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CheckBook Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.)
8/26/11

• About CheckBook
Can I try CheckBook before purchasing a license?
Can CheckBook track stocks and investments?
Can CheckBook print checks?
Can CheckBook play MP3 or AAC song files?
How do I request a new feature I would like to see in CheckBook?

• CheckBook and the Mac App Store
I want to purchase CheckBook from the Mac App Store but I installed the CheckBook trial from your site and the Mac App Store says CheckBook is already installed.
I purchased CheckBook from the Mac App Store but when I try to launch it I see an error that CheckBook is "damaged".
Can I use the Mac App Store to update my copy of CheckBook?
I purchased CheckBook from your online store. Can I move my license to the Mac App Store?

• Maintaining CheckBook
How do I install CheckBook?
What is a Disk Image file?
How do I upgrade to the latest version of CheckBook?
Do I need to enter my serial number every time I upgrade to the latest version of CheckBook?
How do I move CheckBook to a new Mac?
How do I backup my CheckBook data?
How do I restore my CheckBook data from a backup?
Does CheckBook make its own backups?

• System Compatibility
Does CheckBook work on non-English systems?
What are CheckBook's system requirements?
Is CheckBook available in Universal Binary format?
Does CheckBook work on Windows?

• Data Compatibility
Will CheckBook work with my Quicken data?
Will CheckBook work with statements downloaded from my online bank?
Can CheckBook export its Account data?
Can CheckBook sync with mobile devices?

• General Use
Can I customize the Types in CheckBook?
Can I customize the Categories in CheckBook?
Each time I go to the Help Menu and select CheckBook Help, I get a blank Help window.
Can I use CheckBook on more than one Mac?
I need to access the same data on two or more Macs. What files should I copy to make sure the data is the
same on all of my Macs?


Can I try CheckBook before purchasing a license?
Yes. In fact, we encourage you to do so! An unlicensed copy of CheckBook will allow you to create an unlimited number of Accounts with up to 100 Entries apiece, which you can use until you are sure you are ready to purchase a license. When you purchase all of your data will remain intact.

Can CheckBook track stocks and investments?
No. CheckBook is not designed to track stocks and investments, though it can be used to track gains and losses if you wish to enter the data manually.

Can CheckBook print checks?
No, CheckBook cannot print checks. We tentatively plan to add check printing to CheckBook's big brother, CheckBook Pro, in version 2.6 during 2012.

Can CheckBook play MP3 or AAC song files?
No.

How do I request a new feature I would like to see in CheckBook?
Send the details of your feature request and any specific examples of how you would use the feature to feedback@splasm.com. Thanks!

I want to purchase CheckBook from the Mac App Store but I installed the CheckBook trial from your site and the Mac App Store says CheckBook is already installed.
Move your copy of CheckBook to the Trash, relaunch the Mac App Store app and you should be able to purchase. Your data is safe. After you purchase CheckBook from the Mac App Store launch it and your data will automatically appear.

I purchased CheckBook from the Mac App Store but when I try to launch it I see an error that CheckBook is "damaged".
Move your copy of CheckBook to the Trash, relaunch the Mac App Store app and click on the Purchased button at the top of the window. Look for CheckBook in the list of purchases and click the Install button next to it. Your data is safe. After you reinstall CheckBook from the Mac App Store launch it and your data will automatically appear.

Can I use the Mac App Store to update my copy of CheckBook?

If you purchased CheckBook directly from us your copy of CheckBook knows how to update itself. Select "Check For Updates..." from the CheckBook menu at the top left of your screen. If an update is ready CheckBook will offer to download and install it for you.

If you purchased CheckBook from the Mac App Store the Mac App Store will tell you when an update is available. When you see a red badge on the Mac App Store icon in the Dock, or on the Purchased button at the top of the Mac App Store window, click the Purchased button to see if a CheckBook update is ready to install.


I purchased CheckBook from your online store. Can I move my license to the Mac App Store?

No. Right now there isn't a way to move a license from our online store to the Mac App Store. If you would like to receive updates to CheckBook from the Mac App Store you will need to move your copy of CheckBook to the Trash and purchase a new license from the Mac App Store.

Purchasing from our online store instead of the Mac App Store has its benefits:

  • Purchases from our online store can update themselves as soon as a new version of CheckBook is available. The Mac App Store usually takes 3 to 5 business days to release updates and, since the Mac App Store is a separate application, it must be running so you can see a new version of CheckBook is available.
  • Purchases from our online store are eligible for special discounts on the next major version of CheckBook. The Mac App Store does not support discounts or coupons at this time.
  • The Mac App Store charges us quite a bit more per order - over 3 times as much as our online store. When you purchase directly from our online store you're giving us more resources to make CheckBook a better app. Thank you!

