Extensions Menu

These are extensions of the program's functionalities, for reporting, calculating, exporting, importing, establishing bills and reminders and other.

They need to be set up by the user by clicking the appropriate button in the Extensions menu > Manage Extensions dialog, for example Import into accounting.

The Extensions menu lists all the already installed Banana Extensions related to the file that is open at the moment. By selecting the command, the indicated Extension will be executed.

Manage Extensions

The Manage Extensions command allows you to search for, install, alter your settings or uninstall Banana Extensions.

Installing a new Extension

For installing a new Extension, visit our Manage Extensions page.

Embedded Extension

Embedded Extensions are extensions saved in the Documents table of the accounting file that work without installation.

Technical information on Banana Extensions

Herewith some technical information on Banana Extensions

  • They are programs in Javascript that make use of API's available in Banana Accounting.
  • They are very secure and cannot perform functions that might impact on the operating system.
  • Single Extensions.
    A text file with the .js extension, which contains a program in Javascript, indicating the characteristics to be a Banana Extensions.
  • Extension package
    A compressed file with the .sbaa extension, which can contain several other files, necessary for the application, such as commands, images, dialogues. A package can contain several commands. The title of the package and the commands it contains are indicated in the Extensions menu.
    If you disable a package, all Extensions will be disabled.

Prerequisites for running Extensions

The commands for running Banana Extensions are only made available if the current file (the one on which you are working) has the features required by the Extensions. If any features are missing, the Extension will either not be visible or not executable in the Extensions menu.

  • Extensions are available in specific context:
  • Association via a File Type
    This requires the current file to be - for example - an Accounting file, or the double entry file, or addresses.
  • Association via a property
    Some Extensions will only be executable if the relevant word is specified in the File properties, Other section (from the File menu).
    For example, the List of Administrators to be printed, that require specific fields, will require the word "Administrator".

Subscription to Advanced plan required

Some extensions are available in the Free and Professional plans, while several others require the Advanced plan. 
The required plan information is indicated in the extension itself.

In addition:

  • The Advanced plan is required to run local and web-downloaded extensions.
  • Some extensions requiring the Advanced plan can also be used with other plans only as long as the accounting file has less than 70 rows.

Develop your own Extensions

Anyone can create Banana Extensions that extend the functionality of the program:

To develop a Banana Extension, it is recommended to set out from an existing project.

 

Manage Extensions

This dialog window allows you to install, modify settings and uninstall Banana Extensions.
You must install an Extension in order to be able to use it.

Viewing and Installing Marketplace Extensions

In the online section of the Dialog you see and search extensions available in the marketplace.

To install an Extension, proceed as follows:

  • Choose the language and country.
  • From the left menu, select Online
  • Select the Extension type (e.g. productivity)
  • Look for the desired Extension among those listed; or in the Search box, type the name of the Extension you want
  • Click on the Install button
  • Click on the Close button

Below are the available Extensions :

gestione estensioni

The installed Extension will be visible in the Extensions menu.

Note

If the Extensions window does not show the complete list of extensions, you need to update them or extend the search, selecting any country, any language and all.

  • If you activate the Include universal extensions option, you will also see all the extensions that can be used in any country.

If the complete list does not contain the format of your bank, you will need to request an account statement in the universal ISO 20022 format. Soon, all banks will replace the various formats (csv, MT940...) with the European standard ISO 20022 format.

List of Extensions

This list shows the installed Banana Extensions and those available for installation.

  • The check sign indicates that the Extension is installed.
  • The Extension denomination
  • Information Banana Extensions:
    • Description
    • Link for main information, will open the corresponding internet page
    • Last update
      Extension date and hour
      Local Banana Extension date and hour (as per imported file)
    • Category
      Type of Banana Extension
    • Nation
      Nation where Extension can be used. International will indicate that Extension can be used in several nations
    • Install button
      Download Banana Extension for local use
  • Information on installed Extensions:
    • The ">" symbol preceding a packet will designate a Banana Extensions packet, that contains several commands.
    • Enabled
      If the enabled box is not checked, the Extension will not figure in the menu. For a packet, single commands may me deactivated.
    • Automatic update.
      When a new version is made available, it will download automatically.
    • Last update
      The date of publication of the extension.
    • Category
      The Extension category
    • Nation
      The nation of extension. Universal means that it is not tied to a specific nation.
    • Language
      The interface language of the extension.
    •  Default channel *)
      The version of the extension. You can choose between
      • Stable-Channel.
        Final released versions.
      • Beta-channel.
        The versions released on a trial basis, before becoming final, but which still have to be fine-tuned.
      • Dev-channel.
        The versions under development.
    • Channels available *)
      The  versions available for this extension.
    • Used Channel *)
      The version in use.
      If the preferred channel version is not available, the programme will choose the channel version giving priority in order Stable, Beta and Developer.
    • URI.
      • If the extension is installed locally the local location.
      • If the extension is remote and has not been installed the remote url.
    • Remote URI 
      If the extension was installed remotely, the remote repository url.
    • Required properties
      For an Extension to function properly, they must be set up via File > File and accounting properties > Other. 
    • Apply properties button
      Will apply new properties to your file
    • Execute button
      Will execute the specific command.
      This button will only be highlighted if the App is applicable in the context of your current file.
      For example, a multi-currency function will only be applicable if the file has been created as a multi-currency accounting file.
      In order to create you own Extension for Banana Accounting Plus, you need to have a subscription to the Advanced plan.
    • Settings button
      Certain Extensions allow you to set the settings for execution of your task. They will be related to your currently open file. If you use the same App with another file you must redefine the settings.
      In the invoice reports, for instance, we indicate the elements necessary for printing.
    • Uninstall button
      Will uninstall the Extension or the packet.

