[GNC] New User - 1st Question

Thu Dec 4 20:47:37 EST 2025

Are you aware that there is no need to build anything (unless you're 
planning to modify the inner workings or personally validate the source 
files)?

Gnucash downloads and installs just like any other open source MSI file, 
except that because code-signing certificates are expensive, the MSI is 
not signed, and so a warning about the file is generated. Since that's 
the same warning you would expect with a tampered MSI file, you need to 
be very careful that you get one of the official versions.

Separately, there are serious problems with the official 5.13, and so 
you should either download the official 5.12 MSI or the nightly build MSI.

Paul

PS: "... it seemed to complicated so I found a site that seemed much 
easier" -- this is very scary and I urge you to scan your system for 
trojans etc before continuing. Such "easy" sites are bad news. And, as 
mentioned above, if you get an official installer it's a single click 
anyway.

On 2025-12-04 8:10 p.m., murray at murraycomber.com wrote:
> Murray Here Again...
>
> I am thinking that I may have done something when I originally downloaded the program. I didn't download it from the GNUCash site...it seemed to complicated so I found a site that seemed much easier. I MAY have set it up wrong from the 'get-go'.
>
> ALSO, because this program, though it is being built on my computer was intended to have our church treasurer download the program on her computer then import the program that I built. Perhaps I should ask, Is that even possible, otherwise there is no sense in moving forward with this project this way. Because of that, though the program is on my computer and I was saving the data to a USB flash drive' perhaps that is an issue as well.
>
> I managed to set up my Income and Expense accounts more accurately without a problem, however, there were times that before I was able to press Save, it began to buffer. The only way I was able to close the program, quickly anyway was by using the Task Manager. When I reopened the program, everything had been Saved up to the point of the buffering. That clearly shows that I did something wrong as explained in one of the above paragraphs.
>
> Regardless, I am thinking of complete deleting the program then reinstalling it from the GNUCash site. Will that create any complications because I had already downloaded it to my laptop or should there be a clean uninstall with the ability to reinstall using the same email for the 2nd download as the 1st.
>
> I should also mention, that when I opened the program, I got the attached pdf screenshot. When I clicked on the 'Open Anyway' button, the program did open but as mentioned, buffered in some functions before saving.
>
> Please advise on the above, especially the uninstall and reinstall idea.
>
> Murray
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: David Cousens<davidcousens49 at gmail.com> 
> Sent: December 4, 2025 2:48 PM
> To:murray at murraycomber.com;gnucash-user at gnucash.org
> Subject: Re: [GNC] New User - 1st Question
>
> Murray
>
> There isn't an online, as in Web based version of GnuCash. Have you perhaps closed the GnuCash application and are you getting a dialog when you try to restart it with the options:
> "Open read only"
> "Create a new File"
> Open anyway"
> "Open Folder"
> "Quit"
>
> If this is the case, you have exited GnuCash improperly in some way and a lock file which is created while an instance of GnuCash is running was not deleted on exit which is the normal behavior. This is tostop two or more instances of GnuCash operating on the same file as GnuCash is not designed for simultaneous operations from multiple instances.
>
> If this is the case if you choose the "Open anyway" option, GnuCash should then open your previous file as read/write.
>
> Please ignore if this is not the case.  If your data file has the usual user permissions there should be no problem accessing it.
>
>
> On Thu, 2025-12-04 at 07:50 -0500,murray at murraycomber.com wrote:
>> Hello:
>>
>>   
>>
>> I just downloaded GnuCash yesterday. I have been using Quickbooks
>> personally for over 10 years but as a pastor of a smaller church,
>> downloaded GnuCash as an Open-Source alternative for two reasons.
>> First, to get our church's financial package active after they used
>> another program for years before I came, and secondly, to check out
>> GnuCash as a possible option to replace my Quickbooks which is
>> becoming increasingly expensive. There is no question that the
>> interface in QB is very user friendly but, though not an accountant, I
>> have a basic understanding of financial principles. I prefer a
>> downloaded program over an online program which is what I currently
>> have with QB.
>>
>>   
>>
>> I downloaded GnuCash for Windows and began the set up based on my
>> knowledge
>> of account lists starting with the Incoming (Credit) side then I will
>> follow
>> up with moving to the outgoing (Expense) side. I started by creating
>> basic
>> Income and Expense Catagories then created a Bank Account and entered
>> the
>> opening balance. My next step was to begin inputting the deposits BUT
>> I ran
>> onto the problem of it being 'Read Only, therefore I could not create
>> a
>> transaction. When I did some research, it took me to the process of
>> downgrading the security of my entire computer via the Control Panel
>> Security tab. My questions.
>>
>>   
>>
>> Is there a way to change the Read Only status within GnuCash itself
>> without
>> compromising by entire computer's security OR is that something that
>> is only
>> available with the Online GnuCsh version. If I can do it with the
>> resident
>> software option, how do I do that and at the same time upgrade the
>> security
>> of GnuCash?
>>
>>   
>>
>> Thank You,
>>
>>   
>>
>> Murray Comber
>>
>>   
>>
>>   
>>
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