Re: [GNC] Compare two sets of accounts?
On Fri, 19 Jan 2024 10:23:05 -0700 Simon Roberts wrote: > Is this not a feature that would find fairly widespread use? Indeed, > is it not a feature that might facilitate easier use of the software > and encourage wider adoption? I can see a point, but I don't encourage my accountants to send me lists of which changes they made. I'm sure their list of my business depreciation differs from mine, because I just need an approximate value for my decisions, and they need an exact one to give to the tax people. ___ gnucash-user mailing list gnucash-user@gnucash.org To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user - Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All.
Re: [GNC] Compare two sets of accounts?
On 2024-01-21 17:04, Myron A Schroeder wrote: > when I used the icon to > call up GNUCash, the data file was vacant. A search on the the hard drive > found it and the data was displayed as usual. Neat. Or, in the File menu, click one of the recently-used files in the numbered list. Stan Brown Tehachapi, CA, USA https://BrownMath.com ___ gnucash-user mailing list gnucash-user@gnucash.org To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user - Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All.
Re: [GNC] Compare two sets of accounts?
Thank you Micheal and David for your clear answers. I tried the addition of –nofile to the icon. The first time it did nothing and when I looked at the properties I saw the nofile was not saved. On the second trial I clicked the Apply, then Continue and when I used the icon to call up GNUCash, the data file was vacant. A search on the the hard drive found it and the data was displayed as usual. Neat. I have not tried David’s suggestion, I will leave that to another day but it looks doable and very convenient when I add another set of GNUCash books. I am using Windows 11 for most data recording and all reports.. Occasionally I will use Linux, on the same computer and also on a laptop. The Linux Mint Debian Faye on both is preferred over two other Linus installations on the main computer.. Regards, Myron Schroeder On Sun, Jan 21, 2024 at 6:02 PM David Cousens wrote: > Myron > > The same strategy can be used to create additional icons which open > GnuCash with a specific datafile. Copy the icons as > Michael suggested (one for each datafile) and edit them put in a URI to > the specific datafile instead of the --nofile > option. Give it a name reflecting that it opens that specific datafile. > > This is also similarly easy to do in most Linux OS. > > David Cousens > > > On Sun, 2024-01-21 at 16:36 -0500, Michael or Penny Novack wrote: > > On 1/21/2024 11:05 AM, Myron A Schroeder wrote: > > > Where do I find the " --nofile runtime parameter." > > > > > > Looks like an interesting way to have more than one set of books on my > > > computer. > > > > > What operating system are you using? Perhaps as much to the point, if > > you are getting to gnucash by a "shortcut" (an icon that you click) do > > you know how to look at what that is actually doing? How to edit that? > > > > For example, if you are running under Windows and have an icon for > > gnucash, and you RIGHT CLICK on that icon you get a drop down list of > > things you can do with that shortcut. At (or near) the bottom of that > > list is "properties" (let me look at the properties of this object). If > > you click on that choice (and the shortcut was to the application > > gnucash) you'll see those properties. That it is an application (the > > type of the target), where located (in a binary library) and exactly > > what the target is (what clicking on the object sends to the command > > line to execute, since that's what is done for an application. > > > > WELL -- you can edit that line to add a runtime parameter, in this case, > > append --nofile (space in between) > > > > Michael D Novack > > > > PS --- STRONG SUGGESTION --- Do not simply do this. First make a copy of > > that object (the same dropdown list where "properties" was) and rename > > it. THAT is how you can back out a failed attempt. Now try to do the > > edit of the target (add the --nofile) Back out and see what happens > > when you click the icon now. If it works (brings up gnucash without > > opening any file you are done (delete the backup copy). Otherwise you > > can use "copy" again to retry. > > > > > > ___ > > gnucash-user mailing list > > gnucash-user@gnucash.org > > To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: > > https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user > > - > > Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. > > You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All. > > ___ > gnucash-user mailing list > gnucash-user@gnucash.org > To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: > https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user > - > Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. > You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All. > ___ gnucash-user mailing list gnucash-user@gnucash.org To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user - Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All.
Re: [GNC] Compare two sets of accounts?
Myron The same strategy can be used to create additional icons which open GnuCash with a specific datafile. Copy the icons as Michael suggested (one for each datafile) and edit them put in a URI to the specific datafile instead of the --nofile option. Give it a name reflecting that it opens that specific datafile. This is also similarly easy to do in most Linux OS. David Cousens On Sun, 2024-01-21 at 16:36 -0500, Michael or Penny Novack wrote: > On 1/21/2024 11:05 AM, Myron A Schroeder wrote: > > Where do I find the " --nofile runtime parameter." > > > > Looks like an interesting way to have more than one set of books on my > > computer. > > > What operating system are you using? Perhaps as much to the point, if > you are getting to gnucash by a "shortcut" (an icon that you click) do > you know how to look at what that is actually doing? How to edit that? > > For example, if you are running under Windows and have an icon for > gnucash, and you RIGHT CLICK on that icon you get a drop down list of > things you can do with that shortcut. At (or near) the bottom of that > list is "properties" (let me look at the properties of this object). If > you click on that choice (and the shortcut was to the application > gnucash) you'll see those properties. That it is an application (the > type of the target), where located (in a binary library) and exactly > what the target is (what clicking on the object sends to the command > line to execute, since that's what is done for an application. > > WELL -- you can edit that line to add a runtime parameter, in this case, > append --nofile (space in between) > > Michael D Novack > > PS --- STRONG SUGGESTION --- Do not simply do this. First make a copy of > that object (the same dropdown list where "properties" was) and rename > it. THAT is how you can back out a failed attempt. Now try to do the > edit of the target (add the --nofile) Back out and see what happens > when you click the icon now. If it works (brings up gnucash without > opening any file you are done (delete the backup copy). Otherwise you > can use "copy" again to retry. > > > ___ > gnucash-user mailing list > gnucash-user@gnucash.org > To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: > https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user > - > Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. > You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All. ___ gnucash-user mailing list gnucash-user@gnucash.org To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user - Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All.
