2009-01-02 GnuCash IRC logs
00:53:23 <khc> so I imported some partial transactions from my bank, which has a bunch of interest transactions. Is there a way to tell it to automatically link those to Income/Interest/Some account?
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01:38:55 <jpeach> Is there a way to import QSF files that contains a customer list?
02:35:12 <jsled> QSF? no.
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02:35:32 <jsled> QSF? no.
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02:47:19 <jpeach1> jsled: Thanks
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03:10:39 <foo> hm, 2.2.8 has a huge bug.. or at least an annoying one. Clicking on "close" when I'm in one of my registers (eg. checking account) kills gnucash. It happens everytime now. I try to start up and it says there was a lock file ... so I know something is up.
03:10:49 * foo tries to work around the problem for end of the month bills
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09:29:07 <warlord> foo: yes, known bug. already fixed in SVN (I'm pretty sure)
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12:24:45 <psymin> my new years resolution is to get a better hold on my finances, so I'm using gnucash .. how should I resolve an imbalance-USD on my credit card account after importing transactions?
12:25:20 <jsled> balance the transaction
12:25:46 <jsled> If that's from import … which importer? QIF?
12:27:22 <psymin> from my bank .. it is a .qfx file
12:27:30 <psymin> should I export it from the bank as a different format?
12:29:57 <psymin> is balance the same as reconcile? Where do I find the balance action?
12:30:31 <jsled> no, reconcile is something different.
12:30:40 <jsled> So, you should read the tutorial and concepts guide.
12:31:19 <jsled> But, in short, every Transaction is made up of at least two Splits. The difference of the sum of credits and debits across all splits *must* be zero.
12:31:27 <jsled> That is, the credits and debits must balance.
12:31:42 <jsled> In the register, you're probably in the "Basic" View.
12:31:59 <jsled> Which hides the Split related to the current account (of the register you have open).
12:32:17 <jsled> Since most transactions have two splits: one for the current account and one for the related account, this makes things a bit easier.
12:32:40 <jsled> But it's helpful to either use the Auto-Split register View, or use the Split action in the toolbar/menu, to at least get a sense of the "real" Transaction.
12:32:55 <psymin> Ahhh
12:33:01 <jsled> What you should see there is one Split for the Credit Card account, and another to the Imbalance-USD account.
12:33:44 <jsled> Change the account of the Imbalance-USD to whatever it should be … for credit cards that's usually either some Expense:… account (buying something) or some Asset:… account (paying down the credit card balance).
12:34:08 <jsled> As for the importer … either it's a bug or you skipped the importer's "assign these importing transaction to accounts" step.
12:37:27 <jsled> stepping out for a half hour or so. biaw. hopefully others can answer any other questions you have.
12:40:05 <psymin> thanks :)
12:40:21 <psymin> should my cc starting balance be negative or positive?
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13:14:24 <jsled> psymin: strictly, accounting-wise, it should be negative. GnuCash by default sign-reverses credit card accounts (and another) so if you owe $500, then it'll display as +$500.
13:14:35 <jsled> That's controllable via Preferences, if you care.
13:30:48 <psymin> found it :)
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15:02:11 <foo> warlord-afk: SWEET. Thanks :)
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18:38:27 <LarryK> I am using GnuCash 2.2.4 on Ubuntu 8.10. When I import a QIF or QFX file everything is imported into the Imbalance account. Is there some way to get GnuCash to put transactions into specific accounts automatically based on previous actions? E.g. like the way Quicken automatically categorizes. TIA.
18:43:06 <jsled> LarryK: both importers will learn based on the mappings you provide during the import process.
18:43:17 <jsled> Unfortunately, they both use different implementations.
18:43:33 <jsled> the QIF importer is string-literal based on the previous transaction's description.
18:43:54 <jsled> The OFX importer employs bayesian matching, but it's turned off by default; check the Preferences.
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19:32:47 <fbond> Okay, looking for a little more advice regarding budget reports.
