Categories List Sometimes shows a blank item, ie no description
James
via web
I have been using the latest version of MD (downloaded about a week ago) and have created several modified and added \ deleted categories. At one point I noticed there was a blank category in the list, just a dot with no description or numeric value for expense or income, I forget which one of these it is. So I figured it was just one of my mistakes along the way of modifying the categories. So I deleted it and saved my MD file. However I have found that some time later in the future it reappears and I do the above again only to find at some point after that its back again. So I have tried this delete at least 3 times now. It always appears in the same spot of the Categories list.
Thanks...
Support Staff 2 Posted by Ben Spencer on 17 Feb, 2012 01:35 AM
Hi James
That is odd.
There are only two ways to create categories in Moneydance. Either manually (which I imagine is not happening in this case) or by importing a QIF file with the source set to "from another program".
If you are importing a QIF file from your bank make sure to set the source on the QIF import window to "From a downloaded file".
Ben Spencer
Moneydance Support
3 Posted by jada730 on 17 Feb, 2012 04:50 AM
Yep.. its always set to that... From a file.
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From: "Ben Spencer" <***@tenderapp.com>
To: <***@yahoo.com>
Subject: Categories List Sometimes shows a blank item, ie no description [Problems]
Date: Thu, Feb 16, 2012 8:35 pm
Support Staff 4 Posted by Ben Spencer on 17 Feb, 2012 11:15 PM
If I understand you correctly you are importing a QIF file and it is generating this category.
If that is the case set the source option on the QIF import window to "From a downloaded file".
Ben Spencer
Moneydance Support
5 Posted by jada730 on 18 Feb, 2012 05:20 AM
No. Whenever I download a qif file I always say from file. I have never used the from program option. I am not sure what initially created this blank category. All I know is I have modified the default categories and have added and removed many. Somewhere along the way of importing and modifying / creating categories, this blank appeared. And after several times of trying to delete it, it resurfaces. It doesn't resurface right away, but at some point. I have tried to delete it now 3 times at least.
Thanks...
James
----- Reply message -----
From: "Ben Spencer" <***@tenderapp.com>
To: <***@yahoo.com>
Subject: Categories List Sometimes shows a blank item, ie no description [Problems]
Date: Fri, Feb 17, 2012 6:15 pm
Support Staff 6 Posted by Angie Rauscher on 20 Feb, 2012 11:58 PM
James,
You're absolutely right. I just imported a QIF file which I downloaded from my bank, and two new categories were created. These category names were odd things like "Debit Card Purchase" (which is not a category designation I use), but I imagine the same action happening in your file which creates the blank categories is the one which creates the oddly named categories in my file. I've logged this bug and I'll discuss it with our developer in the next few days.
I'm sorry for the bug and the confusion, and we'll post here to notify you when we have a fix for testing or release.
Angie Rauscher
Moneydance Support
7 Posted by jada730 on 21 Feb, 2012 12:34 AM
Thanks... Glad you discovered it.
----- Reply message -----
From: "Angie Rauscher" <***@tenderapp.com>
To: <***@yahoo.com>
Subject: Categories List Sometimes shows a blank item, ie no description [Problems]
Date: Mon, Feb 20, 2012 6:58 pm
Support Staff 8 Posted by Sean Reilly on 21 Feb, 2012 09:47 AM
These categories are declared in the QIF file and assigned to transactions in that file. I'm not sure if this is a bug, because if Moneydance ignored them then QIF imports would result in a huge mess of uncategorized transactions.
Maybe what is needed is an option to assign all transactions in the QIF file to a specific category (i.e. ignoring any categories from the file)?
Sean Reilly closed this discussion on 21 Feb, 2012 09:47 AM.
Jada730 re-opened this discussion on 21 Feb, 2012 02:06 PM
9 Posted by Jada730 on 21 Feb, 2012 02:06 PM
If that option as you suggest was used then it would defeat the purpose of auto categorization and saving the time of having to set transactions to a category.
I am not 100% sure I experienced the same issue as the staff member above, so I am not sure we are all talking about the same problem. All I know is from time to time I go back in to my categories list and I find that blank category with a DOT and no description. Perhaps this is being created by my transaction imports, I am not sure. I will try to take notice after I delete it and do more imports.
Thanks...
________________________________
From: Sean Reilly <***@tenderapp.com>
To: ***@yahoo.com
Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2012 4:47 AM
Subject: Re: Categories List Sometimes shows a blank item, ie no description [Problems]
10 Posted by James on 22 Feb, 2012 04:39 PM
Well after more importing from my bank account checking, it seems the blank category is back. It wasn't there prior to importing the checking transactions, as I made sure it was removed from the last time I deleted it. Sure enough after the checking import, it was back. Now this time I gave it a name (edited it) and called it Blank Transaction to see what happens next time I import from the checking account.
11 Posted by -Kevin N. on 22 Feb, 2012 04:59 PM
Hi James,
Have you tried opening the .QIF file in a simple text editor to see if there is any indication of a blank Category?
I've noticed that my data file also contains a blank Income Category. In my list of Categories, it ends up situating itself at the beginning of all Income Categories thus creating a sort of 'break' between the end of my Expense Categories and the beginning of my Income Categories. In that sense, I actually find it kind of useful.
-Kevin N.
12 Posted by Jada730 on 22 Feb, 2012 05:16 PM
This sort of where its creating the blank category in my list, between the Expense and Income lists but not exactly at the start of Income. Its two categories down in the start of the Income list.
At the start of my income list I have "ATM Deposit" with subs, "Bank - Income" with subs, and then the blank. So its somewhat at the start of income. I can't recall if those two preceding income categories were there by default or did I add them which may lend itself to why its not at the very top of income.
Regardless, I don't understand why my bank would do this. Its one thing if MD was doing it as a precursor to opening the Categories UI, but why would my import from my bank do this for me?
________________________________
From: -Kevin N. <***@tenderapp.com>
To: ***@yahoo.com
Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2012 11:59 AM
Subject: Re: Categories List Sometimes shows a blank item, ie no description [Problems]
13 Posted by Jada730 on 22 Feb, 2012 05:22 PM
I think I got it figured out.
All the transactions come in with a category of the following:
C*
Which I guess explains it all and is why I only get this blank when I import the transactions from this account.
I am not sure if the is a way to change that, but I guess it would have to be from the bank side.
________________________________
From: -Kevin N. <***@tenderapp.com>
To: ***@yahoo.com
Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2012 11:59 AM
Subject: Re: Categories List Sometimes shows a blank item, ie no description [Problems]
14 Posted by Jada730 on 22 Feb, 2012 05:26 PM
Note the C* is in the QIF file for each transaction.
________________________________
From: -Kevin N. <***@tenderapp.com>
To: ***@yahoo.com
Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2012 11:59 AM
Subject: Re: Categories List Sometimes shows a blank item, ie no description [Problems]
Support Staff 15 Posted by Angie Rauscher on 06 Mar, 2012 07:18 AM
Jada,
Well, I'm glad you found where it's coming from at least. We've logged this odd behavior and we're discussing how best to deal with it. On one hand this information could be useful, especially if the bank provided categorization information such as Gas, Groceries, Travel, etc. On the other hand, the false categories created are clearly annoying to those of use who experience them. We'll look further into this internally before making any changes, but I imagine we'll add an option to ignore these categories or include them. We'll post on this thread when we have updates on the issue, but for the moment the work-around is just to ignore the blank category or delete it when necessary. Thanks for all the information you've all provided to help us run down this issue, and do let me know if we can be of further assistance,
Angie Rauscher
Moneydance Support