Re: [GNC] Compare two sets of accounts?
On 1/21/2024 11:05 AM, Myron A Schroeder wrote: Where do I find the " --nofile runtime parameter." Looks like an interesting way to have more than one set of books on my computer. What operating system are you using? Perhaps as much to the point, if you are getting to gnucash by a "shortcut" (an icon that you click) do you know how to look at what that is actually doing? How to edit that? For example, if you are running under Windows and have an icon for gnucash, and you RIGHT CLICK on that icon you get a drop down list of things you can do with that shortcut. At (or near) the bottom of that list is "properties" (let me look at the properties of this object). If you click on that choice (and the shortcut was to the application gnucash) you'll see those properties. That it is an application (the type of the target), where located (in a binary library) and exactly what the target is (what clicking on the object sends to the command line to execute, since that's what is done for an application. WELL -- you can edit that line to add a runtime parameter, in this case, append --nofile (space in between) Michael D Novack PS --- STRONG SUGGESTION --- Do not simply do this. First make a copy of that object (the same dropdown list where "properties" was) and rename it. THAT is how you can back out a failed attempt. Now try to do the edit of the target (add the --nofile) Back out and see what happens when you click the icon now. If it works (brings up gnucash without opening any file you are done (delete the backup copy). Otherwise you can use "copy" again to retry. ___ gnucash-user mailing list gnucash-user@gnucash.org To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user - Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All.
Re: [GNC] Compare two sets of accounts?
And on MacOS, you have to use the full path into the app package, so assuming you installed in the system Applications directory: /Applications/Gnucash.app/Contents/MacOS/Gnucash --nofile would be the full command. Regards, Adrien On 1/21/24 10:17 AM, Fred Tydeman wrote: On Linux, on the command line: gnucash --nofile ___ gnucash-user mailing list gnucash-user@gnucash.org To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user - Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All.
Re: [GNC] Compare two sets of accounts?
The --nofile parameter is fine as you are commanding GnuCash "Do not load the last file opened." There is another option, which is to command GnuCash to open a specific file. The command line structure is: gnucash [options] [datafile] So if you add the datafile, GnuCash will open with that set of books ready to go. See "Command line options" here: https://wiki.gnucash.org/wiki/Logging Your best option depends on your workflow. I'm running GnuCash on Windows, and for my two most commonly used datafiles, I placed separate icons on my desktop so I may easily and quickly open one or both of the data files. > On 01/21/2024 8:05 AM PST Myron A Schroeder wrote: > > > Where do I find the " --nofile runtime parameter." > > Looks like an interesting way to have more than one set of books on my > computer. > > Thanks for your help. > > Myron Schroeder > > On Fri, Jan 19, 2024 at 11:42 AM Gyle McCollam wrote: > > > The quick and dirty solution is to save a copy of what you send to the > > accounts, under a different name (say: B4A) and when you get back the file > > from the accountants review the accounts tab of the B4A with the returned > > file. That will tell you which accounts have a change in value. You can > > then open those accounts and see what changes/corrections they made. ou > > can then make those same changes in your current file. Just make sure that > > after you save a copy (B4A) that you aren't using that file going forward > > as GC usually opens the last saved file. > > > > > > Thank You, > > > > Gyle McCollam > > > > Gyle McCollam > > > > gmccol...@live.com<mailto:gmccol...@gyleshomes.com> email > > > > ____ > > From: gnucash-user on > > behalf of Simon Roberts > > Sent: Friday, January 19, 2024 8:50 AM > > To: Gnucash Users > > Subject: [GNC] Compare two sets of accounts? > > > > Hi all, > > > > Does GNC provide any mechanism for comparing two versions of the same set > > of accounts? > > > > I'll be sending my books to my accountant soon, and I imagine they will > > have some corrections/adjustments. I'll be giving them a laptop with GNC > > installed, so they can most easily browse, and it occurs to me that they > > could also make their changes in place. But, unless they write down > > separately every entry they create or change, I would need to somehow > > re-integrate their work with my "master" file. Either that, or I'd have to > > freeze my bookkeeping while they're working on things, and that's likely to > > take too long to be acceptable. > > > > With the hostage-taker's rent-ware that I used to use, there was a specific > > mechanism for an "accountant's copy" and a means to merge the changes back > > automatically. But I've failed to find this in the docs for GNC (quite > > possibly as a result of poor / uninspired searching!) > > > > Is this supported directly? Is this something folks have found an approach > > for? I suppose, as a not quite worst case, I could simply diff the XML file > > itself, but that's going to produce results that will be somewhat messy, at > > best. But at least I'd know something about what changed. > > > > What ideas can you offer (or manual pages, if I've failed that > > embarrassingly!) > > > > TIA, > > Simon > > > > > > -- > > Simon Roberts > > 303 249 3613 > > https://www.youtube.com/@DancingCloudServices > > https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonhgroberts/ > > ___ > > gnucash-user mailing list > > gnucash-user@gnucash.org > > To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: > > https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user > > - > > Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. > > You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All. > > ___ > > gnucash-user mailing list > > gnucash-user@gnucash.org > > To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: > > https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user > > - > > Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. > > You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All. > > > ___ > gnucash-user mailing list > gnucash-user@gnucash.org > To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: > https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user > - > Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. > You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All. ___ gnucash-user mailing list gnucash-user@gnucash.org To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user - Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All.
