{"id":1685,"date":"2019-11-06T16:51:10","date_gmt":"2019-11-06T16:51:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quickbookexperts.com\/Blog\/?p=1685"},"modified":"2020-06-26T17:28:11","modified_gmt":"2020-06-26T17:28:11","slug":"create-or-restore-a-quickbooks-portable-company-file","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quickbookexperts.com\/Blog\/create-or-restore-a-quickbooks-portable-company-file\/","title":{"rendered":"Create or Restore a QuickBooks portable Company File"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"sh-ext-lemon--p-UK6ra\">Here are steps and recommended solutions to guide you in creating and restoring a QuickBooks Desktop portable company\u00a0<strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">(.qbm)<\/strong>\u00a0file.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"sh-toc-hId-1644674367\" class=\"sh-ext-lemon--h2-2clbo\">What is a QuickBooks Desktop Portable Company File?<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"sh-ext-lemon--ul-1i-rI\">\n<li class=\"sh-ext-lemon--li-xCOzz\">It is a compact copy of your financial data that you can send by email or any portable media such as external or flash drive.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sh-ext-lemon--li-xCOzz\">The portable company file does not include letters, logos, images, and templates.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sh-ext-lemon--li-xCOzz\">It doesn&#8217;t contain a transaction log (*.tlg) file.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sh-ext-lemon--li-xCOzz\">It is an effective tool for resolving data problems since QuickBooks Desktop re-indexes the data when restoring a portable company file.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table class=\"sh-ext-lemon--table-3Sqgm\" border=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"sh-ext-lemon--tbody-PDiFc\">\n<tr class=\"sh-ext-lemon--tr-3YIqI\">\n<td class=\"sh-ext-lemon--td-o6r5p\" colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" width=\"0.5%\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"sh-ext-lemon--td-o6r5p\" colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" width=\"99.5%\">\n<div class=\"sh-ext-lemon--div-3uKWd\">\n<p class=\"sh-ext-lemon--p-UK6ra\"><strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">Before proceeding, take note of the following:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"sh-ext-lemon--ul-1i-rI\">\n<li class=\"sh-ext-lemon--li-xCOzz\">Ensure your QuickBooks is\u00a0up to date\u00a0before troubleshooting.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sh-ext-lemon--li-xCOzz\">All versions of QuickBooks require you to log in as the Admin to create and return a portable copy. If you give someone a portable copy, they will gain access to all areas of QuickBooks and have the ability to add or modify your transactions and change your Administrator password.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sh-ext-lemon--li-xCOzz\">If you are trying to resolve data problems, do not overwrite the original file while restoring the portable copy. The best practice is to rename the original file before restoring the portable company file.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sh-ext-lemon--li-xCOzz\">If you are sending your company file to your accountant, consider using an\u00a0accountant&#8217;s copy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 id=\"sh-toc-hId--907482594\" class=\"sh-ext-lemon--h2-2clbo\">Create a portable company file<\/h2>\n<ol class=\"sh-ext-lemon--ol-1fbQ3\">\n<li class=\"sh-ext-lemon--li-xCOzz\">From the\u00a0<strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">File<\/strong>\u00a0menu, select\u00a0<strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">Create Copy<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sh-ext-lemon--li-xCOzz\">Select\u00a0<strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">Portable company file<\/strong>, then\u00a0<strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">Next<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sh-ext-lemon--li-xCOzz\">Choose the location where you want to save the portable copy.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sh-ext-lemon--li-xCOzz\">Select\u00a0<strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">Save<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">OK<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2 id=\"sh-toc-hId-835327741\" class=\"sh-ext-lemon--h2-2clbo\">Restore a portable company file<\/h2>\n<ol class=\"sh-ext-lemon--ol-1fbQ3\">\n<li class=\"sh-ext-lemon--li-xCOzz\">From the\u00a0<strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">File<\/strong>\u00a0menu, select\u00a0<strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">Open or Restore Company<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sh-ext-lemon--li-xCOzz\">Select\u00a0<strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">Restore a portable file<\/strong>, then select\u00a0<strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">Next<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sh-ext-lemon--li-xCOzz\">Select the portable copy\u00a0<strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">(.qbm)<\/strong>, then select\u00a0<strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">Open<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sh-ext-lemon--li-xCOzz\">Read through the\u00a0<em class=\"sh-ext-lemon--em-2ZRpM\">Where do you want to restore the file?<\/em>\u00a0page, then select\u00a0<strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">Next<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sh-ext-lemon--li-xCOzz\">Choose the location where you want to restore your portable file.<strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">Note:<\/strong>\u00a0You can change the name of the portable file to prevent it from overwriting your existing file.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sh-ext-lemon--li-xCOzz\">Select\u00a0<strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">Save<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<table class=\"sh-ext-lemon--table-3Sqgm\" border=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"sh-ext-lemon--tbody-PDiFc\">\n<tr class=\"sh-ext-lemon--tr-3YIqI\">\n<td class=\"sh-ext-lemon--td-o6r5p\" colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" width=\"0.5%\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"sh-ext-lemon--td-o6r5p\" colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\" width=\"99.5%\">\n<div class=\"sh-ext-lemon--div-3uKWd\">\n<h3 id=\"sh-toc-hId--1913342725\" class=\"sh-ext-lemon--h3-jHu1G\">Loan Manager, FAM, or QuickBooks Statement Writer information is not restored with the portable file<\/h3>\n<p class=\"sh-ext-lemon--p-UK6ra\">You will not have access to your Loan Manager (LMR), Fixed Asset Manager (FAM), or QuickBooks Statement Writer (QSW) information if you restore the portable company file on a\u00a0computer other than where the QuickBooks Desktop company file is saved. To work around this, you need to copy the folders and files to the current company file location.