2009-02-27 GnuCash IRC logs

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00:29:20 <blake> Anyone on here?
00:30:02 <blake> Question: I'm a new gnucash user (love it!) But, I've put in intial balance and a few transactions. Now when I look at the "Balance Sheet", all the assets and liabilities are $0.00.
00:30:41 <blake> However the amounts of my transactions are shown to the left of each zero. For example Assets:Checking $1000.00 $0.00.
00:30:54 <blake> How do I get balances to actually register in Balance Sheet?
00:33:46 <warlord> what currencies are you using? And how are you entering your transactions?
00:34:30 <blake> Using US dollars. Entering transactions in the account pages. Checking account for example.
00:35:22 <warlord> So you're using the account register, not the GL?
00:35:40 <warlord> If all the balances are 0 that implies something is... wrong.
00:35:46 <warlord> What OS/Distro? What version of GnuCash?
00:37:09 <blake> I'm using Kubuntu 8.04 gnucash was latest provided by apt-get: 2.2.4.
00:37:24 <blake> Here is a cut/paste from the Balance Sheet: Checking Account USD 4,516.19 $0.00
00:38:26 <blake> In general is it better to enter transactions into the general leger?
00:38:55 <warlord> No, in general it's better to use the account registers.
00:39:11 <warlord> WAIT... Is this balance numbers in the REGISTER that are 0? Or in some report?
00:40:23 <blake> Problem is in the "Balance Sheet" report. The accounts themselves show correct balances.
00:40:38 <warlord> Oh..
00:40:48 <warlord> You had me really worried for a bit there.
00:42:06 <warlord> First, 2.2.9 is current.
00:42:20 <warlord> Second.... what report options did you change to get this output in the report?
00:43:11 <blake> I don't think I changed any options. After we get done I'll try to upgrade it but I don't know if a new ubuntu package is in the repos. (I just installed a couple of days ago)
00:44:04 <warlord> I'm sure at least 2.2.8 is available via launchpad
00:44:32 <warlord> In the default options there is only 1 amount per line in the Balance Sheet report.
00:45:05 <blake> Here is what apt-get says: gnucash is already the newest version.
00:46:09 <warlord> Did you configure the launchpad repo?
00:46:37 <blake> Not sure. Can you give me the file entry?
00:46:56 <warlord> No.. I dont use Ubuntu/Debian.
00:47:11 <warlord> I just know it exists. Nothing more. Soryr.
00:47:13 <warlord> sorry
00:47:18 <blake> OK let me do a little checking
00:47:53 <warlord> Anyways, as for the report, the BS only has 1 amount per line, so I dont know what you're seeing. Could you pastebin a screen shot?
00:51:41 <blake> FYI launchpad has only 2.2.4 (https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/hardy/+source/gnucash)
00:51:49 <blake> Working on a screenshot now.
00:52:42 * warlord has no idea what "hardy" is.
00:54:44 <blake> hardy is ubuntu 8.04
00:55:00 <blake> how can I send you the screenshot?
00:55:21 <warlord> pastebin
00:55:29 <warlord> (pasteimg?)
00:55:39 <blake> sorry = I don't know what those are.
00:56:06 <warlord> websites
00:56:09 <warlord> pastebin.ca
00:56:15 <blake> ahhh!
00:58:08 <blake> What you meant was "imagebin" http://imagebin.ca/view/hGRefwHL.html (my screenshot)
00:59:15 <blake> got 2 go now. Will check back in ~30 min.
00:59:24 <blake> Thanks for the help so far!!
01:00:04 <warlord> I'm heading to bed soon..
01:01:00 <warlord> That "USD 1234 $0.00" looks fishy to me... Almost like you created a USD "stock" and are using that instead of the USD currency..
01:01:12 <warlord> But I have no idea how that could be...
01:01:39 <warlord> Could you 'edit' the Checking Account, and then from there edit the currency and see what it says?
