Can Quicken files created on a Mac can be read &/or written to by Windows Quicken?

What about Quickbooks files created on a Mac can be read &/or written
to by Windows Quickbooks?

What limitations &/or problems should we expect?

Hi schmerold:

Thanks for the interesting question. 

The answer to your questions are "Sort of" and "Yes". 

First, the good news. QuickBooks files created on the Mac can indeed
be read by QuickBooks for windows, apparently without any loss of
data/functionality:

Quickbooks: Pro 2005 for the Mac - How to Support Mac Clients
URL: http://accountant.intuit.com/products_services/quickbooks_pro_mac/howtosupport.aspx
Quote: "As in previous versions, you can read a QuickBooks for Mac
data file in QuickBooks for Windows. However, in versions 6.0 and 2005
you must first create a file for use by QuickBooks for Windows. In
QuickBooks: Pro 2005 for Mac, simply choose File > Backup > To
QuickBooks for Windows. This creates a .QBB file. Then, transfer the
.QBB file to the Windows machine by e-mailing the backup file,
transferring the file over a network linking Mac and Windows machines,
or using PC-formatted media (such as CDs)."

This is backed up by the following article:

No more incompatability - Practical Technology - operating system software
URL: http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ICC/is_2_71/ai_90984178
Quote: " often find myself faced with converting a Mac-based Quicken
or QuickBooks file to the corresponding Windows versions. Converting
QuickBooks for the Macintosh to Windows is relatively easy. QuickBooks
Version 4 on the Mac creates a backup file. All your client needs to
do is e-mail that backup file to your office. If you are using a more
recent version of QuickBooks, say 2000 or higher, all you have to do
is restore that backup file into your QuickBooks for Windows."

The bad news? Well, the same easy compatibility between Mac and
windows does NOT exist for Quicken files.

Converting data from Quicken for Mac to Quicken for Windows
URL: http://web.intuit.com/support/quicken/2005/mac/5198.html
Quote: "Most data in a Quicken for Mac file can be converted for use
with Quicken for Windows. This multi-step procedure involves preparing
your Macintosh® data file, exporting the data, importing it into
Quicken for Windows, and then rectifying any discrepancies due to
duplicated transactions or data that was not included."

The steps included in that webpage are quite complicated and you are
very likely to run into data corruption and data loss, as backed up by
the following pages:

No more incompatability - Practical Technology - operating system software
URL: http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ICC/is_2_71/ai_90984178
Quote: "My experience has been that converting a Quicken file and
exporting data may result in corruptions, so it is extremely important
to print out an account listing on the Mac platform to ensure that
you've converted the data properly."

Virtual PC 7 and Windows Quicken 
URL: http://www.macworld.com/forums/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=quicken&Number=251589&page=9&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1
Quote: "I presume I could easily (?) transfer my Q Mac files to Q W
files....in a word - NO. The files are totally different formats, so
the only way to do this is QIF export/import. Or you could pay Intuit
but I'm sure it's not cheap. Once upon a time I think there was a
utility to do this but that's long gone. Not everything transfers, and
you'll need several trial-and-error attempts to determine what
settings work best for you."

Search Strategy (on Google):
* quickbook mac file transfer windows 
* quicken mac file transfer windows 
* quicken file transfer "from mac" "to windows"

I hope this helps.

websearcher

Thank you. Your answer was quick and provided helpful links from
Intuit, the software manufacturer as well as independent reviews of
this issue.