On Wed, 2002-10-16 at 03:37, Chris Lyttle wrote:
> Oh! I see what you're getting at now and yes I agree. A task based
> approach makes so much more sense for a user. I think what I may do is
> leave the 'Window' part, this describes for the user different parts of
> what they are looking at, then redo the last bit to be entirely 'how do
> I do common tasks'. This way If you looking for help on how to do
> something its fairly simple to find it. Let me work on that a bit and
> get back to you.
>
>
Weird, replying to my own messages now...
OK Christian, Here is what I worked out based on your suggestions.
Attached to this message is also a text file of the help I've done so
far for you to read.
Chris
PS - Conrad the attached help file is also for you to look at.
Usage
GnuCash Windows
Account Tree Window
Menus
Menu Shortcuts
Tool Bar Buttons
Summary Bar
Account Tree
Status Bar
Account Register Window
Menus
Menu Shortcuts
Tool Bar Buttons
Summary Bar
List of Transactions
Status Bar
General Ledger Tool
Report Window
Tool Bar Buttons
Tool Windows
Scheduled Transaction Editor
Price Editor
Commodity Editor
Financial Calculator
Find Transactions
Help Window
Setting Up And Editing Accounts
Types of GnuCash Accounts
To Create a Chart of Accounts
To Create a New Account
General Information
Opening Balance
To Edit an Account
To Edit a Chart of Accounts
Moving From Subaccount to Parent Account
Moving From Parent Account to Subaccount
Moving To a Different Parent Account
To Delete an Account
To Jump to another Account
To Reconcile an Account to a Statement
Reconcile Information
Reconcile Window
Status of Transactions
To Transfer Funds Between Accounts
Transfer Funds Window
To Perform a Stock Split
Stock Split Druid
Using The Register To Record Transactions
To Enter a Transaction
Enter in the List of Transactions
Autofill
Keyboard Shortcuts
Enter in the Transfer Funds Window
To Enter Multiple Split Transactions
To Enter Multiple Currency Transactions
To Edit a Transaction
To Delete a Transaction
To Copy a Transaction
To Find a Transaction
To Schedule Transactions
Using Gnucash Reports And Charts
Types of Reports and Graphs
General Reports
Assets & Liabilities
Income & Expense
Business Reports
To Create Reports and Graphs
To Customize Reports and Graphs
To Print Reports and Graphs
Customizing GnuCash
Setting Your Preferences
Changing Style Sheets
Setting Tax Options
--
RedHat Certified Engineer #807302549405490.
--------------------------------------------
|^|
| | |^|
| |^| | | Life out here is raw
| | |^| | But we will never stop
| |_|_| | We will never quit
| / __> | cause we are Metallica
|/ / |
\ /
| |
--------------------------------------------
Introduction to GnuCash
What is GnuCash?
GnuCash is a personal and small business finance application. Its designed to be easy
to use, yet powerful and flexible. GnuCash allows you to track your income and
expenses, reconcile bank accounts, monitor stock portfolios and manage your small
business finances. It is based on professional accounting principles to ensure
balanced books and accurate reports.
<picture>
Getting Started
Running GnuCash for the first time
The very first time you run GnuCash you will be presented with the Welcome to GnuCash!
menu with three choices;
Create a new set of accounts - Runs the New Account Hierarchy Setup Druid.
Import my QIF files - Runs the Import QIF Files Druid.
Open the new user tutorial - Opens the GnuCash Tutorial and Concepts Guide.
This menu is intended for you to use to get quickly up and running.
The Cancel button is used to exit the dialog. It will then prompt you to
Uncheck the checkbox if you do not want to see the Welcome to GnuCash! menu again. The
default is to have the Welcome to GnuCash! menu run again.
The OK button is used to confirm your selection.
You can either use a preset hierarchy of accounts, import Quicken files (QIF files) or
view the GnuCash Tutorial and Concepts Guide. Each of these choices will be explained
in more depth in the following sections.
If you wish to have a basic set of accounts to add account transactions into
choose Create a new set of accounts.
If you already have Quicken files (QIF files) from another financial
application and wish to import them then choose Import my QIF files.
If you are a new to GnuCash and just want to be guided though setting up
GnuCash then choose Open the new user tutorial.
It is possible to run these items after you have made a choice here but this Welcome
to GnuCash! menu will not reappear. To try one of the other choices later, use the
following sections to start the other items from the GnuCash menu.
New Account Hierarchy Setup
This druid helps you to create a set of GnuCash accounts. It will appear if you
choose Create a new set of accounts in the Welcome to GnuCash! menu.
To start this druid manually go to File -> New File. This will create a new blank
GnuCash file and then automatically start the New Account Hierarchy Setup druid.
The New Account Hierarchy Setup druid opens with a screen that briefly describes what
this druid does. The three buttons at the very bottom of the screen will not change
while using the druid.
The Cancel button is used to exit the druid and cancel creating a new set of
accounts. Any selections you have made in this druid up to this point will be lost.