01:03:57 <warlord> I do see a $0.02 $0.02 in my BS report.. This is due to having subaccounts beyond the limit set in the report options.
01:04:23 <warlord> But the "USD 1234 $0.00" seems weird. What do you get from running "locale" on the command line?
01:04:41 <warlord> (I wonder if you're not in the US locale)
01:04:54 <warlord> Also, what do you have set in your preferences for default report currency?
01:05:14 <warlord> anyways, things to check. I'll be back in about 7-8 hours. Good night.
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01:26:31 <blake> Looks like I was set for canda locale!! (I'm in seattle and that is not an installation option (linux irony?)) So I picked Vancouver. Better to choose Los Angeles.
01:27:06 <blake> Now I have to see if I can fix this. I found how to change the locale -- lets see how gnucash responds.
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01:32:07 <blake> FIXED!! Switching locale (see http://blog.andrewbeacock.com/2007/01/how-to-change-your-default-locale-on.html) to US fixed this problem completely. Now Balance Sheet report shows things right.
01:32:11 <blake> Thanks again for the help.
01:32:18 <blake> Over and out.
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01:48:41 <Rolf> Can someone explain to me why gnucash is even missing with timezones for transaction dates?
01:49:00 <Rolf> Transactions aren't entered with this kind of precision anyways
01:49:25 <Rolf> Can we please just drop this nonsense, it creates so many problems and has done so for *years*
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02:23:11 <blake> The issue was not timezones, it was assuming a default currency of Canadian $ when I was entering things in USD. Since the symbol is the same ($) I did not realize the source of the problem.
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09:14:27 <SmokeyD1> Does anyone have tips on how to copy all my customers/vendors from one gnucash file to a new one? I am creating a new file for the new year (by exporting the accounts) but also want to copy all customers and vendors to the new file
09:15:12 <SmokeyD1> it would actually be interesting if gnucash could use a separate database for relations
09:18:02 <warlord> There is no easy way to copy your contacts.
09:19:04 <SmokeyD1> warlord: also not with using a text editor or something?
09:19:14 <warlord> nothing supported.
09:19:59 <SmokeyD1> warlord: what do you mean with supported: there is no helpdesk I can call to anyway. If I can get it to work, then it is supported by me for myself :)
09:20:31 <warlord> by not supported I mean /WE/ wont help you if you screw it up.
09:20:31 <SmokeyD1> no guarantees, but hey, if I want guarantees, I'll spend 100's of euro's on a software package
09:20:38 <warlord> (this is a helpdesk, effectively)
09:20:40 <SmokeyD1> warlord: no problem
09:21:09 <SmokeyD1> I do it on a copy anyway so if I screw it up, i'll just start over
09:21:32 <warlord> Well, the data file is just xml
09:22:47 <SmokeyD1> warlord: the file seems to be packed somehow. Gzip or something?
09:22:59 <warlord> gzip
09:27:30 <SmokeyD1> warlord: how do other people handle year to year changes? Everybody uses "Close book"? Or do many people also use separate files for separate years. And if so, do they enter their customers and vendors all over again each year?
09:28:25 <warlord> I just keep the data file going.
09:29:48 <SmokeyD1> warlord: but what then do you do at the end of the year. I have to report my taxes and stuff and need the overview. But I can't do that on the 31st of december. Only now I will report my taxes from last year. But if I use the same file, there is no way to find out how the situation was then right? Or am I missing something?
09:30:05 <warlord> Reports have date settings.
09:30:40 <SmokeyD1> warlord: yeah, but there are entries in 2009 that belong to 2008, and there are entries in 2009 that belong to 2009. No way to make that distinction
09:31:02 <warlord> Why do you have entries dated 2009 that belong to 2008?
09:31:43 <SmokeyD1> because the bill I sent in december got paid the first weeks of 2009. So I want to still report them with the taxes of 2008
09:32:21 <warlord> The taxes from the invoice would be dated 2008 from when you posted the invoice.
