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documentation updates, bugfixes.

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git-svn-id: svn+ssh://svn.gnucash.org/repo/gnucash/trunk@4273 57a11ea4-9604-0410-9ed3-97b8803252fd
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Robert Graham Merkel 2001-05-24 07:20:05 +00:00
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commit 096a3efbf0
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16
ChangeLog
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@ -1,3 +1,19 @@
2001-05-24 Robert Graham Merkel <rgmerk@mira.net>
* doc/sgml/C/gnucash.sgml: add references to new files.
* doc/sgml/C/xacc-quickstart.sgml: New file, new user
documentation.
* doc/sgml/C/xacc-features.sgml: New file, describing
the features of GnuCash.
* doc/sgml/C/Makefile.am: update for new files.
* lib/srfi/srfi-19.scm: revert to older version.
* src/scm/tip-list.scm: more tips.
2001-05-23 Christian Stimming <stimming@tuhh.de>
* po/pt_PT.po: Duarte Loreto's updated translation.

2
doc/sgml/C/Makefile.am
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@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ GNUCASH_SGML_FILES = \
xacc-dochack.sgml \
xacc-doubleentry.sgml \
xacc-euro.sgml \
xacc-features.sgml \
xacc-gnome-mdi.sgml \
xacc-gnucash-web-browser.sgml \
xacc-gpl.sgml \
@ -42,6 +43,7 @@ GNUCASH_SGML_FILES = \
xacc-print.sgml \
xacc-qif-import.sgml \
xacc-quicken.sgml \
xacc-quickstart.sgml \
xacc-recnwin.sgml \
xacc-regwin-kbd.sgml \
xacc-regwin.sgml \

4
doc/sgml/C/gnucash.sgml
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@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
<!entity xaccdoubleentry system "xacc-doubleentry.sgml">
<!entity xacceuro system "xacc-euro.sgml">
<!entity xaccdateinput system "xacc-dateinput.sgml">
<!entity xaccfeatures system "xacc-features.sgml">
<!entity xaccgnomemdi system "xacc-gnome-mdi.sgml">
<!entity xaccgnucashwebbrowser system "xacc-gnucash-web-browser.sgml">
<!entity xaccincomeexpense system "xacc-incomeexpense.sgml">
@ -34,6 +35,7 @@
<!entity xaccprint system "xacc-print.sgml">
<!entity xaccqifimport system "xacc-qif-import.sgml">
<!entity xaccquicken system "xacc-quicken.sgml">
<!entity xaccquickstart system "xacc-quickstart.sgml">
<!entity xaccrecnwin system "xacc-recnwin.sgml">
<!entity xaccregwin system "xacc-regwin.sgml">
<!entity xaccregwinkbd system "xacc-regwin-kbd.sgml">
@ -73,6 +75,7 @@
&xaccdoubleentry;
&xacceuro;
&xaccdateinput;
&xaccfeatures;
&xaccgnomemdi;
&xaccgnucashwebbrowser;
&xaccincomeexpense;
@ -91,6 +94,7 @@
&xaccprint;
&xaccqifimport;
&xaccquicken;
&xaccquickstart;
&xaccrecnwin;
&xaccregwin;
&xaccregwinkbd;

