[GNC] Importing csv files

[flywire]

Make sure you understand what Gnucash offers as it could be a
massive downgrade from Quickbooks. I use Quickbooks and GnuCash, each for
different books because neither has all the features I need. Specifically,
GnuCash does not support classes or automated GST (tax) for cash accounting
(so I've never exported data from Quickbooks to GnuCash) but GnuCash does a
fair job at importing csv files, which I do regularly.

Have a read through this before doing it. See:
* Prior thread:
https://lists.gnucash.org/pipermail/gnucash-user/2022-July/101901.html
* GnuCash Manual Import csv:
https://www.gnucash.org/viewdoc.phtml?rev=4&lang=C&doc=help
 * Tutorial data for testing:
https://lists.gnucash.org/pipermail/gnucash-user/attachments/20210718/2f60caee/attachment.obj

Importing accounts into GnuCash with csv is really nice csv but transaction
data is really primitive. Still, despite how frustrating it is for new
users in particular, it will work. File, Import, Import transaction from
csv, Next, Select file...

Import Preview, normally you would select Account, say bank account, but
that is not the case for a Quickbooks import. The File Format is likely
Separators, Comma, but again, you likely need to *SELECT Multi-split* for
the import which I'll explain soon.

Miscellaneous is really frustrating because of poor defaults. GnuCash has
been around for 25 years but it doesn't recognise Locale date or support
alphabetic month codes, so if you are not in the US, fix Date and check the
month format. How many csv files have you seen without headers? Likely
none. Set Leading Lines to skip, 1?? Currency format is likely correct.

In the link to the manual, navigate down to Example 6.1. Sample
Multi-split.csv to see the layout of the csv file. See the tip? It is
likely easier to prepare that file without the blank fields.

Back to the Import Preview form. Despite your csv file having the *exact*
field names it needs there is no way for it to know that. You'll have to
click each of the field dropdowns and match the field name to the data. The
first line will be crossed out after you set it t skip 1 line but you can
still read the field name.

All your records are red with a '-' in a circle on the right side? Chances
are you need to reformat the date month data. Be careful, your spreadsheet
might be outputting it in a different format to what is shown on the screen.

GnuCash does not recognise all the account codes in your data. You will
have to create them, and even after you've done that you'll have to match
them to the *same account*. Seriously! Now, stop banging your head. See
above, " Importing accounts into GnuCash with csv is really nice", so do it
to save yourself a little grief.

You haven't finished yet but I'll leave you with the manual. Check out
Tools, Import Map Editor, Non-Bayesian.