GnuCash Start Date

[Jim Tippett]

Dear Sir/Madam,

I have recently installed Ubuntu 14.04 and GnuCash 2.6.1.   I am unable to
set an absolute start date (under edit/preferences/accounting period).
Keeps defaulting to 01/01/70,  No problems setting absolute end date.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Jim Tippett