19:32:57 <fbond> I have a Budget Balance Sheet report.
19:32:59 <goodger> welcome back fbond
19:33:05 <fbond> goodger: hey, thanks!
19:33:19 <fbond> So, the BBS displays a projected balance sheet based on budget data.
19:34:02 <fbond> This includes a liabilities total.
19:34:09 <fbond> But, as a user, I'm not just interested in the total.
19:34:17 <fbond> I'm also interested in "existing" versus "new" liabilities.
19:34:28 <fbond> Where existing means liabilities that exist at the start of the budget period.
19:34:44 <fbond> And new means the change in liabilities over the budget period.
19:35:01 <fbond> Is it wrong for me to include these extra numbers in the BBS, even though they are (obviously) not present in a traditional BS?
19:35:37 <fbond> Perhaps I should just make it an optional component...
19:36:03 <fbond> BTW, I currently have a similar situation for total assets, total equity, retained earnings, etc...
19:37:07 <goodger> these new numbers may as well be included
19:37:20 <goodger> it can't hurt so long as they are calculated correctly
19:37:27 <goodger> but I am not sure how you would use them
19:37:37 <goodger> but that is outside the scope of this discussion
19:38:02 <fbond> Hm, well, they are useful to me because I don't just want to know what my projected BS looks like, I also want to know how the budget really impacts it.
19:38:17 <fbond> The delta figures are revealing.
19:39:57 <fbond> I could introduce options so that they can be omitted. Maybe that is best.
19:40:08 <fbond> That way you can still get a "proper" BS, but can have the extra info if you want it.
19:41:22 <goodger> good idea.
19:41:50 <fbond> But I don't really want a list of 5-6 checkboxes for each individual line; that seems overwhelming.
19:42:13 <fbond> Maybe a single option: "include new/existing totals"
19:43:09 <goodger> very good
19:43:22 <fbond> Okay, done. Thanks!
19:43:35 <fbond> (done meaning "agreed", not "I finished already")
19:43:56 <goodger> try adding an option to give you financial advice
19:44:09 <fbond> goodger: Heh. That's what I have #gnucash for.
19:44:09 <goodger> such as a disposable income report
19:44:16 <fbond> Oh, hm.
19:44:27 <goodger> "I want a new television. how much can I afford to spend?"
19:44:42 <fbond> Okay, hm.
19:44:53 <fbond> I'll have to think about that.
19:45:25 <fbond> I think there's still a weakness WRT budget reports that help you decide whether or not your budget is a good one.
19:45:28 <goodger> hint: if you actually can implement it, you are probably in the wrong job
19:46:08 <fbond> Well, it kind of depends on how much you are trying to save, but if i want to save X and I have projected income and expenses Y and Z...
19:47:31 <goodger> see, I will be paying good money to have a professional tell me the answer to that question
19:48:02 <goodger> if you can replace that industry with technology, I suggest you a) monetize it, and b) keep away from ledges with railings underneath
19:50:07 <goodger> ...
19:54:33 <goodger> have the accountancy mafia got to you already?
19:55:39 <fbond> Sorry, it was dinner time and my fingers were greasy before I knew what happened. ;)
19:55:59 <goodger> aha
19:56:05 <fbond> Anyway, business finance is infinitely more complicated than home finance, and I think that's probably what you're referring to...
19:56:13 <goodger> nope...
19:56:28 <goodger> I can make my own business finance decisions, because I'm allegedly qualified to do so
19:56:43 <fbond> Hm, well, such a program for home finance is more-or-less a matter of interviewing the user to find out what he wants to achieve.
19:56:44 <goodger> but I have no idea at all how much of my income I should be saving, or where to put it
19:56:53 <goodger> for instance
19:57:07 <fbond> Once you have goals, deciding what to do with income is easy. Actually following through is another story, of course. ;)
19:57:25 <goodger> so I will be paying someone about £250/year, which will be 1% of my net annual income, to advise me on the matter
19:57:47 <fbond> You must have difficult-to-achieve goals.
