Opening up .QBB files with regular QB software?

[AZ-Tax]

I dont do books but clients bring over their .QBB (backup files). Can I open these files in a regular QB (not Pro) software?

[Maribeth]

I dont do books but clients bring over their .QBB (backup files). Can I open these files in a regular QB (not Pro) software?

A .qbb file is simply a QuickBooks backup file. You can restore this backup file to the appropriate year version of QuickBooks. If the backup was created in a QuickBooks Pro version, then you must have that version also. You cannot go backwards in QuickBooks, only forwards (with an exception if you are using the Accountants vesion).

Maribeth

[JohnH]

Yes. A qbb file is a backup file. You have to "restore" it to qb. Assuming you and the client have qb versions which play nice with one another, that should do the trick for you.

[Y2KEA]

You can restore a QBB file. If it is an earlier year, you can not send them any changes you made. You can then make changes & send it back only if it is the version they are using. Any changes they have made will be overwritten. If you have a later version, it will be updated but QB is not backward compatable so the client can not restore from it.

[S T]

Portable

If possible, if client has available, also have them use the Portable Back Up file to restore. It is a much smaller file size.
If they are on 2008 you would have to have 2008 Version, 2009 and 2009 Version. for them to restore. Or if you restore a 2008 on 2010 you can work in or review, but unless the client has 2010 they can not restore. As stated prior - you can not open with a prior year version.
If your client is a regular accounting client, you can also always have them sign up for LogMeIn (free) and then you can sign into their computer and work in their file. If you are on LogMeIn Pro (charge) you can also print on your printer as a remote, and also download the file to your computer.

Sandy

[AJsTax]

Not Pro?

I dont do books but clients bring over their .QBB (backup files). Can I open these files in a regular QB (not Pro) software?

We are not sure what you mean by regular, not Pro? There are two main versions available, Pro and Premier (of which Accountant's is one). Enterprise edition is priced way out there so I am pretty sure you do not have that. If you are not working in SimpleStart, then you are working in Pro or Premier and most likely what you are referring to as "off the shelf " regular version is Pro.
The other posts are correct in how you can work with it.
I do this type of conversion every day, if you have more questions send a PM with details and I will give you the exact procedures.

[AZ-Tax]

What can I open up in 06 Premier Accountants version?

A .qbb file is simply a QuickBooks backup file. You can restore this backup file to the appropriate year version of QuickBooks. If the backup was created in a QuickBooks Pro version, then you must have that version also. You cannot go backwards in QuickBooks, only forwards (with an exception if you are using the Accountants vesion).

Maribeth

"with an exception if you are using Accountants version"
I tried opening up within my 06 Premier Accountants version, what looks to be a .QBB filed created in QB Pro 2010 with no luck.

[geekgirldany]

You can't open a QBs 2010 file with a QBs 2006 version. You could open and update a QBs 2006 file in a QBs 2010 program though. Looks like you will have to upgrade the newest version or do as Sandy suggested and use Logmein to go onto the customers to computer to view quickbooks.

[BHoffman]

If possible, if client has available, also have them use the Portable Back Up file to restore. It is a much smaller file size.
If they are on 2008 you would have to have 2008 Version, 2009 and 2009 Version. for them to restore. Or if you restore a 2008 on 2010 you can work in or review, but unless the client has 2010 they can not restore. As stated prior - you can not open with a prior year version.
If your client is a regular accounting client, you can also always have them sign up for LogMeIn (free) and then you can sign into their computer and work in their file. If you are on LogMeIn Pro (charge) you can also print on your printer as a remote, and also download the file to your computer.

Sandy

I use the free version of LogMeIn to access the client computer. Save the portable company file to their desktop. From their computer, I sign onto my MSN account and upload it to the free MSN "Skydrive" file and then retrieve it from there to my own computer.