[GNC] Import CSV transactions into GC

[David Cousens]

Carl,

The A checkbox (Add) indicates that the transaction is to be imported as it
hasn't matched any existing transaction. If it was checked and that transaction
was previously imported, then for some reason the Import Matcher did not
automatically match the existing transaction. One possible reason might be for
example, if the QFX and CSV files both included a transaction ID but the
transaction ID was different in each file ( why it would be is an interesting
question), then GnuCash would flag it to be added as it would class it as a
separate transaction even if all the other data matched the existing
transaction.  It's been a while since I did any work on the importer code but
that is the only reason I can think of for it not matching the previously
imported transaction if the data was otherwise the same. Geert may be able to
correct me if i have that wrong.

David

On Wed, 2022-10-05 at 23:56 -0400, Carl S. wrote:
> David,
> 
> Thanks for the recommendations.  I've been working on this way too long 
> but think that I figured out some of the difficulties.  'Just reconciled 
> a credit card statement and got all of the old mess behind so that I can 
> begin anew by downloading csv transactions every few days or so.
> 
> I think I figured out why and how I got duplicates-  in the Match 
> Transactions window there were several transactions that had the A box 
> checked and in the Additional Comments column area there were the words, 
> New, transfer $25.75 to (auto) "E:Food"      My guess is that GC was 
> telling me, "you already have this transaction in the register and 
> here's the amount and the account name".  So the solution was to tell GC 
> to NOT import the transaction by unchecking the A box which would turn 
> the line color red.  You're correct also that if the C box is checked 
> that particular transaction wont be imported.
> 
> Thank you for the help...
> 
> Carl Smith
> 
> On 10/5/22 22:17, David Cousens wrote:
> > Carl
> > 
> > If you had previously imported the September transactions, then the Import
> > Matcher should recognize all of them as duplicates and not import them. In
> > this
> > case the A checkbox and U+C checkbox should both be unchecked and the 'C'
> > checkbox set to indicate that the transactions match existing transactions
> > and
> > won't be imported, but the existing transactions will be marked as cleared
> > (not
> > reconciled).
> >   
> > If the CSV file contained some data which differed from that which was in
> > the
> > in the QFX files, the U+C checkbox may be checked instead of the  C checkbox
> > which indicates that the transaction matches an existing transaction and
> > won't
> > be imported again but the data which is different will be updated form the
> > CSV
> > import file.  The A checkbox should not be checked if the transactions
> > already
> > exist in your data file, only if they are new transactions.
> > 
> > It is deliberately designed so as to not allow importing duplicate
> > transactions
> > as transactions can only be deleted individually from the account register.
> > 
> > If you are experimenting with the import, a good idea is to create a dummy
> > test
> > set of books and experiment with importing into that firstrather than your
> > main
> > set of books. The dummy doesn't have to have your full account tree, just
> > the
> > accounts you will use during the import process. Once you have the import
> > working as you want then import to your main set of books. It also helps to
> > create a dummy CSV file which only has a few typical transactions in it to
> > get
> > the setup right. Avoids having to delete large numbers of transaction while
> > you
> > are experimenting if you don't get it right first time round.
> > 
> > David Cousens
> > 
> > On Wed, 2022-10-05 at 21:01 -0400, Carl S. wrote:
> > > Discover Card (a credit card) as of last week stopped providing the
> > > download of Discover card transactions in QDF....much to my displeasure.
> > > 
> > > They do provide a download of transactions in CSV format.
> > > 
> > > I'm trying to figure out how to do a reliable importation of my credit
> > > card transactions into GC in my Discover Card acct in GC.  This all
> > > assumes I'll have to work with the downloaded CSV files now.
> > > 
> > > For experimentation reasons I'm working on importing in csv format the
> > > transactions for the entire month of September just to see how the
> > > actual process is done.  Previously, I had already imported the Discover
> > > card transactions in QDF for September (before Discover Card ended the
> > > QDF download).  Next I'm importing the CSV transactions to see how they
> > > are recognized and matched by GC.
> > > 
> > > I've been somewhat successful in using  the
> > > File----Import-----Transactions from CSV and getting to the Match
> > > Transactions screen which presents the transactions to be imported.  I
> > > understand what the Reconcile (auto match) transactions are but many of
> > > the transactions when imported to the account end up as duplicates since
> > > previously they had been added in QDF.
> > > 
> > > So, I'm confused and want to make the importation process as easy as
> > > possible.  The A  U+C  C options make matters worse....for me.
> > > 
> > > Also, I've tried, or rather, have attempted to get working, various
> > > csv2ODF converters.  For me too many error messages was enough to stay
> > > away from them.
> > > 
> > > Any help is much appreciated...
> > > 
> > > Car Smith
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > gnucash-user mailing list
> > > gnucash-user at gnucash.org
> > > To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe:
> > > https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user
> > > -----
> > > Please remember to CC this list on all your replies.
> > > You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All.
> > _______________________________________________
> > gnucash-user mailing list
> > gnucash-user at gnucash.org
> > To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe:
> > https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user
> > -----
> > Please remember to CC this list on all your replies.
> > You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All.
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> gnucash-user mailing list
> gnucash-user at gnucash.org
> To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe:
> https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user
> -----
> Please remember to CC this list on all your replies.
> You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All.