19:58:04 <goodger> well, yes, I want to increase my quality of life
19:58:14 <goodger> that's always difficult on a personal scale.
19:58:24 <fbond> Depends on what you want ;)
20:00:06 <goodger> ok, I want a comfortable and powerful but efficient car, namely a vw passat sel tdi, and I want a nice house in a town like canterbury, and beyond that, I have no specific aims (the second aim is too vague even)... perhaps I will develop some at university
20:01:52 <fbond> Well, sounds like you should pursue a career that pays well, or be the owner of a profitable business. I'm not sure a financial advisor can help you do either of those.
20:02:11 <goodger> I have a vague aim for a gross salary, £35kpa --- the problem being that I don't know how to distribute the net figure of £20k
20:02:28 <fbond> Like, how to invest it?
20:03:19 <goodger> how to spend it, mostly. how much to budget for food each week, or "my price range" for buying suits or televisions or houses
20:03:57 <goodger> I know how to invest the proportion I invest --- bank savings accounts, primarily --- but I don't know what proportion to invest
20:05:05 <goodger> if you can develop an automated service to advise people like me, and people who are doing it _wrongly_, then you will likely find a huge market for it
20:05:21 <fbond> Hm. howmuchshouldisave.com
20:05:41 <goodger> ach. domain squatters
20:05:49 <fbond> Right, that's my future site ;)
20:05:56 <goodger> too generic
20:06:00 <fbond> Heh.
20:06:05 <goodger> besides, you will have to bend over for the squatters
20:06:16 <fbond> Hm, not all squatted on domains are expensive.
20:06:19 <fbond> Anyway, the wife beckons.
20:06:24 <fbond> Gotta run, goodger.
20:06:24 <goodger> which is why my company does not own the domain that matches its name
20:06:30 <goodger> bye
20:06:35 <fbond> I'll be around. ;)
20:06:41 <goodger> goodo
20:06:46 <fbond> Later for now.
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21:11:24 <Pavel> Hi. I am trying to figure out where GnuCash gets its currency exchange rate data: unlike the other types of quotes, you just check the box in the Security Editor, and don't have to choose the source. So what is the source?
21:13:50 <goodger> I am also intrigued by that, incidentally... warlord-afk, sorry to disturb, but can you help?
21:14:17 *** warlord-afk is now known as warlord
21:14:23 <warlord> Amusingly, I just got back.
21:14:28 <goodger> oh good.
21:14:29 <warlord> I /believe/ quotes are grabbed from yahoo.
21:14:40 <goodger> the documentation doesn't mention the word "currency"
21:16:34 <warlord> I'm not sure why it would.
21:17:13 <goodger> well, if it documented some of gnucash's many currency-related features, it would presumably use the word "currency" somewhere
21:19:30 <warlord> It uses "commodity", because the multi-currency features are pretty much equivalent to stocks and funds.
21:19:44 <goodger> ah
21:20:12 <goodger> that word also does not appear anywhere within the documentation on my computer
21:20:24 <gxti> exhaustive documentation would probably mention things like "Show National Currencies" checkbox in the security editor
21:20:35 <gxti> even if it is relatively self-evident
21:21:14 <warlord> who said the docs are exhaustive?
21:21:19 <goodger> indeed..
21:21:39 <gxti> they're *theoretical* exhaustive docs :P
21:21:45 <warlord> They are GOOD.. but they are FAR from exhaustive.
21:22:10 <warlord> anyways, any more questions before I pop off again?
21:22:21 <warlord> (real questions, not theoretical ones) ;-
21:22:23 <warlord> ;-)
21:23:35 <goodger> nope
21:24:04 <warlord> okay. ttfn
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21:24:17 * warlord-afk can type.. REALLY he can.
21:24:27 <gxti> hm, i think i like "away from the damn keyboard"
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