Re: [ubuntu-uk] What accounting software to recommend

[pmgazz]

On 22/10/10 14:23, Glen Mehn wrote:



A quick search has given me some hint that it may be possible to get
his sage stuff in to either of these apps so thanks again.

 
   
I use GNUCash myself, but some of my clients who're used to Quickbooks 
or Sage swear by this:  http://www.accountz.com/


This compares Accountz functionality to Sage: 
http://www.accountz.com/accountz/business-accountz-independent-review-henry-hardoon-fcca 
- apparently they're working on Sage import - don't know if they got 
there  yet. but it will import CSV, QIF and OFX.


Paula
-- 
ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/

Re: [ubuntu-uk] What accounting software to recommend

[Grant Sewell]

On Sat, 23 Oct 2010 13:04:27 +0100
Barry Drake wrote:

> On Sat, 2010-10-23 at 12:38 +0100, Steve Fisher wrote:
> > I am a Management Accountant, I dislike Sage with a vengeance.  I
> > prefer Opera my self, but I am an xBase programmer :)
> 
> My wife and I rand a business for years until I retired.  Our
> accountant got us using Sage, and I thought it was dreadful!  I was
> going to make some spreadsheets to do the job properly, but instead I
> retired and passed Sage on to the nice guy who bought my business.
> Best thing I ever did!
> 
> Are there no pre-designed spreadsheet templates out there?  A friend
> of mine who was chief accountant with the then electricity board
> locally wrote his own spreadsheets because he said there was nothing
> out there that a professional accountant would use!  He was very
> computer literate, but not a programmer - and he found spreadsheets
> really easy to customise.
> 
> Regards,  Barry Drake

My mother used to run a small care home (3 residents) and she did all
her accounts on fairly comprehensive, but still easy to understand
spreadsheets. Her accountant was happy with it.

Grant.

-- 
ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/

Re: [ubuntu-uk] What accounting software to recommend

[Alan Pope]

On 22 October 2010 22:29, Rob Beard  wrote:
> Ahh Sage, I still wake up in a cold sweat over it, WHY anyone wants to
> use it I don't know, from my experience of Sage Line 50, it came across
> as the worst application ever.

People say the same about SAP, but every big business uses it ;)

>  It certainly didn't follow any Microsoft
> recommendations on how Windows applications should work (things like
> having standard menus, and a standard looking interface).
>

Interestingly neither does Calibre (the ebook management app) which
runs on Windows, Mac and Linux, and it generally gets applauded for
its simple UI. maybe the Windows recommendations are wrong? :)

Al.

-- 
ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/

Re: [ubuntu-uk] What accounting software to recommend

[Barry Drake]

On Sat, 2010-10-23 at 12:38 +0100, Steve Fisher wrote:
> I am a Management Accountant, I dislike Sage with a vengeance.  I
> prefer Opera my self, but I am an xBase programmer :)

My wife and I rand a business for years until I retired.  Our accountant
got us using Sage, and I thought it was dreadful!  I was going to make
some spreadsheets to do the job properly, but instead I retired and
passed Sage on to the nice guy who bought my business.  Best thing I
ever did!

Are there no pre-designed spreadsheet templates out there?  A friend of
mine who was chief accountant with the then electricity board locally
wrote his own spreadsheets because he said there was nothing out there
that a professional accountant would use!  He was very computer
literate, but not a programmer - and he found spreadsheets really easy
to customise.

Regards,Barry Drake

-- 
Sent from my Dell Netbook using Ubuntu - the window-free environment
that gives me real fresh air.


