Difference between revisions of "File"
(Add a new page just for the file-related FAQ) |
(→How can I edit the file?: more precise wording) |
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=== How can I edit the file? === | === How can I edit the file? === | ||
− | The file itself is XML data but in <tt>gzip</tt>'d form (provided the corresponding setting in Edit->Preferences is activated, which is the default). In order to have a look at your data by a text editor, | + | The file itself is XML data but in <tt>gzip</tt>'d form (provided the corresponding setting in Edit->Preferences is activated, which is the default). In order to have a look at your data by a text editor, you need to open a terminal window (console window) and enter the following commands: |
mv foobar foobar.gz | mv foobar foobar.gz | ||
gunzip foobar | gunzip foobar |
Revision as of 08:50, 24 April 2007
The data file of GnuCash has two issues that are being asked again and again:
Where is the gnucash file?
The file name is what you first enter as file name. Just this. No prefix, no suffix, just the name. If you enter "/home/myself/foobar" in the "Save as..." dialog window, the file will be written into "/home/myself/foobar" and nothing else. See also FAQ#Q:_Where_is_my_.XML_data_file?
- However, in addition to the original "foobar" file, GnuCash will also save backup files and log files. The additional backup files will be saved as "foobar.<TIMESTAMP>.xac", the log files will be saved as "foobar.<TIMESTAMP>.log". Those files can be deleted regularly if you don't need any further backup. See also FAQ#Q:_What_are_all_these_.xac_and_.log_files_filling_up_my_directory?
How can I edit the file?
The file itself is XML data but in gzip'd form (provided the corresponding setting in Edit->Preferences is activated, which is the default). In order to have a look at your data by a text editor, you need to open a terminal window (console window) and enter the following commands:
mv foobar foobar.gz gunzip foobar
Then you can open the file "foobar" in a text editor.
If you intend to make some manual changes, make sure to have a backup of your original file somewhere in case you get something wrong.
Once you have edited and saved the file, you don't have to gzip it yourself; GnuCash will do this upon the next save.