2010-10-12 GnuCash IRC logs

01:24:23 *** Slurpee has quit IRC
03:00:20 *** lapdog has quit IRC
04:33:27 *** HerrK has joined #gnucash
04:37:32 *** ironwolf has quit IRC
04:43:38 *** timfrost has quit IRC
04:49:28 *** ironwolf has joined #gnucash
06:56:49 *** kpreid has quit IRC
07:23:38 *** Reese1872 has quit IRC
07:32:27 *** kpreid has joined #gnucash
07:41:43 *** bentob0x has joined #gnucash
07:49:02 *** Jimraehl has left #gnucash
07:56:04 *** Jimraehl has joined #gnucash
08:44:44 *** fbond has joined #gnucash
09:12:40 *** lol_h has joined #gnucash
09:15:21 *** kpreid has quit IRC
09:21:18 *** bentob0x has quit IRC
09:23:43 *** kpreid has joined #gnucash
09:26:32 *** warlord-afk is now known as warlord
10:19:51 *** e-ndy has joined #gnucash
10:36:10 *** lapdog has joined #gnucash
11:00:22 *** e-ndy has quit IRC
11:00:34 *** Slurpee has joined #gnucash
11:59:59 *** lapdog has quit IRC
12:02:45 *** lapdog has joined #gnucash
12:10:01 *** lol_h has quit IRC
12:25:28 *** kpreid has quit IRC
12:37:36 *** kpreid has joined #gnucash
12:40:16 *** markjenkinsparit has joined #gnucash
14:07:45 *** sjc has joined #gnucash
14:12:37 *** HerrK has quit IRC
14:31:40 *** |Slurpee|_ has joined #gnucash
14:38:18 *** Slurpee has quit IRC
14:52:13 *** kpreid has quit IRC
15:06:12 *** kpreid has joined #gnucash
15:06:20 *** bentob0x has joined #gnucash
15:11:57 *** HerrK has joined #gnucash
15:26:49 *** ElBano has joined #gnucash
15:28:11 <ElBano> i have a question
15:28:25 <ElBano> i have one account which i always import .ofx files to for the latest transactions
15:30:52 <ElBano> but i want to copy a lot of transactions to another account, but gnucash doesn't let you copy transactions more than one at a time, right?
15:30:52 <ElBano> so
15:31:03 <ElBano> im wondering how to import an .ofx file to a diff account than usual
15:31:13 <ElBano> how do you choose the account to import the ofx to?
15:36:33 <warlord> Um, import it from a different OFX Account?
15:36:45 <warlord> ... or use a different OFX account and 'reset' the original account?
15:37:18 <ElBano> huh?
15:37:24 <ElBano> im talking about importing from an .ofx file
15:37:39 <warlord> yes, i know
15:37:50 <ElBano> the other problem is i have a capital one account
15:37:58 <ElBano> and im trying to add online support
15:38:02 <ElBano> and it crashes when i hit get accounts
15:38:46 <warlord> what OS/Distro?
15:38:51 <warlord> And what version of GnuCash?
15:38:56 <ElBano> f13
15:39:16 <ElBano> boom, crash again
15:39:26 <ElBano> gnucash 2.3.13
15:40:54 <warlord> File a bug report with REdHat
15:40:56 <warlord> Red Hat
15:41:17 <ElBano> at any rate
15:41:21 <ElBano> back to my main issue
15:41:28 <ElBano> so since gnucash does not allow copying of multiple transactions
15:41:40 <ElBano> i have an ofx file of which i want to import all of the transactions within to a different account than usual
15:41:42 <ElBano> how do i do that?
15:42:25 <ElBano> it seems to want to default to the account i usually import to
15:43:38 <warlord> You need to dis-associate the OFX account with the usual GNC account, either by changing the OFX Account in the file, or creating an alternate OFX file to import with a different ID, importing that, and assigning that to the primary account..
15:43:54 <warlord> I think your best bet is to just change the contents of the one-time import.
15:46:54 <ElBano> oh ok
15:54:00 <indigo> would someone that knows something about loan repayment and escrow accounts be willing to discuss some accounting practices with me?
15:54:44 <indigo> namely, i want to track the balance of my escrow account, and i'd like yearly insurance, tax premiums to be spread out as monthly expenses, and i'm not sure how to accomplish that.
16:01:35 <ElBano> i just upgraded to .15
16:01:38 <ElBano> still crashes on get accounts
16:02:41 <warlord> ElBano: get a backtrace?
16:03:18 <warlord> indigo: except they are not monthly expenses. monthly you pay into your escrow, and then quarterly/yearly your escrow pays the expenses.
