[GNC] "Save Report Configuration" Crashes GnuCash and Truncates saved-reports-2.8

[David T.]

Hello,

As the subject line notes, I am again encountering a crasher in GnuCash 3.3 on MacOS Mojave when I try to save a report configuration for a report whose settings have changed. Upon restart, I find that the saved reports have been trashed, and the saved-reports-2.8 file is truncated at a fraction of its prior size.

Further specifics: I am opening a saved report which is intended to document a small subset of expense accounts. I have added a new subaccount to this set of expenses, and I wish to add this new subaccount to the existing saved report. I open the report (Reports->Saved Report Configurations) and then select the options for the report. I click to the Accounts tab, add the new account (CMD-Click) and click save. The new version of the report now displays. I click on the “Save Report Configuration” button, and GnuCash disappears. There is no further information displayed (i.e., I do not receive an Apple message about the program ending unexpectedly, etc.). Neither does it appear that there is a crash report; the only crash I can find regarding GnuCash dates from 12/18, and today is not 12/18. 

More disturbingly, when I reopen GnuCash, I find that my Saved Report Configurations file has been truncated, resulting in a loss of most of my reports. (Because I’ve had similar troubles with GnuCash trashing my reports file, I have copies of saved-reports-2.8 stored in safe spots.) The saved-reports-2.8 file goes from 182 kb to 34 kb. Upon restart, I have only 7 saved reports.

I reported this problem originally back in May 2018, and thought it had gone away, but am again seeing it. I can consistently cause the crash now whenever I try to save a report configuration using the original reports file. If I use the new truncated form of the reports file, the error (and associated crash) goes away.

Back in May, I asked whether anyone could suggest a way for me to examine the saved-reports-2.8 file and determine what could possible be causing this crash. It is untenable for me to keep having to restore my saved reports file, and is annoying that I am unable to alter existing reports or add new ones.

If there are no solid suggestions to be made, I hope someone does have some way for me to move forward; otherwise I will have to bite the bullet, write down every single report I have saved, and recreate them in a new saved-reports file. This is a colossal waste of time, but if it’s the only way I can move forward, then it’s the only way to move forward.

With ‘bated breath,
David