MD is not automatically categorizing my downloaded transactions
Jeff
via web
I usually download transactions from my credit card accounts into MoneyDance by downloading a *.OFX file for each statement, and then using "Import" in MoneyDance. In the past when I did that, I am pretty sure that MD "learned" which payees corresponded to which categories, and automatically guessed the correct category for each new transaction based on the most recent category I chose for that payee previously.
Now, MD is simply assigning the default category to each transaction, and I have to manually enter the category for every single downloaded transaction. Is there a way to get MD to automatically guess the categories, like I thought it did before?
Note that I am using MD on a mac at the moment, though I also sometimes use it on a PC (with the same data file).
Thanks,
--Jeff
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Support Staff 2 Posted by Ben Spencer on 27 Oct, 2009 11:24 PM
Hi Jeff
The algorithm that Moneydance uses to predict which category you want only uses the historical transaction in the account you are importing transaction into to make this prediction. Are you importing transactions into a relatively new account?
Sincerely
Ben Spencer
3 Posted by Luke MacNeil on 28 Oct, 2009 01:17 AM
I experienced a similar issue importing the other day. I wasn't importing to a new account, and it did learn some of the categories, but it learned them all as the same transaction.
Hrm. What I mean is, If I was importing "Dunkin Donuts / Junk Food / 2.59", it tried to enter "CHECKCARD EXONMOBILE / ATM WITHDRAWRAL / 2.59".
It did this for every record. I tried it a few times with the same results. It kept defaulting to EXONMOBILE, but the prices were all correct. It was only a few months worth of records, so I just sucked it up and fixed them manually. I did take a screenshot, but now I can't find it.
4 Posted by jeffrey.lerman on 28 Oct, 2009 06:57 AM
Hi Ben,
No, this is not a new account. On the contrary, it's a very active credit card account with data going back several years. For roughly two years, I have been importing that data into Moneydance (earlier data is from when I converted from MS Money). As noted, correct auto-categorization was working before, but at some point recently it seems to have stopped working completely. My experience is differnt from Luke's: For me, it didn't even seem to attempt to guess the category; instead every transaction was "guessed" as the account's default category, and I had to manually correct it as I reviewed each transaction.
--Jeff
5 Posted by jeffrey.lerman on 13 Nov, 2009 08:28 AM
...bump. Any ideas here?
--Jeff
(I'm the original poster but now I've created an account here...)
Support Staff 6 Posted by Ben Spencer on 13 Nov, 2009 02:30 PM
Hi Jeff
I am sorry I haven't responded sooner. I must admit I am stumped by this one.
What version of Java are you using? If you are not using the latest available I strongly recommend updating to the latest available for your OS.
Are you experiencing the same problem on your PC as your mac?
What options are you selecting when you import your OFX file?
PLease also have a look in the moneydance error.log file. To find this on a mac go to the Finder, then press "Command-Shift-G", and type "~/.moneydance" in the pop up field.
Sincerely
Ben Spencer
7 Posted by gjhathaw on 09 Jan, 2010 10:41 PM
I am also experiencing this same issue on my mac. OS ver 10.5 moneydance build 2010R2 (735). When i download my transactions and then bring them into my accounts (I have tried two accounts that have been established for several years), the transaction categories for all of my new entries default to the first item in my category list. I also tried using OFX and QFX download formats and the same issue occurs. This issue appeared after I upgraded from Moneydance 2009 to 2010. I have the latest Java installed and there is nothing unusual in the error log.
Sincerely,
Greg
8 Posted by Pete on 10 Jan, 2010 09:17 PM
I have now found that when I change the name of a downloaded transaction - I clean up my bank description (top line) to read more neatly in reports - the original unedited text is included in reports and then sporadically my amended description appears. So a detailed report of my income and expenses looks really messy now! I use Mac OSX 10.6.2 and MD2010 r2 (735).
9 Posted by Adam on 11 Jan, 2010 01:51 AM
I am having exactly the same problem as Jeff and Greg. Accounts with activity for past 10+ years that was converted from MS Money. MD 2008 seemed to categorize as expected based on prior history. Since 'upgrading' to 2010, EVERY downloaded transaction uses the same default category. Using build 735 with latest Java.
When I click on the 'Up/down' icon next to the accept button, I can see the correct categorization among a list of incorrect values although in every case the default category is chosen.
10 Posted by Pete on 11 Jan, 2010 11:37 AM
Further to my earlier post, I notice that only when I change the 2nd line (Memo line?) of a downloaded transaction, the entry is adjusted to that new name in reports. In 2008 once you adjusted the top line, this would adjust the entry for all reports. Seems like a bug......
