Problem using GNUcash on Two Computers

[John Morris]

Another issue to keep in mind is that the synchronization provided by Dropbox (or any other synchronization system) is not instantaneous. If I work on the laptop at a time when the laptop is not connected to the Internet, that work obviously will not propagate to the other computer until first the laptop connects to the Internet and then the other computer connects. Also, those connections must last long enough for the changes to be transferred between the cloud and the respective computer. So, for example, if I am working on the laptop and suddenly have to close down and run to the bus, the laptop might not have enough time to complete that last upload. GnuCash's lock system might help with this issue sometimes, but I can imagine scenarios where it could not possibly help, so some user caution is needed. Therefore, if the files used on the laptop and the other computer are indeed named the same, it might be useful to check each time the file is opened on a new computer to confirm that the last changes made on the other computer propagated correctly.

Best,
John

> On Aug 23, 2015, at 12:49 PM, Geert Janssens <geert.gnucash at kobaltwit.be> wrote:
> 
> On Sunday 23 August 2015 11:21:21 Jonathan Garber wrote:
>> I have been using GNUcash since April on my PC and my laptop and have
>> been accessing files from DropBox. Would GNUcash open and just access
>> that last file that was saved in the folder or does it access the
>> last file that THAT computer accessed?
>> 
>> If it is the first, then I am ok and have been saving into the same
>> file no matter which I used. If the second is true, I have two
>> accounts going; one on my laptop and a second file with different
>> info on my PC.
>> 
>> Any thoughts?
>> 
>> I might have to try to compare the many saved files in my drop box
>> folder but I thought that it would be worth the ask before I spent a
>> lot of time investigating trying to figure out if I have created a
>> mess.
>> 
>> Jonathan
> 
> The basic logic behind this: when you close gnucash it will save the 
> full path to your last opened file (including its name) locally on the 
> PC. When gnucash restarts it will try to reopen that file based on full 
> path and name. So it won't check changed dates or try to find more 
> recent files.
> 
> If you used your laptop to work on the same file, your pc will just pick 
> up where you left. If the file you work on on your laptop has a 
> different name in your dropbox folder than the one your pc uses, you're 
> effectively working in two independent files as far as gnucash is 
> concerned.
> 
> So I'm afraid it's the latter of your two options.
> 
> Does that clarify how gnucash works ?
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> Geert