You receive an error message when you try to add a ticker symbol for a new investment in your Money data file (268030)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Money Deluxe 2006
  • Microsoft Money Premium 2006
  • Microsoft Money Small Business 2006
  • Microsoft Money Standard 2006
  • Microsoft Money 2005 Deluxe
  • Microsoft Money 2005 Premium
  • Microsoft Money 2005 Small Business
  • Microsoft Money 2005 Standard
  • Microsoft Money 2004 Deluxe
  • Microsoft Money 2004 Premium
  • Microsoft Money 2004 Small Business
  • Microsoft Money 2004 Standard
  • Microsoft Money 2003 Deluxe
  • Microsoft Money 2003 Deluxe and Business
  • Microsoft Money 2003 Standard
  • Microsoft Money 2002
  • Microsoft Money Deluxe 2002
  • Microsoft Money 2002 Deluxe and Business Edition
  • Microsoft Money 2001
  • Microsoft Money 2000
  • Microsoft Money 99

This article was previously published under Q268030

SYMPTOMS

When you try to add a ticker symbol for a new investment in your Microsoft Money data file, you may receive an error message that is similar to one of the following:
XXXXX is already being used as a symbol for <Security name>.
Please enter a different symbol.
XXXXX is already being used as a name or symbol for another investment. Please enter a different choice.
In this error message, XXXXX is the ticker symbol that you are trying to add, and Security name is the name of the security that is currently using the symbol.

CAUSE

This behavior may occur if an investment that uses the same symbol was already set up or if a previously entered investment was setup with the wrong symbol.

RESOLUTION

If you are tracking the same security that you had previously added to a different Investment Account, you can use the same security in other accounts. You do not have to recreate the security for each Investment Account. To enter a transaction for an investment that you have already created, when you create your buy transaction, select that security name from the investment drop down list. For example, if you own shares of Microsoft (MSFT) in both a 401(k) account and in a separate brokerage account, you do not have to create the MSFT investment two times. Create it one time for the initial account, and then select it from the investment list when you add it to your second account.

On the other hand, if a previously created security is incorrectly using the symbol for one that you are currently creating, you can resolve this behavior by removing the symbol from that security or by deleting that security completely. To resolve this behavior, delete the ticker symbol from the original security, delete the security, and then add the symbol to the correct security.

Delete the ticker symbol

To delete the ticker symbol, follow the appropriate steps for your version of Money.

Microsoft Money 2000 and later versions

  1. In Money 2000, open the Portfolio Manager.

    In Microsoft Money 2006 and in Microsoft Money 2005, click Investing, click Investing Tools, and then click Portfolio Manager. In Microsoft Money 2002 through Microsoft Money 2004, click Investing and then click Portfolio.
  2. Right-click the investment that you want to edit, and then select Investment Details.
  3. In the Symbol box, on the Investment Details page, delete the symbol.
  4. Click Done.

Microsoft Money 99

  1. On the Money navigation bar, click Investments.
  2. In the left pane, click Positions View.
  3. Click the name of the investment that you want to remove the symbol from.
  4. In Money 98, click Go To at the bottom of the page.

    In Money 99, click the Go to Details option from the list.
  5. In the Symbol box of the Investment Details page, delete the symbol.

Delete the security

To delete the security, follow the appropriate steps for your version of Money.

Note Money does not allow you to delete an investment if it still shows tht you own any units of that investment. You must sell all the units of the holding, in Money, or delete the original purchase transactions.

For more information about how to sell units or delete transactions, see the entering investments, purchases and sales topic in Money online Help.

Money 2000 and later versions

  1. In Money 2000, click Investing on the Money navigation bar, and then click Portfolio.

    In Money 2001 and later, click Portfolio on the Investing menu.
  2. In the left pane under Common Tasks, click Work with investments, and then click Delete an investment.
  3. Click the name of the investment that you want to delete.
  4. Click OK.

Money 99

  1. On the Money navigation bar, click Investments.
  2. In the left pane, click Positions View.
  3. Click the name of the investment that you want to delete, and then click Delete at the bottom of the page.
  4. If you are prompted to confirm the deletion, click Yes.

If a deleted investment is still being used in transactions

This section provides an alternative resolution to use if the investment has been deleted but is still being used in transactions. To resolve this problem, you must re-create the investment in the file, then rename it, and finally delete it again:
  1. Enter a new transaction to the deleted investment name (leave the ticker symbol blank) to "restore" the investment back to the list of investments that can be modified in the file.
  2. Delete the newly created transaction.
  3. In the newly restored investment details, rename the investment with a name that will likely never be used again in Money.
  4. Delete this renamed investment.
  5. Re-create the original investment. Use the correct symbol.

MORE INFORMATION

Money 2001 and later versions include the 401(k) Manager, which you can use to add or remove securities.

When you remove an investment from the 401(k) Manager, you are not actually deleting the investment from your Money data file.

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:7/5/2005
Keywords:kberrmsg kbpending kbprb KB268030