165
doc/sgml/C/xacc-about.sgml
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@ -7,161 +7,13 @@
<sect1>
<title>Introduction</title>
<para>GnuCash is a program to keep track of your finances. Its features
include:
<para>GnuCash is a program to keep track of your finances.
To get straight to work recording your finances, try the
<link linkend="xacc-quickstart">Quick Start Guide</link>.
<itemizedlist>
<listitem> <para><emphasis>Multiple Accounts.</emphasis>
Create a GnuCash account for each of your bank
accounts. Each account maintains both a running balance and a
reconciled balance, so you can keep track of the checks that
have cleared your account.
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem> <para> <emphasis>Simple User Interface.</emphasis> </para>
<para>If you can use the register in the back of your checkbook, you
can use <application>GnuCash.</application>
Type directly into the register, tab between fields, and use
quick-fill to automatically complete transactions.
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem> <para> <emphasis><link linkend="xacc-recnwin">Automated Tools
for Reconciling Accounts.</link></emphasis> </para>
<para>At the end of the month, open up the <emphasis>reconcile</emphasis>
window, enter the ending balance from your bank statement, and check
off the transactions that appear in the bank statement. This agrees
what you have recorded in GnuCash with what your bank has reported,
and makes it easier to track down any discrepancies. </para>
</listitem>
<listitem> <para> <emphasis>QuickFill.</emphasis> </para>
<para>If you begin typing in the description field, and the text matches
a previous transaction, hitting <keycap>TAB</keycap> will copy in that
previous transaction. This is a handy time saver if you regularly create
similar transactions.
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem> <para> <emphasis>Stock/Mutual Fund Portfolios.</emphasis> </para>
<para>Track stocks individually (one per account) or in
portfolio of accounts (a group of accounts that can be
displayed together).
There are tools to
<link linkend="xacc-ticker">automatically collect stock quotes.</link>
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para>Support for <emphasis><link linkend="xacc-currencyhandling">multiple
currencies</link></emphasis> and <emphasis>currency trading accounts.
</emphasis>
(partial, still broken).
Bank accounts may be established in different
currencies, and trades at varying exchange rates may be
made, in much the same way stocks trade at varying
prices.
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para><emphasis><link linkend="qif">Quicken File Import</link>.</emphasis>
</para>
<para>Imports Quicken-style QIF files. The import wizard automatically
merges duplicate transactions.
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para><emphasis>Gnome MDI Interface</emphasis></para>
<para>Have multiple views of your financial data, arranged how you want
them, in one or more windows that stay around through GnuCash sessions.
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para><emphasis><link linkend="xacc-reports">Reports</link>.</emphasis> Display,
export as HTML, or print a variety of reports, including Balance Sheet, Account
Summary, Profit and Loss, Stock Portfolios, and Transaction Reports. Reports
are saved from session to session, and rolling reports are possible with
relative dates. GnuCash also supports a variety of customizable, printable,
bar and pie charts.
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para><emphasis>Gnome MDI Interface</emphasis></para>
<para>Have multiple views of your financial data, arranged how you want
them, in one or more windows that stay around through GnuCash sessions.
</para>
</listitem>
</itemizedlist>
</para>
</sect1>
<sect1 id="xacc-features">
<title>Advanced Features</title>
<para> </para>
<para>GnuCash offers some features not found in simpler accounting
programs.
<itemizedlist>
<listitem>
<para> <emphasis><link linkend="xacc-chartofaccts">Chart of Accounts</link></emphasis>
</para>
<para>A master account can have a hierarchy of more detailed
accounts arranged underneath it. This allows related
account types (<emphasis>e.g.</emphasis> - Cash, Bank, Stock) to be
grouped under one master account ( <emphasis>e.g.</emphasis> -
Assets).
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para><emphasis><link linkend="xacc-doubleentry">Double
Entry</link></emphasis>
</para>
<para>Every transaction must debit one account and credit others
by an equal amount. This ensures that the 'books balance':
that the difference between income and outflow exactly equals
the sum of all assets, be they bank, cash, stock or other.
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para><emphasis><link linkend="xacc-incomeexpense">Income/Expense Account
Types (Categories)</link></emphasis>
</para>
<para>These serve not only to categorize your cash flow, but when used
properly with the double-entry feature and equity accounts, these can
provide an accurate Profit & Loss statement.
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para><emphasis>General Ledger</emphasis> </para>
<para>Multiple accounts may be displayed in one register
window at the same time. This can make it easier to track
down data errors. It also provides a convenient way of
viewing a portfolio of many stocks, by showing all
transactions in that portfolio.
</para>
</listitem>
</itemizedlist>
</para>
</sect1>
For more information about the many features that GnuCash
offers, have a look at the <link linkend="xacc-features">Features
</link> page.
<sect1 id="xacc-versioning">
<title>Versioning</title>
@ -176,7 +28,10 @@ provide an accurate Profit & Loss statement.
or an older stable version. These versions are fairly stable,
with all currently known bugs fixed.
The present "experimental" stream is gnucash-1.5.x, which is
somewhat unstable.
now almost at beta-test stage. This is the version you are
using right now, obviously! If you are using this version
with real data, PLEASE MAKE BACKUPS REGULARLY!
Once the 1.5.x series stabilizes, the next stable series
will be 1.6.x.