Using a development version

In the Marketplace we may make available different version of an extension: 

  • If a development version is available for the extension, this is indicated in the "Available Channels".
  • In the "Default Channel" you can set the channel you prefer to use between Stable, Beta or Developer.
  • In the 'Used channel', the development channel actually used is then displayed.
     If the selected channel is not available, the higher level version is used. If there is no Developer, the Beta is used, and if there is no Stable

Search Extensions

Extensions are listed according to the following selection criteria:

  • Language
  • Nation
  • Text
  • Installed
    Displays locally installed Extensions.
  • Online
    List of Extensions available from the Marketplace.
    Marketplace extensions will be automatically updated once a day when a new version is available.
  • System.
    List of pre-installed Extensions. You may enable or disable via the check box.

Details

A dialog box appears with:

  • The source file where the Extension is located.
  • The type of Extension.
  • The date of the Extension.

Parameters

If the Extension allows to set the parameters at programming level,  the button is active.
When this is the case, dialogues are displayed that allow to enter fixed parameters, which will be used for this Extension.
The parameters are relative to each file.

Edit

Allows you to edit the selected Extension. Go to the folder where the Extension file is located.

Remove

Permanently removes the selected Extension. You cannot remove filters installed at the system level or for all users.
For the moment it is not possible to remove Extensions that are contained in a file with the sbaa extension either. If you want to remove the Extension you have to delete the Extension file.

Help (side button)

Leads to the internet page with information about the selected Extension.

Add from file

Lets you add a Banana Extension from a local file. Indicated especially for development of new Extensions.
In order to create you own Extension for Banana Accounting Plus, you need to have a subscription to the Advanced plan.

  • The file needs to always remain in the same directory.
  • If the App is modified, the program will always use the last version.

Add from URL

Allows you to install Extensions present in the list of Extensions available on the Internet. 
In order to create you own Extension for Banana Accounting Plus, you need to have a subscription to the Advanced plan.

Update Extensions

Only once a day, the first time the program is started, the program will update the extensions.

If for any reason the program could not download the updated list or a new release has been made available during the day you should run the update command manually. The update command will:

  • Update the list of the available extensions from the marketplace.
  • Download a new release of an installed extension. 
  • It will modify local or Url installed extension.

For more information see: Development information for Installing and Running extensions.

Extension Settings

Some extensions allow you to set parameters that are used by the extension.

  • The parameters can be set and changed with the dialog.
  • At startup, the parameters are set with default values.
  • The parameters are related to the accounting file..
  • An extension package can contain multiple extensions and therefore there may be multiple parameters per package.

Extensions Setup Dialogue

The content of the dialogue is different for each extension.The UNI10 invoice layout is shown below.

estensioni parametri d'impostazione

Value insertion area

The settings dialog is structured as elements that contain sub-elements, each with:

  • Property column.
    • This is the name of the property.
  • Value column.
    • It's the value of the property, Value column. By clicking you can enter a value, change a predefined one or delete an existing one.

Buttons

At the end of the dialogue there are the following buttons:

  • Help.
    • The help button takes you to the documentation page of the extension you are using.
  • Restore defaults..
    • By clicking on this button all the default values of the Value column are restored.
  • Cancel.
    • Cancel and close the dialog without any changes being made.
  • Ok.
    • Confirm and save the entered parameters.If you have saved it by mistake, you can go back to the previous situation with the cancel operation command.

