In this article
The following information is intended for those who already have an accounting file created with a previous version (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) and are upgrading to Banana Accounting Plus.
▶ Video: How to update to Banana Accounting Plus (Switzerland)
Step by step guide on how to update from an old version to Banana Plus.
File management and exchange
Once Banana Accounting Plus has been installed (either on Windows or Mac), you can launch the program and open the accounting files that have been created with Banana Accounting:
- Banana Plus opens the files of all previous versions: 2.02, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 , 8 and 9.
- Files saved with Banana Accounting Plus can be opened and edited with the versions 5, 6, 7 , 8, and 9 of Banana Accounting.
- If you are using features only available in Banana Plus, these do not work with previous versions.
- Files saved with Banana 5, 6, 7, 8 , 9 and 10 cannot be opened anymore with Banana 2, 3 or 4.
- Files can be transferred easily from one operating system to another.
If the files are not listed in the recent files (Initial page), they can be searched for as indicated on our web page Open and save.
Free Version / Full version
If you install Banana Accounting Plus, without subscribing and activating it , the new version operates in Free mode, which allows the unlimited and complete use of the Cash Book and Time Sheet, but for all other applications it allows the use of all functions and the saving of up to 70 lines of entries. To use Banana Accounting Plus in full, a subscription must be carried out and it needs to be activated.
Version for Mac
In order to avoid conflicts with the keys used by the Apple operating system, the function keys F4, F5, F6 of Windows have become CMd+4, Cmd+5, Cmd+6 under Mac.
Importing bank statements
Banana Accounting Plus provides various import extensions to import data from bank statements.
To import the bank statements / update the extensions, you need to:
- Via the Actions → Import to accounting → Import transactions.
- click on the Manage extensions button to see all the available extensions.
- click on the Update extensions button.
- enable the desired extensions by selecting them and clicking on OK.
Importing Postfinance Xml files
Banana Accounting Plus imports bank statements using the new XML ISO 20022 standard. Postfinance supplies this format only upon request of the customer.
It is therefore necessary to ask your Postfinance consultant to change the format and switch to ISO 20022.
Postfinance Business clients can ask to have the Pdf as well as the ISO 20022 format.
Swiss VAT Report with new rates
The current VAT rates are integrated into the programme and can be imported. See Updating the VAT Code Table with the 2024 VAT rated 2024.
In order to obtain the quarterly Swiss VAT report, ready for the official form, proceed as follows:
- From the Menu Extensions > Manage extensions and according to the VAT method:
- Choose the Swiss VAT tax report - effective method
- Choose the Swiss VAT tax report - Flat tax rate method
- The Electronic transmission of the XML file to the AFC- VAT Authority is also forseen .
Changes from Banana 6 (or previous versions)
In Banana Accounting Plus, compared to version 6 or earlier versions, some functions have changed:
- Data can be edited directly in the table cell (just like in Excel)
- With a double-click you go in the cell editing mode.
In order to open an account card or to access the Extract rows command, instead of the double-click you can use:- Alt + mouse click and then choose command Account card
- Right mouse click (opens the menu) and then choose Account card
- A mouse click on the little blue arrow next to the account number (cell top left corner)
- The Messages window has been moved in the lower corner of the screen, next to the Info window.
The Messages window can be reached by clicking on the corresponding table. - The Views list has been moved to the top of the screen, just below the tables list.
- When scrolling the vertical bar, the table content now immediately scrolls too.
- In the transactions, the indication of the date and the document are not shown any more.
- From the Banana 7 version it is possible to update the Account card (see refresh button on the top right corner); in Banana Accounting 6 it was necessary to give the command again.
- When printing or when viewing the print preview, it is now possible to only print a selection of rows.
In the print dialog window, it is possible to choose if you want to print everything or just a selection (only in Banana for Windows). - In the Date column, by entering the “.” symbol, the program automatically enters the date of the day.
- Simple Accounting → has been changed into→ Income & Expense accounting
- The Cash1, Simple1, Cash2 and Simple2 menus have been replaced by the menu Actions
- Accounts by period → has been changed into → Accounting report
- Export file in pdf → has been changed into → Create Pdf dossier
- In some functions, such as the Enhanced Balance sheet, a new submenu called "Customizations" has been created in order to recall saved personal settings (in Banana 6 they were called Favorites).
- In the Help menu→ Keyboard Shortcuts, you find the list of key-combinations and the commands that are associated with them.
- In the Info and Messages windows, next to the error message, there is now the
symbol: if you click on it, you will be directly connected to the online page explaining the error message and suggesting possible causes and solutions. - DDE connections are no longer supported