Adrien, The new user dialog opens if there’s no file to open and a preference hasn’t been set; running the dialog sets the preference. It offers to run the NAHSA, the QIF import assistant, or to run a new user tutorial (which actually just opens the T&CG at the table of contents).
To see it on your mac, do defaults write org.gnucash.Gnucash /org/gnucash/dialogs/new-user/first-startup "1" /Applications/Gnucash.app/Contents/MacOS/Gnucash --nofile You might try starting GnuCash with --nofile on your new VM to see if that triggers it. If so it means that for some reason gnc_get_file_to_load() is returning something besides NULL. It’s currently not possible to have GnuCash running without an open session and accompanying book, even if the book doesn’t even have a root account. That leads to having the “save” button lighted and being asked to save when there’s nothing to save. Regards, John Ralls > On Sep 13, 2018, at 7:09 AM, Adrien Monteleone > <adrien.montele...@lusfiber.net> wrote: > > Just tested in a Xubuntu 18.04 vm. > > I got the tip of the day overlaid on the splash screen. I closed the tip > dialog, the splash screen disappeared and the main GnuCash window appeared. > > It’s blank save for the menu and two buttons, one to save the current file > and one to close the currently active page. (whatever that means) > > Here’s a screenshot: https://imgur.com/a/HIitCFN > > I didn’t think an actual book exists here, but the title bar does say > ‘unsaved book’ at the top. > > Clicking the “Close the currently active page” button does nothing. (perhaps > because there is no currently active page) > > Clicking the “Save File” button brings up a save file dialog. Completing this > saves the file, changes the title bar to now say, in this case, ’test.gnucash > - Gnucash’ but otherwise does nothing. The NAHSA doesn’t run. There’s zero > indication what the user is supposed to do at this point. > > So if there is supposed to be a ‘Welcome’ screen to guide the user on getting > started, it isn’t firing. Is this new for 3.x? > > Note, this test was done using 2.6.19-1 which was in the bionic repos so I’m > not going to file a bug on this, but I’ll next build a fresh copy of 3.2 and > see what happens. > > Regards, > Adrien > >> On Sep 13, 2018, at 8:36 AM, Adrien Monteleone >> <adrien.montele...@lusfiber.net> wrote: >> >> There’s a “Welcome to GnuCash!” screen? I don’t think I’ve ever seen it. I’m >> going to test in a vm and see what happens. >> >> Regards, >> Adrien >> >>> On Sep 13, 2018, at 8:33 AM, David T. <sunfis...@yahoo.com> wrote: >>> >>> Adrien, >>> >>> I just tried using a new login on my Mac to run a newly-downloaded copy of >>> GnuCash, and I also found myself staring at a blank screen after startup. >>> >>> Having just worked on the documentation for the “Welcome to GnuCash!” >>> screen, I am curious to know *when* that screen actually runs? Does GnuCash >>> have some hidden element that knows that it has been run on any login of my >>> Mac, or is this aspect broken? Seems a shame to have a welcome mat at the >>> front door, and then have everyone use the service entrance. >>> >>> David >>> >>>> On Sep 13, 2018, at 8:53 AM, Adrien Monteleone >>>> <adrien.montele...@lusfiber.net> wrote: >>>> >>>> I was going to mention this in my reply to David Cousens but didn’t want >>>> to hijack the thread. >>>> >>>> The greatest source of confusion I’ve seen from new users personally is >>>> the blank screen you see on first run with no indication what to do next. >>>> (unless this has changed with 3.x, I haven’t started a ‘fresh’ copy of >>>> GnuCash in some time) >>>> >>>> Perhaps if this screen offered buttons for “Open existing book” or “Create >>>> new book” that then launches the appropriate assistant(s) could work well >>>> here. >>>> >>>> Does this fall in line with what you mentioned about ‘first screen’ or was >>>> that the ‘first screen of the assistant’? >>>> >>>> Regards, >>>> Adrien >>>> >>>>> On Sep 13, 2018, at 7:41 AM, D <sunfis...@yahoo.com> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Hello, >>>>> >>>>> Having raised yet another ruckus on the lists regarding documentation, I >>>>> will back off altogether, and work to write documentation on the >>>>> assistant as it is, taking care to balance the needs of the different >>>>> user groups. >>>>> >>>>> My only final comment is to note that it is unfortunate that this >>>>> assistant is what all users see when they click File->New. Perhaps the >>>>> idea of adding buttons on the first screen for Business and Personal >>>>> setup (along with a modification in sequencing for the latter option) >>>>> could be implemented with minor developer effort? >>>>> >>>>> I have a greater appreciation for the many different perspectives in the >>>>> community, and thank everyone for their input. >>>>> >>>>> David >>>>> >>>>> On September 13, 2018, at 8:10 AM, Adrien Monteleone >>>>> <adrien.montele...