Escape from QuickBooks (with data in hand)

Posted May 1, 2021 13:44 UTC (Sat) by erikmack@gmail.com (guest, #152008)
Parent article: Escape from QuickBooks (with data in hand)

Thanks for this great article and these scripts. I have succeeded in importing data to GnuCash for my nonprofit.

The customizations I required I've pushed to GitHub, in case someone else finds them useful: https://github.com/erikmack/qb-escape

The customizations include:
- Support python 3
- Open the file in the new way
- Support account parameters for Placeholder, Hidden, Description, and Code
- Match splits to accounts by account code not name

My organization uses account codes so it's useful to import them and use them during the import.

Thanks again!

Escape from QuickBooks (with data in hand)

Posted Oct 5, 2021 14:12 UTC (Tue) by pyz01 (guest, #154562) [Link] (1 responses)

All -- not sure if this will help -- but this was taken from the QB site. It shows how to export specific data from QB directly to CSV:

Export CSV files
You can export a list as a CSV file if you don’t have MS Excel installed on your computer or if you want to view and edit your data using a different format.

Customers and Vendors
Open the Customer/Vendor Center.
Select the Excel drop-down, then choose:
Export Customer/Vendor list if you want to export customer/vendor data such as name, balances and contact information.
Export Transactions if you want to export transactions (either by name or transaction type).
In the Export window, choose Create a comma separated values (.csv) file.
Select Export.
Assign a file name, then choose the location where you want to save the file.
Locate, open, and edit the file as needed.

Items
Go to the Lists menu, then select Item List.
Select the Excel drop-down, then choose Export all Items.
In the Export window, choose Create a comma separated values (.csv) file.
Select Export.
Assign a file name, then choose the location where you want to save the file.
Locate, open, and edit the file as needed.

Reports
Open the report.
Select the Excel drop-down at the top of the report.
Select Create New Worksheet.
On the Send Report to Excel window, select Create a comma separated values (.csv) file.
Select Export.
Assign a file name, then choose the location where you want to save the file.
Locate, open, and edit the file as needed.

Have not tried these yet -- but I am going to attempt to this weekend to see how far I can get in exporting QBooks data to GNUCash directly using CSV files. Will let you know if I am successful.

Escape from QuickBooks (with data in hand)

Posted Mar 7, 2022 2:26 UTC (Mon) by lragan (guest, #157284) [Link]

My book in QuickBooks is not that large, so my method may not work for all, but here goes. I use GnuCash 2.6.19 in linux.
I was hanging on to QuickBooks 2008, which is not subscription. Giving up my Windows 7 machine, I discovered that I was, as I suspected, riding a dead horse. (I have switched to Linux for all but tax prep software. I keep a Windows 10 machine for that purpose, and occasional interaction with something that someone sends me, but for the most part, like a housecleaning service, I don't do Windows!) But, I was able to write out an account list to a CSV file. After fumbling around a bit in the import function of GnuCash, I decided to follow their format precisely. It is revealed in the import process as a "custom" import option. Not understanding the symbols that make up the command, I simply took note of the field names.
Then, using a spreadsheet program, I rearranged the CSV file into the format of the import option, adding blank columns where needed, using their field names in the first row.
After importing, it was necessary to enter the balances from my CSV file (GnuCash, understandably, does not import the balances). This was done by a series of simple cut and paste operations. It was then necessary to edit the accounts into the hierarchy that I needed. I took this opportunity to delete accounts that I no longer used or needed (one can always add an account using GnuCash if necessary).
When done, the reports work to show balance sheet and income statement. I have not used the others yet, but suspect they work, too. I entered one month's data (January 2022) taking off from the year end of QuickBooks in 2021, and all reconciles nicely. When one enters the balance for each account, GnuCash puts the compensating balance into an "Unbalance" account. If all is done correctly, this will go go zero when the last data is entered.
This is, I admit, a "brute force" approach, but for me, I feel certain that is was less work than writing code to do the job. For a more complicated business than mine, that might not be the case. I can now retire my ancient Windows 7 machine and let QuickBooks rest in peace...
Color me happy with GnuCash, and grateful for all who have contributed to it.