Re: [GNC] Compare two sets of accounts?
On Linux, on the command line: gnucash --nofile On Sun, Jan 21, 2024 at 8:06 AM Myron A Schroeder wrote: > Where do I find the " --nofile runtime parameter." > > ___ gnucash-user mailing list gnucash-user@gnucash.org To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user - Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All.
Re: [GNC] Compare two sets of accounts?
Where do I find the " --nofile runtime parameter." Looks like an interesting way to have more than one set of books on my computer. Thanks for your help. Myron Schroeder On Fri, Jan 19, 2024 at 11:42 AM Gyle McCollam wrote: > The quick and dirty solution is to save a copy of what you send to the > accounts, under a different name (say: B4A) and when you get back the file > from the accountants review the accounts tab of the B4A with the returned > file. That will tell you which accounts have a change in value. You can > then open those accounts and see what changes/corrections they made. ou > can then make those same changes in your current file. Just make sure that > after you save a copy (B4A) that you aren't using that file going forward > as GC usually opens the last saved file. > > > Thank You, > > Gyle McCollam > > Gyle McCollam > > gmccol...@live.com<mailto:gmccol...@gyleshomes.com> email > > > From: gnucash-user on > behalf of Simon Roberts > Sent: Friday, January 19, 2024 8:50 AM > To: Gnucash Users > Subject: [GNC] Compare two sets of accounts? > > Hi all, > > Does GNC provide any mechanism for comparing two versions of the same set > of accounts? > > I'll be sending my books to my accountant soon, and I imagine they will > have some corrections/adjustments. I'll be giving them a laptop with GNC > installed, so they can most easily browse, and it occurs to me that they > could also make their changes in place. But, unless they write down > separately every entry they create or change, I would need to somehow > re-integrate their work with my "master" file. Either that, or I'd have to > freeze my bookkeeping while they're working on things, and that's likely to > take too long to be acceptable. > > With the hostage-taker's rent-ware that I used to use, there was a specific > mechanism for an "accountant's copy" and a means to merge the changes back > automatically. But I've failed to find this in the docs for GNC (quite > possibly as a result of poor / uninspired searching!) > > Is this supported directly? Is this something folks have found an approach > for? I suppose, as a not quite worst case, I could simply diff the XML file > itself, but that's going to produce results that will be somewhat messy, at > best. But at least I'd know something about what changed. > > What ideas can you offer (or manual pages, if I've failed that > embarrassingly!) > > TIA, > Simon > > > -- > Simon Roberts > 303 249 3613 > https://www.youtube.com/@DancingCloudServices > https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonhgroberts/ > ___ > gnucash-user mailing list > gnucash-user@gnucash.org > To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: > https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user > - > Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. > You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All. > ___ > gnucash-user mailing list > gnucash-user@gnucash.org > To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: > https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user > - > Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. > You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All. > ___ gnucash-user mailing list gnucash-user@gnucash.org To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user - Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All.
Re: [GNC] Compare two sets of accounts?
