bitcoin-Qt to Armory transition

[haploid23]

I've been on the standard Qt client since 2011, and looking to finally switch to Armory. But here's a few questions I had:


1) I already have the whole block chain up to date for the Qt, is it possible I use the database already on my computer rather than downloading a new one for Armory?

2) I want to keep my current wallet.dat from the Qt client, is it possible to transfer over all addresses from this wallet, as well as the transaction history from the Qt to Armory?

[TimS]

I've been on the standard Qt client since 2011, and looking to finally switch to Armory. But here's a few questions I had:


1) I already have the whole block chain up to date for the Qt, is it possible I use the database already on my computer rather than downloading a new one for Armory?

2) I want to keep my current wallet.dat from the Qt client, is it possible to transfer over all addresses from this wallet, as well as the transaction history from the Qt to Armory?

1) Yes, Armory will automatically use the block chain from Qt. FYI, it builds its own DB from that, that's about the same size as Qt's files (you need both DBs currently).

2) You can import private keys, which will get you the history of sends and receives, but AFAIK you can't automatically bring over the comments associated with those transactions/addresses. Having imported addresses kicking around that contain money (or may in the future) also means that you need to make sure you have backups of those private keys in addition to your one root key that Armory uses to generate addresses.

[justusranvier]

I've been on the standard Qt client since 2011, and looking to finally switch to Armory. But here's a few questions I had:


1) I already have the whole block chain up to date for the Qt, is it possible I use the database already on my computer rather than downloading a new one for Armory?

2) I want to keep my current wallet.dat from the Qt client, is it possible to transfer over all addresses from this wallet, as well as the transaction history from the Qt to Armory?

1) Yes, Armory will automatically use the block chain from Qt. FYI, it builds its own DB from that, that's about the same size as Qt's files (you need both DBs currently).

2) You can import private keys, which will get you the history of sends and receives, but AFAIK you can't automatically bring over the comments associated with those transactions/addresses. Having imported addresses kicking around that contain money (or may in the future) also means that you need to make sure you have backups of those private keys in addition to your one root key that Armory uses to generate addresses.

Additionally, if you have bitcoind installed (non-graphical version of Bitcoin Qt) then Armory can run that instead so you don' t have an extraneous GUI floating around.

Even better, you can configure bitcoind to run all the time as soon as you boot your computer, whether Armory is running or not.

[haploid23]

FAQ: Can I use my Bitcoin-Qt wallet in Armory?

Unfortunately, Armory does not support the same address format that Bitcoin-Qt uses. The feature was available in Armory until the new format was adopted by Bitcoin-Qt in April 2012. However, Armory will be upgrading its own wallet format very soon, to support wallet types of lots of different programs, in addition to supporting multi-signature transactions (see below). However, even if Armory could use Bitcoin-Qt wallets, they would need to be backed up every couple of months because they are “non-deterministic.” For this reason, it is recommended that you create a native Armory wallet, and transfer your funds to it instead of waiting for the migration feature (and then make a paper backup of it!). Anything that could be done with a Bitcoin-Qt wallet can be done with an Armory wallet.Also, Armory has a feature that makes it easy to export your private keys, so that they can be imported into another program (such as Bitcoin-Qt). If you try Armory and decide you don’t like it, you can use this feature to “migrate” your Armory wallet to another application. However, for a variety of reasons, it is still recommended to just send the funds to the other wallet instead of migrating

https://bitcoinarmory.com/about/faqs/


Is there any way to integrate the private keys and addresses from the old bitcoin-Qt to Amory's deterministic wallet, so that I can just have one neat file without having to constantly backing up the imported private keys? I'm still expecting payments from a lot of these addresses, so I actually do need to import them instead of just generating a new one in Armory.

I also want to import vanity addresses, can these be integrated into the Armory's wallet without having to frequently backup this imported key?

[Christoph]

Is there any way to integrate the private keys and addresses from the old bitcoin-Qt to Amory's deterministic wallet, so that I can just have one neat file without having to constantly backing up the imported private keys? I'm still expecting payments from a lot of these addresses, so I actually do need to import them instead of just generating a new one in Armory.