-- 
ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/

Re: [ubuntu-uk] What accounting software to recommend

[Steve Fisher]

On 23 October 2010 12:15, Gordon Burgess-Parker  wrote:

> On 22/10/2010 21:42, Yorvyk wrote:
> >
> >   because their book-keeper had developed a pathological hatred of Sage
> for some reason.
>
> I understand that. Sage is AWFUL!
>
> > They were very happy with it and when they merged with another company
> they took to it as well and dropped Sage.  Admittedly their accountants
> didn’t like it, as they believed Sage was the only thing worth using.
> Obviously a backhander there - most Management Accountants I knew also
> hated Sage
>
> --
> ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com
> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk
> https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
>

I am a Management Accountant, I dislike Sage with a vengeance.  I prefer
Opera my self, but I am an xBase programmer :)

Steve
-- 
ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/

Re: [ubuntu-uk] What accounting software to recommend

[Gordon Burgess-Parker]

On 22/10/2010 21:42, Yorvyk wrote:
>
>   because their book-keeper had developed a pathological hatred of Sage for 
> some reason.

I understand that. Sage is AWFUL!

> They were very happy with it and when they merged with another company they 
> took to it as well and dropped Sage.  Admittedly their accountants didn’t 
> like it, as they believed Sage was the only thing worth using.
Obviously a backhander there - most Management Accountants I knew also 
hated Sage

-- 
ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/

Re: [ubuntu-uk] What accounting software to recommend

[Gordon Burgess-Parker]

On 22/10/2010 12:45, Alan Lord (News) wrote:
> Sage is a "proprietary" business and has
> successfully tied in most of the accountancy practices in the UK. (
> Although we are working on that ;-) )
>

As a recently-retired Management/Systems Accountant who has worked in 
all sizes of organmisations from one-man-band advertising agencies to 
billion £ PLCs I can very definitely say

I HATE SAGE! I HATE SAGE! I HATE SAGE!
It's one of the WORST accounts packages ever invented. The reason it's 
so popular, like MS, is marketing.

-- 
ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/

Re: [ubuntu-uk] What accounting software to recommend

[Neville Crook]

I have been using Moneydance for my personal finance but I know it works for
small businesses.

 

I have installed on Ubuntu and MS Vista and 7, using Dropbox to sync the
files.  Software was developed for the States but works very well in the UK
with a very helpful development team who listen to UK users as well as the
people in the States.  

 

The software is constantly being developed and installs easily in Ubuntu.

 

Regards

 

Neville

 

-- 
ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/

Re: [ubuntu-uk] What accounting software to recommend

[Will Bickerstaff]

Thanks all,

I'll spend the weekend looking at some of these. Put a couple on his
machine and leave him with it for a few weeks and see what he thinks.

Glenn, I'll definitely come back with some feedback from him once he's
had time to acclimatise to whatever he settles with.

-- 
ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/

Re: [ubuntu-uk] What accounting software to recommend

[Rob Beard]

On 22/10/10 21:42, Yorvyk wrote:
> On Fri, 22 Oct 2010 20:32:33 +0100
> Rob Beard  wrote:
>
>>
>> I'm a bit late in posting but a while back I did see a package called
>> Accountz.  It's from a UK based company, I believe they do a Business
>> version for about £100 and a Home version for about £40.  The thing that
>> caught my eye was the Tux on the box.  Looking into it a bit more it
>> looks like it's a Java based package so runs on Windows, Mac and Linux.
>>I can't tell you how good it is though as I was unable to find a demo
>> or trial version to try.  You can probably find it in PC World, or you
>> can check out the web site at http://www.accountz.com/.
>>
>> By the way, looking at the web site, I did like this...
>> "Finally, accountancy software that just works. Whatever platform you
>> work on, whether it is Windows, Mac OSX or Linux, Accountz doesn't
>> discriminate against your choice, and all from the same disc. Now that's
>> adaptability."
>>
> I worked at a company that used it on their Macs, mainly because their 
> book-keeper had developed a pathological hatred of Sage for some reason.  
> They were very happy with it and when they merged with another company they 
> took to it as well and dropped Sage.  Admittedly their accountants didn’t 
> like it, as they believed Sage was the only thing worth using.  I don’t know 
> which of the version they use.  I know they had a few problems changing over 
> and reckoned the help was excellent.
> There is 30 day a trial version available on the site, long with the 
> penguins. :)
>

Ahh Sage, I still wake up in a cold sweat over it, WHY anyone wants to 
use it I don't know, from my experience of Sage Line 50, it came across 
as the worst application ever.  It certainly didn't follow any Microsoft 
recommendations on how Windows applications should work (things like 
having standard menus, and a standard looking interface).