The Back button will bring up the previous screen so you can change a
selection made on that screen.
The Forward button will bring up the next screen so you can continue though
the druid.
The next screen allows you to select the default currency to use for your accounts.
The Select... button on this screen is used to access the list of currencies. The
Select... button brings up the Select currency/security dialog.
The Type: drop down list defaults to CURRENCY. Other types are used for
setting up commodities for stock related accounts.
The Currency/security: drop down list defaults to USD (US Dollar). If you wish
your accounts to use a different default currency select one from the list.
The OK button is used to confirm your selection.
The New... button brings up the New Currency/Security dialog. This is used for
setting up commodities for stock related accounts.
The Cancel button is used to exit the dialog without using any changes you
have made.
The next screen is used to choose a hierarchy of accounts to create. You will see a
screen divided into three parts.
The top part has a list of Account Types and Descriptions for commonly used
hierarchies of accounts. Select from this list the types of accounts you wish to use.
You can select as many types of accounts as you wish.
The left bottom part has a Detailed Description of the account type you
selected.
The right bottom part has a list of the Accounts that will be created from the
selected account type.
The Select All button allows you to include all of the account types from the
top part.
The Clear All button allows you to deselect all of the account types from the
top part.
The next screen allows you to enter opening balances for your accounts and also select
if the account is a placeholder account. Placeholder accounts are used to create a
hierarchy of accounts and normally do not have transactions or opening balances.
Equity accounts also do not have opening balances.
The left side of the screen has a list of Account Names. Select each account
to enter a opening balance or to make it a placeholder account.
The right side of the screen has a checkbox to make an account a Placeholder
and a box to add the Opening Balance for the selected account.
The last screen gives you a list of three choices to finish the druid.
The Cancel button is used to exit the druid and cancel creating a new set of
accounts. Any selections you have made in this druid up to this point will be lost.
The Back button will bring up the previous screen so you can change a
selection made on that screen.
The Finish button creates the accounts you have selected.
You should now have a hierarchy of accounts in your main GnuCash account window.
Import QIF Files
This Druid helps you import Quicken (QIF) files. It will appear if you choose Import
my QIF files in the Welcome to GnuCash! menu.
To start this druid manually go to File -> Import -> Import QIF... or press Ctrl-I.
The Import QIF files druid opens with a screen that briefly describes what this druid
does. The three buttons at the very bottom of the screen will not change while using
the druid.
The Cancel button is used to exit the druid and cancel importing Quicken file
data. Any selections you have made in this druid up to this point will be lost.
The Back button will bring up the previous screen so you can change a
selection made on that screen.
The Forward button will bring up the next screen so you can continue though
the druid.
The next screen allows you to Select a QIF file to load. The Select... button on this
screen is used to access the list of files. The Select... button brings up the Select
QIF File dialog.
The Create Dir button allows you to make a directory to store the GnuCash
files.
The Delete File button allows you to remove unwanted files.
The Rename File button allows you to rename GnuCash files.
The drop down list allows you to navigate the directory structure.
The left panel allows you to navigate up and down by directory
The right panel allows you to select the file you want
The OK button is used to confirm your selection.
The Cancel button is used to exit the dialog without using any changes you
have made.
Navigate to where you have stored your QIF files and select the first one then click
OK. You will now see it listed in the QIF Filename: field.
If the file you are loading does not have an account name listed in it you will see
the Set the default QIF account name screen. Otherwise you will skip this screen and
go on to the screen in the next section that shows loaded QIF files.
The Account name: field is used to set an account name for this QIF file.
The next screen shows you the QIF files you have loaded. You can use this screen to
return to the previous screen and load more QIF files. It will also let you Unload any
files you have loaded by mistake.
The top panel shows the list of QIF Files you have loaded.
The Load another file button takes you back to the previous screen to load
another QIF file.
The Unload selected file allows you to select a file from the top panel and
remove it from the list.
The next screen gives a description of the Accounts and stock holdings matching
process on the Match QIF accounts with GnuCash accounts screen. This and other
informational screens in the Import QIF files druid can be turned off in the QIF
Import section of the GnuCash Preferences. Please refer to the GnuCash Preferences
section of the help for instructions on this.
The next screen lets you Match QIF accounts with GnuCash accounts. You will see a list
of QIF account names on the left and suggested GnuCash account names on the right. The
New? column indicates if the GnuCash account name will be created by the QIF Import.
To change the GnuCash account to a different one select the QIF account. A dialog will
pop up to select another account or create a new one.
Select an Account from the list to choose a already existing account.
The New Account (child of selected) ... button allows you to add a new account
name as a sub-account of the selected account.
The OK button is used to confirm your selection.
The Cancel button is used to exit the dialog without using any changes you
have made.
The next screen gives a description of the Income and Expense categories matching
process on the Match QIF categories with GnuCash accounts screen.
