GnuCash / PocketPC

[Derek Atkins]

Hi,

The only major difference in file format between Win32 and Unix that
that Win32 doesn't handle compressed (gzip'ed) data files.

As for building the PocketPC software..  You're welcome to work
on something like that.  I dont think we have a clear idea of
import or export.  There was one project to use QOF/QSF as
the import/export methods; you're welcome to retake that
approach.

There are other open source financial applications.  I know of no open
XML formats.  I dont know whether we should create one, and even if we
did I dont see any reason to switch to it unless there is major buy-in
from other applications.  But I don't see that happening, either.
It's not like Intuit would join -- if they did, well, that would be a
major reason to switch, but I don't see Intuit or Microsoft following
OUR lead.

-derek

Tim Garthwaite <tim at garthwaite.org> writes:

> Hello,
>
> I actually installed the Win32 version yesterday and set up some 
> accounts.  I didn't have the ambition to try the file out on my Linux 
> box when I got home, but I plan to.  I assume the file formats will have 
> no difference, so I plan to use rsync to keep home/work up to date with 
> each other.  Loss of data wouldn't make me cry, so I'm happy to help 
> test the unstable version.  Is there anything I should know about 
> reporting a crash, if one were to occur?  Con I run the program in a 
> debugging environment that would make a bug report more useful for you?
>
> At any rate, I would be willing to help with the Windows coding/porting 
> if that is needed, but it seems like that is under control, and my main 
> interest is actually in building a separate, free, open source program 
> for PocketPCs that would gather an up-to-date list of accounts from the 
> PC on sync, and allow  tetherless journal entries that would in turn 
> sync back up into Gnucash upon return (or through wireless if that is 
> set up).   I think the first step in this would be to expose portions of 
> the Gnucash API (or at least read/write the file format directly) 
> through Microsoft ActiveSync on Windows and Synce on Linux.
>
> What work has been done on importing and exporting of data?  Is there 
> any good beginning developer documentation on Gnucash's architecture and 
> file format, or should I just grab the source and dive in?
>
> Also, and I hope not to start a battle or raise up any bad blood here, 
> but are there any competing open source programs in the personal finance 
> space?  Are there any open XML formats for this sort of data?  Should we 
> create one?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Tim
>
>
> Derek Atkins wrote:
>> See http://wiki.gnucash.org/wiki/Windows for the current win32 status.
>> We have an installed (unstable, for testing), but I doubt it would work
>> on the Q.
>>
>> -derek
>>
>> Quoting Tim Garthwaite <tim at garthwaite.org>:
>>
>>>
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> I was looking at http://www.slamb.org/projects/ideas.html and I think
>>> the GNUCash / PocketPC (and Windows, and OSX) along with syncing would
>>> be a major addition making Linux a good fit for personal use.  I would
>>> be very interested in helping to make this happen.  I own a Motorola Q
>>> (Windows Mobile 5 SmartPhone Edition), and run Windows at work and Linux
>>> (Ubuntu Edgy) at home.  I have had success syncing bookmarks, mail
>>> accounts, and contacts among all three platforms (Win, Lin, PPC) with
>>> FireFox, Thunderbird, and BirdySync (commercial software to sync
>>> Thunderbird on Windows with PPC) and rsync... Being able to run GnuCash
>>> from work without Cygwin, ssh, and X forwarding would rock the
>>> hizzouse...  Being able to even simply enter surprise income and
>>> expenses on the Q would make life simply grand.
>>>
>>> I'm a CS grad with C, C++, C#.NET experience... Having the equipment
>>> means I can also help other interested developers with testing.
>>>
>>> Think you'd want to team up and get at least pieces of this vision done?
>>>
>>> Tim
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> gnucash-devel mailing list
>>> gnucash-devel at gnucash.org
>>> https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-devel
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>

-- 
       Derek Atkins, SB '93 MIT EE, SM '95 MIT Media Laboratory
       Member, MIT Student Information Processing Board  (SIPB)
       URL: http://web.mit.edu/warlord/    PP-ASEL-IA     N1NWH
       warlord at MIT.EDU                        PGP key available