gnucash/doc/sgml/C/xacc-file-operations.sgml

  <article id="xacc-file-operations">
    <artheader>
      <title>File Operations</title>
    </artheader>
    <sect1>
      <title>
	GnuCash Data Files
      </title>
      <para>In normal operation, GnuCash saves your data in normal data files,
	which can be located in any directory you have permissions for.  They
	are self-contained and can be moved, copied, and backed-up to tape, 
	floppies, or any other medium you choose.
        They can be saved using any name, and any file extension you choose, but, traditionally
      the developers and users have used the extension ".xac", or "gml2"
	to distinguish the new XML format files from the old 1.4 binary file format.
      </para>

      <para>
	The GnuCash file format has changed between the 1.4 and 1.6 releases.  The
	new version uses XML (making it much easier to write independent tools to 
	manipulate GnuCash files) and supports storing much more meta-information, amongst
	many other benefits.  GnuCash 1.6 can read files from older versions, but
	older versions <emphasis>cannot</emphasis>read GnuCash 1.6 files.  We suggest
	that GnuCash users who wish to share data upgrade to 1.6.
      </para>

      <para>Gnucash <emphasis>cannot</emphasis> directly open data files from any other 
      accounting package.  It can, however, import QIF files that Quicken, Microsoft
      Money, and several other packages use an export format with the 
      <link linkend="xacc-quicken">QIF importer</link>.  GnuCash does not have the 
	ability to export QIFs at present, though such functionality would be highly
	desirable - if anybody with some coding skills wants to work on it, please
	contact the developers.
      </para>
    </sect1>

    <sect1>
      <title>
	The File Menu
      </title>      
      <para>Like most applications, file operations are performed from the file menu:</para>
 
      <itemizedlist>
	<listitem><para><emphasis>New File</emphasis>: Create a brand-new, empty
	    GnuCash file.  If you have unsaved work, GnuCash will ask you if you
	    wish to save it.
	    </para></listitem>

	<listitem><para><emphasis>Open</emphasis>: Retrieve an existing GnuCash file.</para>
	  </listitem>
	<listitem><para><emphasis>Save</emphasis>: Save your current GnuCash data to disk under
	    its current name.</para>
	    </listitem>
	<listitem><para><emphasis>Save as</emphasis>: Save the current data under a new 
	    name.</para></listitem>
	<listitem><para><emphasis><link linkend="xacc-export-accounts">Export Accounts</link>
	      </emphasis>: Export your account structure, without any transactions.  Useful
	    for making templates for others, or as a simple, but still useful way to close
	    out books.
	    </para></listitem>
	<listitem>
	  <para>
	    <emphasis>
	      <link linkend="xacc-quicken">Import QIF</link></emphasis>: Import QIF data
	    files.</para></listitem>
	<listitem>
	  <para>
	    <emphasis>
	      <link linkend="xacc-new-account-tree">New Account Tree</link></emphasis>: 
	    A shortcut
	    to create many of the common accounts used by households.</para>
	  </listitem>
	<listitem><para><emphasis>Short cuts to previously opened files</emphasis>: 
	    the previous four or so 
	  GnuCash files you have opened will appear.  Select them to open.</para></listitem>

	<listitem><para><emphasis>Move to New Window</emphasis>: create a new 
	    top-level window.  See <link linkend="xacc-toplevel">here for more details.</link>
	    </para></listitem>
	<listitem><para><emphasis>Close This Window</emphasis>: Close <emphasis>this</emphasis>
	    top-level window, leaving others open.  See <link linkend="xacc-toplevel">here</link> for more details.</para>
	</listitem>
	 <listitem><para><emphasis>Exit GnuCash</emphasis>: Close all windows and exit.
	    GnuCash will prompt you to save the file, if there have been any changes since
	    the last save.</para>
	</listitem>
      </itemizedlist>
    </sect1>
    <sect1 id="xacc-export-accounts">
      <title>
	Exporting Your account Hierachy
      </title>
     
      <para>
	If you wish for some reason, to create an empty file with the 
	same account structure as a current one, you can do so by
	selecting "Export accounts" from the File menu.
	</para>
      <para>
	This can be used as a basic way to close your accounts, 
	if you wish.
      </para>
    </sect1>

    <sect1 id="xacc-postgres-backend">
      <title>
	Using PostGres to store your data
      </title>
      <para><emphasis>FIXME: Need Content!</emphasis></para>
      <para>
	GnuCash has beta support for using postgres, a free, powerful, 
	mostly SQL-compliant database engine, as a data storage method
	rather than flat files.
      </para>
      <para>
	At this stage, the only documentation is in the file 
	src/doc/engine/sql/README in the GnuCash source distribution.
      </para>
    </sect1>
  </article>
  

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