GnuCash - Loading Pre-downloaded Transactions

[J S]

Derek

Thanks .. I will maintain my sense of humor here.  I know I maybe a pain but
facts are facts.  I have had a read of the QIF format but will revisit it
again, but let me state my position again.  

The QIF files I have are NOT direct unloads from Quicken application.  As I
said, they are unloaded from my Bank which gives an option for QIF & other
formats, like CSV or Microsoft Money.  All the files I have unloaded from
the Bank has !Type:Bank, even for Credit Card.  The Bank does not know if I
use Quicken or GnuCash or some other accounting application, it only gives
me an option to unload my transactions in various formats.

Now to your last paragraph, I have NOT been a deer, I have been to the end
of QIF import session, many times, but just did not 'apply' BECAUSE GnuCash
did not indicate into which account it will apply the transactions. Well in
fact I just did 'apply' & guess what ... I do not know where GnuCash has
applied those transactions ....  I have checked each account & there is no
trace of them!  Explain that to me!!

As I stated before I have had no issues loading the same QIF files that were
unloaded from my BANK with July 07 transactions, why GnuCash cannot import
transactions for August 07? Why the rule is different for August
transactions??

The 70% failure to import QIF files for August transactions is perhaps 90%,
I have not tried the Visa QIF file as yet, all the rest disappears into some
void when 'apply' is clicked.

I will send you a screenshot of each of the steps I take, if that helps, but
as I said I will read the QIF format BUT I hampered as I have no control
over that format .. al I can do is discuss with my Bank that the QIF format
is potentially wrong BUT I need evidence as I can happily load same QIF
format files into another accounting application with no issues!!

PS:  I have also gone thru a few GnuCash documentations (via Google), but
none even touches on the issue I have.

Finally, I am more than willing to cut & run from GnuCash, so if you or
others think that this 'issue' I am bringing up is sheer waste of time let
me know.  Time is valuable to all of us, especially to all those who have
contributed towards GnuCash (& other free products).   I am not a 'critique'
nor I represent any commercial interests (like Quicken, MYOB or any other
commercially available packages).  I am just a simple 'user' & indeed if
GnuCash can perform similar functions, I may as well contribute the same as
I may pay & buy Quicken or MYOB etc etc. 

PSS: I am not from any European or North American countries.  If the Banks
in those countries offer a more versatile QIF format files, then perhaps
that explains a lot.

   



-----Original Message-----
From: Derek Atkins [mailto:warlord at MIT.EDU] 
Sent: Saturday, 15 September 2007 10:52 PM
To: J S
Cc: 'Josh Sled'; 'Singh, John'; gnucash-user at lists.gnucash.org
Subject: RE: GnuCash - Loading Pre-downloaded Transactions

Hi,

Quoting J S <singhj at iprimus.com.au>:

> Derek
>
>
>
> Again Thanks .. now what do you mean if there are any QIF accounts in QIF
> Files!!!

Okay, now is the time for you to tuck your tail between your legs
and google for "QIF Format" and go do a LITTLE bit of research before
you respond to this email (unless that response is "okay, I'm reading
up on the QIF File Format").

The fact that your file is a !Type:Bank implies that there are
probably NOT any QIF Accounts in there, but there still could be
in the L tags.

> The local Banking Institutions only puts in a '!Type:Bank' as the first
> record in a QIF file, when we or I unload from the Bank's web site; for
> example:
>
> [snip]
> Let us say for the above QIF file I have a Liability account called
XYZ-Loan
> (type=Bank) with an opening balance of $10000.00.  If I now try to load it
> there is approx 70% failure rate. In fact I tried it just now & GnuCash
just
> 'fails' to pick up the QIF file and I end up with a balnk druid 'Match QIF
> account . as per attachment GnuCash-import-4 sent in last email!!

First, why would "XYZ-Loan" be a type=Bank?  A loan should be a Liability.
What do you mean by "70% failure rate"?  What do you mean by "fails
to pick up the QIF file"?

Of COURSE you're going to end up with a blank Match QIF Account druid..
THERE AREN'T ANY QIF ACCOUNTS IN THE FILE!!!  There certainly were
no accounts in the snippet that I cut out above.  There are only Payees,
which you'll have to match to an account in the "Match Memos/Payees"
page.

The problem, of course, is that it's quite likely that the importer
wont like the fact that it's trying to pay down a liability, and might
instead try to make an Expense account.  You'll just have to try it
and see..  Save your file before you import and then after the import
take a look and quit gnucash if the import did something weird -- then
you can try again.

> If you suggesting the above QIF file to have XYZ-Loan somewhere in the
> record then let me know.  I can edit the file & place it but I am not sure
> of the QIF file record layout.  That is, should it be !Type:Bank:Liability
> or similar??

Well, that's certainly ONE way to get it to do it.  You can add the
QIF Account information to the appropriate transactions.  (refer back
to your google response for more information).

> All the QIF files I have are formatted as above and I have been able load
a
> few of them but not all.  It is just weird.

I think you're just confused.

> I hope this explains my dilemma.

Not particular, other than I think you're very very confused about what
QIF is and what's in your QIF files.  I think you're expecting something
that isn't there.  The QIF Account page is, honestly, USUALLY empty.  So
I think you're just stopping there because you're dumbfuddled and instead
of hitting NEXT to see what else might show up you're stopping like a deer
in the headlights.  Don't be a deer.  Just keep going.

Good Luck,

-derek
-- 
       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