Insert Customer using QIF file

[Neil Williams]

On Thursday 28 October 2004 11:19 pm, Derek Atkins wrote:
> On Thursday 28 October 2004 10:12 pm, Antonio Laterza wrote:
> Is There a way to import customers in Gnucash using QIF or xml or OFX file?
> I want i.e. edit a list of customer and then insert in Gnucash importing a
> file.

XML will be the method but it's not ready. I'm hoping to have the basics in 
place with pilot-link 0.13 (imminent release is 0.12) and that will work with 
GnuCash CVS HEAD. I'd look for useful interaction with the following release 
of GnuCash.

> > In the same way I wish to insert invoices in the same way.

I sympathise completely, but as I said off-list, there is a LOT more to this 
than a 'simple' CSV import (which itself is an oxymoron). I've wanted this 
functionality for over a year and it's taking all my time to implement it.

> Can't do that, either.  You can work on encouraging Neil to
> finish his CSV importer..

?? Things have changed a bit, I'm not considering CSV for the invoice data 
anymore - IMHO, I just don't feel CSV can cope. XML is the only realistic 
method, with QOF the intermediary. Even then, a reasonable amount of 
processing will be required within QOF.

It will be possible to write or create the XML directly - as long as a 'map' 
is defined of how to relate those objects to GnuCash objects. It's perfectly 
possible to write a separate program to create these QOF XML files and I'll 
need one for testing, but I doubt that even that will be able to accept 
arbitrary CSV content. With certain defaults and processing, it could accept 
pre-defined formats like QIF by utilising the QIF import code that already 
exists but I'm not sure what that would add to the QIF import we already 
have.

Instead, I'm adding QOF functionality to pilot-link with an XML file backend 
(see other message) and then mapping the QOF objects between the two 
applications.

Each application using their own objects makes it easy to exchange data in 
different ways with a variety of programs. With Linas' DWI, the data itself 
can be queried, independently of the application. It's about making the data 
accessible (free if you like) independently of the application that created 
it, using a framework that is capable of retaining meaning in complex data. 
It allows the data to be queried even if the source application is not 
installed, e.g. on a remote system, or cannot access the source data, e.g. 
pilot-link between HotSync's.

Possible methods:
1. GnuCash can query the pilot-link data directly using an offline XML QofBook 
storage and a map.
2. Pilot-link can query the GnuCash data file directly using QOF and a similar 
map.
3. Once other maps are defined, data can flow in any direction between 
applications. 

Whichever application is open at the time will do the work of mapping the QOF 
objects to the destination and writing a suitable QofBook XML file for import 
later if necessary. After all, any program will be able to import (and merge) 
any QofBook that uses it's own object definitions, it won't matter that it 
was written using a different QOF application. QOF becomes the intermediary, 
XML the method.

e.g. Sync the Palm to offline XML storage and then import the data directly 
using GnuCash. Or, it may be possible to create the GnuCash invoices directly 
from the HotSync. In effect, QOF would enable other applications to plug into 
GnuCash whilst allowing GnuCash to ALSO plug in to other applications.

Anyapp -> QOF wrapper -> QofBook in XML with map.
Anotherapp -> QOF wrapper -> converts the QofBook into it's own type using the 
map and imports (and merges) the data as if it was a native XML file.

Any other application that needs to exchange complex data is welcome to wrap 
QOF around suitable objects and define their maps, e.g. on the Psion.

-- 

Neil Williams
=============
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