11 Posted by forslund on 13 Jan, 2010 05:01 AM
I've just started using MD2010 and imported many years of data from MS Money. I also see no evidence that it is trying to match the category based on history. It just uses the default category. I'm used to MS Money that did a pretty good job of matching the payee of a check and the category. I've seen no evidence yet of this happening in MD2010.
12 Posted by Gizmo 32 on 15 Jan, 2010 03:47 PM
I also have the same problem. I am on the latest build. MD2010 puts EVERYTHING in my default category on downloading from the bank, even though I have years of history. this is quite exasperating, to say the least. i can provide logs/versions, just let know
13 Posted by BrimiT on 15 Jan, 2010 04:25 PM
I'm having the same problem as well. Every new downloaded transaction is set to the default category. It started on December 18th despite my years of history.
Using MoneyDance 2010r2 (735) on a Mac Running OSX 10.6.2
Hope this bug will be addressed soon. Thanks!
Support Staff 14 Posted by Angie Rauscher on 15 Jan, 2010 04:59 PM
An update from Sean (crossposted here )
The Moneydance 2010 transaction accept/match/merge procedure will be changing very soon.
I have spent the weekend and part of last week redesigning the system with everyone's comments in mind. I believe that I now have a design (and most of the code) that will make just about everyone happy, without having to resort to the way that MD2008 worked.
So, please hold tight... I will have a preview release available very soon.
Thanks,
Sean
15 Posted by Philip Downs on 17 Jan, 2010 02:31 AM
Have same issue with transactions not being categorized. Started when 2010 installed. Matched category is available when I click on the up/down button next to accept - so the hard bit has been done, but it just doesn't put this as the category, has to be changed manually. using OSX 10.5.8. build 735.
16 Posted by crsdallas on 21 Jan, 2010 03:46 PM
I need this "fix" as well. How do you know when a new release is available? Do you reinstall MD? I don't see an "upgrade" or "update" procedure in MD.
Support Staff 17 Posted by Angie Rauscher on 21 Jan, 2010 07:50 PM
You would download an update. To easily discover if there are updates available, I would suggest downloading and installing the "Moneydance Updater" extension.
To do this, go to the "Extensions" menu, select "Add" and "From the Internet", then install the extension.
Please let me know if I can be of further assistance, and thank you for your interest in Moneydance.
Angie Rauscher
Moneydance Support
18 Posted by philip.downs on 21 Jan, 2010 09:55 PM
Hi
I already have the updater set to advise of the latest stable version. I
already have build 735 - no further updates avail. Still have issue.
Philip
-----Original Message-----
From: Angie Rauscher
[mailto:***@tenderapp.com]
Sent: Friday, 22 January 2010 6:51 AM
To: Downs, Philip
Subject: Re: MD is not automatically categorizing my downloaded
transactions [Problems]
19 Posted by philip.downs on 24 Jan, 2010 09:37 PM
Hi Angie
Yes, you can definitely "be of further assistance". As I stated earlier,
I already have the latest stable(ish) release (build 735).
Please let me know if:
A) this has been recognised as a bug (i.e. you can reproduce it)
B) timeline for resolution
C) how do I find out it has been resolved?
Regards
Philip
-----Original Message-----
From: Angie Rauscher
[mailto:***@tenderapp.com]
Sent: Friday, 22 January 2010 6:51 AM
To: Downs, Philip
Subject: Re: MD is not automatically categorizing my downloaded
transactions [Problems]
20 Posted by Gerry Sollner on 25 Jan, 2010 12:20 AM
Philip and Angie,
There is a ticket on this topic, number 2741. However, it's classified as
"minor" i.e. a "nice to have." As far as I'm concerned, it makes the
difference between whether I will use MD or not. I would urge you to go to
MD support and sign up (your account allowing you to contribute to MD
discussions seems to be separate from MD support, which will allow you to
vote for tickets). Once signed up, you can get to
http://moneydance.com/trac/ticket/2471
and vote to increase the priority for this ticket. It only has 4 votes at
them moment, one of them mine. It might have to get up toward 10 before MD
folks will take it seriously, so tell your friends who want this problem
fixed to vote.
Gerry
21 Posted by philip.downs on 25 Jan, 2010 12:24 AM
Thanks Gerry, I will do.
Agree, it's basic functionality, not just "nice to have"
Philip
-----Original Message-----
From: Gerry Sollner
[mailto:***@tenderapp.com]
Sent: Monday, 25 January 2010 11:21 AM
To: Downs, Philip
Subject: Re: MD is not automatically categorizing my downloaded
transactions [Problems]
22 Posted by crsdallas on 25 Jan, 2010 03:21 PM
I agree. I am waiting on this capability to decide whether to use MD or not.
