[GNC] New GNC User / Should I created as XML or SQLITE3 ?

[R Losey]

I use the default (which I believe is compressed XML). Some of the
differences between using XML and the database (and I trust others on this
list to make corrections where I get it wrong, and I probably will be wrong
somewhere <grin>):

- Saving: when you use SQLITE3, transactions are saved to disk as they are
entered; when using XML, the user must explicitly save the file (or have
auto-save enabled).  I assume therefore that SQLITE3 will have more disk
accesses, but briefer ones, as XML writes out the entire file.  I assume
both formats keep backups (I know that XML does; I don't know about
SQLITE3).

- Speed: I assume that the SQLITE3 is a bit faster; I keep my GnuCash file
on a NAS in the compressed XML format. Reading in the entire file is pretty
speedy on my Mac: When the GnuCash splash screen comes up, it takes two
seconds to read my file and display the Chart of Accounts (and I have 8.5
years of data in my file). When the Autosave kicks off or I select "Save",
it only takes a second to save the data.  On Windows 10, it's a bit longer;
I think it takes me about 5-6 seconds. I know that reading and saving is
noticeably slower on Windows, but not dreadful.

- Space: My compressed XML file with 8.5 years of data is 2.6M; I assume
the SQLITE3 version would be larger, but I don't know

- Other differences?


As others have pointed out, these options can be changed at will. I've been
happy with the default and use that.

As for me, I think I'd only use the database format if I intended to write
some of my own queries, but I currently don't have any inclination to do
that.



On Fri, Aug 1, 2025 at 11:18 AM Serge via gnucash-user <
gnucash-user at gnucash.org> wrote:

> Dear all,
>
> Context : I'm a historical user of Quicken 2000 (French version) for my
> personal finance. Unfortunately, Quicken will not manage correctly the date
> after 2026. So, I'm preparing a move to GnuCash.
>
> Very first question : should I create my file as XML or as SQLITE3 with GNC
> 5.12 ? Pros and Cons ?
>
> Thanks for your support !
>
> Serge
>
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-- 
_________________________________
Richard Losey
rlosey at gmail.com
Micah 6:8