2008-05-28 GnuCash IRC logs

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08:03:55 <tlhiv_laptop> hi folks ... i have a question about gnucash ... i have a bunch of accounts setup and i have setup a budget ... i would like to be able to record every expense transaction that happens and assign an account that that transaction applies to and be able to see how i am on budget at any given time
08:05:34 <jsled> tlhiv_laptop: have you read the tutorial and concepts guide?
08:06:06 <jsled> It describes how to account for transactions that go "against" a relatively rich Expense account hierarchy.
08:06:40 <jsled> The example accounts – the “Common Accounts” template in particular – has a good predefined set of Expense accounts; you're of course free to add (or remove) from them.
08:06:49 <tlhiv_laptop> jsled: the main problem i think is that i don't understand the terminology
08:06:56 <jsled> As for the budgeting … you'll probably have to play with the Budget tool in the app to see if it'll work for you.
08:07:00 <jsled> how so?
08:07:42 <tlhiv_laptop> i mean often when i read alot of financial tutorials, i find myself bogged down in terminology that i don't quite understand
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08:33:35 <tlhiv_laptop> jsled: can i automatically download my account information from my bank with gnucash so as to reconsile my account?
08:34:44 <jsled> With the german banking standard HBCI, very much so. With OFX Direct Connect, yes. Otherwise, it's less automatic: you'll need to manually download the QIF or OFX, and File > Import it.
08:34:55 <jsled> Reconciliation is a separate process.
08:35:30 <tlhiv_laptop> ok
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11:16:48 <AcornAcorn> Is there some way to get statement data from online banking if there isn't an option to download it?
11:18:35 <jsled> Do they promote OFX Direct Connect?
11:19:25 <AcornAcorn> erm, it's hsbc
11:19:50 <AcornAcorn> is OFX direct connect something specific to gnucash?
11:19:55 <jsled> No.
11:20:14 <AcornAcorn> I assume it automatically logs into your bank account and downloads transaction data right?
11:20:25 <jsled> OFX is the Open Financial Exchange standard, a "standard" by microsoft, intuit and checkfree.
11:21:05 <jsled> That's the idea of DirectConnect, yes. But most places should let you download a QIF or maybe the OFX file directly.
11:21:13 <jsled> I'm surprised that HSBC wouldn't.
11:21:39 <AcornAcorn> I wouldn't know if it did
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11:23:14 <jsled> Er ... that's what I inferred from "if there isn't an option to download it" and "it's hsbc".
11:25:15 <AcornAcorn> oh, well, it allows you to download the last 90 days of transactions in a number of formats, but everything else you have to navigate to and look at online
11:26:00 <AcornAcorn> I'm not completely sure what ofx direct connect is, and I don't see any real explanation from searching google
11:27:04 <jsled> http://wiki.gnucash.org/wiki/Setting_up_OFXDirectConnect_in_GnuCash_2#Online_Banking_in_Gnucash_2_-_OFXDirectConnect has some detail.
11:29:16 <AcornAcorn> ah ok, i think i get the gist now
11:29:33 <AcornAcorn> so I need to put 'gnucash --enable-hbci and --enable-ofx' into terminal?
11:29:52 <jsled> no, those are compile-time options.
11:30:50 <AcornAcorn> how do I start ofx direct connect then?
11:31:54 <AcornAcorn> tools>HBCI setup doesn't exist
11:33:05 <jsled> What OS/distro?
11:34:00 <AcornAcorn> ubuntu
11:34:19 <jsled> http://wiki.gnucash.org/wiki/Setting_up_OFXDirectConnect_in_GnuCash_2#Debian then applies to you.
11:36:08 <AcornAcorn> does it rely on the fact that your online banking allows your transaction data to be downloaded? or can it actually just rip it from the webpages?
11:36:22 <AcornAcorn> otherwise I could just download the data myself and import it
11:39:54 <AcornAcorn> it wont be able to do that for me will it?
11:42:35 <jsled> DirectConnect is a custom interaction protocol to get transactions. It doesn't do screen-scraping, now.
11:42:38 <jsled> s/now/no/
11:45:24 <AcornAcorn> you aren't aware of anything else that could do the screenscraping I want?
11:46:47 <jsled> not anything besides "fundamental" libraries often used for 'scraping, like BeautifulSoup.
11:48:10 <AcornAcorn> maybe I'll just have to copy and paste into excel :(
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19:52:59 <ken> Gnucash 2.2.0 Somehow I lost the register display for my checking account. All I have is the list of accounts except for my top account. Can someone tell me how I get my register back?
19:54:15 <jsled> Double click on the checking account
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20:02:52 <ken> I can not find it. It is no longer listed as one of the accounts.
20:05:52 <jsled> In the View menu, see the Filter By option, and make sure the settings there are reasonable.
20:07:17 <jsled> (gnucash 2.2.0 is pretty old; what os/distro are you using?)
