Thanks Everyone. ADRIEN hit the nail on the head! I didn't know you could select "Period Totals" to display in the Chart of Accounts. This gives me what I was looking to achieve without the need to use the "Close Book" feature which as described can lead to some problems with running reports that overlap fiscal years.
PS - Am I correctly replying to the List Serve in regards to "editing the subject line" and "replying all" so the thread is documented correctly? As mentioned, I am knew to all this. Thanks again y'all! Ryan Carver SIXTY FORTY DESIGN 410-365-2747 6040design.com -----Original Message----- From: gnucash-user <[email protected]> On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Monday, January 3, 2022 6:08 PM To: [email protected] Subject: gnucash-user Digest, Vol 226, Issue 9 Send gnucash-user mailing list submissions to [email protected] To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to [email protected] You can reach the person managing the list at [email protected] When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of gnucash-user digest..." Today's Topics: 1. Re: GNUCash 4.9 (Glenn Fowler) 2. Re: GNUCash 4.9 (Steve Mortimer) 3. Re: GNUCash 4.9 (David Carlson) 4. Re: GNUCash 4.9 (Steve Mortimer) 5. Re: A repository for user-contributed files (Adrien Monteleone) 6. Re: GNUCash 4.9 (Adrien Monteleone) 7. Re: Closing Books - Pros & Cons (Adrien Monteleone) 8. Frustrated at invoice options (Dave Hayes) 9. Re: Closing Books - Pros & Cons (Jesse MacDougall) 10. Re: Closing Books - Pros & Cons (Stephen M. Butler) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2022 14:12:40 -0500 From: Glenn Fowler <[email protected]> To: Steve Mortimer <[email protected]> Cc: Dan Black <[email protected]>, GnuCash users group <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [GNC] GNUCash 4.9 Message-ID: <sj0pr19mb4445654de2fbfac0bc44d6278f...@sj0pr19mb4445.namprd19.prod.outloo k.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Just use File Explorer and move it to the folder you prefer and then open from new location with File > Open in GnuCash On Mon, Jan 3, 2022 at 1:59 PM Steve Mortimer <[email protected]> wrote: > How do I get the main program to save other than to the desktop? > Steve > > > Dan Black <mailto:[email protected]> Monday, January 3, 2022 > > 12:21 PM You seem to be saving your main file on the desktop, which > > is not a good practice. The program will save a backup and a log > > file in the folder where the main file is located. In your email, > > you show the log file and lock file. The lock file should be deleted > > when you close the program. > > > > Dan > > > > > > On January 3, 2022 12:51:15 PM Steve Mortimer <[email protected]> > > wrote: > > > > > > Steve Mortimer <mailto:[email protected]> Monday, January 3, 2022 > > 11:50 AM I have been running Gnucash on this computer, Win10, for > > sometime now and have been having the same problem all along. I > > have upgraded to version 4.9. When I close the program there are > > two files that are not removed from the desktop and I have to go and > > delete the manually. If I do not delete them manually after each > > time I close the program the program just keeps adding more of the > > same files to the desktop. > > > > The files are: > > 1223GNUCASH.gnucash.20...0103063517.gnucash.LCK > > 1223GNUCASH.gnucash.201...cash.20220103114501.log > > > > What do I need to do so these files are deleted every time the > > program is closed? > > > > Regards, > > Steve Mortimer > > > > 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV) > > All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, > > for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness that > > the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work > > -- > Steve Mortimer > > 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV) > All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for > reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness that the > man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work > _______________________________________________ > gnucash-user mailing list > [email protected] > To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: > https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user > If you are using Nabble or Gmane, please see > https://wiki.gnucash.org/wiki/Mailing_Lists for more information. > ----- > Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. > You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All. > ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2022 13:26:26 -0600 From: Steve Mortimer <[email protected]> To: Glenn Fowler <[email protected]> Cc: Dan Black <[email protected]>, GnuCash users group <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [GNC] GNUCash 4.9 Message-ID: <[email protected]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed Using the File Explorer and moving the files to a GNUcash folder did the trick. Thanks for every ones help. Steve > Glenn Fowler <mailto:[email protected]> Monday, January 3, 2022 > 1:12 PM Just use File Explorer and move it to the folder you prefer > and then open from new location with File > Open in GnuCash > > Steve Mortimer <mailto:[email protected]> Monday, January 3, 2022 > 12:59 PM How do I get the main program to save other than to the > desktop? > Steve > > > Dan Black <mailto:[email protected]> Monday, January 3, 2022 > 12:21 PM You seem to be saving your main file on the desktop, which is > not a good practice. The program will save a backup and a log file in > the folder where the main file is located. In your email, you show the > log file and lock file. The lock file should be deleted when you close > the program. > > Dan > > > On January 3, 2022 12:51:15 PM Steve Mortimer <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > Steve Mortimer <mailto:[email protected]> Monday, January 3, 2022 > 11:50 AM I have been running Gnucash on this computer, Win10, for > sometime now and have been having the same problem all along.? I have > upgraded to version 4.9.? When I close the program there are