First, a correction. GC does not necessarily "continually" save a copy... if you are using the default file (compressed XML), the data is written (a) when you click "Save" or according to the "Auto-save time interval" in your settings in the Preferences->General (Some people don't like Auto-save). If you have changed to a SQL database, then the data is written after each entry you make. Incidentally, the aforementioned General tab in Preferences is where you canfigure how long you want to keep backups and log files.
Everything with a time stamp is a log file (ends in ".log" or a backup data file (ends in ".gnucash"). There is also (when GnuCash is running, a .LCK file so that two people don't have the same file open at the same time. The file is created when you open the GnuCash file, and is deleted upon a successful shutdown. I trust that this helps you. On Mon, Jan 19, 2026 at 12:51 PM Monroe Bryant <[email protected]> wrote: > > An unrelated question, since GC continually saves a copy, I have multiple > files for the same date but different times. Which are the actual times > files I need to save from this long list? There is a text file and what > appears to be an executable file and a third that I don’t know the name > for. Also it sometimes says that it can’t locate the Lock File. I believe > I only have to save the latest file(s) but which one? > > > Monroe Bryant > Sent from my iPad Air > > "We [the people] are the 1st-responders; > the police are our backup!" Glenn Beck, 2013 > > *Please show your e-mail savvy by respecting and protecting the privacy of > all parties. When Forwarding, use "BCC" and press "Send" only AFTER you > have deleted all extraneous email addresses from this email. It's the smart > way to share.* > > > On Jan 19, 2026, at 1:18 PM, R Losey <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Well, you need to consider what you mean by "transition from one year to > the next" and WHY you think you need to do this. > > If you are worried about a huge datafile ==> don't worry about this: I > have been using GnuCash for 9 years now and my file is a mere 2.8M. > > If you just want to archive off the state of your finances, then I would > suggest closing down GnuCash, and then copying your data file to a > end-of-year file: If you file is "MyGNUcash.gnucash", create a copy of it > called "MyGNCcash_EOY2025.gnucash" - you can even mark it read-only if you > wish. Before doing that, it may be worthwhile to open that file and to > disable any scheduled transactions you have (it would be rough to open it > in a year or two and have years of scheduled transactions pending). > > There is a end-of-year closeout in which income and expense accounts are > zeroed (by rolling them into Equity). This is not necessary to do for > GnuCash to work, but some people like doing it (I am one that does - it > makes Income and Expense account totals reflect only the current year). > This is the "Close Book" command under the Tools menu that others have > mentioned... you can also do it by hand for each income & expense account. > > Bottom line: You probably don't need to do anything to "transition from > one year to the next" (other than remembering to use the right date!!) > > > > > On Sun, Jan 18, 2026 at 8:16 PM Monroe Bryant <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> Where do I find, in the manual, how to transition from one year to the >> next rather than just continuing. >> >> Monroe Bryant >> Sent from my iPad Air >> >> "We [the people] are the 1st-responders; >> the police are our backup!" Glenn Beck, 2013 >> >> Please show your e-mail savvy by respecting and protecting the privacy of >> all parties. When Forwarding, use "BCC" and press "Send" only AFTER you >> have deleted all extraneous email addresses from this email. It's the smart >> way to share. >> >> _______________________________________________ >> gnucash-user mailing list >> [email protected] >> 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. >> > > > -- > _________________________________ > Richard Losey > [email protected] > Micah 6:8 > > -- _________________________________ Richard Losey [email protected] Micah 6:8 _______________________________________________ gnucash-user mailing list [email protected] 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.