How do I install CheckBook?
Download CheckBook in Disk Image format at http://www.splasm.com/downloads/checkbook/CheckBook.dmg. Double-click the file to reveal a window named CheckBook X, where X is the version you have downloaded. The window will have three icons inside: ReadMe, CheckBook and Applications. Drag the CheckBook icon to the Applications icon, then select the Eject option from the File menu. You will find CheckBook in your Applications folder.

What is a Disk Image file?
Disk Image files are special files that allow us to deliver CheckBook in a single package that acts very much like a CD or USB drive. When you double-click a Disk Image, your Mac reads the file and places a new icon on your Desktop that looks just like a hard drive icon. This is known as a Disk Image. If you open this new icon you will see the actual files we want you to have - the ReadMe and the CheckBook application. While you can use these files directly from the Disk Image, it is best that you copy the CheckBook application to your Applications folder on your hard drive and use it from that location. Once you have copied CheckBook to your Applications folder you can safely eject the Disk Image by dragging its icon to the Trash. If you like, you can save the Disk Image file for future installation of CheckBook.

How do I upgrade to the latest version of CheckBook?
Launch CheckBook and select "Check For Updates... " from the CheckBook menu at the top left corner of your screen. If an update is available you can choose to download and install it. Your license for CheckBook 2.x entitles you to all updates before CheckBook 3.0, so feel free to download and install the latest version at any time.

Do I need to enter my serial number every time I upgrade to the latest version of CheckBook?
Not for updates within the same major version number. These updates are meant to replace your previous copy of CheckBook, and will update your Accounts and Preferences (which is where your serial number is stored) automatically. You will not be asked to enter your serial number again.

If you are registered for a previous major version of CheckBook your older serial number will not work. If you have not received upgrade instructions via email contact us at customerservice@splasm.com for details on how to get a new serial number.

How do I move CheckBook to a new Mac?
  1. Launch CheckBook on your original Mac.
  2. Select "Backup Accounts... " from the File menu near the top left corner of your screen to save a backup of your Accounts.
  3. Copy the backup file to your new Mac.
  4. Launch CheckBook on the new Mac.
  5. Select "Preferences... " from the CheckBook menu at the top left corner of your screen to reveal the Preferences sheet.
  6. Click the "Advanced" button at the top of the preferences sheet.
  7. Click the "Restore Accounts... " button near the bottom of the Advanced section.
  8. A warning message will appear. Please read the warning. If you continue you will overwrite any data currently in CheckBook on the new Mac. Press the "Continue" button if you want to continue and an open dialog will appear.
  9. Select your backup in the open dialog. Your backup will be copied into place and your data will appear in CheckBook.
  10. When your data appears in CheckBook you can safely remove the backup copy from your new Mac.

How do I backup my CheckBook data?
Select the "Backup Accounts... " menu item the File menu near the top left corner of your screen.

We recommend storing your backups periodically on another disk, such as a CD-R or thumb drive, so your data will be safe in the event you need to reinstall Mac OS X or your internal hard drive crashes.

How do I restore my CheckBook data from a backup?
  1. Select "Preferences... " from the CheckBook menu at the top left corner of your screen to reveal the Preferences sheet.
  2. Click the "Advanced" button at the top of the preferences sheet.
  3. Click the "Restore Accounts... " button near the bottom of the Advanced section.
  4. A warning message will appear. Please read the warning. If you continue you will overwrite any data currently in CheckBook. Press the "Continue" button if you want to continue and an open dialog will appear.
  5. Select your backup in the open dialog. Your backup will be copied into place and your data will appear in CheckBook.

Does CheckBook make its own backups?
Yes, CheckBook creates an automatic backup about once a week. It names each backup with the current date and version of CheckBook, and compresses the file so that it takes up very little hard drive space.

Here's how to restore an automatic backup:
  1. Select "Preferences... " from the CheckBook menu at the top left corner of your screen to reveal the Preferences sheet.
  2. Click the "Advanced" button at the top of the preferences sheet.
  3. Click the "Restore Accounts... " button near the bottom of the Advanced section.
  4. A warning message will appear. Please read the warning. If you continue you will overwrite any data currently in CheckBook. This shouldn't be a concern if you're restoring a backup due to data loss or other calamity. Press the "Continue" button if you want to continue and an open dialog will appear.
  5. While holding down the Command and Shift keys on your keyboard, press the G key on your keyboard. A sheet will appear. Paste the following into the text field in the sheet: ~/Library/Application Support/Splasm Software, Inc./CheckBook 2/Backups
  6. Click the "Go" button at the bottom right of the sheet. You will see a list of your automatic backups. You probably want to select a recent backup so sort the list of backups by clicking on the "Last Modified" column header just above the list.
  7. Select a backup file in the open dialog. The data in the backup will appear in CheckBook.