two files > that are not removed from the desktop and I have to go and delete the > manually.? If I do not delete them manually after each time I close > the program the program just keeps adding more of the same files to > the desktop. > > The files are: > 1223GNUCASH.gnucash.20...0103063517.gnucash.LCK > 1223GNUCASH.gnucash.201...cash.20220103114501.log > > What do I need to do so these files are deleted every time the program > is closed? > > Regards, > Steve Mortimer > > 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV) > All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for > reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness that the > man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work ------------------------------ Message: 3 Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2022 13:32:24 -0600 From: David Carlson <[email protected]> To: Glenn Fowler <[email protected]> Cc: Steve Mortimer <[email protected]>, GnuCash users group <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [GNC] GNUCash 4.9 Message-ID: <cadygsbn4chksro_ble9suszxxhmn8mig4ggnxvnbx1agjp5...@mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Steve, In Windows you have a folder called Documents or similar. Using your file explorer create a sub folder in Documents called "MyGnucsahData" or whatever you like. Then, as the others here have said, move your data file there either with your file explorer or by using File > Save As from inside GnuCash. Then set your GnuCash preferences using Edit > Preferences > Retain Log/Backup files to save them for 30 days or 7 days, but > forever would, IMHO, be too long. On Mon, Jan 3, 2022 at 1:13 PM Glenn Fowler <[email protected]> wrote: > Just use File Explorer and move it to the folder you prefer and then > open from new location with File > Open in GnuCash > > On Mon, Jan 3, 2022 at 1:59 PM Steve Mortimer <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > How do I get the main program to save other than to the desktop? > > Steve > > > > > Dan Black <mailto:[email protected]> Monday, January 3, 2022 > > > 12:21 PM You seem to be saving your main file on the desktop, > > > which is not a good practice. The program will save a backup and a > > > log file in the folder where the main file is located. In your > > > email, you show the log file and lock file. The lock file should > > > be deleted when you close the program. > > > > > > Dan > > > > > > > > > On January 3, 2022 12:51:15 PM Steve Mortimer > > > <[email protected]> > > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > Steve Mortimer <mailto:[email protected]> Monday, January 3, > > > 2022 11:50 AM I have been running Gnucash on this computer, Win10, > > > for sometime now and have been having the same problem all along. > > > I have upgraded to version 4.9. When I close the program there > > > are two files that are not removed from the desktop and I have to > > > go and delete the manually. If I do not delete them manually > > > after each time I close the program the program just keeps adding > > > more of the same files to the desktop. > > > > > > The files are: > > > 1223GNUCASH.gnucash.20...0103063517.gnucash.LCK > > > 1223GNUCASH.gnucash.201...cash.20220103114501.log > > > > > > What do I need to do so these files are deleted every time the > > > program is closed? > > > > > > Regards, > > > Steve Mortimer > > > > > > 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV) > > > All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, > > > for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness > > > that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work > > > > -- > > Steve Mortimer > > > > 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV) > > All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, > > for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness that > > the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work > > _______________________________________________ > > gnucash-user mailing list > > [email protected] > > To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: > > https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user > > If you are using Nabble or Gmane, please see > > https://wiki.gnucash.org/wiki/Mailing_Lists for more information. > > ----- > > 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 > [email protected] > To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: > https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user > If you are using Nabble or Gmane, please see > https://wiki.gnucash.org/wiki/Mailing_Lists for more information. > ----- > Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. > You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All. > -- David Carlson ------------------------------ Message: 4 Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2022 13:39:44 -0600 From: Steve Mortimer <[email protected]> To: David Carlson <[email protected]> Cc: Glenn Fowler <[email protected]>, GnuCash users group <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [GNC] GNUCash 4.9 Message-ID: <[email protected]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed David, Thanks for the information. Steve > David Carlson <mailto:[email protected]> > Monday, January 3, 2022 1:32 PM > Steve, > In Windows you have a folder called Documents or similar.? Using your > file explorer create a sub folder in Documents called "MyGnucsahData" > or whatever you like.? Then, as the others here have said, move your? > data file there either with your file explorer or by using File > Save > As from inside GnuCash.? Then set your GnuCash preferences using Edit > > Preferences > Retain Log/Backup files to save them for 30 days or 7 > days, but forever would, IMHO, be too long. > > > > -- > David Carlson -- Steve Mortimer 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV) All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work ------------------------------ Message: 5 Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2022 16:08:55 -0600 From: Adrien Monteleone <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [GNC] A repository for user-contributed files Message-ID: <[email protected]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed I didn't examine the Message-ID because it had the same subject line. (so it *appears* that it *should* have been threaded properly) But I guess if they are replying to the digest and they copy-paste the subject, as they should, then it will appear un-threaded. I guess in that case, the problem is with the client where it only threads by in-reply-to Message-ID and doesn't also factor in the Subject. (Thunderbird if anyone is curious. If anyone knows how to make it consider the Subject as well, that info would be very much appreciated) Regards, Adrien On 1/3/22 8:51 AM, Fred Bone wrote: > If (as here) someone is replying to *the*digest*, their reply isn't > likely to link to any existing thread. Why would you expect it to? ------------------------------ Message: 6 Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2022 16:12:11 -0600 From: Adrien Monteleone <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [GNC] GNUCash 4.9 Message-ID: <[email protected]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed Steve, I'll add that it appears you are opening backup files, not the main GnuCash file. The very long file names indicate this. So it seems you have backups of backups. If you find the main file, it might not have all the same transactions as whatever you are currently working in. Regards, Adrien On 1/3/22 1:26 PM, Steve Mortimer wrote: > Using the File Explorer and moving the files to a GNUcash folder did the > trick. > Thanks for every ones help. ------------------------------ Message: 7 Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2022 16:23:25 -0600 From: Adrien Monteleone <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [GNC] Closing Books - Pros & Cons Message-ID: <[email protected]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed The list archive is littered with such questions and answers. I'm not sure if anyone put any definitive Pro-Con write up together. The short answer is, you don't ever *need* to close because you don't *need* to reset your CoA. GnuCash dutifully reports both 'from the beginning' and 'this year/period' just fine without doing so. (there are selectable columns on the CoA tab to do just that) All reports default to 'this year' unless you've saved customized reports otherwise. (the exception being the Balance Sheet, which is always in any software 'since the beginning') This saves you the need to make closing and then reversing entries each year. (and if you use the Business Features, you'll have to manually do your accrual transactions) By not closing, you can run reports that cross annual boundaries with no issues should you ever find the utility in doing so. If you do close, your P&L will be zero afterwards for that prior year. (because the closing entries zero out all expenses and revenue to equity as of the last day of the year.) So you'd have to run that report, save a copy, then close, then ideally save a backup of your file, then continue on. By not closing, you just continue on. You can run that report at any time with the same accuracy. If you ever need to re-run that P&L (say after making edits or adjustments) you'd have to do so from within that backup copy, or else delete/reverse the closing entries, and go from there. In short, whatever the reason for having to 'close' in the past due to the limitations of number of pages in a physical book, or for organizational purposes relating to that, computers don't require the same. You can just keep going, and going, and going. Personally, I don't close. I have no compelling reason to add work for myself or complicate my accounting life. Regards, Adrien On 1/3/22 12:25 PM, Ryan Carver wrote: > Hi All, > > > > I am using Gnucash for my small business (a design consultancy) and I have > no experience or knowledge of accounting. > > > > Could someone please explain the PROs & CONs of using the ?Close Books? > feature in layman?s terms? > > > > The online database states that using the ?Close Books? tool will result in > some report inaccuracies. Could someone elaborate on which reports would > result in inaccurate reports? I ran a few test reports after using the > ?Close Book? tool and I did not notice any report inaccuracies. > > > > Given my limited accounting knowledge it only seems intuitive that one > would always want to reset their chart of accounts for each fiscal year so > you can quickly see the correct period totals for each account. > > > > What does everyone else do when starting a new fiscal year? ------------------------------ Message: 8 Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2022 14:25:24 -0800 From: Dave Hayes <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Subject: [GNC] Frustrated at invoice options Message-ID: <[email protected]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII I build packages every quarter as most FreeBSD people should. Every quarter I have to apply the following diffs: > diff invoice.scm realpath.scm.orig 225c225 < "k" (N_ "Display the entry's discount?") #f)) --- > "k" (N_ "Display the entry's discount?") #t)) 230c230 < "l" (N_ "Display the entry's taxable status?") #f)) --- > "l" (N_ "Display the entry's taxable status?") #t)) 331c331 < (G_ "Thank you for the opportunity to assist you!"))) --- > (G_ "Thank you for your patronage!"))) This is because, unlike most options boxes I have seen, the gnucash invoice report options do not remember their settings at all. I realize there's some fancy scheme going on here, but is there ever going to exist the ability to persist invoice options across invoices and even releases of GnuCash? Thank you for understanding my frustration. -- Dave Hayes - Consultant - LA CA, USA - [email protected] >>>> *The opinions expressed above are entirely my own* <<<< It is extremely important to absorb what one is taught, not to just taste it or swallow it. People generally are in such a hurry that they do not allow themselves to digest materials which, however, can be useful only if absorbed. ------------------------------ Message: 9 Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2022 14:50:21 -0800 From: Jesse MacDougall <[email protected]> To: Ryan Carver <[email protected]> Cc: [email protected] Subject: Re: [GNC] Closing Books - Pros & Cons Message-ID: <cablqeu5svithcdsrmoh43q4d5jpb-lo4ad2hhqn_kzffkdh...@mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Hi Ryan I am pro accountant. Closing books means no one can post for that period anymore. So u close books once your have completed your final review and maybe got some entries from an accounting firm like me. You probs dont need an accounting firm though so once all your transactions are in and your cash account agrees to your bank account you now make your year end entries. Then close. You dont create a new set of chart of accounts. They roll forward each year. I think of chart of accounts as the framework of a skyscraper building being built. Chart of accounts are your financial infastructure. On Mon., Jan. 3, 2022, 10:31 Ryan Carver, <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi All, > > > > I am using Gnucash for my small business (a design consultancy) and I have > no experience or knowledge of accounting. > > > > Could someone please explain the PROs & CONs of using the ?Close Books? > feature in layman?s terms? > > > > The online database states that using the ?Close Books? tool will result in > some report inaccuracies. Could someone elaborate on which reports would > result in inaccurate reports? I ran a few test reports after using the > ?Close Book? tool and I did not notice any report inaccuracies. > > > > Given my limited accounting knowledge it only seems intuitive that one > would always want to reset their chart of accounts for each fiscal year so > you can quickly see the correct period totals for each account. > > > > What does everyone else do when starting a new fiscal year? > > > > > > Thanks, > > Ryan Carver > _______________________________________________ > gnucash-user mailing list > [email protected] > To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: > https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user > If you are using Nabble or Gmane, please see > https://wiki.gnucash.org/wiki/Mailing_Lists for more information. > ----- > Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. > You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All. > ------------------------------ Message: 10 Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2022 15:07:44 -0800 From: "Stephen M. Butler" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [GNC] Closing Books - Pros & Cons Message-ID: <[email protected]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed On 1/3/22 14:23, Adrien Monteleone wrote: > The list archive is littered with such questions and answers. > > I'm not sure if anyone put any definitive Pro-Con write up together. > > The short answer is, you don't ever *need* to close because you don't > *need* to reset your CoA. > > GnuCash dutifully reports both 'from the beginning' and 'this > year/period' just fine without doing so. (there are selectable columns > on the CoA tab to do just that) > > All reports default to 'this year' unless you've saved customized > reports otherwise. (the exception being the Balance Sheet, which is > always in any software 'since the beginning') > > This saves you the need to make closing and then reversing entries > each year. (and if you use the Business Features, you'll have to > manually do your accrual transactions) > > By not closing, you can run reports that cross annual boundaries with > no issues should you ever find the utility in doing so. > > If you do close, your P&L will be zero afterwards for that prior year. > (because the closing entries zero out all expenses and revenue to > equity as of the last day of the year.) Not in my experience.? The P&L knows about the closing entries and will ignore them (unless you tell it not to). > > So you'd have to run that report, save a copy, then close, then > ideally save a backup of your file, then continue on. By not closing, > you just continue on. You can run that report at any time with the > same accuracy. > > If you ever need to re-run that P&L (say after making edits or > adjustments) you'd have to do so from within that backup copy, or else > delete/reverse the closing entries, and go from there. I've been known to delete the closing entries (just 2 transactions), make a change, and re-close.? It is a pain but if your wife is an accountant you mirror paper as much as possible! > > In short, whatever the reason for having to 'close' in the past due to > the limitations of number of pages in a physical book, or for > organizational purposes relating to that, computers don't require the > same. You can just keep going, and going, and going. > > Personally, I don't close. I have no compelling reason to add work for > myself or complicate my accounting life. > > Regards, > Adrien I do close.? Personal preference (so my spouse informs me).? YMMV --Steve -- Stephen M Butler, PMP, PSM [email protected] [email protected] 253-350-0166 ------------------------------------------- GnuPG Fingerprint: 8A25 9726 D439 758D D846 E5D4 282A 5477 0385 81D8 ------------------------------ Subject: Digest Footer _______________________________________________ gnucash-user mailing list [email protected] To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user If you are using Nabble or Gmane, please see https://wiki.gnucash.org/wiki/Mailing_Lists for more information. ----- Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All. ------------------------------ End of gnucash-user Digest, Vol 226, Issue 9 ******************************************** _______________________________________________ gnucash-user mailing list [email protected] To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user If you are using Nabble or Gmane, please see https://wiki.gnucash.org/wiki/Mailing_Lists for more information. ----- Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All.