@lusfiber.net> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> David, >>>>> >>>>> I agree on all points. >>>>> >>>>> Regards, >>>>> Adrien >>>>> >>>>>> On Sep 12, 2018, at 10:19 PM, David Cousens <davidcous...@bigpond.com> >>>>>> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> Adrien, >>>>>> >>>>>> While I agree with the concept David T is proposing to streamline the >>>>>> process for new users and the thrust of your >>>>>> comments about the new user experience, the new account heirarchy at >>>>>> least as it is currently implemented, will be used >>>>>> by anyone creating a new set of books, whether they are experienced >>>>>> Gnucash users, experienced accountants, total >>>>>> newbies or someone transferring from another program. >>>>>> >>>>>> As a newbie you can get a perfectly usable set of accounts for exploring >>>>>> Gnucash by simply clicking Next through the >>>>>> assistant then Apply and then saving the file. >>>>>> >>>>>> Perhaps this needs to be made clearer to new users as well as informing >>>>>> them that any choices they make can be changed >>>>>> later (except for the very few cases where this is not possible - I >>>>>> can't think of any but I personally don't currently >>>>>> use the full capabilty set of GnuCash's features but I used more in the >>>>>> past). >>>>>> >>>>>> If this was done up front, they could then easily skip through. >>>>>> >>>>>> The suggestion John made of creating a simplified new file option with >>>>>> defaults based on the locale and an advanced >>>>>> setup option using the NAHS Assistant seems to meet this need as well. >>>>>> Even knowing what you want in a CoA requires a >>>>>> fair understanding of your accounting needs as well as the functionality >>>>>> of GnuCash. Alternatively in other posts I >>>>>> think both Frank and I have suggested a checkbox which by default >>>>>> disables selecting those options which a new user is >>>>>> going to find confusing and provides default values. >>>>>> >>>>>> I would have thought the CoA setup is not too bad. It comes with the >>>>>> common accounts selected, it does perhaps give the >>>>>> new user a view that there is a lot more to explore. Some new users will >>>>>> be looking for business functionality and other >>>>>> "advanced " functionality from the get go. There will always be a few >>>>>> new users who will be confused by having to start >>>>>> the program. >>>>>> >>>>>> Personally when evaluating software, I jump in without reading manuals >>>>>> first because I figure if the interface isn't >>>>>> intuitive to a decent extent, I am not going to want to go too much >>>>>> further, unless I really have no other option. >>>>>> Intuitive for an experienced computer user can however be very different >>>>>> for someone with limited experience. My wife >>>>>> never reads manuals ever, she just asks me. I on the other hand consult >>>>>> my 5 year old grand daughter. >>>>>> >>>>>> I share Mechtilde's concern that in making things easier for the new >>>>>> user we don't lose functionality for the >>>>>> experienced user. We should hopefully look for mechanisms for doing both. >>>>>> >>>>>> David Cousens >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> On Wed, 2018-09-12 at 10:33 -0500, Adrien Monteleone wrote: >>>>>>> As someone who has helped other people get started using GnuCash (and >>>>>>> remembering my own first steps) I agree >>>>>>> completely with these points. Those book preferences are not self >>>>>>> explanatory. (perhaps bugs in their own right) A new >>>>>>> user is left to either trust the defaults and move on, pause and >>>>>>> revisit the startup process several times while they >>>>>>> track down help info and digest it, or give up in frustration. (I’ve >>>>>>> seen the latter three times—you may or not be >>>>>>> surprised how many people do *not* want to read a book before they >>>>>>> start using a piece of software, I chose the second >>>>>>> option personally) >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Unless the startup assistant (wizard, druid, whatever) can be >>>>>>> redesigned as an explanatory walk through to choose >>>>>>> these settings, that part should be removed and the defaults chosen for >>>>>>> the user. