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Resolving QuickBooks Import errors

by Intuit• Updated 4 months ago

When attempting to import QuickBooks company file data into Intuit ProSeries Professional, you may encounter the following error message:

"Unable to open QuickBooks company [PathToQuickBooksFilename]. Unable to open the company file"

If the ProSeries is installed as a stand alone and QuickBooks is networked, you may also receive the message "Unable to open QuickBooks Company. ProSeries doesn't recognize the network drive." If so, bring the QuickBooks data local to the stand alone machine, then it should import successfully.

Before you start:

  • This article references default installation paths and uses YY to reference the tax year in 20YY format. C: will always indicate the local drive and X: will always indicate the network drive.
  • ProSeries can only import QuickBooks files from 1 year prior to 1 year after the current year of the ProSeries program installed.
    • For example, ProSeries 2020 can only import QuickBooks company file data from the QuickBooks 2019, 2020, and 2021 program.
  • Integrating Quickbooks with ProSeries only works with QuickBooks Accountant versions.

Export the file from QuickBooks to ProSeries:

  1. Close ProSeries or make sure it is on the HomeBase.
  2. Open the supported year of QuickBooks.
  3. Open the desired company file.
  4. From the File menu, got to Export and select Export Balances to ProSeries 20YY.

Turn off User Account Control:

  1. Open the Control Panel.
  2. Select User Accounts.
  3. Select User Accounts once more.
  4. Click on Turn User Account Control to turn off.
  5. Click Continue or enter administrative username and password.
  6. Uncheck the box to Use UAC to help protect your computer.
  7. Click OK.
  1. Close QuickBooks company and application.
  2. Open ProSeries and the target company file you want to import the QuickBooks data into.
  3. In the Integration window:
    1. Select the Company file.
    2. Select the Account method.
    3. Select Continue.
  4. Quickbooks should start to open and open the company file.
    • Enter your QuickBooks company password when prompted.

Your data should now be imported.

When trying to import QuickBooks into ProSeries, it fails with the following error:

"Unable to connect to QuickBooks for company [company file name]."

How do I resolve this error?

This error usually occurs when a background process is interfering with ProSeries and QuickBooks communicating with each other.  To confirm this, restart the computer in Safemode with Networking.  If the import works here, we know something else is the cause.  At this point, background services and startup items must be selectively disabled using MSCONFIG.  For more information on this process, consult your local computer technician. 

Try the steps below first for all versions of Windows:

  1. Make sure QuickBooks is open in Single User mode and you're logged in as an admin user in Quickbooks file.
  2. Right-click on the ProSeries shortcut and select Properties.
  3. Click on the Compatibility tab.
  4. Make sure no boxes are checked.
    • If there are boxes checked, uncheck them and restart ProSeries.
  5. Do the same for the QuickBooks shortcut.
  6. Try the import again.
  7. Turn Microsoft UAC on or off in Windows:

Exporting data from QuickBooks to ProSeries—or importing QuickBooks data from within ProSeries—does nothing or causes the program to become unresponsive. No error message is given by the programs. If the process is repeated, the following message displays:

"protax??.exe is currently running this process"

How do I resolve this issue?

Make sure that neither ProSeries nor QuickBooks are running in Administrative/Compatibility mode.

Follow these steps to resolve the issue:

  1. Close both ProSeries and QuickBooks.
  2. Right-click the ProSeries icon and select Properties.
  3. Click the Compatibility tab.
  4. Uncheck any box marked here and click OK.
  5. Repeat the process for the QuickBooks icon.
  6. Restart your computer.
  7. Try to complete the transfer/export again.

The current user also needs to be the Administrative User of QuickBooks. Also, the mapping definitions need to be completed, and the program must be in Single User mode. Visit the Help tools within QuickBooks for details.

ProSeries Professional 2023

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