09:32:55 <warlord> But based on cash accounting rules you probably should report it in 2009.. But you can just do the math manually to adjust the end-of-period AR
09:34:46 <SmokeyD1> Hmm, doping the math manually isn't very usefull. That is what I have gnucash for. But you are right in saying that actually the increase in my balance caused by payment of the invoice should probably be reported in 2009, not 2008
09:34:51 <SmokeyD1> *doing
09:36:51 <warlord> but gnucash is storing it all on an accrual basis. Converting to cash basis is currently a manual process. Unless, of course, you're offering to donate code to automate the process?
09:37:29 <SmokeyD1> what do you mean with "Converting to cash basis"?
09:37:38 <warlord> which word dont you understand?
09:37:44 <SmokeyD1> all of them
09:37:59 <warlord> what country do you live in?
09:38:00 <SmokeyD1> what is converting to cash basis. What basis. Converting what to cash basis?
09:38:05 <SmokeyD1> warlord: NEtherlands
09:38:09 <warlord> Ah, okay.
09:38:21 <warlord> "cash basis" as opposed to "accrual basis"
09:38:38 <SmokeyD1> sorry, don't understand accrual either. I'll fetch a dictionary]
09:38:39 <SmokeyD1> :)
09:39:42 <warlord> I presume you understand what "convert" means.
09:39:47 <SmokeyD1> yeah :)
09:39:48 <warlord> to change from one form to another.
09:39:52 <SmokeyD1> and now I also no accrual
09:40:00 <SmokeyD1> just found it in the dictionary
09:40:01 <SmokeyD1> :)
09:43:22 <SmokeyD1> you mean with the accrual basis that when you post an invoice that you create an asset since the customer owes you money. Whether or not they will pay up, and when is uncertain, but at least you create an asset. When they pay you just convert one asset to another
09:44:00 <warlord> Yes.. But tax rules may state that you need to account when they pay, not when you book the income
09:44:17 <SmokeyD1> yeah ok, and that is the cash basis
09:44:28 <SmokeyD1> and converting between the two is a manual process
09:44:36 <SmokeyD1> now I understand
09:44:37 <SmokeyD1> thanks
09:45:25 <SmokeyD1> about contributing code, I am not anough of a C programmer to help out there. Would like to though, but the complexity of GNUcash seems to be beyond my programming skills
09:46:41 <warlord> The reports are scheme
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10:53:13 <linas> warlord, I will be cutting over the gnucash servers to the new internet connection either late tonight or tommorrow
10:53:24 <warlord> cool.
10:53:35 <linas> BTW, after yelling at them on the phone the sent an installer out the very next day. Go figure
10:53:47 <linas> yelling works.
10:54:21 <warlord> I'm going to shut down code today because I'm not going to have time to migrate before march 1. hopefully it wont send out the monthly mailman reminders if it's turned off.
10:54:40 <warlord> i'm surprised yelling actually worked.
10:55:41 <linas> well, I was yelling "I want to buy your product, why can't you sell it?"
10:56:40 <linas> I talked to maybe 6-8 people over a month, it took 8-9 hours to order it; I think thier computer ordering systems are totally screwed up.
10:57:20 <linas> all of em kept having to reboot their computers, and they'd explain the ordering system was offline, could they call back tonight, and most were very apologetic.
10:57:37 <linas> but sometimes the computer siad "can't be done" and theat's when I yelled.
10:59:45 <linas> here's how nutty it was: they mailed me a piece of paper with my security code on it, which I needed to set up the router. But the router wouldn't accept it, and it tok an hour of social engineering to get a new passcode to set up the router! This is *after* the installer left!
11:00:14 <warlord> LOVELY
11:02:49 <linas> Maybe the AT&T software is the same stuff that wallstreet used to price securities >:-0
11:02:56 <warlord> hahahahaha
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11:08:23 <linas> btw, here's a peice of wire-tap paranoia: traceroute between my two connections show that the packets go through NYC, and then a bunch of unresolved routers, probly on east coast before returning to texas.