I also want to import vanity addresses, can these be integrated into the Armory's wallet without having to frequently backup this imported key?

As long as you don't use the Satoshi-Client or another non-deterministic client to spend the coins on these addresses you don't need to back the keys up again. The other client's wallet IS in fact a backup, you can spend funds from the imported keys as well as from the "original client".

The Armory wallet backup does NOT contain keys imported later, but writing down each imported key and safely storing the paper is sufficient as a backup. Keeping the wallet where the key was imported from on another storage is also a backup.

Example:

1) You have 2 BTC on your Bitcoin-QT address.
2) You import (not "sweep") the private key into armory.
=> You will see the same balance in both clients and can spend the BTC from both, but spent funds will vanish also from the other wallet on blockchain update.

3) Now let's assume you spend 1 BTC with Bitcoin-QT.
=> Bitcoin-QT will have a balance of 1 BTC left.
=> Armory will show 0 BTC afterwards.

This happens because the whole balance is sent, and the change of 1 BTC is transferred to a hidden address internally generated by Bitcoin-QT, the remaining balance will not remain on the originating address. The Satoshi client's GUI won't show the addresses/keys where parts of your total balance are currently "stored".

4) If you now use the command line interface of Bitcoin-QT to look up this hidden address and export its private key, you can import this one into Armory as well.
=> Now your remaining 1 BTC is available in Armory again.

You must back up each private key individually, unless you generate it from an Armory wallet.

So you will know when a new backup/import action is needed, because in this case the balances in Armory and the other client differ. You can hold the addresses of different origins grouped separately in different wallets in Armory, so you see possible differences easily.

[Edited because of typos…]

[haploid23]

Thank you Christoph! So... which alt account are you posting from? A newbie account that can write detailed explanation on something technical.

As long as you don't use the Satoshi-Client or another non-deterministic client to spend the coins on these addresses you don't need to back the keys up again. The other client's wallet IS in fact a backup, you can spend funds from the imported keys as well as from the "original client".

The Armory wallet backup does NOT contain keys imported later, but writing down each imported key and safely storing the paper is sufficient as a backup. Keeping the wallet on another storage where the key was imported from is also a backup.

I understand that Armory's wallet does not back up the imported keys. If I installed Armory then imported all keys private keys from Bitcoin-Qt wallet, but now I want to install Armory on a second computer and load the same Armory wallet from the backup; is there a way to not have to re-import all the non-Armory keys if I still want the other address from Qt that was already on the first Armory install? I guess just copying and pasting the whole folder would be the best option of I want a duplicate copy on another computer?

[Christoph]

Thank you Christoph! So... which alt account are you posting from? A newbie account that can write detailed explanation on something technical.

I have no other account here, but I admit being on the net as such since a long time, having used Fidonet technology networks and the Usenet even before web forums existed. I'm in fact not particularly fond of forums, so don't write much. Besides, knowledge comes from reading the right texts rather than writing many posts.

I understand that Armory's wallet does not back up the imported keys. If I installed Armory then imported all keys private keys from Bitcoin-Qt wallet, but now I want to install Armory on a second computer and load the same Armory wallet from the backup; is there a way to not have to re-import all the non-Armory keys if I still want the other address from Qt that was already on the first Armory install? I guess just copying and pasting the whole folder would be the best option of I want a duplicate copy on another computer?

I think so, this would probably be best, but keep in mind that you need an up to date Satoshi client's block chain as well, so copy this also.

[Newar]

I understand that Armory's wallet does not back up the imported keys. If I installed Armory then imported all keys private keys from Bitcoin-Qt wallet, [...]

My understanding from reading the backup dialog in Armory: It does back up imported keys that were imported up to that point (except for fragmented backups). So, once you are done importing, backup and that should be it. Every time you import another key you will have to do another backup. But since you are switching, this should be a one time only operation.