new user on windowns 7: customer and invoice disappear

[Derek Atkins]

Hi,

"Monica Grover" <monica.grover at usa.com> writes:

> Hi Derek,
>  
> Sorrry, I didn't realise I didn't CC gnucash-user.
> I think your replies clear the issues for me.
>  
> However, it is scary that this bug/unintuitive interface exists. I'm not sure
> if I'll continue to use this. 

As I said, the defaults should always do what you want provided you
never change/touch the "active" button either on the customers/invoices
or in the search dialog.  I'd be very surprised to learn that it is no
longer the case.  I believe the only bug is the label on the checkbox in
the "find" dialog.  However I admit that I'm not regularly using the 2.4
code with the business features these days (my business is still using
2.0.x, and I don't have many invoices anymore).

> It is possible I chose wrong time to download it and recent release caused the
> bug or may be it is just broken on windows.

Unlikely.  It's the same code on all platforms, so it's not going to be
a windows-specific issue.  I think it's just a 'bad label'.

> May I ask how long you have been using this software and what platform ? How
> has been your experience ?

My business file was started in 2001 or 2002 (I'd have to look, which
requires logging into a different system).  My personal file was started
in 2007 (I looked).  In all cases I use a Linux desktop.

> Most opensource comes with no warrenty but are more reliable than paid
> versions.

Indeed, and you tend to get improved technical support as well ;)

> thanks
> Monica 

-derek

>     ----- Original Message -----
>    
>     From: Derek Atkins
>    
>     Sent: 02/20/13 11:33 AM
>    
>     To: Monica Grover
>    
>     Subject: Re: new user on windowns 7: customer and invoice disappear
>    
>      
>    
>     Hi Monica, 
>     
>     Please remember to CC gnucash-user on all your replies using your 
>     mailer's reply-to-list or reply-all functionality.  This will keep other 
>     people in the loop who also might be able to better answer your 
>     question. 
>     
>     "Monica Grover" <monica.grover at usa.com> writes: 
>     
>     > Hi Derek, 
>     >   
>     > I don't see an "search inactive" check box. I do see "search only active data" 
>     > Once I check that and hit "Find" , it takes me to next screen. Hitting Find 
>     > again shows the customer. 
>     > Same results with Invoice. 
>     > Is this the best way to view records ? It seems that default option should be 
>     > to show all data. 
>     
>     Hmm, I think that field is mis-labeled in the UI.  At least when it was 
>     first implemented the default search only searched through Active items, 
>     so that flag was to enable searching of inactive items as well (to 
>     search history).  The reason is that you wouldn't want to search through 
>     your history of potentially thousands of (old) customers or invoices 
>     automatically. 
>     
>     I'm not sure why you have to hit find twice.  But one thing to check is 
>     whether you have the "Active" field checked or unchecked in your 
>     Customer.  Is the "Active" checkbox checked or unchecked in your 
>     Customer (and Invoice)? 
>     
>     > Also the check box seems to be named incorrectly - should be called "search 
>     > for active data too". 
>     
>     I agree it is probably named incorrectly -- or somehow the default got 
>     changed in the interim. 
>     
>     > am I missing something ? Is the customer inactive on creation ? that also 
>     > doens't seem like a good default option. 
>     
>     No, a Customer and Invoice is absolutely "active" by default.  You would 
>     need to manually remove the checkbox to make it "inactive".  The point 
>     of that flag is to specifically hide the Customer or Invoice from the 
>     default search when you are done with it.  It's all supposed to work 
>     seamlessly.  You create something new and it's automatically 'active', 
>     and the default search would show it.  Only if the flag gets changed in 
>     the Customer or Invoice would you have to also change the flag in the 
>     search to view it.  At least that is how is it SUPPOSED to work. 
>     
>     > Is there any way to feed this back to developers ? 
>     
>     File a bug report in Bugzilla.  See 
>     http://wiki.gnucash.org/wiki/Bugzilla for more information. 
>     
>     But before you do, please verify that your Customer and Invoice are 
>     marked "Active". 
>     
>     > thanks 
>     > Monica 
>     
>     -derek 
>     
>     > 
>     >     ----- Original Message ----- 
>     >    
>     >     From: Derek Atkins 
>     >    
>     >     Sent: 02/19/13 01:29 PM 
>     >    
>     >     To: Monica Grover 
>     >    
>     >     Subject: Re: new user on windowns 7: customer and invoice disappear 
>     >    
>     >       
>     >    
>     >     Monica, 
>     >     
>     >     "Monica Grover" <monica.grover at usa.com> writes: 
>     >     
>     >     > Hi , 
>     >     > 
>     >     > I have just downloaded and installed gnucash - so please bear with me if this old question. 
>     >     > I created a Customer but the "find" menu form shows blank if I enter "." in text field. 
>     >     > I was able to see it after a few tries and created an invoice. 
>     >     > Then I had same trouble with both customer and invoice. 
>     >     > Maybe I am doing something silly - I tried repeatedly and only once it showed up. 
>     >     
>     >     Did you, perhaps, mark the customer as InActive, by clicking away the 
>     >     "Active" checkbox?  (same question for the invoice?) 
>     >     
>     >     You can click on the 'search inactive.." checkbox on the search dialog 
>     >     to search for your inactive customers and invoices. 
>     >     
>     >     If this STILL doesn't show up -- perhaps you accidentally created 
>     >     multiple data files by opening a backup file instead of your main data 
>     >     file? 
>     >     
>     >     > Monica 
>     >     
>     >     > Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. 
>     >     > You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All. 
>     >     
>     >     -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 
>     >     
>     >   
>     > 
>     
>     -- 
>            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
>     
>  
>

-- 
       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