The next screen lets you Match QIF categories with GnuCash accounts. You will see a
list of QIF category names on the left and suggested GnuCash account names on the
right. The New? column indicates if the GnuCash account name will be created by the
QIF Import.
To change the GnuCash account to a different one select the QIF category. A dialog
will pop up to select another account or create a new one.
Select an Account from the list to choose a already existing account.
The New Account (child of selected) ... button allows you to add a new account
name as a sub-account of the selected account.
The OK button is used to confirm your selection.
The Cancel button is used to exit the dialog without using any changes you
have made.
The next screen gives a description of the Payees and memos matching process on the
Match payees/memos to GnuCash accounts screen.
The next screen lets you Match payees/memos to GnuCash accounts. You will see a list
of QIF payee/memo names on the left and suggested GnuCash account names on the right.
The default GnuCash account used is called Unspecified. The New? column indicates if
the GnuCash account name will be created by the QIF Import.
To change the GnuCash account to a different one select the QIF payee/memo. A dialog
will pop up to select another account or create a new one.
Select an Account from the list to choose a already existing account.
The New Account (child of selected) ... button allows you to add a new account
name as a sub-account of the selected account.
The OK button is used to confirm your selection.
The Cancel button is used to exit the dialog without using any changes you
have made.
The next screen allows you to Enter the currency used for new accounts. The drop down
list defaults to USD (US Dollar). If you wish the new accounts to use a different
currency select one from the list.
The next screen gives a description of the Match duplicate transactions process on the
Select possible duplicates screen.
The next screen lets you Select possible duplicate transactions. Imported transactions
are shown on the left panel and possible matches to each selected transaction are
shown on the right.
The left panel shows the list of Imported transactions to select from for
matching duplicates
The right panel shows the list of Possible duplicates for the selected
imported transaction. Select the one that most closely matches
The last screen gives you a list of three choices to finish the druid.
The Cancel button is used to exit the druid and cancel creating a new set of
accounts. Any selections you have made in this druid up to this point will be lost.
The Back button will bring up the previous screen so you can change a
selection made on that screen.
The Finish button creates the accounts you have selected.
You should now have successfully imported your accounts.
GnuCash Tutorial and Concepts Guide
This guide is the counterpart to this help. It explains the concepts used in GnuCash
and has a tutorial that takes you through using GnuCash to manage your accounts. It
will appear if you choose Open the new user tutorial in the Welcome to GnuCash! menu.
To open this Guide manually go to Help -> Tutorial and Concepts Guide.
It is strongly recommended to read this guide if you are new to GnuCash or unfamiliar
with accounting concepts.
Tip of Day
The Tip of the Day screen starts whenever you start GnuCash. It gives tips on features
and using GnuCash. You can use the three buttons at the bottom of the screen to look
through the tips.
The close button is used to dismiss the Tip of the Day dialog
The Prev button is used to look at the previous tip
The Next button is used to look at the next tip.
The Display this dialog next time checkbox is used to enable or disable the
Tip of the Day from running at GnuCash startup.
It is also possible to configure if the Tip of the Day runs at startup in Edit ->
Preferences -> General. The Tip of the Day can also be manually run by going to Help
-> Tip of the Day.
Usage
GnuCash Windows
Account Tree Window
Menus
Menu Shortcuts
Tool Bar Buttons
Summary Bar
Account Tree
Status Bar
Account Register Window
Menus
Menu Shortcuts
Tool Bar Buttons
Summary Bar
List of Transactions
Status Bar
General Ledger Tool
Report Window
Tool Bar Buttons
Tool Windows
Scheduled Transaction Editor
Price Editor
Commodity Editor
Financial Calculator
Find Transactions
Help Window
Setting Up And Editing Accounts
Types of GnuCash Accounts
To Create a Chart of Accounts
To Create a New Account
General Information
Opening Balance
To Edit an Account
To Edit a Chart of Accounts
Moving From Subaccount to Parent
Account
Moving From Parent Account to
Subaccount
Moving To a Different Parent Account
To Delete an Account
To Jump to another Account
To Reconcile an Account to a Statement
Reconcile Information
Reconcile Window
Status of Transactions
To Transfer Funds Between Accounts
Transfer Funds Window
To Perform a Stock Split
Stock Split Druid
Using The Register To Record Transactions
To Enter a Transaction
Enter in the List of Transactions
Autofill
Keyboard Shortcuts
Enter in the Transfer Funds Window
To Enter Multiple Split Transactions
To Enter Multiple Currency Transactions
To Edit a Transaction
To Delete a Transaction
To Copy a Transaction
To Find a Transaction
To Schedule Transactions
Using Gnucash Reports And Charts
Types of Reports and Graphs
General Reports
Assets & Liabilities
Income & Expense
Business Reports
To Create Reports and Graphs
To Customize Reports and Graphs
To Print Reports and Graphs
Customizing GnuCash
Setting Your Preferences
Changing Style Sheets
Setting Tax Options
