It seems that not many people are paying attention to a key new feature in the QuickBooks 2006 programs.  Twice in the past week, bookkeepers for clients have sent me QuickBooks 2006 data files in the much larger QBB format instead of the much smaller QBM format.  Here is one message that I wrote back to one of the bookkeepers.

I downloaded the file and will look it over and give my comments.

With QB 2006, please use the new Make Portable Company File feature to create a much smaller sized file (QBM) than you get when you make a QBB backup.  With this file, the QBM is only  3.3 mb, while the QBB you sent was 24 mb.  This will save us all a lot of upload and download time.

I commented on this new feature on my website shortly after the new program was released:

Backing Up Data Files
The regular QBB backup file doesn't shrink the size as much as it used to. It used to go to about one-fifth the size of the full QBW file. The first file I worked with had a QBW of 25.4mb and a QBB of 17.0mb

They do have a new type of backup, called a Portable Company File, that you access through the File menu. It makes a file ending in QBM. With the data file I previously mentioned, it was only 3.2mb in size.

When you create a QBX Accountant's Review copy, it was the exact same size as the QBM file.

I had also updated the instructions for sending me QB files to include this new QB 2006 feature. 

Thanks for your help.

Kerry

 

- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 2/17/2006 05:23:00 PM Send this post: