is basically a waste of time and certainly not a Quicken replacement (as aged and flawed as it has become due to lack of competition).
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Anonymous commented
Agree -- my husband suggested it as a possible way to share data, as his laptop is Linux and and mine is Windows 7 and I am the one keeping our books Quicken. I didn't spend a lot of time, just about an hour, and with downloading the latest stable version of GnuCash and exporting our Quicken data into a QFX file, got nada from GnuCash. Also one of the 'tips' from GnuCash notes that there are no Categories, so what does it do make an 'account' for say auto:fuel or Auto:maintenance so we can keep track of what we are spending in each category? and then what about tags? I have found tags to be very useful in certain circumstances - say keeping track of which expeditures under the umbrella category of medical can be reimbursed by our HSA