Import Chapter beginning

[Geert Janssens]

Hi David,

I'm unfortunately not using the import features at all so my input is only limited.

Having said that I think your draft overview goes in the right direction.

Regards,

Geert

On Thursday 27 August 2015 15:11:43 David T. wrote:
> As discussed recently here, it was suggested that a new chapter for
> impoting data should be added to the documentation.
> 
> Since this is a completely new chapter, I am including my very initial
> draft here, with the hopes that others can quickly steer me in a
> different direction, should that be necessary.
> 
> Furthemore, there are a lot of gaps in my knowledge, as I do not use
> many of these import features. I am really only fluent in the QIF and
> OFX importers. I would welcome additional input on all the other
> modes of import. In addition, I wonder whether this would be a place
> to discuss Online banking (HBCI, DirectConnect, etc.).
> 
> Anyway, here is the rudimentary rough draft:
> 
> 
> Importing Data
> 
> Importing Data into Gnucash
> 
> Gnucash obviously supports the manual entry of transactions, and for
> many users, this primary method of entering transactional data into
> your Gnucash books will meet all your needs.
> 
> However, there are many times and circumstances when it would be
> desirable to import transactions into Gnucash—without having to
> manually enter each transaction. Gnucash provides a number of
> different import features and formats that will allow you to add
> large sets of transactions to a set of books rapidly.
> 
> Import Formats
> 
> Gnucash recognizes many different standard accounting formats:
> 
> ·      QIF – The Quicken® Interchange Format
> 
> ·      OFX/QFX – Open Financial Exchange/Quicken® Financial Exchange
> formats
> 
> ·      MT940/MT942 – Deutsche Banking formats
> 
> ·      DTAUS
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Gnucash also includes options to import data related to its business
> features: Bills and Invoices and Customers and Vendors.
> 
> Finally, Gnucash supports a more generalized import of Comma-Separated
> Value (csv) files, which for a number of reasons will be discussed in
> a separate section.
> 
> The Import Process
> 
> In general, any import process boils down to a few broad steps:
> 
> 1)   secure and verify a data source
> 
> 2)   initiate the import process in Gnucash
> 
> 3)   check that the result will be accurate
> 
> 4)   finalize the importation
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Securing and Verifying a Data Source
> 
> Many financial institutions offer their clients the option of
> downloading or direct loading their transactions from the
> institution’s online services. In the United States, many
> institutions offer QIF or OFX/QFX downloads. Please note that each
> institution has its own procedures and guidelines regarding the
> access of this information, and the user must determine this from the
> institution directly.
> 
> For
> 
> Initiating the Import Process
> 
> Once you have the data available for import, select
> File->Import->{target format} to initiate the import process. Gnucash
> will prompt you for necessary information at each step of the import
> (for example, selecting the file to import and the account into which
> the transactions will go).
> 
> Verifying the Import
> 
> After Gnucash has prepared the incoming data for import, you will have
> an opportunity to verify that the import is accurate, before the
> transactions are actually inserted into your data file.
> 
> It is strongly advised that you check the transactions closely and
> make sure that they reflect your accounting needs, especially with
> regard to assigning accounts.
> 
> There are a number of reasons to do this. First, and most obviously,
> it is easier to take the time to assign accounts to the transactions
> while they are still isolated in the import; once they are added to
> the main books, it will be more difficult to track the transactions
> down.
> 
> Another reason to assign accounts during the import process is that
> Gnucash uses a matching program that learns from your prior choices.
> Each time you assign accounts in the import window, Gnucash gets a
> little more accurate in its import mapping.
> 
> Finalizing the Import
> 
> Once you are satisfied with the results in the import window, you
> accept the import, and Gnucash places the transactions in the data
> file.
> 
> Format Specific Descriptions
> 
> QIF
> 
> OFX
>