Fwd: Forecasting and "what-ifs for GNUcash [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

[Maf. King]

Forwarding to the list, as this is above my pay grade....

Maf.

----------  Forwarded Message  ----------

Subject: Forecasting and "what-ifs for GNUcash [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
Date: Thu 25 July 13, 23:13:55
From: Wagner, David <David.Wagner at humanservices.gov.au>
To: Maf. King <maf at chilwell.net>

Hi Maf,

I used to be a Cobol DB2 programmer and last night I was thinking about this 
challenge and had the following thought.

Once the data is entered into the database it would be there to extract and 
manipulate.
GNUcash already provides an interface for data entry of what is required.

On the surface it seems what is needed in a specification is:

1) SQL to extract the data 
2) Code for manipulation of the data
3) A what if interface introduced into GNUcash
4) Creation of a series of reports to support


Note: I am saying this very gently as it will require work, but I am prepared 
to give it a go.
It will be slow and I will have to learn some things but it would be a good 
feature to have.

any thoughts, hope all is well?


David Wagner
Continual Service Improvement Manager
Service Enablement Branch
ICT Infrastructure Division
Department of Human Services
M: #  0477310434

________________________________________
From: Wagner, David
Sent: Thursday, 25 July 2013 5:51 PM
To: Maf. King
Subject: Thank you  RE: Question re GNUcash [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

Hi Maf,

Thank you for the answer it was the fast tracking I hoped would happen.
It will be interesting to see if someone else responds with the same thoughts.

Question: saying this very gently as it will require work, what would be 
required to have this added to GNUcash?
The reason, I suspect it would create a strong advantage for the product.


David Wagner
Continual Service Improvement Manager
Service Enablement Branch
ICT Infrastructure Division
Department of Human Services
M: #  0477310434

________________________________________
From: Maf. King [maf at chilwell.net]
Sent: Thursday, 25 July 2013 5:45 PM
To: gnucash-user at gnucash.org
Cc: Wagner, David
Subject: Re: Question re GNUcash [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

On Thu 25 July 13 01:42:55 Wagner, David wrote:
> Hi hope you can help,
>
> I have successfully downloaded and installed GNUcash.
> It was a really nice surprise to see that the product matched the marketing
> .
>
> I hope you can help with this question, we have:
>
>
> 1.       several investment properties & loans for properties.
>
> 2.       a mortgage on our home
>
> 3.       also a line of credit and a savings account.
>
> 4.       There is one credit card.
>
> Question:
> I am wondering if GNUcash has the ability to work with all of them and
> provide forecasting reports. Meaning, if we use the line of credit to pay
> the loan payments for the investment properties and focus the rent, tax
> deductions etc on the mortgage.
>
>
> 1.       How long would it take for the mortgage to be paid off?
>
> 2.       How long will the line of credit last?
>
> 3.       When would we be able to borrow more funds to purchase another
> house?
>
> 4.       How much would be able to borrow?
>
> 5.       What would be the equity growth.
>
> Hope the answer is yes and I have missed something.
>

Hi David,

Welcome to Gnucash and the list.

Forecasting and "what-ifs" isn't really one of the things that gnucash does
well.

It's main job is recording your financial history - ie what has happened for
tax reporting etc. - and not financial planning or forecasting.  there is a
budgeting mechanism, but I'm not sure it will handle your use case well - I'm
sure that someone more familiar with it will chip in if they know better.

Gnucash will certainly be able to keep track of the sums outstanding on your
loans and mortgages though, and rises in the value of your investment
properties etc.

When I want to do some what-ifs, I tend to record some temporary transactions
and see how the account balances are affected, but my needs are not as
intricate as yours seem to be.

good luck,
Maf.


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Maf. King
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