How to make a "custom" expense report [was Re: Report customization nightmare]

[Mike Leone]

On 7/2/2010 8:52 AM, Mike or Penny Novack had this to say:

>>
> And THAT is the crux of the problem (form the programmer/analysts point
> of view). Why we see this as a MUCH bigger task than you do. There are
> countless possible report modifications that all users collectively
> would want and so what would be needed is a GENERALIZED "report editor".

I can see that as being an almost ideal solution, sure. And ideals are 
not always achievable in reality, sure.

>>> There isn't an obvious length of
>>> time into the future that the reports would have to be readable and no
>>> assurance GnuCash would still be around 5-10 years from now. So I
>>> wouldn't
>>> be leaving them just stored as GnuCash reports.
>>>
>>
>> Then don't. But why shouldn't I, if I choose to?
>>
>>
> THIS is very relevant. It's relevant to other user questions like "why
> no password protection?". Were I an analyst responsible for this project
> (I'm not, I am indeed an experienced analyst but for GnuCash just a
> user) one of my responsibilities would include keeping the application
> unfriendly to things lazy users might want to do but were extremely
> dangerous to their interests. In other words, follow the rule "don't be
> an enabler for foolish user choices".
>
> You are in effect saying something like "why not make it easy for me use
> GnuCash in such a way as all my financial data could be lost tomorrow?

How is a printed report "all my financial data could be lost tomorrow"? 
I agree that the it's possible for Gnucash data to be orphaned over time 
(although not really - it's quite easy to keep an old system around to 
run some old piece of software that is vital; as long as the hardware 
holds out, the program shoukld continue to work as it always has). 
You're presuming "wouldn't be leaving them just stored as GnuCash 
reports" in an electronic form, I'm guessing so you could re-run the 
report whenever you wanted, for any past time frame? I was not. For me, 
having the printed reports is good enough. It will always show me the 
same information; unless my expectations for that report changes, or my 
needs for the data change, then the printed report will always meet my 
needs. That was the choice I was referring to.

We've gotten quite philospohical at this point, so I suggest we just 
leave it off for now.

Have a good day.


-- 
Michael J. Leone, <mailto:turgon at mike-leone.com>

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