[GNC] General Ledger

[Michael or Penny Novack]

On 3/28/2020 11:21 PM, Adrian Yong wrote:
> I can't change the file type...
>
> Neither can I access Excel by choosing Open With...
>
> Finally got to add file type extension .csv to filename. That worked... I
> think gnucash should either addd anothe filetype dialog box or advise users
> to add filetype extension to the filename.
>
> Thanks
>
This isn't about gnucash but general computer basics.

1) Whether a particular app can (usefully) open a file depends on the 
(actual) type of the file. As opposed to the file NAME. The extension 
that may be on the end of the name is just an IDENTIFIER that might or 
might not correctly identify the type. SOME few apps can of course open 
anything (a hex editor, for example).

2) The only thing the file extension on the end of an "object" does is 
help the system choose an app when you tell the computer "open object" 
(say by double clicking o it). If your computer does not "know" what to 
do with an object of that type it will ask you to select an application. 
In many cases it will not ask because you have chosen an app to always 
use with objects of that type or using the default app your OS uses if 
you don't choose one.

3) You can instead start the application and then tell IT to open the 
object. That doesn't require a file extension but does mean you have to 
know that the object is of a suitable type << some apps can open many 
types and I gave you an example of one that could open ANYTHING >> You 
of course have to know the name of the file you want opened.

4) You intended to open with Excel? Then although the data format is 
"comma separated variable" you could have made the file extension more 
specific to Excel like .xlsx   An .xlsx file will be in .csv format but 
the converse is not necessarily true

5) But no, gnucash should not DO this for you (offering you a reminder 
of extensions you might want to choose between another matter). Why 
should the gnucash team favor some particular commercial product? On MY 
computer, the associated app would be LibreOffice Calc and not  MS Excel.

Michael D Novack