[GNC] Two Instances as opposed to two separate files

[Michael Hendry]

On 14 Jul 2023, at 13:24, Chris Green <cl at isbd.net> wrote:

> 
> On Fri, Jul 14, 2023 at 01:06:36PM +0100, Maf. King wrote:
>> On Friday, 14 July 2023 12:34:28 BST Fross, Michael wrote:
>>> I  run multiple instances at the same time, but you have to open different
>>> data files. I’d keep them in different directories to be tidy.
>>> 
>> 
>> I don't do it often, but have had occasion to have GC side-by-side on 2 data 
>> files at the same time.
>> 
>> What I have done is start a 2nd instance of GC, let it warn me that the data 
>> file is in use already, select open read-only then file-> open to the second 
>> data file.  (I have 6 in regular use).  But I'm on Linux, don't know it that 
>> would work the same on any WinOs flavour.
>> 
>> Agree 100% about keeping each data file in its own sub-directory, and about not 
>> changing prefs while 2 instances are running!
>> 
> I have quite a lot of separate GnuCash 'instances' where 'instance'
> means a GnuCash data file (Sqlite database in my case).

Ah, I was thinking that by “instance” you meant a running copy of GNC with its own GNC file. Unless you are running each instance as a different user, my understanding is that you’re risking cross-contamination of configuration settings, as GNC is a one-file-at-a time product.

> 
> I am a PCC (Parochial Church Council) treasurer, this requires me to
> submit audited accounts to the Diocese each year.  It also requires
> separate accounts for 'restricted' and 'unrestricted' funds. 
> Restricted funds are those donations which have been specifically
> given for the upkeep of our church building as opposed to being used
> for general expenses.
> 
> I thus keep separate GnuCash data files for 'restricted' and
> 'unrestricted' in each financial year.  With a little bit of simple
> scripting (this is Linux) I can go to any year's dirctory and simply
> enter 'gnc' to see that year's current/unrestricted accounts and 'gnb'
> to see the building/restricted accounts. I never have to mess about
> changing the dates on reports to see different years, I never have to
> explicitly specify which data file to use (because it's in the
> directory for the year I'm looking at).

I can see disadvantages in this approach (which I couldn’t use on my Mac anyway!)

1. Assuming you create a new data file for each each unrestricted and restricted account each year, you lose the prompts for recurrent transactions (e.g. Payment to The Corner Shop from the current account to the Expenses:Tea, Milk and Biscuits account).
2. Similarly, you lose the capacity to produce multi-year balance sheet and income & expenditure reports to compare the most recent year’s performance against previous years.
3. If you start to use the new data files immediately the new year begins, you have to enter starting balances for the accounts. If you discover you’ve missed an entry in the previous year, made an incorrect entry, or have issued a cheque which has not been cashed by the year end, you have to remember to adjust for all of these (which would certainly be a problem in my case).

(Probably best to start a new thread or take off-list  if you want to continue this discussion)

Michael