20:15:15 <ken> View menu, Filter By option, seems to be default. at least nothing I have not seen listed in other places, only thing not check is the show hidden files I am running openSUSE 10.3 (i586) KDE:3.5.9
20:21:03 <ken> I have not been able to find an RPM that updates my default GnuCash installation (linux nubie & totally self taught) and have not been able to actually figure out how to upgrade my instillation with the terminal.
20:21:35 <jsled> Try checking the "show hidden accounts".
20:21:47 <jsled> I mean, just in case.
20:24:27 <ken> There does not appear to be any hidden files
20:26:27 <jsled> files?
20:27:23 <ken> sorry, accounts
20:28:06 <jsled> okay … just making sure. :)
20:28:34 <jsled> Hmm. Well, you could try opening the file in a text editor and making sure that the Account (or maybe some transactions that could only be in it) exist.
20:28:49 <jsled> I don't think I've ever heard of a failure case where a single account just disappears.
20:30:39 <jsled> s/the file/your data file/
20:45:38 <ken> There is a little arrow to the left of "travel meals" and if I right click & select open sub-account it opens as if its my register.
20:49:56 <jsled> Well, the account is a tree. Those arrows are expansion controls.
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20:56:50 <ken> Every account I open Under transaction has "travel meals:kvetter"
21:06:00 <warlord> ken: it's a tree.
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21:20:23 <ken> Ok, its a tree. it is also the only tree that when it's sub accounts are opened lists everything from the opening balance to the deposit I recorded this morning as well as the pending withdraws that are scheduled for the first next month? I don't know I was just asking. Perhaps I accidentally renamed it or something.
21:21:03 <jsled> Perhaps. The tree of accounts is just a tree of accounts.
21:21:53 <jsled> Every Transaction will be "between" at least two accounts in the tree.
21:24:56 <ken> When I open any account and click the the "transfer" coloum I have all the accounts listed, two of which are travel meals and tervel meals:jkvetter kvetter is the name of my account that displays thh register.
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21:30:17 <ken> If I double click restaurant it opens and every restaurant expense I have is listed. and the Date>Num>Description>Transfer>R> Expense>Rebate> Balance. Description= restaurant name Transfer=Travel Meals:kvetter
21:31:48 <warlord> ken: yes, because you can transfer between any accounts, so yes, you'll have the whole list in the dropdown
21:32:45 <warlord> ken: well, that menas that every transaction you entered is between "restaurant" and "travel meals:kvetter"
21:37:57 <ken> If my register account name is kvetter (missing) shouldn't all my accounts be between that account and jkvetter? I never created an account travel meals:jkvetter. I did create an account trave meals.
21:39:13 <warlord> I have no idea. Those words mean nothing to me, and you're not using the standard hierarchy.
21:39:30 <warlord> And I can't see what you're seeing without a screenshot.
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21:51:29 <ken> My original question was I lost the register display for my checking account. All I have is the list of accounts except for my top account.
21:51:39 <ken> I would follow up with my top account was named kvetter and now its gone. Right now I can not use my checking account because the pages where everything comes together is gone. How can I get it back or can I create another one?
21:52:11 <jsled> I'd need a screenshot, too.
21:52:22 <jsled> How is your top account named "kvetter"?
21:54:13 <warlord> Expand the account tree and then double-click on the checking account line to open the register.
22:02:25 <ken> YO HO HO! there it is! I clicked the arrow to the left of travel meals, the arrow turned down and listed my checking account on the next line. Description Checking account ledger !! I double clicked it and there my registry is. The Balances are wrong but I have it part way back!!
22:04:12 <jsled> Congrats on figuring out a tree control.
22:05:14 <ken> This evening it the first time I have ever seen it!!
22:07:00 <ken> I just edited the account and made it top level / bank and all my numbers are correct :)
22:07:56 <jsled> ken: you might want to create a new file, and take a look at how the Common account example template hierarchy is arranged.
22:08:23 <jsled> While you can have whatever account hierarchy you like … there are some that are better than others.
22:11:28 <ken> Where are hierarchy examples located?
22:13:09 <jsled> If you create a new file, the druid should show them. Otherwise, when on the Accounts tab: File > New > New Account Hierarchy...
22:19:17 <warlord> So, File -> New -> New File ... or File -> New -> New Account Hierarchy
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22:21:14 <ken> Ok, I see a druid dialog starts, I will run it later this week and see what I can learn. I just started with Linux last fall and GnuCash February of this year and its all new. I just quit Quickbooks and have been forcing myself to learn this because I just have to get away for MS.
22:22:44 <ken> You folks did great, even with out screen shots and my poor descriptions,.. . Thank you! I will now be able to sleep tonight! I'm off to finishing my washer repair. If you care to know who's butt you pulled out of the fire visit www.jkvetter.com Good Night & Thanks
22:23:04 <warlord> What do you mean "without screen shots"?
22:23:12 <warlord> There are screen shots in the docs!
22:23:27 <jsled> he didn't send us any, even after multiple requests.
22:24:27 <ken> I was getting ready to ask how to send screen shots & you solved my problem
22:24:59 <ken> Good night & thanks
22:25:07 <jsled> ken: take care
22:25:21 <warlord> Oh, that
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