Intuit Interchange Format (IIF) Files: QuickBooks.iif

Intuit Interchange Format (IIF), these files are used by QuickBooks to import and export the transactions and lists easily. You can also use it to transmit data to and from various other platforms. This makes the process faster and simpler by directly transmit the information into QuickBooks Desktop.

IIF files are CSV files and ASCII text files that is used by QuickBooks software for import and export the data. It formats the file for you. The scratch and adapt the data from any other program is a bit complex and difficult if you don’t have any experience formatting text files.

QuickBooks is a comprehensive solution that is designed to manage various business-related activities. It provides tools and excellent features that allow users to handle their business expenses, easily import & export files, and more. The Import and export of IIF files are pretty simple and easy because QuickBooks formats your files itself. However, it is technically challenging to create IIF files from scratch or to adapt data from another system and it can be difficult if you don’t have the experience in formatting delimited text files. Let’s know about IIF files or its uses and limitations before moving for ways to import or export the IIF files.

What is Intuit Interchange Format (IIF) files?

It is the text files used in the importing and exporting of QuickBooks data. In the QuickBooks software, you can find the IIF import and export utilities within the ‘File’ menu. It can be difficult if you don’t have the experience to format delimited text files. In that case, entering the information directly into QuickBooks can be quicker and safer, unless you have to import a very large amount of data.

Where to use IIF files:

• You can export company file lists and import them into another.
• Importing tasks of QuickBooks Timer into a company file.
• Import transaction into QuickBooks from another system.
• Share data between different versions and platforms of QuickBooks (for example Enterprise, Premier, Pro; or Windows and Macintosh).

IIF limitations

Below are the listed IIF limitations. Check out:

• Users can conveniently import transactions from their QuickBooks program but not export any other transactions.
• A huge amount of entries can be easily done via QuickBooks process.
• If a customer imports an invoice or any bill along with his payment, he will not be able to link them after the import.
• A user can now easily import assembly objects but that won’t be able to import the database into the custom fields of the object.
• You need to link them to the receive payments windows or Pay Bills window, and all other pairs. Therefore, if a user needs import, they must connect it to your transactions because they are stored under the. IIF tab.
• Users cannot export a QuickBooks accounting program from its U.S. version. It imports QuickBooks into your Canadian version, or as a Vice Versa.
• End users would not be able to import or export payroll data from any other product related QuickBooks software accounting files. Though, it can be used by exporting payroll data via Online Payroll & their full-service Intuit Payroll.

List which you Can Import .IIF files

Chart of Accounts	Customer List	Vendor List
Employee List	Other Names List	Customer Type List
Vendor Type List	Class List	Job Type List
Item List	Payment Terms List	Payment Method List
Shipping Method List	Customer Message List	Budgets
To Do Notes	Sales Rep List	Price Level List
Sales Tax Code List

List of other Transactions that You can Successfully Import

Account beginning Balances	Vendor Bills	Vendor Bill Refunds
Cash Sales to customers	Cash refunds to clients	Credit Card refunds to Customers
Checks	Credit Card transactions	Credit Memos to Customers
Deposits	Estimates	General Journal Entries
Invoices	Payments from Customer	Purchase Orders
Account Transfer of Funds

Steps to Import .IIF files in QuickBooks

• Initially, sign in as an Admin into the company file
• Make sure that you’re working on a Single-User mode
• Now, go to the Main file menu and select Utilities option
• Next, select Import heading and then click on .IIF File option
• After that, find the location and make it as bold
• Once done then press the “Open” button
• Now a message pops up on screen to confirm that you want to import it instantly
• In the end, press the “Ok” button.

Steps to Export .IIF files in QuickBooks

• Initially, sign in as an Admin into the company file
• Make sure that you’re working on a Single-User mode
• Now, go to the Main file menu and select Utilities option
• Next, go to Export and then give a list to IIF files
• Verify the box which is next to every list that you want to export
• Also, make a click on it as the “Ok” button
• Do the below-listed steps into the Export windows
  • Using the drop-down menu select save in and then choose the location where you wish to save the .IIF file
  • Now, firstly remove/delete as an asterisk (*) under the name field of file applications
  • After that type an appropriate name for a file
  • And then select IIF files (*.IIF) for the file type that you want to use
  • Make a click on Save button
• At last, hit the “Ok” button to the prompt message that the file has been successfully saved.

Steps to Make Essential Edits

To do so, follow these steps in the given sequence order:

• Go to the Main file menu and then click on save all the changes that are made
• Next, hit the “Yes” option as a prompt which pops up
• Now, press Alt + F4 keys together in order to close the Excel sheet
• It already saves as .IIF file and ask you to save again
• Finally, click on the “Don’t Save” button.

So, to simplify your research, we’ve created this blog that outlines various IIF files related things. Hopefully, the above information gives you a clear understanding of IIF files and helps you to import and export it in QuickBooks with ease or without any delays.

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