Does CheckBook work on non-English systems?
Yes. The text in the user interface will not appear correctly but the general functionality should remain intact. CheckBook respects the date format selected in the Language & Text preference pane in System Preferences, so Entry dates will be shown correctly. You may also create your own base currency so amounts are displayed with the local currency symbol and formatting.

What are CheckBook's system requirements?

CheckBook requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 and a display with a resolution of 800x600 pixels.

We recommend Mac OS X 10.5 or later and a display with a resolution of 1024x768 pixels.

CheckBook is not compatible with Microsoft Windows or Linux.


Is CheckBook available in Universal Binary format?
Yes. The regular download is a Universal Binary and will run natively on PowerPC and Intel Macs.

Does CheckBook work on Windows?
No. CheckBook is only for Mac OS X.

Will CheckBook work with my Quicken data?
Yes. CheckBook can import QIF files, to which Quicken 2007 and earlier can export, and Quicken Essentials data files.

Will CheckBook work with statements downloaded from my online bank?
Probably. CheckBook can import statements in the OFX/QFX, QIF and CSV/TSV file formats. It's likely your online bank supports at least one of these.

Can CheckBook export my Account data?
Yes. CheckBook can export to QIF, for import into other personal finance applications, and to tab-delimited text, for advanced analysis in a spreadsheet.

Can CheckBook sync with mobile devices?
Kinda. CheckBook can export and import QIF and text files, which may be suitable for your particular mobile application.

Can I customize the Types in CheckBook?
Yes. Types are customizable per Account. Select the "Edit Account... " option from the Account menu at the top of your screen to reveal the Account Options sheet, then click on the Types button at the top of the sheet.

Can I customize the Categories in CheckBook?
Yes. Select the "Preferences..." option from the CheckBook menu at the top left of your screen to reveal the Preferences sheet, then click on the Categories button at the top of the sheet.

Each time I go to the Help Menu and select CheckBook Help, I get a blank Help window.
Occasionally, in earlier versions of Mac OS X, the Help Viewer application will have an issue loading an application's Help files. The workaround is to "reset" the Help Viewer's memory, after which it will work correctly. To do this, you need to remove one or more files associated with the Help Viewer. This should not harm the Help Viewer in any way, but it will cause it to temporarily forget about any third-party applications' Help content. This content will return when you next select the Help option from each application's Help menu.

To reset the Help Viewer, first quit CheckBook and the Help Viewer, then remove the following file:

-  /Users/[your username here]/Library/Caches/com.apple.helpui

If you find that CheckBook's Help is still blank, quit CheckBook and the Help Viewer again, then remove the following files:

-  /Users/[your username here]/Library/Caches/com.apple.helpui
-  /Users/[your username here]/Library/Preferences/com.apple.help.plist
-  /Users/[your username here]/Library/Preferences/com.apple.helpui.plist
-  /Users/[your username here]/Library/Preferences/com.apple.helpviewer.plist

For additional information, please see Apple's support article, "Mac OS X: Can't access Help content, or content is blank or missing links" at http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=25667.


Can I use CheckBook on more than one Mac?
You are allowed to use CheckBook on another Mac as long as you respect your license agreement. The single-user license states that you are licensed to use CheckBook on only one Mac at a time. Make sure each copy of CheckBook using the same serial number is not running on more than one Mac at any given time and you're welcome to copy it to as many Macs as necessary. The family pack license expands the number of Macs on which you may use CheckBook simultaneously to five (5).

I need to access the same data on two or more Macs. How can I make sure the data is the same on all of my Macs?
  1. On the source Mac, select the "Backup Accounts... " menu item the File menu near the top left corner of your screen and save a backup file.
  2. Copy your backup file to the destination Mac.
  3. On the destination Mac, select "Preferences... " from the CheckBook menu at the top left corner of your screen to reveal the Preferences sheet.
  4. Click the "Advanced" button at the top of the preferences sheet.
  5. Click the "Restore Accounts... " button near the bottom of the Advanced section.
  6. A warning message will appear. Please read the warning. If you continue you will overwrite any data currently in CheckBook on the destination Mac. Press the "Continue" button if you want to continue and an open dialog will appear.
  7. Select your backup from the source Mac in the open dialog. Your backup will be copied into place and your data will appear in CheckBook.
CheckBook Downloads

CheckBook
 Version 2.3.1, 6.3 mb

The simply powerful personal finance manager. Download CheckBook for a Risk-Free Trial and enter up to 100 transactions per account. Go ahead... Give it a try!
CheckBook Help
 Version 2.0, 1.6 mb

CheckBook's built-in documentation in a standalone PDF document.
CheckBook QuickPick
 Version 2.0, 260 kb

Makes backing up with Backup 3 a little bit easier.