Saying that bean counters in my experience are a strange bunch.

My wife is starting a business, I'll get her to download the trial and 
give it a try (I noticed the 30 day trial after I posted earlier, I'm 
sure they didn't have that when I last checked a few months ago, 
certainly got to be worth a go).

Rob


-- 
ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/

Re: [ubuntu-uk] What accounting software to recommend

[Yorvyk]

On Fri, 22 Oct 2010 20:32:33 +0100
Rob Beard  wrote:

> 
> I'm a bit late in posting but a while back I did see a package called 
> Accountz.  It's from a UK based company, I believe they do a Business 
> version for about £100 and a Home version for about £40.  The thing that 
> caught my eye was the Tux on the box.  Looking into it a bit more it 
> looks like it's a Java based package so runs on Windows, Mac and Linux. 
>   I can't tell you how good it is though as I was unable to find a demo 
> or trial version to try.  You can probably find it in PC World, or you 
> can check out the web site at http://www.accountz.com/.
> 
> By the way, looking at the web site, I did like this...
> "Finally, accountancy software that just works. Whatever platform you 
> work on, whether it is Windows, Mac OSX or Linux, Accountz doesn't 
> discriminate against your choice, and all from the same disc. Now that's 
> adaptability."
> 
I worked at a company that used it on their Macs, mainly because their 
book-keeper had developed a pathological hatred of Sage for some reason.  They 
were very happy with it and when they merged with another company they took to 
it as well and dropped Sage.  Admittedly their accountants didn’t like it, as 
they believed Sage was the only thing worth using.  I don’t know which of the 
version they use.  I know they had a few problems changing over and reckoned 
the help was excellent.
There is 30 day a trial version available on the site, long with the penguins. 
:)


-- 
Steve Cook (Yorvyk)

http://lubuntu.net 

-- 
ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/

Re: [ubuntu-uk] What accounting software to recommend

[Colin Law]

On 22 October 2010 12:45, Alan Lord (News)  wrote:
> On 22/10/10 11:42, Will Bickerstaff wrote:
> [...]
> For single user, very small businesses try GnuCash: http://www.gnucash.org/

+1 for GnuCash for personal use, don't know about business

Colin

-- 
ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/

Re: [ubuntu-uk] What accounting software to recommend

[Rob Beard]

On 22/10/10 13:49, Will Bickerstaff wrote:
>> For single user, very small businesses try GnuCash: http://www.gnucash.org/
>>
>> For larger organisations I'd go with something like OpenERP:
>> http://www.openerp.com/
>>
>> Al
>
> Thanks Alan, I'll have a look at these two and find out which Sage
> he's using, I'll probably give him both and let him decide which best
> suits his requirements. I don't think scalability is a high priority
> so am hoping to find something that he will be most comfortable with
> when making the transition.
>
> Something that behaves similarly would be ideal, think transition from
> MSO to OOO, not AutoCAD - QCAD (Which I've found nearly impossible)
> though I've just found
> http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2010/09/free-autocad-clone-draftsight-coming-to-linux/
> which looks interesting.
>
> Like I say, I'm  not an accounting type, so will give him a few to try
> so as he can make up his own mind. I don't want to give him too much
> choice and up confusing the guy or give him something that is so
> alien, that he simply doesn't bother trying to learn it.
>
> A quick search has given me some hint that it may be possible to get
> his sage stuff in to either of these apps so thanks again.
>

I'm a bit late in posting but a while back I did see a package called 
Accountz.  It's from a UK based company, I believe they do a Business 
version for about £100 and a Home version for about £40.  The thing that 
caught my eye was the Tux on the box.  Looking into it a bit more it 
looks like it's a Java based package so runs on Windows, Mac and Linux. 
  I can't tell you how good it is though as I was unable to find a demo 
or trial version to try.  You can probably find it in PC World, or you 
can check out the web site at http://www.accountz.com/.