16:04:15 <indigo> right
16:04:29 <ElBano> this stinks!
16:04:36 <ElBano> anyone using online banking with capital one?
16:04:43 <ElBano> i set it up, but it says there are no transactions
16:04:50 <warlord> ElBano: I suggest you ask on the gnucash-user mailing list.
16:05:06 <indigo> warlord: what i want to avoid is having a huge expence in october when my insurance premium is due, even though i've been using those services all year
16:05:22 <warlord> indigo: but that's exactly what DOES happen.
16:05:33 <ElBano> The user cannot signon because he or she entered an invalid user ID or password.
16:05:34 <ElBano> hmm
16:05:35 <warlord> the model is supposed to show reality
16:05:41 <ElBano> is the pin that you are prompted for different than your login password?
16:05:47 <indigo> warlord: well not really, as far as my checbook is concerned, because it goes in to an escrow account.
16:05:48 <warlord> I have no idea.
16:06:16 <warlord> indigo: you're confusing with cash-flow ...
16:06:36 <warlord> From a cash-flow, sure, but that's easy enough to see in the Cash Flow (provided you don't include the escrow account)
16:06:48 <indigo> but i *do* want to include the escrow account
16:07:14 <warlord> why? It's not your account; it's managed by the bank for you.
16:07:27 <indigo> because i don't trust the bank
16:07:28 <warlord> your monthly payment into it is your cash flow for insurance, etc.
16:07:47 <warlord> That's fine -- that's why you should track it.
16:08:01 <warlord> BUT... You should track it as reality, not your version of reality.
16:08:11 <warlord> Reality is that insurance is paid yearly, not monthly,
16:08:25 <warlord> therefore there will be a yearly transaction from escrow -> expense:insurance.
16:08:26 <ElBano> hmm
16:08:29 <ElBano> i think i see what hte problem is
16:08:30 <ElBano> the
16:08:36 <warlord> And a quarterly transaction from escrow -> expenses:taxes
16:08:41 <ElBano> you have to have the username and the userid
16:08:48 <ElBano> does every bank account have a username AND a numerical id?
16:08:59 <warlord> but monthly from checking -> escrow (as part of the split-transaction that is your mortgage repayment)
16:09:13 <warlord> ElBano: I think it varies from bank to bank
16:10:34 <indigo> warlord: wouldn't that violate the matching principle if my accounting period is monthly?
16:10:48 <warlord> nope
16:11:01 <warlord> your period and their period dont have to match
16:11:08 <indigo> warlord: i mean, that insurance premiums are due yearly doesn't matter; i still incur the expense of the insurance on a monthly, or maybe daily basis
16:11:21 <indigo> if i were to end my insurance mid-year, i would recieve a refund
16:11:35 <indigo> so, i haven't really expended all the money until the year is over.
16:11:41 <warlord> except for the fact that insurance is generally prepaid. So really what you're doing is saving up for the *next* payment
16:13:06 <indigo> i still don't understand why that means i should have a debit in an expense account for the whole year up front.
16:13:28 <warlord> Because that's reality
16:13:41 <warlord> Again, you're confusing bookings with cash-flow.
16:13:55 <indigo> ok, well let's say i do it your way
16:15:20 <indigo> now some months later i look at an expense bar chart and think, "holy crap, look at all that money i lost in january!" In fact, my cash balance went down, but also i have this whole following year of insurance, which isn't really used until the year has passed
16:15:31 <indigo> so, you are saying there's some other report i should examine?
16:16:19 <warlord> Yes, Cash Flow
16:16:55 <warlord> Like I said, you're confusing Cash Flow from Bookings. The Expense Barchart shows you bookings, but you really want to see Cash Flow.
16:18:04 <indigo> you are talking about reports -> income & expense -> cash flow?
16:19:09 <warlord> yes
16:26:13 <indigo> i'm not sure i understand
16:26:52 <indigo> when i prepay a year of insurance, yes, a lot of money has left my checking account, but i'm not necessarily in a poorer financial situation, because that payment is for insurance that I haven't yet used.
16:27:43 <indigo> ultimately what i want to see is a bar graph of the past 6 months or so that show me my financial situation, and not just how much cash i have
16:31:00 <indigo> i'm not sure how a cash flow report helps me to see that picture. rather, it seems to be the opposite, showing where the cash went, not where the value went
16:33:28 <indigo> is that report the same thing as http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cash_flow_statement?
16:35:18 <warlord> For the most part, yes.. And the escrow account technically *is* outside your business.
16:37:55 <indigo> but i should track its balance, yes?
16:38:22 <warlord> I would.