Gosh, many ideas, thank you. I will run some experiments to see if one of these is easier/harder or more/less effective than others, but clearly there are possibilities. Many thanks everyone for all the time and thought you've put into these suggestions, it's much appreciated. Cheers, Simon On Fri, Jan 19, 2024 at 6:50 AM Simon Roberts < si...@dancingcloudservices.com> wrote: > Hi all, > > Does GNC provide any mechanism for comparing two versions of the same set > of accounts? > > I'll be sending my books to my accountant soon, and I imagine they will > have some corrections/adjustments. I'll be giving them a laptop with GNC > installed, so they can most easily browse, and it occurs to me that they > could also make their changes in place. But, unless they write down > separately every entry they create or change, I would need to somehow > re-integrate their work with my "master" file. Either that, or I'd have to > freeze my bookkeeping while they're working on things, and that's likely to > take too long to be acceptable. > > With the hostage-taker's rent-ware that I used to use, there was a > specific mechanism for an "accountant's copy" and a means to merge the > changes back automatically. But I've failed to find this in the docs for > GNC (quite possibly as a result of poor / uninspired searching!) > > Is this supported directly? Is this something folks have found an approach > for? I suppose, as a not quite worst case, I could simply diff the XML file > itself, but that's going to produce results that will be somewhat messy, at > best. But at least I'd know something about what changed. > > What ideas can you offer (or manual pages, if I've failed that > embarrassingly!) > > TIA, > Simon > > > -- > Simon Roberts > 303 249 3613 > https://www.youtube.com/@DancingCloudServices > https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonhgroberts/ > > -- Simon Roberts 303 249 3613 https://www.youtube.com/@DancingCloudServices https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonhgroberts/ ___ gnucash-user mailing list gnucash-user@gnucash.org To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user - Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All.
Re: [GNC] Compare two sets of accounts?
Unix diff utility would be very handy to compare csv files... Make use of -i -E -Z -b -w -B and -c options. -Original Message- From: Adrien Monteleone Sent: Friday, January 19, 2024 8:00 PM To: gnucash-u...@lists.gnucash.org Subject: Re: [GNC] Compare two sets of accounts? Along with the idea of exporting your present book via CSV, when you get back the file from the accountant, export that book as CSV too. Then do a diff on the CSV files. Those should be less messy to read than the XML. You could then take the diff results as a CSV and import them. Regards, Adrien On 1/19/24 7:50 AM, Simon Roberts wrote: > Does GNC provide any mechanism for comparing two versions of the same > set of accounts? > > I'll be sending my books to my accountant soon, and I imagine they > will have some corrections/adjustments. I'll be giving them a laptop > with GNC installed, so they can most easily browse, and it occurs to > me that they could also make their changes in place. But, unless they > write down separately every entry they create or change, I would need > to somehow re-integrate their work with my "master" file. Either that, > or I'd have to freeze my bookkeeping while they're working on things, > and that's likely to take too long to be acceptable. > > With the hostage-taker's rent-ware that I used to use, there was a > specific mechanism for an "accountant's copy" and a means to merge the > changes back automatically. But I've failed to find this in the docs > for GNC (quite possibly as a result of poor / uninspired searching!) > > Is this supported directly? Is this something folks have found an > approach for? I suppose, as a not quite worst case, I could simply > diff the XML file itself, but that's going to produce results that > will be somewhat messy, at best. But at least I'd know something about what > changed. > > What ideas can you offer (or manual pages, if I've failed that > embarrassingly!) ___ gnucash-user mailing list gnucash-user@gnucash.org To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user - Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All.
Re: [GNC] Compare two sets of accounts?
I wonder if Reports>Transaction Report might do it, with this option - - Click "Edit options", go to "General" tab Change "Date Filter" to filter on "Date Entered" Set start date = the date on which you sent the file to your accountant ... end date= the day you're doing the report That would seem to tell you what the accountant did. If the accountant didn't do too many txn's, might be easiest, or at least possible, to just enter them by hand into your "master" file. As far as automating this entry part, someone else has already mentioned logfiles. I can't think of another or better way to do it automatically. HTH, good luck, Chris On 1/19/24 12:00p, gnucash-user-requ...@gnucash.org wrote: Message: 5 Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2024 06:50:29 -0700 From: Simon Roberts To: Gnucash Users Subject: [GNC] Compare two sets of accounts? Message-ID: Hi all, Does GNC provide any mechanism for comparing two versions of the same set of accounts? I'll be sending my books to my accountant soon, and I imagine they will have some corrections/adjustments. I'll be giving them a laptop with GNC installed, so they can most easily browse, and it occurs to me that they could also make their changes in place. But, unless they write down separately every entry they create or change, I would need to somehow re-integrate their work with my "master" file. Either that, or I'd have to freeze my bookkeeping while they're working on things, and that's likely to take too long to be acceptable. With the hostage-taker's rent-ware that I used to use, there was a specific mechanism for an "accountant's copy" and a means to merge the changes back automatically. But I've failed to find this in the docs for GNC (quite possibly as a result of poor / uninspired searching!) Is this supported directly? Is this something folks have found an approach for? I suppose, as a not quite worst case, I could simply diff the XML file itself, but that's going to produce results that will be somewhat messy, at best. But at least I'd know something about what changed. What ideas can you offer (or manual pages, if I've failed that embarrassingly!) TIA, Simon -- Simon Roberts 303 249 3613 ___ gnucash-user mailing list gnucash-user@gnucash.org To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user - Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All.
Re: [GNC] Compare two sets of accounts?
