Need help setting up access to Quicken over network

[bensonjv]

Here is the mission: I want to install Quicken 2005 on one computer but be able to access and run it from any of my computers. Regardless of what computer I am on, they must all reference the same account data. I do not need simultaneous access.

I have 3 PC's set up on a home network. Depending on task and location, I may be on any one of them at a given time. I need to be able to access Quicken from whatever PC I am on at that time.

Can I install Quicken on Machine A and be able to access the program from PC's B and C too?

Working the problem I have come up with 2 options: Single install of the program that all machines can execute or multiple install of the application with common access to the account data. Except I do not know how to set that up in Quicken or if there is even a way. Is there an option in quicken to modify the default location of the data file? If so, that's my answer. Just redesignate the default location to a shared folder. Then install Quicken on every machine and set up location mod on each one.

Shouldn't this be like an Office document? An Excel doc on a network share can be opened by anyone. First one gets full rights and subsequent users get Read-only. I want to do the same thing with Quicken except I don't need multiple users to access it simultaneously. I just need the ability to access it from whatever computer I am working on t the time.

Thanks.

[bensonjv]

This is a "simple" registry edit, isn't it? Just need to find the reference for the default account location and redesigante with the path to where I want it to be. Each machine is done the same and voila!.

I'd prefer the quick fix. But assum Inuit never envisioned my using their product like this. So assumption is they do not have a preprogrammed option to do it.

[bensonjv]

Background: I upgraded from Q Basic 99 to 2005. 99 did not have a lot of options available for selecting locations of files, etc. Assumed 2005 would be similar.

Restated mission: Be able to access same account data from multiple PCs.

Solution A:
1. Install quicken on all 3 PCs
2. Setup PC #1. Quicken walks you through setting up your account data. On initial setup, it allows you to select where you want the working file and backups to be located. (You can change backups later if required.)
3. Open Quicken on PCs #2, #3. Following prompts, 'Open a file located on this computer'. Standard Windows 'Open File' dialog box opens allowing you to select previously created Quicken file on PC#1.*
4. Once open on PCs #2, #3, go to File --> Backup and setup backup options so file backs-up to where you located PC #1 backup file in step 1.

* Note: This requires File and Print sharing to be enabled on your PCs. Obvious concerns apply.

Pros:
1. Accomplishes the mission - can access same Quicken data file from any PC on the network.
2. All setup completed with existing basic menu options.
3. No account data is stored on PCs #2, #3. One of those being mobile, adds security to my account data being left at home if I travel with PC#3.
4. Single account data file prevents version conflicts. If I was to have account data on PC#3 and travel, could have conflicts upon retrn if both files on PC#3 and PC#1 change.

Cons:
1. PCs #2, #3 require initial manipulation to browse to the account data. Only PC#1 Quicken program opens directly to the account data.
2. No account data is stored on PCs #2, #3. One of those being mobile, I won't have access to accout data if I travel with PC#3.

This will work for now. Solution B would be a minor midification of Solution A. Eliminate/modify step 3 so that regardless of what PC you use, Quicken will immediately open to the data file. That may end up requiring some registry tweaking.