For what it’s worth, I was able to execute “sudo pip install piecash” successfully, but there is a gap for me at this point: what next? Is there a python shell? Am I supposed to write a script file (and once written, would I use some python command to run it? Which command?)? What, exactly, did I install?
Clearly, piecash isn’t for the average end user… David > On Jan 28, 2018, at 4:31 PM, Sébastien de Menten <sdemen...@gmail.com> wrote: > > Editing a gnucash book via piecash is not the approved way of doing it > (advice from the gnucash core team that recommends to go through the gnucash > engine) but a very nice way ;-) > > However, for reading gnucash books, it is an alternative as they are many to > choose (to read from XML, to read from SQL, ...) > > On Jan 28, 2018 12:03, "D" <sunfis...@yahoo.com <mailto:sunfis...@yahoo.com>> > wrote: > Sébastien, > > I know that users are advised not to edit their Gnucash data directly; is > piecash an approved application to edit Gnucash data directly? > > David > > > > On January 28, 2018, at 3:41 PM, Sébastien de Menten <sdemen...@gmail.com > <mailto:sdemen...@gmail.com>> wrote: > > > David, > > This is one of the key reason for piecash to exist as it does not need any > compilation (it is a pure python package) and works even without having > gnucash installed. > It doesn't use gnucash libraries as it reads (and writes) directly to the > gnucash book through SQL. > > > I do not have a Mac so I can't test the installation directly but it should > be just a matter of installing the "piecash" package available on PyPI (the > python package index). > > Sebastien > > On Jan 28, 2018 08:00, "David T." <sunfis...@yahoo.com > <mailto:sunfis...@yahoo.com>> wrote: > Sebastien, > > The problem isn’t with Python (I am told that Macs already have Python on > them). The problem as I understand it (John will no doubt correct me when my > statements prove ill-informed or flat out wrong) has to do with the fact that > GnuCash requires a specific version of Python, which can only be guaranteed > by compiling GnuCash with the current version of Python. Short of shipping > GnuCash with a complete Python installation, the only way around this is for > individual users to compile locally. Which, as I noted, is a painful process > for me. But thanks for the information. > > David > > >> On Jan 28, 2018, at 11:55 AM, Sébastien de Menten <sdemen...@gmail.com >> <mailto:sdemen...@gmail.com>> wrote: >> >> Hello David, >> >> Regarding the use of python on windows and Mac, Anaconda has made a huge >> difference in the last years providing all packages in an easy precompiled >> version. >> You can have a look at https://conda.io/docs/user-guide/install/macos.html >> <https://conda.io/docs/user-guide/install/macos.html> for the installation >> (which is simple and does not require any compiler). >> >> >> On Jan 28, 2018 05:42, "D" <sunfis...@yahoo.com >> <mailto:sunfis...@yahoo.com>> wrote: >> Ah, yes that was my incorrect reference. Sorry for the crossed reference. >> >> I will note that my confusion stems in part from the fact that, as a Mac >> user, I have never used anything to do with python and Gnucash, on account >> of the high barrier to install the proper toolsets (i.e., compiling >> yourself). My previous attempts at this process always ended in frustration >> and failure. As a consequence, when I see anything that mentions python and >> Gnucash, my eyes glaze over. >> >> In the past, there hasn't been much to recommend beating my head against >> that wall, but perhaps the time has come to see what happens at this time, >> since there eh to be increasing numbers of ways to use python with Gnucash >> data. >> >> David >> >> On January 28, 2018, at 12:55 AM, John Ralls <jra...@ceridwen.us >> <mailto:jra...@ceridwen.us>> wrote: >> >> I suspect David was thinking of CuteCash, Christian Stimming’s experimental >> Qt GUI. >> >> Regards, >> John Ralls >> >> > On Jan 27, 2018, at 10:44 AM, Sébastien de Menten <sdemen...@gmail.com >> > <mailto:sdemen...@gmail.com>> wrote: >> > >> > Hello David, >> > >> > I saw you were mentioning piecash in your message. If you talk about >> > http://piecash.readthedocs.io/en/latest/ >> > <http://piecash.readthedocs.io/en/latest/>, it is not a proof of concept >> > for >> > a frontend but an alternative to the gnucash python bindings to work with >> > gnucash books stored in any of the 3 SQL backends (SQLite, postgres and >> > MySQL) and is alive and maintained (last release on the 20th December >> > 2017). >> > >> > The following article https://arachnoid.com/gnucash_utilities/ >> > <https://arachnoid.com/gnucash_utilities/> shows some >> > interesting use cases for it. >> > >> > With gnucash 3.0, piecash will also allow you to write your own