By the way, looking at the web site, I did like this...
"Finally, accountancy software that just works. Whatever platform you 
work on, whether it is Windows, Mac OSX or Linux, Accountz doesn't 
discriminate against your choice, and all from the same disc. Now that's 
adaptability."

Rob

-- 
ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/

Re: [ubuntu-uk] What accounting software to recommend

[Glen Mehn]

There's not a whole lot in the linux world which equates to quickbooks 
or sage, unfortunately. It's a massive hole.

OpenERP is a solid but massive bit of software which is likely to be 
overkill. I've had complaints from clients that it's really 
user-unfriendly (and these were accountants, mindyou)

I know of some people who have had good luck with Turbocash (though the 
developers are a bit odd, and I think the UK chart of accounts is fairly 
limited...). There's also Postbooks, which apparently *looks* the 
easiest and cleanest to me, but I've as yet not had a chance to try it 
out properly.

There's a wikipedia page on "comparison of accounting systems" which may 
help you out.

I would personally be interested to hear what your mate's reaction to 
the software is, once he has one.

-g

On 22/10/10 13:49, Will Bickerstaff wrote:
>> For single user, very small businesses try GnuCash: http://www.gnucash.org/
>>
>> For larger organisations I'd go with something like OpenERP:
>> http://www.openerp.com/
>>
>> Al
> Thanks Alan, I'll have a look at these two and find out which Sage
> he's using, I'll probably give him both and let him decide which best
> suits his requirements. I don't think scalability is a high priority
> so am hoping to find something that he will be most comfortable with
> when making the transition.
>
> Something that behaves similarly would be ideal, think transition from
> MSO to OOO, not AutoCAD - QCAD (Which I've found nearly impossible)
> though I've just found
> http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2010/09/free-autocad-clone-draftsight-coming-to-linux/
> which looks interesting.
>
> Like I say, I'm  not an accounting type, so will give him a few to try
> so as he can make up his own mind. I don't want to give him too much
> choice and up confusing the guy or give him something that is so
> alien, that he simply doesn't bother trying to learn it.
>
> A quick search has given me some hint that it may be possible to get
> his sage stuff in to either of these apps so thanks again.
>

-- 
Glen Mehn
glen.m...@oba.co.uk
skype: glenmehn | blog: http://glen.mehn.net/mba
UK: +44(0)7942 675 755 | US: +1 415 704 4737


-- 
ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/

Re: [ubuntu-uk] What accounting software to recommend

[Will Bickerstaff]

> For single user, very small businesses try GnuCash: http://www.gnucash.org/
>
> For larger organisations I'd go with something like OpenERP:
> http://www.openerp.com/
>
> Al

Thanks Alan, I'll have a look at these two and find out which Sage
he's using, I'll probably give him both and let him decide which best
suits his requirements. I don't think scalability is a high priority
so am hoping to find something that he will be most comfortable with
when making the transition.

Something that behaves similarly would be ideal, think transition from
MSO to OOO, not AutoCAD - QCAD (Which I've found nearly impossible)
though I've just found
http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2010/09/free-autocad-clone-draftsight-coming-to-linux/
which looks interesting.

Like I say, I'm  not an accounting type, so will give him a few to try
so as he can make up his own mind. I don't want to give him too much
choice and up confusing the guy or give him something that is so
alien, that he simply doesn't bother trying to learn it.

A quick search has given me some hint that it may be possible to get
his sage stuff in to either of these apps so thanks again.

-- 
ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/

Re: [ubuntu-uk] What accounting software to recommend

[Alan Lord (News)]

On 22/10/10 11:42, Will Bickerstaff wrote:
>
> He uses sage a lot, and, not being an accounting type I was wondering
> what is the most similar package to use. I know what's available in
> the repo's but not their capability / compatibility with sage. Will he
> be able to get his sage info into whatever I end up recommending? If
> there's some leg work involved with converting, exporting and
> importing, that's fine as long as we can get it all in.

