[GNC] I need basic help

[Edwin Booth]

Steve,
Thanks for getting back to me!
It seems that I need to first delete my newly downloaded file from GnuCash and re-import it but first assign all the transactions to various accounts. I have gone through the process (I think) of creating a hierarchy of accounts (though I will surely want to add more expense accounts later).
Okay, I have deleted the AMEX credit card OFX account that I imported into GnuCash and have gone back to my Mac Downloads file. How do I now assign all those transactions to their proper accounts without first importing this OFX file into GnuCash? Doesn’t it have to be in GnuCash before it can even know what accounts are available?
It’s late now, so I’ll wait for an answer to this first question before going on. 
But for some reason I saw this email in my Yahoo mail app rather than in my Gmail app. Please respond to this by sending out my Gmail account. Elybeedle at gnail.com. 
Thanks,
Edwin


Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone


On Wednesday, October 18, 2023, 2:05 PM, Stephen M. Butler <kg7je at arrl.net> wrote:

Edwin,

I routinely download my CC transactions using OFX.  I think you missed a 
very important step.

It sounds like you did tie this OFX file to your CC Liability Account.  
That will be remembered for all future imports from this CC.

It also sounds like you may not have set up all the various expense 
accounts (Groceries, Fuel, Hardware, etc).  Those need to be setup as 
accounts under the Expense top-level account.

Then, during the import process, after you pick the file but before 
doing the actual import step you will see a list of all the 
transactions.  During this first import none of them will show the 
corresponding expense account.  You will need to click on each line and 
indicate to which account that expense should be assigned.  In some 
cases you will have a payment so up.  For the first time you will need 
to assign this to your Asset/Checking account.

This process of assigning accounts to each transaction will teach the 
import process how to automatically assign them in the future. As the 
importer learns each transaction (based on the description), it will 
begin to automatically assign the proper accounts. Occasionally you may 
need to correct the account assignment or it may see a new description 
and not know leaving it assigned to the Invalid Account.  This is your 
clue to click on that line (perhaps double click) and make the 
appropriate assignment.

Hopefully this helps you on future imports.

--Steve

Stephen M Butler
Stephen.M.Butler51 at gmail.com
kg7je at arrl.net
253-350-0166
-------------------------------------------
GnuPG Fingerprint:  8A25 9726 D439 758D D846 E5D4 282A 5477 0385 81D8

On 10/18/23 11:09, Edwin Booth wrote:
> Hi. New to this. I just downloaded an OFX file for a credit card I have. I
> imported it into my “Unsaved Book.” That worked. It is now on the Accounts
> Page with an amount under the “Total” column. But there is also a line that
> says “Imbalance-USD” with the same same amount under Total. I understand (I
> think) that that Imbalance is due to the fact that I have no other account
> in there and so there is nothing to balance my CC account with.
>
> So, I obviously need to enter some new accounts. I haven’t paid off all of
> that CC account, but I have paid some of it. The unpaid portion would be
> under “Liability” I assume, and the paid part under “Expense.”
>
> Not sure what to do next. I’m running GnuCash on a MacBook Pro, which I’m
> also pretty new at.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Edwin
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