Adrien, Thanks for the information.
I think I will install the latest version and try the 'use accumulated totals' report with a test file. If it works then make the jump. I have an old laptop that is running 2.6.15 if I have to access the old files. Rebuilding the Chart of Accounts seems easier than the upgrade process. Larry On Wed, Jul 19, 2023 at 9:27 AM Adrien Monteleone < adrien.montele...@lusfiber.net> wrote: > On 7/18/23 1:07 PM, larry johnston wrote: > > Hi, > > > > I did not try to upgrade when I asked this question three years ago. > > However my computer is on its last legs so I am trying to decide what to > do > > when I get the new computer. > > > > We have been using GNUCash 2.6.15 and it has met our needs for our > personal > > finances. A key feature for us is Phil's YTD report. Per the discussion > in > > this string his report will not work in more recent versions. As a > result I > > have a few questions. > > > > Will 2.6.15 run on Windows 11? Can it still be downloaded? > > First a direct answer: > > I don't know, but I'm sure It doesn't hurt to try. Maybe someone with > Win11 can try installing it to see and report back. (best I have is > access to Win10) > > *note, the advice below sounds like a lot of work and reading. It is. > That's the tradeoff when you wait to upgrade. You don't put off the > work, you just scrunch it into 'one shot' later. > > > > ----- > Second, about finding the older versions: > > You can find it along with all other versions on SourceForge. (the > official location of all GnuCash Downloads) > > https://sourceforge.net/projects/gnucash/files/ > > Click the '(stable)' folder, then the folder for the version you want, > then click the installer you need. ('.exe' in your case) > > If you ever need to get back there again - simply go to GnuCash.org and > click the 'More downloads' link in the Download section at the top of > the page. That will take you to: https://gnucash.org/download.phtml > (there is also a Downloads section in the site menu, you can download > 'program' or 'documentation' from there) > > On that page, scroll to the bottom and choose the link for 'View all > GnuCash downloads' which takes you to the above SourceForge page. > > Use this to find any old version. (necessary for your upgrade path > should you take it) > > Despite the cutoff of old versions for old operating systems, there is > no hard rule that a *newer* version of GnuCash won't run on say, XP or > Win7, just that the devs don't support it and you are on your own > trying. I've never heard of any issue with old versions of *GnuCash* > running on *newer* operating system versions. (your case) > > > > ----- > Third, upgrade path: > > Read this over first: > > https://wiki.gnucash.org/wiki/FAQ#Using_Different_Versions.2C_Up_And_Downgrade > > With all that out of the way, and understanding it (ask back here on the > list if you have questions) you can proceed. > > MAKE BACKUPS! (or at least some sort of copy of your data file in > between *each* upgrade) That way if you have any problems or notice any > sort of data corruption, you can step back and try again. > > See this FAQ on Backups: > https://wiki.gnucash.org/wiki/FAQ#Questions_about_Backups > > You may want to backup your 'environment' as well as your data - so > don't skip that section! > > (yes, you will need to get familiar with the various file locations to > seamlessly pull this off) > > now, to really proceed with the upgrade... > > In your case, you would first want to upgrade to the last release of the > 2.6.x series, 2.6.21 > > Then you would step to the last of the 3.x series, then last of 4.x, > then finally the current 5.x release which is 5.3. > > Those releases in order would be: > > 2.6.15 -> 2.6.21 -> 3.11 -> 4.14 -> 5.3 > > Be sure (as noted in the above FAQ answer) to run Actions > Check & > Repair > Check & Repair All after first opening your file when you do > *each* upgrade. This is important. It should take only a few seconds, > but some data files might take longer. Report back here if you have any > issues. > > > > ----- > Fourth, other options: > > In a worst case, if you need to upgrade the computer to a new physical > machine running Win11, and 2.6.15 doesn't install or run, you could try > running 2.6.15 in a Virtual Machine. (either running your previous > version of Windows, or Linux) That is a tad bit technical, but not > terribly so these days. It is essentially running the old OS inside an > 'app'. There are even ways to migrate your current computer > installation, software, data and all, to a Virtual Machine. I have set > up Virtual Machines (VMs) for several non-techy family members and they > use it with no problems. > > If you end up needing that sort of solution, there are several of us > here who can help, even though that isn't specific to GnuCash. (and > there is plenty of help on the web for that too) > > Lastly, don't rule that old rustbucket out. It may be possible to > 'refresh' it simply by reinstalling Windows, possibly upgrading some > internal hardware, or switching to an appropriate version of Linux. > You'd be amazed how either of those approaches can revitalize aging > hardware to like-new performance. (or better in some cases!) > > > Does a later version have a report with the same functionality as Phil's > > YTD report? > > I think Chris answered this, but specifically we'd need Phil's report > (or at least a sample of its output) to know for sure. > > To your more detailed question: > > > Does the current Budget Report give YTD figures? > > Yes, using the 'accumulated amounts' option. > > > Does it show 'Current month vs. Budget' > > That is ambiguous, but I'm guessing you want 'current month actual' vs. > 'current month budget'. The answer is Yes, *without* 'accumulated > amounts' selected. (how the report normally works - each period is shown > actual, budget, and variance (if selected to) *for that period*. > > If you want to see YTD of your Actual vs. YTD of your Budget *as of a > period* that is what the 'accumulated amounts' option is for. > > > Does it show 'YTD vs. Budget > Yes, as noted above. (not sure how you see this differently) > > > Does it show 'Current Income & Expense vs. Annual Budget' > > Yes. Of course, you need to include those accounts in the report to see > the data just as before. > > The old Budget Report could do this with Options > Display > 'Show > column with totals'. > > This column is superfluous when using the 'accumulated amounts' if > you're at the end of the budgeting window as the figures should match > the last period, but otherwise, it is very useful to see 'how much room > do I have left' if you are not yet done with that budget. ('year' for > most folks) Here too the 'variance' column is useful. > > > If we want to access our current files what stages of upgrading do we > need > > to take? > > See above about Upgrade Path > > > Is it possible for someone who is not that computer savvy to run two > > versions of GNUCash on Windows 11? > > Yes, see above about Virtual Machines, but be sure to read the FAQ about > Up/Downgrading. There are limits once you go past some versions. > > > Regards, > Adrien > > _______________________________________________ > gnucash-user mailing list > gnucash-user@gnucash.org > To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe: > 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 ----- Please remember to CC this list on all your replies. You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All.
