[GNC] Updating gnucash

[Michael or Penny Novack]

> I am currently running version 4.12 for two different organizations.
>
> If I was to update to 5.12 would I just download it and install it 
> into the same folders or would I need to transfer the data files?
>
> Nathan 

Because this keeps coming up ........... The DATA files (your books, 
etc.) and the program files (the executable) are NOT the same thing. You 
do not have to do anything to the data files just because you are 
changing the program.

That said, ALWAYS make back ups before a major change (in addition to 
your normal back up procedure). As a retired pro, in addition to making 
a "build" back up of the data, I would also copy the executable, make a 
copy of the directory containing the executable << rename it --- then do 
the reinstall. If all goes well with the "build" you later delete the 
old (renamed) directory. But if the build fails, you can back it out 
quickly by deleting the new directory (created during the install) and 
rename the old one back.

This is NOT specific gnucash advice. It's for any application you use.

Michael D Novack

PS --- If you had an application that did store data in the executable 
STOP USING IT. Find an alternative. Data in programs would be really bad 
practice for anything written in the last 60 years << before then you 
did sometimes see this >>