169
doc/sgml/C/xacc-features.sgml Normal file
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@ -0,0 +1,169 @@
<article id="xacc-features">
<artheader>
<title>
Features
</title>
</artheader>
<sect1>
<title>
Basic features
</title>
<para>
GnuCash is powerful, versatile, and easy to use. If you want
to get an idea of everything GnuCash offers, read on!
</para>
<itemizedlist>
<listitem>
<para><emphasis>Multiple Accounts.</emphasis> Create a GnuCash
account for each of your bank accounts. Each account
maintains both a running balance and a reconciled balance,
so you can keep track of the checks that have cleared your
account.
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para> <emphasis>Simple User Interface.</emphasis> </para>
<para>If you can use the register in the back of your checkbook, you
can use <application>GnuCash.</application> Type directly into the
register, tab between fields, and use quick-fill to automatically
complete transactions.
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem> <para> <emphasis><link linkend="xacc-recnwin">Automated Tools
for Reconciling Accounts.</link></emphasis> </para>
<para>At the end of the month, open up the <emphasis>reconcile</emphasis>
window, enter the ending balance from your bank statement, and check
off the transactions that appear in the bank statement. This agrees
what you have recorded in GnuCash with what your bank has reported,
and makes it easier to track down any discrepancies. </para>
</listitem>
<listitem> <para> <emphasis>QuickFill.</emphasis> </para>
<para>If you begin typing in the description field, and the text matches
a previous transaction, hitting <keycap>TAB</keycap> will copy in that
previous transaction. This is a handy time saver if you regularly create
similar transactions.
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem> <para> <emphasis>Stock/Mutual Fund Portfolios.</emphasis> </para>
<para>Track stocks individually (one per account) or in
portfolio of accounts (a group of accounts that can be
displayed together).
There are tools to
<link linkend="xacc-ticker">automatically collect stock quotes.</link>
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para>Support for <emphasis><link linkend="xacc-currencyhandling">multiple
currencies</link></emphasis> and <emphasis>currency trading accounts.
</emphasis>
(partial, still broken).
Bank accounts may be established in different
currencies, and trades at varying exchange rates may be
made, in much the same way stocks trade at varying
prices.
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para><emphasis><link linkend="qif">Quicken File Import</link>.</emphasis>
</para>
<para>Imports Quicken-style QIF files. The import wizard automatically
merges duplicate transactions.
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para><emphasis>Gnome MDI Interface</emphasis></para>
<para>Have multiple views of your financial data, arranged how you want
them, in one or more windows that stay around through GnuCash sessions.
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para><emphasis><link
linkend="xacc-reports">Reports</link>.</emphasis> Display,
export as HTML, or print a variety of reports, including
Balance Sheet, Account Summary, Profit and Loss, Stock
Portfolios, and Transaction Reports. Reports are saved from
session to session, and rolling reports are possible with
relative dates. GnuCash also supports a variety of
customizable, printable, bar and pie charts.
</para>
</listitem>
</itemizedlist>
</sect1>
<sect1 id="xacc-advanced-features">
<title>Advanced Features</title>
<para>GnuCash offers some features not found in simpler accounting
programs.</para>
<itemizedlist>
<listitem>
<para> <emphasis><link linkend="xacc-chartofaccts">Chart of Accounts</link></emphasis>
</para>
<para>A master account can have a hierarchy of more detailed
accounts arranged underneath it. This allows related
account types (<emphasis>e.g.</emphasis> - Cash, Bank, Stock) to be
grouped under one master account ( <emphasis>e.g.</emphasis> -
Assets).
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para><emphasis><link linkend="xacc-doubleentry">Double
Entry</link></emphasis>
</para>
<para>Every transaction must debit one account and credit others
by an equal amount. This ensures that the 'books balance':
that the difference between income and outflow exactly equals
the sum of all assets, be they bank, cash, stock or other.
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para><emphasis><link linkend="xacc-incomeexpense">Income/Expense Account
Types (Categories)</link></emphasis>
</para>
<para>These serve not only to categorize your cash flow, but when used
properly with the double-entry feature and equity accounts, these can
provide an accurate Profit & Loss statement.
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para><emphasis>General Ledger</emphasis> </para>
<para>Multiple accounts may be displayed in one register
window at the same time. This can make it easier to track
down data errors. It also provides a convenient way of
viewing a portfolio of many stocks, by showing all
transactions in that portfolio.
</para>
</listitem>
</itemizedlist>
</sect1>
</article>
<!-- Local variables: -->
<!-- sgml-parent-document: "gnucash.sgml" -->
<!-- End: -->