Along with the idea of exporting your present book via CSV, when you get back the file from the accountant, export that book as CSV too. Then do a diff on the CSV files. Those should be less messy to read than the XML. You could then take the diff results as a CSV and import them. Regards, Adrien On 1/19/24 7:50 AM, Simon Roberts wrote: Does GNC provide any mechanism for comparing two versions of the same set of accounts? I'll be sending my books to my accountant soon, and I imagine they will have some corrections/adjustments. I'll be giving them a laptop with GNC installed, so they can most easily browse, and it occurs to me that they could also make their changes in place. But, unless they write down separately every entry they create or change, I would need to somehow re-integrate their work with my "master" file. Either that, or I'd have to freeze my bookkeeping while they're working on things, and that's likely to take too long to be acceptable. With the hostage-taker's rent-ware that I used to use, there was a specific mechanism for an "accountant's copy" and a means to merge the changes back automatically. But I've failed to find this in the docs for GNC (quite possibly as a result of poor / uninspired searching!) Is this supported directly? Is this something folks have found an approach for? I suppose, as a not quite worst case, I could simply diff the XML file itself, but that's going to produce results that will be somewhat messy, at best. But at least I'd know something about what changed. What ideas can you offer (or manual pages, if I've failed that embarrassingly!) ___ gnucash-user mailing list gnucash-user@gnucash.org To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user - Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All.
Re: [GNC] Compare two sets of accounts?
I was extending to 2023 changes. For example, if Simon made some insignificant change to 2023, let's say a memo (debits = credits = none = memo only) that he believed was important, but this does not change the financial condition of 2023 (or something else that is so insignificant that he can review after receiving his books back), then he'd have to track that. I have not carefully studied the database structure, so maybe it's possible to capture for export my example of a 2023 memo that was entered in 2024? > On 01/19/2024 1:02 PM PST Gyle McCollam wrote: > > > Assuming that the info sent to the accountants ended at 12/31/2023, Simon > could export all 2024 transactions in CSV format as you suggested. He could > then import into the returned files from the accountants and he wouldn't have > to track any changes he made. > > The log files are another option, but it would depend on how long they were > saved and how long the accountants took. > > > Thank You, > > Gyle McCollam > > Gyle McCollam > > gmccol...@live.com mailto:gmccol...@gyleshomes.com email > > > > - > From: gnucash-user on > behalf of Patrick James > Sent: Friday, January 19, 2024 12:24 PM > To: Gnucash Users > Subject: Re: [GNC] Compare two sets of accounts? > > One option might be to use the data log files, information in 2.5.2 here: > > https://code.gnucash.org/docs/C/gnucash-guide/basics-backup1.html > > I have not played around with those much, but I suspect you could backup your > master set of books (3-2-1 backup strategy might be used here), and then make > a copy of your master set to test the replay of the data log files (.log), as > described in the link above. > > Another, separate, option might be for you to keep track of the changes you > made, and then export the changes in CSV formation, then import them to the > file that's returned from your accountant. > > Check out the CSV import/export information here: > > Export: > https://gnucash.org/docs/v5/C/gnucash-manual/trans-export.html > > Import: > https://gnucash.org/docs/v5/C/gnucash-manual/trans-import.html > > > > > On 01/19/2024 5:50 AM PST Simon Roberts > > wrote: > > > > > > Hi all, > > > > Does GNC provide any mechanism for comparing two versions of the same set > > of accounts? > > > > I'll be sending my books to my accountant soon, and I imagine they will > > have some corrections/adjustments. I'll be giving them a laptop with GNC > > installed, so they can most easily browse, and it occurs to me that they > > could also make their changes in place. But, unless they write down > > separately every entry they create or change, I would need to somehow > > re-integrate their work with my "master" file. Either that, or I'd have to > > freeze my bookkeeping while they're working on things, and that's likely to > > take too long to be acceptable. > > > > With the hostage-taker's rent-ware that I used to use, there was a specific > > mechanism for an "accountant's copy" and a means to merge the changes back > > automatically. But I've failed to find this in the docs for GNC (quite > > possibly as a result of poor / uninspired searching!) > > > > Is this supported directly? Is this something folks have found an approach > > for? I suppose, as a not quite worst case, I could simply diff the XML file > > itself, but that's going to produce results that will be somewhat messy, at > > best. But at least I'd know something about what changed. > > > > What ideas can you offer (or manual pages, if I've failed that > > embarrassingly!) > ___ > gnucash-user mailing list > gnucash-user@gnucash.org > To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: > https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user > - > Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. > You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All. > ___ gnucash-user mailing list gnucash-user@gnucash.org To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user - Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All.
Re: [GNC] Compare two sets of accounts?
