GnuCash - log/backup file retention

[Maf. King]

On Thu 24 April 14 22:06:29 Jim Thompson wrote:
> Greetings,
> 
> Recently converted to GnuCash 2.6.3 on Mac (after 18+ years of Quicken) -
> very pleased with the conversion and looking forward to being rid of
> Quicken and Windoze.
> 
> Did a bit of RTFM...
> 
> - under GnuCash Preferences
> - General
> - Files
> - Retain log/backup files
> - For X days
> 
> The Help doc says:
> 
> - - - -
> 
> Note
> 
> The following options are only relevant for files saved in XML format.
> 
> Retain log files — In this section you could set your preferences about the
> log files using the provided radio buttons.
> 
> - - - -
> 
> Hmmm
> 
> - have yet to figure out how to tell GnuCash to save log/backup files in
> XML format

Hi Jim,

the note means that the options only apply if you are using XML for your data 
file - not one of the more recently added database backends.  if you are 
saving to a database server, you would probably know it as you will have had 
to set up the database credentials within GC.  The assumption is, IIRC, that 
database backups are handled by the server admin, not GC, so the backps/logs 
are not even created in this case.  If you have logs/backup files, then you 
are using an XML datafile.

> 
> - noticed that this Help doc doesn't mention backups (only log files)
AFAIK, they are all handled in the same way by GC, so the terms are a little 
interchangeable. 

> 
> Would like automated clean-up of older logs/backups ... Do I need to set up
> Jenkins or cron jobs?  Sorta remember stuff about mtime, but it's been a
> couple years...

No GC handles it just fine. no need for cron.  I have set the "retain log 
files" option to "For:   30 days" and so far (10 or so years), all is well

HTH,
Maf.


> 
> Also don't want to automatically wipe out everything after X+1 days of
> inactivity, so prefer that automated clean-up be done within GnuCash...
> 
> Comments or suggestions?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Jim