[GNC] Startup Options OSX?

[Jim DeLaHunt]

Jim:

On 2024-07-04 13:36, Jim Johnson wrote:
> Hi!
>
> I just started using GnuCash, and thanks to the new 5.71 version I was able to import 15 years of Quicken registers successfully, so I am good to go.
Welcome to GnuCash! I'm glad to hear that worked for you.
> Before I did that import, about three weeks ago I started a new GnuCash register of just last year for my accountant’s use.
>
> Now, going through all of my GnuCash documents I can’t find that one register anymore, just the import.
>
> I have been using Time Machine to back up my MacBook
>
> Is there a safe way to start GnuCash (like option-open or something?) and see if one of my old OSX Time Machine GnuCash backed-up documents has it?

The GnuCash app for macOS has a File menu, with an Open… entry. This 
works exactly as does with most applications — it lets GnuCash open 
another book (document).

You can explore other documents by:

 1. Using Finder, find the location in your mac's storage where the
    current file is stored. It will have a filename ending in '.gnucash'.
 2. Note its size in bytes and its modification date and time. Make a
    copy of that file, and move the copy to a safe and known location.
 3. Using Finder, find the location where the older files are stored.
     1. Some backup files will be stored in the same directory as your
        current file. They will have file names ending in numeric
        date-time codes sandwiched between '.gnucash', e.g.
        …'.gnucash.20240703205228.gnucash'
     2. Your GnuCash register from three weeks ago, for your
        accountant's use, might have a different file name which ends
        in '.gnucash', and might be in a different location.
 4. Run the GnuCash app. Your currrent GnuCash book with the massive
    import opens.
 5. Use the File… Open… menu entry. A standard File Open dialogue appears.
 6. Navigate to the older files you found in steps 3.1 and 3.2. Open one
    of them. The old book version opens.
 7. See if this is the content you want. If it is, take whatever steps
    you want to take. You did not specify that part. Maybe you want to
    export the old transactions, so that you can import them into your
    current book.
 8. If you have not found the content you want, repeat steps 5. through
    8. until you find it.
 9. Quit the GnuCash app.
10. Using Finder, return to the location in your mac's storage where the
    current file is stored.
11. If you are certain that the current file is unchanged what it was in
    step 2, then you can safely delete the copy you made. If it has been
    change, or if you are not certain, restore your original file as
    follows:
     1. Rename your current file to change the ending '.gnucash' to
        something like '.before_restore.gnucash'.
     2. Move the copy you made of your current file into the current
        directory, and be sure it has the same name as your current file
        had in step 2.
12. Run the GnuCash app. Whichever past GnuCash book you last examined
    opens.
13. Use the File… Open… menu entry. A standard File Open dialogue appears.
14. Navigate to your current file. Open it. Your current book opens.
15. You have now finished getting back to your current book (document)
    after exploring older documents.

> I don’t want to lose my new massive import, but I’d like to find that older register.

GnuCash does not treat its book files exactly like a spreadsheet or word 
processing application treats their documents, but some of the same 
principles apply.  GnuCash can open and work with different documents in 
sequence (though not multiple at the same time). It benefits you to know 
where your data is stored. It benefits you to keep track of old 
documents which you might want to revisit sometime.

Does this help?

       —Jim DeLaHunt