Assuming that the info sent to the accountants ended at 12/31/2023, Simon could export all 2024 transactions in CSV format as you suggested. He could then import into the returned files from the accountants and he wouldn't have to track any changes he made. The log files are another option, but it would depend on how long they were saved and how long the accountants took. Thank You, Gyle McCollam Gyle McCollam gmccol...@live.com<mailto:gmccol...@gyleshomes.com> email From: gnucash-user on behalf of Patrick James Sent: Friday, January 19, 2024 12:24 PM To: Gnucash Users Subject: Re: [GNC] Compare two sets of accounts? One option might be to use the data log files, information in 2.5.2 here: https://code.gnucash.org/docs/C/gnucash-guide/basics-backup1.html I have not played around with those much, but I suspect you could backup your master set of books (3-2-1 backup strategy might be used here), and then make a copy of your master set to test the replay of the data log files (.log), as described in the link above. Another, separate, option might be for you to keep track of the changes you made, and then export the changes in CSV formation, then import them to the file that's returned from your accountant. Check out the CSV import/export information here: Export: https://gnucash.org/docs/v5/C/gnucash-manual/trans-export.html Import: https://gnucash.org/docs/v5/C/gnucash-manual/trans-import.html > On 01/19/2024 5:50 AM PST Simon Roberts > wrote: > > > Hi all, > > Does GNC provide any mechanism for comparing two versions of the same set > of accounts? > > I'll be sending my books to my accountant soon, and I imagine they will > have some corrections/adjustments. I'll be giving them a laptop with GNC > installed, so they can most easily browse, and it occurs to me that they > could also make their changes in place. But, unless they write down > separately every entry they create or change, I would need to somehow > re-integrate their work with my "master" file. Either that, or I'd have to > freeze my bookkeeping while they're working on things, and that's likely to > take too long to be acceptable. > > With the hostage-taker's rent-ware that I used to use, there was a specific > mechanism for an "accountant's copy" and a means to merge the changes back > automatically. But I've failed to find this in the docs for GNC (quite > possibly as a result of poor / uninspired searching!) > > Is this supported directly? Is this something folks have found an approach > for? I suppose, as a not quite worst case, I could simply diff the XML file > itself, but that's going to produce results that will be somewhat messy, at > best. But at least I'd know something about what changed. > > What ideas can you offer (or manual pages, if I've failed that > embarrassingly!) ___ gnucash-user mailing list gnucash-user@gnucash.org To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user - Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All. ___ gnucash-user mailing list gnucash-user@gnucash.org To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user - Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All.
Re: [GNC] Compare two sets of accounts?
___ gnucash-user mailing list gnucash-user@gnucash.org To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user - Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All.
Re: [GNC] Compare two sets of accounts?
Just pointing out that you can increase the default list of 4 most recently opened books to 10: https://wiki.gnucash.org/wiki/FAQ#Q:_I_have_deleted_a_gnucash_file_from_my_computer._How_can_I_remove_that_file_from_the_File_menu.27s_short_list_.28MRU.29_as_well.3F On Fri, Jan 19, 2024 at 12:00 PM Michael or Penny Novack < stepbystepf...@comcast.net> wrote: > > Just make sure that after you save a copy (B4A) that you aren't using > that file going forward as GC usually opens the last saved file. > > Unless you have "told" gnucash not to. > > Those of us who are keeping multiple sets of books (f0r multiple > entities) can make like easier by using the --nofile runtime parameter. > Gnucash will then start without opening any file, letting you choose > which you want to open. The last four open will be in a drop down list > you can select from but if you have more than that you'll sometimes need > to explicitly enter the file name. While in the past I was keeping more > than four, 90% of the time it was one of the last four open (some of the > entities only had a few dozen transactions a year -- and often most of > those within a month or two and inactive pretty much the rest of the year. > > Michael D Novack > > ___ > gnucash-user mailing list > gnucash-user@gnucash.org > To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: > https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user > - > Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. > You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All. > ___ gnucash-user mailing list gnucash-user@gnucash.org To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user - Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All.
Re: [GNC] Compare two sets of accounts?
You need not depend on comparing the account balances by eye. Export both reports in HTML, which is a text format (as opposed to binary), and then use a diff utility or comparison program. In Windows, I have been using the free CSDIFF for many years. The company that provided it doesn't seem to be in business any more, and while there are many download locations on the Web I'm always a bit leery because you never know if one has had malware detected. I'd be happy to send my saved copy of the ZIP archive on request. If you want it, please contact me directly since I assume we don't want a 1.3 MB file added to the mailing list's archives. Stan Brown Tehachapi, CA, USA https://BrownMath.com On 2024-01-19 09:23, Simon Roberts wrote: > Well, that's one possibility I suppose. > > Is this not a feature that would find fairly widespread use? Indeed, is it > not a feature that might facilitate easier use of the software and > encourage wider adoption? > > I'm still holding out hope that it might exist already :) > > Thanks for the suggestion Gyle > > > On Fri, Jan 19, 2024 at 9:41 AM Gyle McCollam wrote: > >> The quick and dirty solution is to save a copy of what you send to the >> accounts, under a different name (say: B4A) and when you get back the file >> from the accountants review the accounts tab of the B4A with the returned >> file. That will tell you which accounts have a change in value. You can >> then open those accounts and see what changes/corrections they made. ou >> can then make those same changes in your current file. Just make sure that >> after you save a copy (B4A) that you aren't using that file going forward >> as GC usually opens the last saved file. >> >> Thank You, >> >> *Gyle McCollam* >> >> Gyle McCollam >> >> gmccol...@live.comemail >> -- >> *From:* gnucash-user >> on behalf of Simon Roberts >> *Sent:* Friday, January 19, 2024 8:50 AM >> *To:* Gnucash Users >> *Subject:* [GNC] Compare two sets of accounts? >> >> Hi all, >> >> Does GNC provide any mechanism for comparing two versions of the same set >> of accounts? >> >> I'll be sending my books to my accountant soon, and I imagine they will >> have some corrections/adjustments. I'll be giving them a laptop with GNC >> installed, so they can most easily browse, and it occurs to me that they >> could also make their changes in place. But, unless they write down >> separately every entry they create or change, I would need to somehow >> re-integrate their work with my "master" file. Either that, or I'd have to >> freeze my bookkeeping while they're working on things, and that's likely to >> take too long to be acceptable. >> >> With the hostage-taker's rent-ware that I used to use, there was a specific >> mechanism for an "accountant's copy" and a means to merge the changes back >> automatically. But I've failed to find this in the docs for GNC (quite >> possibly as a result of poor / uninspired searching!) >> >> Is this supported directly? Is this something folks have found an approach >> for? I suppose, as a not quite worst case, I could simply diff the XML file >> itself, but that's going to produce results that will be somewhat messy, at >> best. But at least I'd know something about what changed. >> >> What ideas can you offer (or manual pages, if I've failed that >> embarrassingly!) >> >> TIA, >> Simon >> >> >> -- >> Simon Roberts >> 303 249 3613 >> https://www.youtube.com/@DancingCloudServices >> https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonhgroberts/ >> ___ >> gnucash-user mailing list >> gnucash-user@gnucash.org >> To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: >> https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user >> - >> Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. >> You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All. >> > > ___ gnucash-user mailing list gnucash-user@gnucash.org To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user - Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All.