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sh-ext-lemon--p-UK6ra\"><strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">Loan Manager<\/strong>: Copy the .lmr file, which is labeled as\u00a0<strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">[CompanyName].lmr<\/strong>, to the current location of your company file then restore it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sh-ext-lemon--p-UK6ra\"><strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">Fixed Asset Manager<\/strong>: Copy all the files from the folder specified below to the current location of your company file then restore it.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"sh-ext-lemon--ul-1i-rI\">\n<li class=\"sh-ext-lemon--li-xCOzz\"><strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">QuickBooks 2020:<\/strong>\u00a0<i class=\"sh-ext-lemon--i-3m6OW\">C:\\Users\\Public\\Documents\\Intuit\\QuickBooks\\Company Files\\FAM19\\clients<\/i><\/li>\n<li class=\"sh-ext-lemon--li-xCOzz\"><strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">QuickBooks 2019:<\/strong>\u00a0<i class=\"sh-ext-lemon--i-3m6OW\">C:\\Users\\Public\\Documents\\Intuit\\QuickBooks\\Company Files\\FAM18\\clients<\/i><\/li>\n<li><strong><em>And some older Versions<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<li class=\"sh-ext-lemon--li-xCOzz\"><strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">QuickBooks 2018:<\/strong>\u00a0<i class=\"sh-ext-lemon--i-3m6OW\">C:\\Users\\Public\\Documents\\Intuit\\QuickBooks\\Company Files\\FAM17\\clients<\/i><\/li>\n<li class=\"sh-ext-lemon--li-xCOzz\"><strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">QuickBooks 2017:<\/strong>\u00a0<i class=\"sh-ext-lemon--i-3m6OW\">C:\\Users\\Public\\Documents\\Intuit\\QuickBooks\\Company Files\\FAM16\\clients<\/i><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 id=\"sh-toc-hId-25981115\" class=\"sh-ext-lemon--h2-2clbo\">Unable to create or restore a portable company file<\/h2>\n<div class=\"sh-ext-lemon--div-3uKWd\">\n<p class=\"sh-ext-lemon--p-UK6ra\"><strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">Solution 1: Copy the QuickBooks company file on the desktop<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol class=\"sh-ext-lemon--ol-1fbQ3\" start=\"1\">\n<li class=\"sh-ext-lemon--li-xCOzz\">Open the folder where your file is saved.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sh-ext-lemon--li-xCOzz\">Right-click the file, then select\u00a0<strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">Copy<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"sh-ext-lemon--ul-1i-rI\">\n<li class=\"sh-ext-lemon--li-xCOzz\">If you are creating a portable file, copy the\u00a0<strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">.qbw<\/strong>\u00a0file.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sh-ext-lemon--li-xCOzz\">If restoring a portable file, copy the\u00a0<strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">.qbm<\/strong>\u00a0file.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"sh-ext-lemon--li-xCOzz\">Right-click anywhere on the Desktop, then select\u00a0<strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">Paste<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sh-ext-lemon--li-xCOzz\">On your keyboard, press and hold the\u00a0<strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">Ctrl<\/strong>, then double-click the QuickBooks icon to get the\u00a0<strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">No Company Open<\/strong>\u00a0window.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sh-ext-lemon--li-xCOzz\">Try creating or restoring the portable file.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p class=\"sh-ext-lemon--p-UK6ra\"><strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">Solution 2: Try to work on a sample file<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol class=\"sh-ext-lemon--ol-1fbQ3\" start=\"1\">\n<li class=\"sh-ext-lemon--li-xCOzz\">On the\u00a0<strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">No Company Open<\/strong>\u00a0window, select\u00a0<strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">Open a Sample File<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sh-ext-lemon--li-xCOzz\">Create a portable copy using the sample company file and save it on your Desktop.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sh-ext-lemon--li-xCOzz\">From the\u00a0<strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">File<\/strong>\u00a0menu, select\u00a0<strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">Close Company\/Logoff<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sh-ext-lemon--li-xCOzz\">Try to restore the portable copy of the sample file that you saved on your desktop.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p class=\"sh-ext-lemon--p-UK6ra\">If you are able to create and restore the portable copy of the sample company file, your company file is damaged. See\u00a0Resolve data damage on your company file\u00a0for more information.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sh-ext-lemon--div-3uKWd\"><strong class=\"sh-ext-lemon--strong-1R_yp\">Solution 3: Clean install QuickBooks Desktop<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here are steps and recommended solutions to guide you in creating and restoring a QuickBooks Desktop portable company\u00a0(.qbm)\u00a0file. What is a QuickBooks Desktop Portable Company File? It is a compact copy of your financial data that you can send by email or any portable media such as external or flash drive. The portable company file [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,1,6,8,5,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1685","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-other-questions","category-quickbooks","category-quickbooks-desktop","category-quickbooks-mac-desktop","category-quickbooks-mobile","category-quickbooks-online"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/quickbookexperts.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1685","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/quickbookexperts.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/quickbookexperts.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quickbookexperts.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quickbookexperts.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1685"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/quickbookexperts.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1685\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/quickbookexperts.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1685"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quickbookexperts.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1685"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quickbookexperts.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1685"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}