[GNC] New User - 1st Question

[murray at murraycomber.com]

Chris:

Thank you very much. Based on your email...
1. I Uninstalled GNUCash. Version 5:13 was on it but you are suggesting I download 5:12. I completely scanned my computer with Malware Bites and it came up clean. It made some suggestions which I implemented.

2. I will do this today and watch videos to make sure I download and install and set it up correctly

3. Regarding the Terms...
a. As you stated, that is what the plan was, each with a fresh download of GNUCash on each of our computers. I will make sure the versions are in sync

b. Yes, the Data File with the chart of accounts was saved in a 128 Gb Flash Drive with the intention of taking what I build on my computer and transferring it to hers. I just didn't know if there would be any complications with that. I will talk to her about how she backs her stuff up and make sure that is done.

4. Once it is on her computer, she will be the only one using it. We will not be both using the churches file. The most that will happen will be at year end when reports are needed but that doesn't change the data, just creates the needed reports for the Annual Meeting.

I highly suspect that I will be dleting, editing and/or adding new accounts unless there is a chart of account that is preset for churches. I used the one given which had things like groceries and entertainment which the church doesn't need but will also be categorizing the data into headings and creating sub accounts, for example, PAYROLL, FACILITES, PROGRAMS, ONLINE SERVICES, etc each with sub categories. I don't believe GNUCash has one like that built in. If they do, please inform.

QUESTION: How will I know when 5:13 has had the issues removed so I can upgrade, or is that even necessary?

Thanks for your response and assistance.

Murray Comber

-----Original Message-----
From: gnucash-user <gnucash-user-bounces+murray=murraycomber.com at gnucash.org> On Behalf Of Chris Skudder
Sent: December 5, 2025 8:11 AM
To: gnucash-user at gnucash.org
Subject: Re: [GNC] New User - 1st Question

Murray,
I'm treasurer of our church and GnuCash does a terrific job, I'd guess it'll work well for what you want to do. But ...

Taking your situation one piece at a time:
1. You should definitely completely uninstall the program you got from the un-trusted source, and scan your system VERY thoroughly for malware.

2. Install a known-good copy of the program from the GnuCash.org.
Get 5.12, there are known problems with 5.13.

3. To reduce confusion in these messages, let's define some words:
a. The PROGRAM is what you download and install. You can't give this to anybody, it's installed on your computer.
Your treasurer must also download + install the PROGRAM onto his-her computer. Best to get the SAME VERSION.

b. Your DATA FILE is what holds your "chart of accounts" which you've been creating- that is, income, expense, asset, etc accounts; and will hold your transactions when you start entering them. This is what you're saving onto a USB drive, and hoping to give to your church treasurer. 
This file is named something like "Church.gnucash" -- whatever you've saved it as. (BACK IT UP! Keep backup copies in different places.)

4. With those terms hopefully cleared up:
You CAN give the DATA FILE to your treasurer on a USB drive, or email it to them, etc. He-she will be able to open it with the PROGRAM they installed on their computer, and save it anywhere they want. You can pass it back and forth, BUT you CAN'T work on it in PARALLEL. That is, after one of you does something in the file, the other of you has to wait til they receive the file with your changes, before adding/changing anything more. Otherwise, you'll get some transactions in the treasurer's file + missing in yours, and vice-a-versa. (This is a mess and you have to go backwards to  fix it 

*Subject:* gnucash-user Digest, Vol 273, Issue 14


> From:<murray at murraycomber.com>
> To: "'David Cousens'"<davidcousens49 at gmail.com>,
> 	<gnucash-user at gnucash.org>
> Subject: Re: [GNC] New User - 1st Question 
> Message-ID:<00be01dc6583$ee1d48d0$ca57da70$@murraycomber.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> 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.

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