Re: [GNC] Compare two sets of accounts?
One option might be to use the data log files, information in 2.5.2 here: https://code.gnucash.org/docs/C/gnucash-guide/basics-backup1.html I have not played around with those much, but I suspect you could backup your master set of books (3-2-1 backup strategy might be used here), and then make a copy of your master set to test the replay of the data log files (.log), as described in the link above. Another, separate, option might be for you to keep track of the changes you made, and then export the changes in CSV formation, then import them to the file that's returned from your accountant. Check out the CSV import/export information here: Export: https://gnucash.org/docs/v5/C/gnucash-manual/trans-export.html Import: https://gnucash.org/docs/v5/C/gnucash-manual/trans-import.html > On 01/19/2024 5:50 AM PST Simon Roberts > wrote: > > > Hi all, > > Does GNC provide any mechanism for comparing two versions of the same set > of accounts? > > I'll be sending my books to my accountant soon, and I imagine they will > have some corrections/adjustments. I'll be giving them a laptop with GNC > installed, so they can most easily browse, and it occurs to me that they > could also make their changes in place. But, unless they write down > separately every entry they create or change, I would need to somehow > re-integrate their work with my "master" file. Either that, or I'd have to > freeze my bookkeeping while they're working on things, and that's likely to > take too long to be acceptable. > > With the hostage-taker's rent-ware that I used to use, there was a specific > mechanism for an "accountant's copy" and a means to merge the changes back > automatically. But I've failed to find this in the docs for GNC (quite > possibly as a result of poor / uninspired searching!) > > Is this supported directly? Is this something folks have found an approach > for? I suppose, as a not quite worst case, I could simply diff the XML file > itself, but that's going to produce results that will be somewhat messy, at > best. But at least I'd know something about what changed. > > What ideas can you offer (or manual pages, if I've failed that > embarrassingly!) ___ gnucash-user mailing list gnucash-user@gnucash.org To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user - Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All.
Re: [GNC] Compare two sets of accounts?
Well, that's one possibility I suppose. Is this not a feature that would find fairly widespread use? Indeed, is it not a feature that might facilitate easier use of the software and encourage wider adoption? I'm still holding out hope that it might exist already :) Thanks for the suggestion Gyle On Fri, Jan 19, 2024 at 9:41 AM Gyle McCollam wrote: > The quick and dirty solution is to save a copy of what you send to the > accounts, under a different name (say: B4A) and when you get back the file > from the accountants review the accounts tab of the B4A with the returned > file. That will tell you which accounts have a change in value. You can > then open those accounts and see what changes/corrections they made. ou > can then make those same changes in your current file. Just make sure that > after you save a copy (B4A) that you aren't using that file going forward > as GC usually opens the last saved file. > > Thank You, > > *Gyle McCollam* > > Gyle McCollam > > gmccol...@live.comemail > -- > *From:* gnucash-user > on behalf of Simon Roberts > *Sent:* Friday, January 19, 2024 8:50 AM > *To:* Gnucash Users > *Subject:* [GNC] Compare two sets of accounts? > > Hi all, > > Does GNC provide any mechanism for comparing two versions of the same set > of accounts? > > I'll be sending my books to my accountant soon, and I imagine they will > have some corrections/adjustments. I'll be giving them a laptop with GNC > installed, so they can most easily browse, and it occurs to me that they > could also make their changes in place. But, unless they write down > separately every entry they create or change, I would need to somehow > re-integrate their work with my "master" file. Either that, or I'd have to > freeze my bookkeeping while they're working on things, and that's likely to > take too long to be acceptable. > > With the hostage-taker's rent-ware that I used to use, there was a specific > mechanism for an "accountant's copy" and a means to merge the changes back > automatically. But I've failed to find this in the docs for GNC (quite > possibly as a result of poor / uninspired searching!) > > Is this supported directly? Is this something folks have found an approach > for? I suppose, as a not quite worst case, I could simply diff the XML file > itself, but that's going to produce results that will be somewhat messy, at > best. But at least I'd know something about what changed. > > What ideas can you offer (or manual pages, if I've failed that > embarrassingly!) > > TIA, > Simon > > > -- > Simon Roberts > 303 249 3613 > https://www.youtube.com/@DancingCloudServices > https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonhgroberts/ > ___ > gnucash-user mailing list > gnucash-user@gnucash.org > To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: > https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user > - > Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. > You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All. > -- Simon Roberts 303 249 3613 https://www.youtube.com/@DancingCloudServices https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonhgroberts/ ___ gnucash-user mailing list gnucash-user@gnucash.org To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user - Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All.