reports >> > using si python and jinja2 (work in progress). >> > >> > For people interested to contribute, https://github.com/sdementen/piecash >> > <https://github.com/sdementen/piecash>. >> > >> > >> > On Jan 27, 2018 18:27, "D via gnucash-user" <gnucash-user@gnucash.org >> > <mailto:gnucash-user@gnucash.org>> >> > wrote: >> > >> > Mike, >> > >> > There is nothing new as far as I know about the file formats. You are right >> > that the primary benefit to using sql is being able to generate data sets >> > from sql that can used in reports. Processing a data file is no quicker in >> > sql, since it all gets loaded in at start up. Sql, moreover, adds a >> > database manager role to the mix; many users are not prepared to learn how >> > to manage a database platform to manage their financial accounts. >> > >> > I stick with the XML because it also can store the data compressed; when >> > dealing with the main data file and all its copies, the difference between >> > 3mb and 13mb adds up quickly. >> > >> > Piecash, as I understand it, was a proof-of-concept experiment to see >> > whether a python front end could be designed. It has not been maintained >> > for some years now, and I recall recent discussion about changing its >> > status with the project. >> > >> > As far as I know, there has been no change in recommendation to stay with >> > xml. >> > >> > David >> > >> > On January 27, 2018, at 12:13 PM, Adrien Monteleone < >> > adrien.montele...@gmail.com <mailto:adrien.montele...@gmail.com>> wrote: >> > >> > I switched from XML to SQLite about a year ago. I perceive a performance >> > improvement on loading, but that’s about it. (and I generally never shut >> > the app down anyway) >> > >> > I haven’t attempted any custom reporting yet, but I plan to. >> > >> > I could be mistaken, but I think PyCash is designed to parse the XML file >> > so you can still get the reporting you want. >> > >> > Regards, >> > Adrien >> > >> >> On Jan 27, 2018, at 12:55 AM, Mike Stillingfleet < >> > mikestillingfl...@fastmail.co.uk >> > <mailto:mikestillingfl...@fastmail.co.uk>> wrote: >> >> >> >> Dear All, >> >> >> >> XML is the default when creating a new file. >> >> >> >> I have seen various quite dated questions about the decision process of >> > selecting which db to use. >> >> >> >> I think that the main advantage of using MySQL would be the ability to >> > generate custom reports. >> >> >> >> Are there any other advantages and are there any differences in the >> > interface between the various db's. Does the forum still recommend XML. >> >> >> >> Regards >> >> >> >> -- >> >> Mike Stillingfleet >> >> mikestillingfl...@fastmail.co.uk <mailto:mikestillingfl...@fastmail.co.uk> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> >> gnucash-user mailing list >> >> gnucash-user@gnucash.org <mailto:gnucash-user@gnucash.org> >> >> https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user >> >> <https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user> >> >> ----- >> >> Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. >> >> You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All. >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > gnucash-user mailing list >> > gnucash-user@gnucash.org <mailto:gnucash-user@gnucash.org> >> > https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user >> > <https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user> >> > ----- >> > Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. >> > You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All. >> > _______________________________________________ >> > gnucash-user mailing list >> > gnucash-user@gnucash.org <mailto:gnucash-user@gnucash.org> >> > https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user >> > <https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user> >> > ----- >> > Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. >> > You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All. >> > _______________________________________________ >> > gnucash-user mailing list >> > gnucash-user@gnucash.org <mailto:gnucash-user@gnucash.org> >> > https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user >> > <https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user> >> > ----- >> > Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. >> > You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All. >> > _______________________________________________ gnucash-user mailing list gnucash-user@gnucash.org To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user If you are using Nabble or Gmane, please see https://wiki.gnucash.org/wiki/Mailing_Lists for more information. ----- Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. 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