How are favorites matched using an alias? / Can I automatically assign a bucket during an import or download?

During the import of transactions, MoneyWell examines the payee and memo fields to see if they contain an alias. The alias does not need to match the whole payee or memo and does not even have to be the same case.

For example, let's say you have three transactions with the following payees:

• Electronic withdrawal to MCDONALDS #2482
• Electronic withdrawal to MCDONALDS #5970
• Electronic withdrawal to MCDONALDS RESTAURANT OAK FOREST
• Electronic withdrawal to MCDONALDS FARM FRUITS

You could have one alias "mcdonalds" to match the first three and assign those to a favorite with the payee name "McDonald's" and the bucket "Dining."

Now the fourth transaction is actually for groceries so you can create a favorite to assign that to a transaction with the payee "McDonald's Farm Fruits" and the bucket "Groceries" by using the alias "mcdonalds farm fruits" instead of the shorter version used for the others.

This works because MoneyWell checks to see if the longer, more complete alias names match any part of the payee or memo first and then checks the shorter ones. Remember, the alias can be in any part of the payee or memo so you don't need to include the "Electronic withdrawal to" portion or worry about the store numbers at the end.