multi-year comparison in report

[Mike or Penny Novack]

>When creating reports (for example, P&L) in gnucash, is it possible to
>create a multi-year report, where each year's result will be shown side by
>side? The idea is to compare yearly results for each account/category
>easily.
>
>Thanks,
>Howard
>  
>
When I first began with gnucash (transferring organization books to 
gnucash) I asked our accounting type if I should code this (I am a 
retired senior systems analyst). Because that's the standard way for a 
non-profit to report. He said, "Don't bother Mike. Just export the two 
reports and we'll merge them with my favorite editor. Every accountant 
would have an editor that he or she prefers."

Why not fully automated? Because there are almost certain to be 
adjustments necessary. The chart of accounts is unlikely to be EXACTLY 
the same in consecutive accounting periods. It is usual to place 
footnotes to explain any unusual items/amounts. And there is likely to 
be some fixed text explaining the organization's financial policies << 
what will be considered a fixed asset vs immediately expensed and what 
is the depreciation policy for fixed assets, etc. just as an example >> 
In other words, almost certain to be needing to edit the report anyway 
so might as well have the full power of editing software available from 
the start. The part where you copy into the appropriate column the data 
exported from gnucash is too small a part of the whole to try doing 
within gnucash.

Michael D Novack, FLMI    (and in retirement, treasurer for some 501(c)3s)