File Format : XML v MySQL / postgres / sqllite

[D]

Ah, yes that was my incorrect reference. Sorry for the crossed reference.

I will note that my confusion stems in part from the fact that, as a Mac user, I have never used anything to do with python and Gnucash, on account of the high barrier to install the proper toolsets (i.e., compiling yourself). My previous attempts at this process always ended in frustration and failure. As a consequence, when I see anything that mentions python and Gnucash, my eyes glaze over.

In the past, there hasn't been much to recommend beating my head against that wall, but perhaps the time has come to see what happens at this time, since there eh to be increasing numbers of ways to use python with Gnucash data.

David

On January 28, 2018, at 12:55 AM, John Ralls <jralls at ceridwen.us> wrote:

I suspect David was thinking of CuteCash, Christian Stimming’s experimental Qt GUI.

Regards,
John Ralls

> On Jan 27, 2018, at 10:44 AM, Sébastien de Menten <sdementen at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Hello David,
> 
> I saw you were mentioning piecash in your message. If you talk about
> http://piecash.readthedocs.io/en/latest/, it is not a proof of concept for
> a frontend but an alternative to the gnucash python bindings to work with
> gnucash books stored in any of the 3 SQL backends (SQLite, postgres and
> MySQL) and is alive and maintained (last release on the 20th December 2017).
> 
> The following article https://arachnoid.com/gnucash_utilities/ shows some
> interesting use cases for it.
> 
> With gnucash 3.0, piecash will also allow you to write your own reports
> using si python and jinja2 (work in progress).
> 
> For people interested to contribute, https://github.com/sdementen/piecash.
> 
> 
> On Jan 27, 2018 18:27, "D via gnucash-user" <gnucash-user at gnucash.org>
> wrote:
> 
> Mike,
> 
> There is nothing new as far as I know about the file formats. You are right
> that the primary benefit to using sql is being able to generate data sets
> from sql that can used in reports. Processing a data file is no quicker in
> sql, since it all gets loaded in at start up. Sql, moreover, adds a
> database manager role to the mix; many users are not prepared to learn how
> to manage a database platform to manage their financial accounts.
> 
> I stick with the XML because it also can store the data compressed; when
> dealing with the main data file and all its copies, the difference between
> 3mb and 13mb adds up quickly.
> 
> Piecash, as I understand it, was a proof-of-concept experiment to see
> whether a python front end could be designed. It has not been maintained
> for some years now, and I recall recent discussion about changing its
> status with the project.
> 
> As far as I know, there has been no change in recommendation to stay with
> xml.
> 
> David
> 
> On January 27, 2018, at 12:13 PM, Adrien Monteleone <
> adrien.monteleone at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> I switched from XML to SQLite about a year ago. I perceive a performance
> improvement on loading, but that’s about it. (and I generally never shut
> the app down anyway)
> 
> I haven’t attempted any custom reporting yet, but I plan to.
> 
> I could be mistaken, but I think PyCash is designed to parse the XML file
> so you can still get the reporting you want.
> 
> Regards,
> Adrien
> 
>> On Jan 27, 2018, at 12:55 AM, Mike Stillingfleet <
> mikestillingfleet at fastmail.co.uk> wrote:
>> 
>> Dear All,
>> 
>> XML is the default when creating a new file.
>> 
>> I have seen various quite dated questions about the decision process of
> selecting which db to use.
>> 
>> I think that the main advantage of using MySQL would be the ability to
> generate custom reports.
>> 
>> Are there any other advantages and are there any differences in the
> interface between the various db's. Does the forum still recommend XML.
>> 
>> Regards
>> 
>> --
>> Mike Stillingfleet
>> mikestillingfleet at fastmail.co.uk
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