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> As for trading accounts, I turned them on after the fact for tracking >>>>>>> commodities as additional currencies. I’ve never >>>>>>> bought or sold any since doing that, but I’ve played with turning the >>>>>>> setting on and off to experiment with the >>>>>>> setting’s effect on some reports and I’ve never noticed any issues. >>>>>>> (but again, I only have opening balance >>>>>>> transactions in each currency) If turning Trading Accounts off after >>>>>>> entering buy/sell transactions is bad news, then >>>>>>> I would think the option to do so should be disabled. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Regards, >>>>>>> Adrien >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Sep 12, 2018, at 9:38 AM, David T. via gnucash-devel >>>>>>>> <gnucash-devel@gnucash.org> wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Hello, >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> As I begin the process of migrating text from the Help to the Guide >>>>>>>> (cf. Bug 796855), I am working on the Help >>>>>>>> information regarding the New Account Hierarchy Setup (NAHS) >>>>>>>> assistant, and I have a couple of questions about the >>>>>>>> second screen of the assistant, the “New Book Options” screen. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> First off, while I respect the intent to allow users the option to set >>>>>>>> these preferences from the creation of their >>>>>>>> file, I wonder whether this is misguided. To wit: all of these options >>>>>>>> are quite technical in nature, and all of >>>>>>>> them can be set at a later point by opening the appropriate >>>>>>>> preferences. Adding these options here adds complexity >>>>>>>> that can easily be deferred to a later point. While it is true that >>>>>>>> this assistant runs whenever a user chooses >>>>>>>> File->New (meaning that an experienced user might wish to add these >>>>>>>> settings from the assistant), I am willing to >>>>>>>> hazard a guess that most users will invoke this assistant *only* when >>>>>>>> they first start using GnuCash, and *only* >>>>>>>> when their heads are already swimming with the overwhelming experience >>>>>>>> that is GnuCash. Asking a new user to choose >>>>>>>> whether to use Trading Accounts or to Use Split Action Field for >>>>>>>> Number is IMHO pointless. They aren’t going to be >>>>>>>> able to make an informed decision. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> <aside>I’ll note that this becomes an obvious issue when I attempt to >>>>>>>> write the help section for the screen. I am >>>>>>>> left either with writing a huge explanatory section on the details of >>>>>>>> each of these settings, which detracts from >>>>>>>> the flow of the NAHS narrative, or with adding a generic note that >>>>>>>> advises users to accept the defaults and read >>>>>>>> about the details in other sections of the Guide.</aside> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> So, for the new user, the only real effect of this screen is to >>>>>>>> introduce confusion and questions. Can it be removed >>>>>>>> from the assistant? >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Related to this screen, my second question has to do with the “Use >>>>>>>> Trading Accounts” setting. Can it be turned off >>>>>>>> once it has been enabled in a given GnuCash file? >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> ISTR that this option is a one-way street—i.e., that, once turned on, >>>>>>>> it can not be turned off again. Is this still >>>>>>>> the case? If it is still true, then I would strongly suggest that this >>>>>>>> option shouldn’t be placed on the NAHS >>>>>>>> Assistant, since a new user won’t be aware of this. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> David >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>>> gnucash-devel mailing list >>>>>>>> gnucash-devel@gnucash.org >>>>>>>> https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-devel >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>> gnucash-devel mailing list >>>>>>> gnucash-devel@gnucash.org >>>>>>> https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-devel >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> gnucash-devel mailing list >>>>> gnucash-devel@gnucash.org >>>>> https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-devel >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> gnucash-devel mailing list >>>> gnucash-devel@gnucash.org >>>> https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-devel >>> >>> >> > > > _______________________________________________ > gnucash-devel mailing list > gnucash-devel@gnucash.org > https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-devel _______________________________________________ gnucash-devel mailing list gnucash-devel@gnucash.org https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-devel
