[GNC] Percentage Report

[Michael or Penny Novack]

A complete business system, a complete portfolio management system, a 
complete non-profit system*, etc, etc. have many pieces. ONE of those 
pieces for all of them is "general ledger". That is what  gnucash does. 
THAT PART.

There are arguments about system design philosophy, monolithic vs 
modular. But even if you take the monolithic side, general ledger would 
be a part of a "complete business system" rather than the other way around.

I do understand you. For "portfolio management" you want percentages. 
But the guy selling widgets wants inventory and POS, the gal with 
employees wants payroll, they want billable hours*, etc. etc.

Michael D Novack

* or policies sold, or whatever

PS: Gnucash is full "general ledger". It allows you to enter simple two 
account transactions "cashbook style" over all accounts (even if neither 
is "cash" and not in the small but "popular" cashbook subset of 
accounts). Just means you don't HAVE TO enter "journal style" unless 
more than just two accounts . I remember the old days of pen and ink on 
paper when we used a "cashbook" to simplify entry of the most common 
transactions (and avoiding transcription errors made when posting from 
the journal). But if you wanted, could turn that off and enter 
everything "journal style". The journal in gnucash is virtual BUT 
gnucash will show it to you if you ask (it's among the reports)









On 5/22/2025 8:52 PM, GTI .H wrote:
> Sorry, dear friend Stephen, but should I show you what you don't see? . . .
> ?
>
> A graphical report that can show the variations between periods is a BASIC
> need with a ton of possible uses, it is not something specific to
> investments monitoring.
>
> The development of this functionality requires simple mathematical formulas
> and a few lines of code, and it could even be planned more elaborately so
> that it would accept various formulas as modifiers of the value plotted on
> the graph.
>
> And I have never heard that GnuCash is strictly a cashbook that does not
> allow, in any way, anything outside of that as an absolute rule.
>
> What about stock accounts? What about the stock reports suggested by the
> noble friend Geoff?
> "It shows % capital gain/loss plus % return (including any
> dividends/distributions)".
> Are they in the wrong software?
>
>  From the GnuCash website:
>
> "GnuCash is a free, GNU GPL-licensed *accounting program for individuals
> and small businesses*, available for GNU/Linux, BSD, Solaris, Mac OS X, and
> Microsoft Windows.
>
> Designed to be easy to use, yet powerful and flexible, GnuCash lets you
> keep track of your bank accounts, *stocks*, income, and expenses. As fast
> and intuitive as a checkbook, it is based on professional accounting
> principles to ensure balanced books and accurate reporting."
>
> It is fast and intuitive as a checkbook, but it does not necessarily IS A
> checkbook.
>
> Please don't invent limits, any useful functionality is welcome.
>
> If you or anyone else can't help, if no one else can bring something useful
> . . . this thread is closed.
>
> Thanks all.
>
> Em qui., 22 de mai. de 2025 às 13:07, Stephen M. Butler <kg7je at arrl.net>
> escreveu:
>
>> On 5/22/25 08:38, GTI .H wrote:
>>> Hello flywire,
>>>
>>> Thanks for the answer.
>>>
>>> Why do you think I don't use investment portfolio monitoring tools? I use
>>> this and many other third-party tools and others that I developed myself
>>> with the help of AIs.
>>>
>>> The issue here is WITHIN GnuCash, it is not about solving my issue with
>> any
>>> other solution that may exist. I already have this issue resolved outside
>>> of GnuCash as I showed in the attachment that I sent a few messages ago.
>>>
>>> The need to have a graphical report that has the ability to show the
>>> variations between periods is a very useful basic need that would bring a
>>> lot of comfort and practicality. This would prevent GnuCash from being
>>> reduced to just a basic DB in some issues.
>>>
>>> Em qui., 22 de mai. de 2025 às 01:41, flywire<flywire0 at gmail.com>
>> escreveu:
>>>>> *I need to monitor the evolution of my investments*
>>>> *Why would you try to do that in a cashbook instead of the myriad of
>>>> portfolio tracking tools?*
>>>>
>> Don't ask the hammer to function as a screwdriver.
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>

-- 
There is no possibility of social justice on a dead planet except the equality of the grave.