I think i added a vote to the Trac #2471.
Support Staff 23 Posted by Angie Rauscher on 25 Jan, 2010 04:42 PM
We've released the new beta build of Moneydance 2010 (2010r2 build 738). You can download the update here. We believe that this build will resolve a number of issues and provide improvements in transaction matching and other areas of the program.
Please let me know if I can be of further assistance, and thank you for your interest in Moneydance.
Angie Rauscher
Moneydance Support
24 Posted by crsdallas on 26 Jan, 2010 01:46 PM
Angie, thank you very much for the information about the update. I Installed
it and downloaded the current transactions from my accounts. The
transactions did not receive automatic categories. Do I need to take any
action or what should I expect? When should the auto categories begin?
Regards
Support Staff 25 Posted by Ben Spencer on 26 Jan, 2010 02:30 PM
Hi
The auto-categorization process in the latest build (738) only looks at transactions that had a payee/description/memo assigned by an online service. That includes downloaded OFX, QFX and QIF files although I'll let it match on manually entered payees. If you look at the attached screen shot of the import process in 738 you can see that an auto categorization is offered as one of the accept options.The process does not look at transactions that were manually entered or those that have been imported from another program. The algorithm that looks for autocategorization options is the same as the on used in MD2008. However in the next preview build (739) we will change this algorithm to look at all existing transactions in the register regardless of where their description came from.
I am sorry for the trouble this is causing you.
Sincerely
Ben Spencer
26 Posted by Gerry Sollner on 28 Jan, 2010 02:47 AM
Ben,
Many thanks for your efforts! 738 is definitely better than 735. I'm looking
forward to 739, which sounds like it will be even slicker, removing
categorization as an issue completely. Please let us know when it's
available. (The updater extension didn't seem to know about 738. Thanks for
the pointer.)
I'm sure we all appreciate your help.
Gerry
27 Posted by philip.downs on 28 Jan, 2010 10:24 PM
Hi Ben
Thanks for the explanation. However, I think one point is being
forgotten.
In MD 2008 when a transaction could be categorized automatically, this
was the original option given for accepting the transaction - i.e.
minimum number of mouse clicks. It was only if the transaction could not
be categorized that the default category for the account was used.
In MD 2010, the issue I have is not that the categorization does not
work (it is usually available as one of the accept options) but that you
have to manually select this option for every transaction. Why not have
the program use the categorised transaction as the original, and only
use the default category when none can be found by the matching
algorithm?
Your screen shot shows that this will still be the case with build 738.
So no point in me downloading.
If some prefer so have the default category used as the original for
every transaction, although I don't know why you would , you could
include this as a option in preferences.
BTW I'm not deciding to purchase a license like some in this discussion,
I purchased my license a while ago and was happily using 2008 until you
released 2010 with obviously limited UAT and no manual!
Philip
-----Original Message-----
From: Ben Spencer
[mailto:***@tenderapp.com]
Sent: Wednesday, 27 January 2010 1:31 AM
To: Downs, Philip
Subject: Re: MD is not automatically categorizing my downloaded
transactions [Problems]
28 Posted by Adam H on 28 Jan, 2010 10:32 PM
Philip nailed my same concern on the head when stating
"In MD 2010, the issue I have is not that the categorization does not work (it is usually available as one of the accept options) but that you have to manually select this option for every transaction. Why not have the program use the categorised transaction as the original, and only use the default category when none can be found by the matching algorithm?"
Solving this issue makes me a happy camper.
Support Staff 29 Posted by Ben Spencer on 30 Jan, 2010 09:27 PM
Adam and Philip
I think you have both raised a very important usability issues here. I will bring it up with the developers at our next meeting and report back to you here
Sincerely
Ben Spencer
30 Posted by Pete Linley on 31 Jan, 2010 12:09 PM
I have not seen a response to the issue I raised a few weeks ago. This
relates to reports picking up the memo line in downloaded transactions
rather than the top line as 2008 did. Having edited the top line to a
more suitable name, reports pick up the inedited memo line. Hope this
can be sorted as it was in 2008.
Sent from my iPhone
31 Posted by Pete Linley on 31 Jan, 2010 12:10 PM
Using 2010 latest build, I am having trouble deleting Tags that I no
longer need. I have made sure that they are not in use anywhere. Once
I have deleted them from the edit tags menu and closed the window, the
tags that I thought I had deleted remain. Obviously a bug.
Sent from my iPhone