 

Access the settings dialog

You can access the settings dial in the following ways:

Installing an Extension offline

In order to install an Extension in an offline mode proceed as follows:

  • Connect yourself to our Extensions webpage, using a different computer connected to the internet
  • Download the Extension that you need (a .js or .sba file ) and save it on a USB key or other device
  • Copy the Extension on the computer without internet connection
  • Open Banana Accounting from your computer without internet connection and open your accounting file
  • Click Extensions → Manage Extensions
  • Click on the Add from file button and select the path were you saved the Extension
  • The Extension will now be included in the installed Apps and in the Extensions menu

 

Print label

Via the Extensions → Labels → Print command you can print the addresses. In the different tabs you can choose different settings, from the label format to le selection of the addresses to be sorted and printed. Each setting can be saved with the Customizations.

stampa etichette

For the explanations of the different tabs, please consult the following pages.

Print example

 

Options

stampa etichette

First label starting position

Decide on the position of the first label. For example, if 1 is entered in the horizontal and vertical fields, it refers to the upper left-hand corner of the page.


Number of copies for each label

The value of 1, in this field, means only one copy of each label is wanted.

Warning if text exceeds label
If the text runs beyond the margins for the label, the program will warn the user by sending an error message if this cell is activated.


Label format

You can choose between the label formats available in the list.
If the list doesn't have the format you wish, through the Change button, you can access the Label format dialogue windows where you can choose your desired settings.


Data

Indicate the data source for the labels to be printed:

  • Table - the current table (Accounts, Transactions, Budget, Totals, VAT code) data will be printed. If a data extraction occurred, only the extracted data will be printed.
  • Selected rows only - only the earlier selected addresses will be printed.

 

Label

 

stampa etichette, sezione etichetta

Field list

This is a list of all possible label fields; to insert a field, it is possible to work in two ways:

  • Double-click on an element from the list
  • Click on an element from the list, confirming with the Add Field key.

The field selected will be inserted at the position of the cursor in the View labels area. One can directly insert fields by writing the field name between the < Less and > Greater symbols.
 

View labels

Shows the disposition of the fields. The entries "<NAME FIELD>" will be replaced with the corresponding value of the table.

The symbols Greater and Less are considered field delimiters. In order to make them appear in the text
write "\<" for "<";
write "\>" for ">"
and write "\\" for "\"

Preserve line feeds and spaces.
In case this option is deactivated, the program does not take eventual spaces and empty rows in consideration.

 

Extract

The explanation of this section is available on the page Extract Rows of the Data menu.

stampa etichette sezione estrai

 

Sort

The explanation of this section is available on the page Sort Rows of the Data menu.

stampa etichette sezione ordina

 

 

Customization

The explanations of this window are available on the following web page: Customization.

stampa etichette sezione personalizzazione

 

 

Labels format

Via Extensions →  Labels  →  Formats option, you can access the labels setup.

The program already offers many predefined label formats; it is however possible to setup or edit the default parameters, as well as your customized ones, through the Customization (Default)  command.

 

Page settings - Options

formati etichette sezione opzioni

Page

Left Margin, Right Margin, To Margin, Bottom Margin
Input the size in centimeters; if no size is entered, the margin sizes will be zero.

Number of horizontal labels
Input the number of horizontal labels there are on the page.

Number of vertical labels
Input the number of vertical labels there are on the page.

Print Landscape
The page will be printed horizontally if this cell is activated.

Arrange labels from right to left
The labels will be printed from right to left and from top to bottom.

Label

Left Margin, Right Margin, To Margin, Bottom Margin
It is possible to input a margin for each label; the values for the label margins must be input in centimeters.

Center text horizontally
Select this option to horizontally center the text for each label in the cell.

Center text vertically
Select this option to vertically center the text for each label in the cell.

Font size

Base size
This field shows the default font size.

Reduce to fit, but no less than
The program calculates the maximum font size possible for a given label, starting from 14 points all the way down to 8 points. The calculation is made taking into account both the height and width of the label. If a label has a line that is too long (or has too many rows) to be printed, then an error message will appear in the message window. Even if it is incomplete, the label will still be printed.

Note:

the printers will not print on the whole surface of a page because they need minimum margins. The program tries to adapt the single labels to the margin values required by the printer.

 

Page settings - Customization

formati etichette sezione personalizzazione

All the settings that have been activated in the Options tab can be saved by using Customization and can be displayed when needed.
For more information on this section, consult the Customization page.

 

Extensions Commit Changes Dialog

This dialog asks the user for approval for changes the extension wants to make to the data. 

The dialog displays:

  • The list of the affected tables
  • The list of data changes with the new content:
    • Rows added (green)
    • Rows deleted (red)
    • Rows modified (yellow)
    • Rows moved, sequence is changed (blue)
    • Rows replaced (magenta)

If you approve the change you can always rollback the changes with the undo.

commit changes

For Developers: See also the DocumentChange API