Re: [GNC] Compare two sets of accounts?
Just make sure that after you save a copy (B4A) that you aren't using that file going forward as GC usually opens the last saved file. Unless you have "told" gnucash not to. Those of us who are keeping multiple sets of books (f0r multiple entities) can make like easier by using the --nofile runtime parameter. Gnucash will then start without opening any file, letting you choose which you want to open. The last four open will be in a drop down list you can select from but if you have more than that you'll sometimes need to explicitly enter the file name. While in the past I was keeping more than four, 90% of the time it was one of the last four open (some of the entities only had a few dozen transactions a year -- and often most of those within a month or two and inactive pretty much the rest of the year. Michael D Novack ___ gnucash-user mailing list gnucash-user@gnucash.org To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user - Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All.
Re: [GNC] Compare two sets of accounts?
The quick and dirty solution is to save a copy of what you send to the accounts, under a different name (say: B4A) and when you get back the file from the accountants review the accounts tab of the B4A with the returned file. That will tell you which accounts have a change in value. You can then open those accounts and see what changes/corrections they made. ou can then make those same changes in your current file. Just make sure that after you save a copy (B4A) that you aren't using that file going forward as GC usually opens the last saved file. Thank You, Gyle McCollam Gyle McCollam gmccol...@live.com<mailto:gmccol...@gyleshomes.com> email From: gnucash-user on behalf of Simon Roberts Sent: Friday, January 19, 2024 8:50 AM To: Gnucash Users Subject: [GNC] Compare two sets of accounts? Hi all, Does GNC provide any mechanism for comparing two versions of the same set of accounts? I'll be sending my books to my accountant soon, and I imagine they will have some corrections/adjustments. I'll be giving them a laptop with GNC installed, so they can most easily browse, and it occurs to me that they could also make their changes in place. But, unless they write down separately every entry they create or change, I would need to somehow re-integrate their work with my "master" file. Either that, or I'd have to freeze my bookkeeping while they're working on things, and that's likely to take too long to be acceptable. With the hostage-taker's rent-ware that I used to use, there was a specific mechanism for an "accountant's copy" and a means to merge the changes back automatically. But I've failed to find this in the docs for GNC (quite possibly as a result of poor / uninspired searching!) Is this supported directly? Is this something folks have found an approach for? I suppose, as a not quite worst case, I could simply diff the XML file itself, but that's going to produce results that will be somewhat messy, at best. But at least I'd know something about what changed. What ideas can you offer (or manual pages, if I've failed that embarrassingly!) TIA, Simon -- Simon Roberts 303 249 3613 https://www.youtube.com/@DancingCloudServices https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonhgroberts/ ___ gnucash-user mailing list gnucash-user@gnucash.org To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user - Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All. ___ gnucash-user mailing list gnucash-user@gnucash.org To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user - Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All.
[GNC] Compare two sets of accounts?
Hi all, Does GNC provide any mechanism for comparing two versions of the same set of accounts? I'll be sending my books to my accountant soon, and I imagine they will have some corrections/adjustments. I'll be giving them a laptop with GNC installed, so they can most easily browse, and it occurs to me that they could also make their changes in place. But, unless they write down separately every entry they create or change, I would need to somehow re-integrate their work with my "master" file. Either that, or I'd have to freeze my bookkeeping while they're working on things, and that's likely to take too long to be acceptable. With the hostage-taker's rent-ware that I used to use, there was a specific mechanism for an "accountant's copy" and a means to merge the changes back automatically. But I've failed to find this in the docs for GNC (quite possibly as a result of poor / uninspired searching!) Is this supported directly? Is this something folks have found an approach for? I suppose, as a not quite worst case, I could simply diff the XML file itself, but that's going to produce results that will be somewhat messy, at best. But at least I'd know something about what changed. What ideas can you offer (or manual pages, if I've failed that embarrassingly!) TIA, Simon -- Simon Roberts 303 249 3613 https://www.youtube.com/@DancingCloudServices https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonhgroberts/ ___ gnucash-user mailing list gnucash-user@gnucash.org To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user - Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All.
