Importing Transaction Files
Overview
Prospects™ can import QIF, OFX and QFX files that you download from your bank's website. Prospects™ will check for duplicates based on past imports, as well as potential duplicates for transactions that may have been entered by you manually before they were imported. In your Preferences, you can choose how you would like to handle imports - confirm only potential duplicates, confirm potential and actual duplicates, or confirm every imported transaction.
Importing Transaction Files
To import a transaction file in eithher QIF, OFX, QFX format, follow the instructions below:
- Click the Import icon (
) or go to File > Import.
- A pop-up window will be displayed.
- Navigate to the file that you want to import.
- If you have rules that you would like to apply to the import, click the corresponding check-box on the import window.
- Click Open.
- The Import Status window will be displayed:

- Choose the account you would like to import into by selecting the corresponding drop down menu.
- If you are importing a QIF file, you need to enter some additional information:
- You will be asked to specify the date format because QIF files do not have a standard format for dates:
- An example date from the file that you are importing and then requests that you choose the date format that matches:

- You will also be asked to specify the decimal character used for the amounts in the QIF file:

- Click Import.
- If necessary, verify duplicate transactions as you deem appropriate.
- Once the import is complete, a summary of how many transactions were imported, how many transactions were duplicates, and how many transactions were skipped will be indicated on the Import Status window.
- Click OK.
Duplicate Transactions
Prospects™ will check for duplicates based on past imports, as well as potential duplicates for transactions that may have been entered by you manually before they were imported. In your Preferences, you can choose how you would like to handle imports - confirm only potential duplicates, confirm potential and actual duplicates, or confirm every imported transaction.
When importing QIF files, the date, amount, payee, and reference number have to match exactly to a previously imported transaction. Prospects™ will perform the compare on the imported data, prior to applying any rules (if applicable).
When importing transactions from a QIF or OFX/QFX file, Prospects™ performs the following steps:
- The file is read into the application.
- Each transaction is checked to see if it is an actual duplicate.
- A transaction can only be an actual duplicate if it has been previously imported.
- If you have selected to have rules applied during the import, rules will now be applied.
- Each transaction that was not an actual duplicate is checked to see if it is a potential duplicate.
- The amount, date, payee, and reference number must match OR
- If enabled in the Preferences, only the reference number must match.
- The transactions are imported into the transaction table and you will be asked to confirm the transactions being imported based upon your preferences.
- NOTE: If you skip a potential duplicate because it already exists, the existing transaction will be marked so that any future imports of the same transaction will flag it as an actual duplicate.
By default, Prospects™ will flag only potential duplicates on an import. To change this preference, visit the Import section of the Preference Panel.