Create Data File (Win)

When you start up Quicken for the first time on Windows, it launches the Get Started Assistant.

Choose I am new to Quicken and click Next. In the next screen, Quicken asks you what you want to call your data file. By default, the name is QDATA and will end up in your My Documents folder. That's a fine location, but the name isn't very helpful, so select I want to choose a different file name and location and click Next.

In the resulting Create Quicken File dialog, give the file a descriptive name (I suggest your last name) and click OK. In this book, we'll be following the financial adventures of the fictional Carroll family, so I named the file Carroll Family .

When the file is created, Quicken Guided Setup starts up automatically. This is another assistant in which you enter a bunch of information, and it tries to set up your accounts for you. I think it's overkill, so we'll enter data on just one of the Guided Setup screens, then strike out on our own. The first screen is just informational, so read it and click Next Step.

On the About You screen, enter all the information requested , including your name and birthdate (Quicken uses your birthdate for retirement calculations); if you're married, enter your spouse's information. Then click Exit Setup. Quicken saves what you entered.