The background downloading function was introduced in the Quicken 99 program. Background downloading into the Quicken program is controlled by a separate utility program called the Quicken Download Manager (also known as Qagent). When the Quicken Download Manager option is enabled, background downloading takes advantage of unused bandwidth to download current financial information anytime your computer is connected to the Internet. For example, when the Internet connection is active on your computer, and you are not actively downloading or uploading information, Quicken uses this idle connection time to download financial information that would otherwise take time when you download security quotes and other information into the Quicken program. This happens even when the Quicken program is not open.
The information downloaded into Quicken is not personal financial information related to your account. The kinds of financial information downloaded in the background include:
- What-if Scenarios. To access, point to Planning on the Features menu, and choose What-if Scenarios.
- National average loan rates
- National average money market rates
- National average certificate of deposit (CD) rates
- National average checking account interest rates
- Financial features (stories, commentary)
- Tax calendar information
Downloading this information in the background can save a substantial amount of time. Since this information is already updated, it does not have to be downloaded again when you actively choose to download security quotes and other information into the Quicken program.
When the Quicken 99 program is first installed, the Quicken Download Manager program is automatically enabled. This means background downloading will happen anytime your computer is connected to the Internet and no activity is currently happening in the connection. Even short periods of time help; Quicken can download some information while a connection is active, then begin again at the same point the next time the connection is activated.
The Quicken Download Manager places a red Q icon in the status area of the Windows taskbar (where the system clock appears) when it is enabled. This tells you Quicken Download Manager is enabled. It also provides a menu when you right-click the red Q icon. This menu enables you to start the Quicken program as well as disabling background downloading until the computer is restarted. For more information about enabling and disabling the background download function, see How do I turn background downloading on or off in the Quicken program?