Time and Job Phases not showing

19rs50, I'm wondering how you were able to convert your Peachtree Complete Accounting data to QuickBooks 2009 for Mac (assuming you're using 2009). According to all the material I've seen (Help, product Web site, this forum), you can convert data only from Quicken 2007 for Mac and from QB 2009 for Windows (certain versions).

If you used an IIF file, then I believe that QB 2009 for Mac would only read whatever matched its own data-file structure. There's information on IIF imports in the Help documentation for the application, and the info indicates that IIF import files need to be compliant with QB for Mac's requirements. If you used an IIF file from a third party, I'd guess that it wasn't designed for QuickBooks for Mac. I've never used IIF imports myself, but I quickly scanned the relevant sections and found no mention of time or timesheet data as being importable. (That doesn't mean it isn't.)

One note, QuickBooks for Mac doesn't have any job-phases feature.

Would you mind posting back to explain how you converted from Peachtree to QB for Mac?

DEBI: Thanks so much for your reply.

I worked with the QB folks on the conversion. Downloaded a trial version of QB 2007, converted PT to the QB Windows; brought file into QB 2009 for the Mac.

I did call QB support who had me open the file in the QB windows version. No time and no phases showed. So, it does not appear to be a Mac thing. QB support could not answer my question. Suggested that I would need to re-input all my time sheets from the beginning of the year! I suggested that one would think that a fundamental element of an accounting program is the time sheets! I need to call the QB conversion folks after the weekend to see what they say. After I got off the phone, I went through the conversion one more time to see if there was something I overlooked. Same results.

Also, before I got the program, the people at QB assured me that the Mac version had phase code ability. Go figure. I will let you know what I learn.

I would certainly like to know who at Intuit QuickBooks (sales?) told you that QuickBooks for Mac had job-phase functionality. Perhaps that person thought that the capability to have jobs attached to customers was the same thing. Yikes!

Yes, please do post back with what you learn. Your findings might help someone else down the road.

DEBI: I don't have a name, but I do have it checked off in my notes as a questioned answered in the positive when I phoned to determine if QB was the correct choice for me.. If it does prove true (not handled), is there a work around. As a consultant, I often have time input as follows; JOB: "Project X, PHASE": "Phase One Analysis, Project X"' ; TASK: Client Meeting: HOURS: "4"; plus the date, of course. Peachtree has this function in their PC software (they do not make a Mac version). They even allow you to make specific notes for each time entry. ALL this is important to me. Thanks again. I will let you know what I learn.

QuickBooks is structured to have customers and then jobs for those customers. QB also has items for tracking costs and revenues. When you enter time, you map that time to both an item and a customer job. If you want to include specific notes, then you enter the time individually (Employees > Time Tracking > Enter Single Activity) instead of using the weekly timesheet. However, items have descriptions as well. Unfortunately, I can't remember whether notes entered into an individual time record override the item description in the invoice or not. When it comes time to invoice, any time that you've entered as "billable" will show up as available in the Time/Costs section of the Create Invoices window.

I recommend that, before you go any further, you spend a little time first in the Tutorial Center (Help > Tutorial Center). I also think you should download the free ebook user's guide and read through pretty much all of it (at least chapters 1 through 20). Go to Help > User's Guide to download it.

Feel free to ask more questions, though.

DEBI: I will go through the tutorial. I did download the e-book and read through a lot of it prior to contacting you. But, I will review again. Your help and quick responses are greatiy appreciated.

DEBI: I spoke with the technical folks at Intuit many times since my last comment with you.

Here is what I found and what i have concluded to do:

1. The conversion from Peachtree to QB does NOT convert time! You would think this to be a basic accounting function. I checked with MYOB and they are the same. It is disappointing that Intuit does not identify this on their web site.

2. I figured out that I can set up phases for my jobs via the "service item" in time sheets in which I can directly associate with a job and can associate my tasks using the "class" column. It exports nicely into Excel for sorting, etc.

3. I have decided to return the software as it won't show my time to date for this year. In November, I will re-evaluate QB along with the other programs and make a decision then on what to use.

thanks again for you help.

I'm sorry it didn't work out for you, but I'm glad you can return the software for a refund.

Thank you for returning here to share the results of your experience.

DEBI: Once again, thank you for you quick responses. Helped a lot. ROBERT