189
doc/sgml/C/xacc-quickstart.sgml Normal file
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@ -0,0 +1,189 @@
<article id="xacc-quickstart">
<artheader>
<title>
Getting Started
</title>
</artheader>
<sect1>
<title>
Getting Started
</title>
<sect2>
<title>
Welcome
</title>
<para>Hi there! Welcome to GnuCash 1.6, an easy-to-use,
powerful, and reliable personal finance program. This virtually
all-new version has an extensive list of features, and if you
want to know everything GnuCash can do, check the
<link linkend="xacc-features">features section</link of this manual.
However, if you're like us and impatient to get some work done,
that can wait until later.</para>
<para>
As much as is possible, GnuCash is designed to be intuitive to
use. Despite that, getting the most out of GnuCash requires
understanding a couple of simple ideas used throughout the
program, and used throughout the rest of this manual.
Therefore, we highly recommend that you spend a few minutes
reading this manual page.
</para>
</sect2>
<sect2>
<title>
Remedial Accounting 101
</title>
<para>
At its core, GnuCash is a tool for tracking <emph>transactions</emph>.
A transaction is a record of money being removed from one "account"
and placed in another. To take a simple example, say you have
two bank accounts - a cheque account (that's checking, for the Americans
in the audience . . .), and an investment account, and you transfer
$500 from the cheque account to the investment account. GnuCash
records that transfer.
</para>
<para>
"But what about when I buy things, or get paid?" I hear you ask.
Well, "accounts" in GnuCash aren't just bank accounts. You can
set up Income accounts, expense accounts, asset, liability, share
accounts, mutual fund accounts - in fact, there are a total of
11 different account types GnuCash supports. You can (and should)
set up a number of different expense accounts for different
types of expenditure. So, your paycheck would be a transfer
from, say "salary", an income account, to your checking account.
Buying fuel with your credit card might be a transfer from
"ABC Visa", a credit card account, to "Fuel", an expense account.
If you've grasped all that, you're 90% of the way to making best
use of GnuCash!
</para>
<para>
Now, if you're going to keep proper track of your finances, you'll
obviously want to create a variety of expense and income
accounts for keeping track of various transactions you'll make -
in fact, setting up the right set of accounts is the key to
making GnuCash work for you.
However, if you create many different accounts, it can be a pain
to keep track of them all. GnuCash has a way of dealing with
this, though. It lets you create a <emph>tree</emph>of accounts.
For instance, you can create a "Utilities" expense account, and
then create "Utilities:Power", "Utilities:Gas", and "Utilities:Phone".
We term "Utilities" to be the "parent" account, and the three others
to be "subaccounts". When you produce <link linkend="xacc-reports">
reports</link> of your financial data, you can choose whether
to display a summary of all "utilities" accounts, or data for
each individual account.
</para>
<para>
Now let's go create some accounts!
</para>
</sect2>
<sect2>
<title>
Setting up accounts from scratch
</title>
<para>
This section is intended for people who are
using a personal finance program for the first time,
or can't import their data into GnuCash using the
<link linkend="xacc-data-from-existing">QIF
importer</link>.
</para>
<para>
If you want, GnuCash can help set up a default set
of accounts for you, using the "New Account Setup"
druid. What's a druid? Well, it's kind of like a
wizard, but it's called a druid. Why? Because it's
not a wizard, it's a druid . . .
</para>
<para>
Anyway, the druid will take you through the process
of creating a set of accounts to get you going.
Simply follow the prompts to select a default currency,
then select the types of accounts you wish to create.
You will then be given the opportunity to enter opening
balances for these accounts. Now, here's where things
get a little tricky. The opening balances are just
a transaction, but where is it transferred from?
A special account of type "equity" is created, called
"Opening Balances", and all opening balances consist
of a transfer to (or from) this account.
</para>
</sect2>
<sect2 id="xacc-data-from-existing">
<title>
Importing data from other personal finance programs
</title>
<para>
If you have used another personal finance program that
can export QIF files, such as Quicken or Microsoft Money,
you can import the data into GnuCash. See the instructions
for the <link linkend="xacc-quicken">QIF importer.
</para>
<para>Once you've done that, you're ready to go - but first,
couple of quick hints about two things GnuCash
does a little differently from those programs:
</para>
<itemizedlist>
<listitem><para>Where some programs uses "categories"
to categorize expenses and income types, GnuCash
uses income and expense accounts. They work
in a similar way, but it's a considerably cleaner
and more flexible way of handling things once
you get used to the idea.
</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>Some programs use a list of accounts.
GnuCash uses a "tree" of accounts, allowing you
to group similar sorts of accounts - very useful
when reporting your financial data. You can
rearrange your accounts to use a more tree-like
structure by using the <link linkend=xacc-edit-accounts">
Account Edit Dialog.</link>
</para>
</listitem>
</sect2>
<sect2>
<title>
Starting to use GnuCash
</title>
<para>
Once the druid has done it's thing, you'll end up
at the GnuCash <link linkend="xacc-main-window">main
window.</link> To start entering transactions, select
the appropriate account and click on the "open" button
on the the toolbar. This brings up the account's
<link linkend="xacc-regwin">register</link>, so you
can enter transactions.
You might also want to <link linkend="xacc-new-account">
add more accounts</link> or <link linkend="xacc-edit-accounts">
change something</link> about
existing accounts.
</para>
<para>
Please take the time to read some more about GnuCash
in this online manual. You'll get much more out of
it!
</para>
</sect2>
</sect1>
</article>
<!-- Local variables: -->
<!-- sgml-parent-document: "gnucash.sgml" -->
<!-- End: -->

3
src/scm/tip-list.scm
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@ -4,6 +4,9 @@ It probably has lots of bugs and unstable features!
If you are looking for a stable personal finance application,
you should use the latest release of GnuCash 1.4.")
(N_ "Users upgrading from GnuCash 1.4 should read the
\"What's new in GnuCash 1.6\" page in the online manual.")
(N_ "The GnuCash online manual has lots of helpful information.
You can access the manual under the Help menu.")