16:39:02 <warlord> But it's still outside of your cash flow. Once you hand the money to them, while technically it's yours you shouldn't think about it that way. Which is why in the cash flow you shouldn't include it.
16:39:15 <indigo> ok, so the escrow account is an asset for me, right?
16:39:28 <warlord> Yes, it's an asset.
16:39:39 <indigo> each month, i debit the principal liability, interest expense, and escrow, and credit my checking account
16:39:46 <warlord> yes
16:40:01 <indigo> then when the bank pays my insurance for me, i credit escrow and debit the insurance expense?
16:40:23 <warlord> yes
16:59:13 *** Karen_m has joined #gnucash
17:00:20 <Karen_m> hello, I am trying to remove the 'discount' column from the invoice... as I'm not providing a discount and don't wanna rub the person the wrong way
17:00:22 <Karen_m> how do I do this?
17:02:32 <warlord> Karen_m: report options.
17:02:55 <kimmo> oo, nice fedora 13
17:05:40 <Karen_m> You've got to be an accountant to use gnucash almost, I have no idea what I am doing lol. At least I got an invoice out :)
17:07:12 <warlord> The documentation is pretty good about the basics.
17:19:53 *** HerrK has quit IRC
17:29:03 *** HerrK has joined #gnucash
17:35:27 <warlord> Karen_m: the gnucash-user list archives are also really good.
17:38:47 <Karen_m> ok thank you, I will read as much as possible...
17:40:03 <warlord> And of course if you have any specific questions you're welcome to ask them here or on the list
17:49:37 *** |Slurpee|_ has quit IRC
17:57:47 *** HerrK has quit IRC
18:06:59 *** fbond has quit IRC
18:10:15 <indigo> so, i just crashed gnucash for the first time
18:10:41 <indigo> i read i should replay the log, and "select the one .log file with the same date as the saved file you just opened"
18:11:11 <indigo> what's the date of the saved file i just opened, and how to i find the log that's the same?
18:11:48 <indigo> i see one log with the same mtime as the save file, and another one that's 9 minutes newer
18:17:23 <warlord> You want the most recent one. But only replay the log if ALL you did was play in the registers. If you did anything with the biz features, just re-enter by hand.
18:17:36 <warlord> (also, you only need to replay the log if you're using the XML backend0
18:19:14 <indigo> i was under the impression that's the only backend that's supported in 2.2.9
18:19:51 *** HerrK has joined #gnucash
18:19:54 <indigo> and i read something about an old postgresql backend, and a dbi backend in development
18:20:07 <indigo> postgresql would be awesome, btw
18:22:34 <warlord> Oh, yes, in 2.2.9 that's it
18:22:46 <warlord> Sorry, I've not used 2.2 in a very long time
18:25:54 *** sjc has quit IRC
18:30:29 *** kpreid has quit IRC
18:31:25 <warlord> anyways, gotta run
18:31:27 *** warlord is now known as warlord-afk
18:32:12 *** ElBano has quit IRC
18:37:08 *** kpreid has joined #gnucash
18:51:47 *** ElBano has joined #gnucash
18:51:48 <ElBano> hi
18:52:10 <ElBano> i was wondering how to import an .ofx file of transactions to a certain account
18:52:13 <ElBano> because it seems to default to another
18:52:35 <indigo> someone was just asking that
18:52:45 <ElBano> i think it was me:)
18:52:59 <indigo> i think so too
18:55:30 <ElBano> or just how to import an .ofx into a new account?
18:57:41 <ElBano> i really do not understand why they make it to where you cant select multiple transactions
18:59:13 <ElBano> i am fine making a dummy account, importing the ofx, and then moving the trans that way
18:59:14 <ElBano> but i dont see how to do that
19:00:01 <ElBano> got it
19:00:43 <ElBano> rename the bank id, etc in the .ofx
19:00:44 <ElBano> import to dummy
19:00:47 <ElBano> delete dummy and allow it to move
19:00:59 *** ElBano has quit IRC
19:26:02 *** HerrK has quit IRC
19:29:00 *** ErKa has joined #gnucash
19:31:13 *** fbond has joined #gnucash
19:44:41 *** ErKa has quit IRC
19:51:32 *** blizgerg has joined #gnucash
20:02:30 *** markjenkinsparit has quit IRC
20:18:52 *** Karen_m has quit IRC
21:27:56 *** bentob0x has quit IRC
22:07:20 *** Jimraehl has quit IRC
22:24:19 *** Jimraehl has joined #gnucash
22:26:25 *** fbond has quit IRC
23:02:53 *** Mer|in has quit IRC
23:06:20 *** Mer|in has joined #GnuCash