There's more than one "sage" accountancy package. Compatibility is not 
likely unless Sage can export into some well defined format like the 
Quickbooks for example. Sage is a "proprietary" business and has 
successfully tied in most of the accountancy practices in the UK. ( 
Although we are working on that ;-) )

For single user, very small businesses try GnuCash: http://www.gnucash.org/

For larger organisations I'd go with something like OpenERP: 
http://www.openerp.com/

Al

-- 
The Open Learning Centre
http://www.theopenlearningcentre.com


-- 
ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/

Re: [ubuntu-uk] What accounting software to recommend

[Paul Sutton]

On 22/10/10 11:42, Will Bickerstaff wrote:
> A colleague of mine has come to me this morning with a laptop on which
> his windows install has been bricked by his AV.
> 
> I sort of, politely explained my stance on not wanting to waste time
> messing with problem windows installs any more. But I've agreed to
> look and get it working again for him, provided he allows me to
> install and dual boot Ubuntu, with a recommendation that he use it and
> see whether it works for him or not. Luckily I have my own laptop with
> me this morning that has 10.10, so was able to quickly demo Ubuntu
> with him, and explain one or two key differences.
> 
> He uses sage a lot, and, not being an accounting type I was wondering
> what is the most similar package to use. I know what's available in
> the repo's but not their capability / compatibility with sage. Will he
> be able to get his sage info into whatever I end up recommending? If
> there's some leg work involved with converting, exporting and
> importing, that's fine as long as we can get it all in.
> 


I remember seeing a product for this in the apple store,  it wsa
designed or apple but had a tux logo on too, so I guess there was a
linux port too,  not sure what it was called and it wasn't cheap. but if
its comprehensive and does the job,  it may pay for itself in terms of
reduced downtime from using windows. and the cost of this.

Paul

-- 

23rd October - Exwick Community Centre 14:00
6th November - Paignton Library 13:30 start
17th September 2011 - Software freedom day


-- 
ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/

Re: [ubuntu-uk] What accounting software to recommend

[K.de Jong]

a simple serch pointed me here:
http://www.aaxnet.com/design/linuxacct.html


2010/10/22 Will Bickerstaff 

> A colleague of mine has come to me this morning with a laptop on which
> his windows install has been bricked by his AV.
>
> I sort of, politely explained my stance on not wanting to waste time
> messing with problem windows installs any more. But I've agreed to
> look and get it working again for him, provided he allows me to
> install and dual boot Ubuntu, with a recommendation that he use it and
> see whether it works for him or not. Luckily I have my own laptop with
> me this morning that has 10.10, so was able to quickly demo Ubuntu
> with him, and explain one or two key differences.
>
> He uses sage a lot, and, not being an accounting type I was wondering
> what is the most similar package to use. I know what's available in
> the repo's but not their capability / compatibility with sage. Will he
> be able to get his sage info into whatever I end up recommending? If
> there's some leg work involved with converting, exporting and
> importing, that's fine as long as we can get it all in.
>
> --
> ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com
> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk
> https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
>



-- 
Met vriendelijke groeten,
Keimpe de Jong
-- 
ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/

[ubuntu-uk] What accounting software to recommend

[Will Bickerstaff]

A colleague of mine has come to me this morning with a laptop on which
his windows install has been bricked by his AV.

I sort of, politely explained my stance on not wanting to waste time
messing with problem windows installs any more. But I've agreed to
look and get it working again for him, provided he allows me to
install and dual boot Ubuntu, with a recommendation that he use it and
see whether it works for him or not. Luckily I have my own laptop with
me this morning that has 10.10, so was able to quickly demo Ubuntu
with him, and explain one or two key differences.

He uses sage a lot, and, not being an accounting type I was wondering
what is the most similar package to use. I know what's available in
the repo's but not their capability / compatibility with sage. Will he
be able to get his sage info into whatever I end up recommending? If
there's some leg work involved with converting, exporting and
importing, that's fine as long as we can get it all in.

-- 
ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/