11:10:32 <linas> Given that my current internet provider has peering in Austin, you wonder why the packets had to leave the state, and go through virginia ...
11:11:07 <warlord> Interesting...
11:13:00 <linas> Back in the 90's, ping between ISP{'s in austin used to bounce around the east coast (usual to boston, then a few hops before going to atlanta for the return)
11:13:13 <linas> but that was the 90's and people just said 'bad peering'
11:13:36 <warlord> Fewer peering points.
11:15:47 <linas> but then a fiber loop from houston was laid, coming in along the railroad tracks, and at its terminus is a warehouse holds the main WAN routers for each local ISP. So at least most of local ISP's peer locally
11:16:21 <linas> Maybe AT&T can ignore that sort of stuff .. .
11:16:22 <warlord> but at&t isn' "local"
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11:54:28 <elnino> hello!!! I know this isn't exactly a gnucash question, but has anyone been able to get the calc2qif macro to work in openoffice 3?
11:54:50 <elnino> I tried emailing the developer and recieved no response, and I figured someone here must use it?
11:58:03 <Simon> linas: they can still have better peering agreements via somewhere on the other side of the country
12:02:52 <linas> or all of the packets could "just by accident" happen to go through Langley, VA, where all those three-letter intelligence agencies are located.
12:11:12 <warlord> well, keep in mind that the Internet started as the ARPAnet, a military network funded by DARPA out of..... Virginia.
12:13:32 <gxti> i hear there's a sale on tinfoil at costco
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12:40:58 <dbreiser> elnino: yesterday you were worried about "Account numbers/passwords...all in one place" That isn't correct
12:41:31 <dbreiser> aqbanking stores account numbers and user ID's in it's config files. Passwords are not stored
12:41:31 <elnino> dbreiser with agbanking?
12:41:43 <elnino> ok, so I'm prompted?
12:42:14 <elnino> I need to step away for about an hour.. I would love to hear more... I'll be back.
12:42:20 <dbreiser> If you turn on logging and do an ofx direct connect, your password will appear in that log (/tmp/ofx.log)
12:42:24 <dbreiser> yes, prompted
12:42:53 <dbreiser> I'll be back much later too. I'll be away for several hours.
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14:46:45 <arussel> is there way to split the window in half to be able to see 2 accounts at the same time ?
14:47:56 <jsled> open the registers as separate windows. Otherwise, no.
14:48:02 <jsled> tabbed interfaces don't work that wa.
14:48:06 <jsled> s/wa/way/
14:50:00 <arussel> jsled: you mean opening a new gnucash instance ?
14:50:49 <jsled> no...
14:51:25 <jsled> I guess there's no straightforward way to say "Open Account in new Window"
14:51:44 <jsled> But once opened in a tab, go to the Windows menu, and do "New Window with Page"
14:51:52 <jsled> And it'll open the register in a new top-level window.
14:52:00 <jsled> Then you can use your window manager to arrange them as you like
14:52:27 <arussel> got it. Thanks for your help
14:53:07 <jsled> you're welcome
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21:06:38 <oeirhw234> How do I make income&expense reports show moving 12 months data?
21:06:57 <oeirhw234> rather than needing to reconfigure the accounting period every month
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22:28:05 <warlord> oeirhw234: use the report options to set the appropriate dates.. (but there is no "1 year from this month" setting)
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23:26:14 <oeirhw234> @warlord: thank you, i hope that gnucash will introduce a moving period report
23:26:14 <gncbot> oeirhw234: Error: "warlord:" is not a valid command.
23:26:27 <oeirhw234> warlord: thank you, i hope that gnucash will introduce a moving period report
23:26:31 <warlord> oeirhw234: send in a patch..
23:26:40 <warlord> (nobody is working on it)
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