How do I tell the version and patch level from a qbw file?

Open the file on your QBD program. If you didn't encounter any upgrade notification, you are opening it on the same year version. Once the file is open, hit f2 key or ctrl+1. You can find the update/upgrade history of the file.

Did you miss the part about the computer not working?

I said try opening the file on your own QBD program.

I have to be the exact version and patch level to open.  And to add injury, if I had a newer version/patch level, QBD file would insist I upgraded the QBW file before it opened and I would lose the original version and patch level. 

And, and, the other computers in question are Windows 7.  The current version of QBD has an artificial block in it that requires Windows 10 or above.

Also, I do not personally own QBD.  I wrote my own accounting software for my business.

Please answer the question I actually asked.

Do you know (or you can try asking them) which year version of QBD they use? Another issue is did they work on the file in multiuser mode?

They have no idea

And they only own one copy

You can send us the file and (hopefully) we can help determine the version.

Privacy issues involved.  I need to know how to do it myself.  Plus this is not the first time I have had this issue with customers.  Had they bought the thing from me or had me installed when buying it from somewhere else, ALL of this information would be available to me.  But they did not and I did not.

The information is embedded somewhere, or QBD would not be able to figure it out on its own.   I am real handy with hex editors and also with regex's. 

Visited the customer on Saturday.  One CMOS battery later and she was up and running.  She is on QBD 2020-R12P.  I now have it all documented, including key, etc..

This problem occurs a lot.  So, if there is any way to tell from the file itself, I'd still like to know.

@ToddAndMargoRE: I have to be the exact version and patch level to open. And to add injury, if I had a newer version/patch level, QBD file would insist I upgraded the QBW file before it opened and I would lose the original version and patch level. 

Actually it's not that picky:

- You can try opening a file with a newer version of QB and when you do - after entering the password, if there is one - you'll get a message that you need to update the company file. At that point you can cancel and the file won't be updated. Then you know the version of QB you tried is too new.

- It's the usual case that you can open a file from any given version-year with any patch level for that year. Once in awhile Intuit triggers a file update that precludes opening the file using an older patch level, but trying to open the file in that case won't hurt it. This is rare, though. I think they last did it with QB 2016.

You can use the QuickBooks File Manager to determine the file's QB version. It is installed with QuickBooks Premier Accountant and Enterprise Accountant.  I think using it is the only way at this point, except through trial and error.

See https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/add-remove-clients/learn-basics-quick...

What does that have to do with the question I actually asked?

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@ToddAndMargo wrote:

What does that have to do with the question I actually asked?

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Are you responding to my answer? If so, the question was how to tell the version level of a file, and my answer answers that question:

"You can use the QuickBooks File Manager to determine the file's QB version. It is installed with QuickBooks Premier Accountant and Enterprise Accountant. I think using it is the only way at this point, except through trial and error."

You missed the part about the computer not working.   The file is available from back up on another computer that does not have QB installed on it.  This one I was able to repair the computer.  I have had several other customers that also have this issue with crashed computers, so I really wanted to know how to look at the QBW file and determine its version and patch level.

Allow me to step in and share information about this, Todd.

A patch update is only applied to the QuickBooks program, not to the company files. Therefore, a backup file (.QBB) or a working company file (.QBW) doesn't have such information.

If your client's QuickBooks is still supported (version 2019-2022), he or she can contact our QBDT Support so they can assist them with registering or activating it onto their new computer. Then, they can restore the backup file.

On the other hand, in case you want to check out some references for QuickBooks Desktop, you'll want to go to the main support page, scroll down a bit, and click More Topics.

Let me know if you have other questions in mind. Have a good one!

> A patch update is only applied to the QuickBooks program, not to the company files. Therefore, a backup file (.QBB) or a working company file (.QBW) doesn't have such information.

If this information (revision and patch level) is not in the QBW file, why after install a patch to the main program does the next time you open the QBW file ask for permission to update the QBW file and why when you upgrade your QBW does it want to also upgrade your QBW file?  And why does the patch level of the QBW file show in f1?   For either of these to happen requires that the main program recognize what the revision and patch level is.   Your statement is confusing.

Thanks for getting back here, ToddAndMargo.

Let me add some additional info.

As soon as a new patch is available, an update is necessary to avoid any program errors or other issues. With regard to the QBW file showing in f1, this has something to do with the updates on the folders. 

If you want us to review the file, you can reach out to our Customer Care Team.

Here's how:

1. In your QuickBooks Desktop program, go to Help > QuickBooks Desktop Help.
2. In the Have a Question window, click the Contact Us link at the bottom.
3. From the Contact Us page, select any topics.
4. Under Here's how to connect with a QuickBooks expert section, click the Start a Message or Get Phone Number button.

To get our direct phone number, please check out this link: Contact QuickBooks Desktop support.

You're always welcome to post a reply if you have any additional questions or other concerns. We're here to assist you. Take care and stay safe.

The question was answered over on

https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/other-questions/are-qbw-files-encrypted/01/1047621...

QBW files are encrypted, so reading them without QB would not give any useful information.