[ILUG] Accounting packages

[Michael Kennedy]

Ian,

I think the Wiki idea is excellent. Thank you!

We could have a section in it for each of the major products?

I think it might be best if the Wiki is on linux.ie, with automatic 
access for all registered members, but perhaps that's a major undertaking.

Google-Docs seems fine, but:
   - if it must be shared with each authorised individual, that's a 
nuisance for some admin person, and
   - if it's wide open, we run the risk of someone clobbering it... I 
was recently involved in developing a simple "open" calendar/diary tool, 
and some visitors dropped by, and, obviously, thought it was a "private" 
tool, and started entering personal details on it!!!

Re "Irish"-related questions for GNUCash - here's a few:
   - Any standardised “Irish” Chart of Accounts?
   - VAT-handling OK; support for the “Cash Accounting” scheme?
   - Import files from Sage, Mamut, MYOB, etc?
   - Mail-merge features (preferably with Open/LibreOffice)?
   - Import of Irish Banking transactions?
   - Maybe a WEEE report option?
   - Irish Payroll modules?

Thank you,
   - Mike

On 18/10/2011 09:10, Ian Spillane wrote:
> Gerard,
>
> Perhaps we can turn this into an opportunity to create a wiki tutorial
> somewhere (on Google Docs?) on using GnuCash in Ireland - if you fire
> the questions at me I'll answer them. I've used GnuCash successfully.
>
> Ian
>
> On 17 October 2011 19:39, Gerard Cunningham<lists at faduda.net>  wrote:
>> On Mon, 2011-10-17 at 18:52 +0100, Ian Spillane wrote:
>>> GnuCash isn't bad.
>>
>> Clearly YMMV. I've found GNUcash horribly unintuitive. Even after
>> spending an evening reading the "documentation", I still can't figure
>> out how to make it do what I want.
>>
>>> You'll have to spent a bit of effort setting proper
>>> account names - but these can always be amended. Pay attention to have
>>> separate VAT accounts for the different VAT rates and import and
>>> export; different sales and expenses accounts for imports and exports
>>> - GnuCash will not otherwise help you with your 3G form. Check your
>>> forms to see what kind of breakdown of information you need and make
>>> your accounts accordingly.
>>>
>>> GnuCash is woeful for automated billing and sending out more than one
>>> invoice or statement but if you are happy to generate each invoice and
>>> print in turn then you're fine.
>>>
>>> GnuCash works identically for me in Windows or Linux.
>>>
>>> In my mind the main chart of accounts gives me a very simple intuitive
>>> overview of the accounts and feels like having manual accounts in
>>> front of me.
>>>
>>> On 17 October 2011 18:41, Gerard Cunningham<lists at faduda.net>  wrote:
>>>> Can anyone recommend a simple-to-use (I know, that's relative)
>>>> accounting package for use by a sole trader, to handle Sales, Cash,
>>>> Purchases, Debtors Owing and VAT for an impoverished journalist?
>>>>
>>>> Basically I need something that's a pretty straightforward
>>>> metaphor/equivalent for standard double-entry bookkeeping.
>>>>
>>>> The ability to talk to bank accounts/Revenue online is not necessary,
>>>> though if it can generate custom invoices as PDF that would be nice.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On an unrelated note, has anyone had any success in getting Unbuntuone
>>>> to work with a non-Ubuntu distro? Ironic that I can get a version for MS
>>>> Windows but not for Debian.
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Gerard Cunningham
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Irish Linux Users' Group mailing list
>>>> About this list : http://mail.linux.ie/mailman/listinfo/ilug
>>>> Who we are : http://www.linux.ie/
>>>> Where we are : http://www.linux.ie/map/
>>>>
>>
>> --
>> Gerard Cunningham
>>
>> --
>> Irish Linux Users' Group mailing list
>> About this list : http://mail.linux.ie/mailman/listinfo/ilug
>> Who we are : http://www.linux.ie/
>> Where we are : http://www.linux.ie/map/
>>