Description:

PaypalLog2QIF is a Perl script that converts a TAB-delimited Paypal history log file into a QIF file which can be imported in Quicken or Microsoft Money.

Why would you need PaypalLog2QIF?

Paypal.com allows downloading the transaction history in QIF format. However, the log downloaded in this format does not contain all transactions (e.g. Paypal fees are not included, etc). Importing the downloaded QIF in Money will make the account balance in Money to be different than account balance displayed on Paypal's site. Paypal allows however to download the full account's history in text mode, TAB or comma delimited. These text files contains all transactions details.

Processing this text file will generate a correct report of all transactions, which will make (after importing the file in Microsoft Money) account ballances to match those reported on Paypal's web site.
In addition, transactions converted include more detailed information for EBay transactions than equivalent transactions in Paypal's QIF file.
If you want(like me) to have in Money a detailed and correct report where your money went, then PaypalLog2QIF is for you.

Also, starting with august 2002 a change on the Paypal site makes their downloadable file unable to be imported in Microsoft Money 2002. Basically, they've changed the date format in the QIF file from something like "01/02/2003" into "Jan 02, 2003" which is user readable, but not conform with QIF specs. Until they correct their mistake PaypalLog2QIF is the solution for this problem...

Requirements:

Perl must be installed on the machine prior to run the script.
The version I used for writing the program is ActivePerl 5.6.1 available free from ActiveState

Usage:

In Paypal's history page, download the log in TAB delimited format, and include all transactions ("Tab delimited - All Activity"); you can also choose to include shopping cart details.
Save the file as Download.txt
Run the script with "Perl.exe PaypalLog2QIF.pl Download.txt"
Depending on where you have saved on your hard drive the Perl script and the txt file, you may need to specify full paths for them. Also, since Perl registers as the handler of *.pl files, you usually can omit specifying perl.exe and can run just "PaypalLog2QIF.pl Download.txt". In the end you'll have a Download.txt.qif file on your harddrive (in the same folder as Download.txt) that can be imported into Quicken or Microsoft Money.

Current version is 1.3 (Released 11/02/2008)

Download PaypalLog2QIF Perl script - 4k

History:

• 1.3 (Released 11/02/2008) - Fixed a bug related to Subject field being removed since 2005 from transaction details
• 1.2 (Released 11/10/2003) - Added support for the new fields TimeZone (breaking change) and the ActionSite
• 1.1 (Released 09/02/2002) - Added support for the new stupid Paypal date format that makes downloaded file unable to be imported in Microsoft Money 2002
• 1.0 (Released 08/08/2002) - First release

Future:

• Since Microsoft has discontinued Microsoft Money, I'll be forced to switch and use Intuit Quicken. Unfortunately, since 2005 Quicken does not import anymore its own format :-), and I'll have to rewreite this script to convert to OFX/QFX format, too... Meanwhile, here is the OFX spec in case you want to write your own script...