Save file

Banana Accounting files are not saved within the program itself, but on the drive selected by the user, just like any other file, such as Word or Excel. Banana accounting files have the extension ".ac2", while the program has the extension ".exe" (Windows), ".dmg" (Mac), or ".deb, .rpm, .run, .tgz" (Linux).

Where and how to save files

Banana Accounting files are saved on your computer or on an external drive, such as: external disk, USB stick, Google Drive, Dropbox, or other Cloud services.

To save the file, choose from the menu File > Save As:

  • Open the destination folder
  • Give your file a name.

By default, .ac2 files are saved in the Documents folder, but you can change the destination folder. Once you've saved the file with a name, use the Save command to save your changes. Each time you save, the previous file is overwritten.

Banana Accounting can save files to any drive that is recognized by the operating system, such as a rewritable disk. From non-rewritable media (CD or DVD), Banana Accounting can only read files.

Saving when closing the program

Every time the accounting data is updated and the work has not yet been saved, a warning message appears when closing the program:

  • "The current document xxx.ac2 has been modified. Do you want to save it anyway?"

If you use the Do not Save button, all data will be lost. You must click the Save button to save your changes.

If you want automatic saving when closing files, you can activate the option from the menu:

Make sure the data is correct, otherwise it will be saved as is.

Saving a shared file

When multiple users need to use the same file, they cannot use it at the same time. The first user to open the file can save it. The other users open the file in read-only mode.

  • Only one user at a time can save the same file.
  • Saving is only possible if the file is not in use by others.

Managing files for different accounting entities

To manage multiple accounting files, before saving, we recommend:

  • Creating a folder for each company
  • Creating a subfolder for each fiscal year.

See also: Organizing work.

Saving and recovering data in case of crash

Banana Accounting automatically saves your work in a temporary file at regular intervals. The time interval between one auto-save and the next can be customized via the menu:

opzioni file - sviluppo

This temporary file is deleted each time the file is saved normally by the user.

In the event of a computer crash or power failure, when restarting the program, if Banana detects an undeleted temporary save file, a window appears as explained on the page File Auto-Recovery.

In this window, the user has the option to confirm recovery. If accepted, the file will be opened and can then be saved manually. 

Saving the file with a password

Each file saved on the device and in the selected folder can be protected by a password for added security.

Files are saved in the same way as those without a password.

File compatibility across different operating systems

Files created with Banana Accounting have the extension “*.ac2”, regardless of the operating system used. A file can be saved in Windows, opened and edited on Mac, and then reopened in Linux or Windows.

Therefore, .ac2 files are compatible with:

  • Windows
  • Mac
  • Linux

.ac2 files can also be sent via email and opened with Banana Accounting regardless of the operating system used.
 

Copying or moving files

*.ac2 files can be copied or moved:

  • From one folder to another
    • Use Windows Explorer or Mac Finder to locate the folder where the files were saved.
    • Copy and move them to the new destination folder (once pasted, if needed, they can be deleted from the previous folder).
  • From one computer to another
    • By sending an email (as attachments) and saving them on the new computer.
    • Files can be saved on a USB stick or an external drive and then moved to the new computer:
      • Open the file you want to save.
      • From the File menu > Save As, select the desired destination drive.
      • You can also copy by opening Explorer and dragging the file to the selected drive.

Saving to Cloud systems

Banana Accounting Plus does not have its own Cloud, but it allows you to work with your own. The program is installed on your computer and runs locally.

As for accounting files, they belong exclusively to you and you can save them wherever you want, including on services like Dropbox and Google Drive that keep files synchronized with cloud storage services. 

In the cloud, Banana Accounting overwrites the *.ac2 files and deletes the *.ac2.bak file. The deleted files list in the cloud contains previous versions of the *.ac2.bak file.

Viewing changes

Banana Accounting, Android version, works directly with the Dropbox server. If you make changes on your PC, you usually need to wait a few seconds to see the updates on the server and thus in the Banana Accounting file.

To ensure that the file is properly synchronized with the server from your computer, the file should be marked with a green checkmark.
If you do not see the synchronization symbols (green, red, blue), you need to update the Dropbox application installed on your PC.

Another way to check the synchronization status from your PC is to click the Dropbox icon in the lower taskbar:

file synchronization on dropbox or google drive

Additionally, on Android synchronization does not occur while working with the app. You need to close and reopen it.

Warning:

Banana Accounting cannot detect if files are opened and modified simultaneously on multiple computers. Therefore, it may happen that one person deletes some data while another adds new entries. Only the most recently saved copy of the file is retained. It is important to avoid working on the same file at the same time.

Deleting and renaming files

Banana Accounting does not have a delete or rename function for files; to do this, you must use the appropriate function of the operating system (Windows Explorer or Finder on Mac).
 

Related resources:

How to minimize the risks of data loss

Security copies (backups)

Banana Accounting allows users to freely choose the storage medium and directory where the accounting file is saved. Files can be organized on a local computer, network, or cloud storage. However, the program does not include an automatic backup management system.

To prevent data loss due to unforeseen events (computer crashes, hard drive failures, etc.), it is recommended to regularly create external backup copies.

Backup tips:

  • For Mac use the "Time machine" function.
  • For Windows use the "File History" function.
  • Dropbox, OneDrive, iCloud, Google Drive offer the possibility to keep previous versions of your files.

.bak files

The standard format for Banana Accounting files is the .ac2 format. When you save your .ac2 file and the save operation is successful, Banana Accounting:

  1.  Replaces the content of the existing file with the updated accounting data.
  2. Automatically creates a .bak file with the previous data, but not from the most recent save.

Save operation behavior:

  • The data is saved in a temporary file.
  • If the save operation is successful:
    • The original .ac2 file is renamed by adding the ".bak" extension to the filename.
    • Any existing ".bak" file is deleted.
    • The new data is saved in the .ac2 file.

The .bak file represents the state of the accounting data at the moment the file is first opened during the current session, even if subsequent saves are made. The goal is to preserve the file as it was before it was opened.

The Create backup copy (.bak) option is enabled by default, but it can be disabled from the menu Tools > Program Options > File Handling

Recovering data from a *.bak file

Important: to update your accounting, only use the file with the ".ac2" extension and do not open the file with the ".bak" extension, otherwise it will be overwritten and all recent changes will be lost. Use it only to recover data.

Recommended recovery procedure:

  • Locate the ".bak" file using the File Manager
  • Rename the ".bak" file by removing the ".bak" extension, leaving only ".ac2"
  • Open the renamed file with Banana Accounting

If the file does not appear in the folder:

  • Open the folder where the accounting file is located.
  • Open the file with the extension .bak. If it does not appear in the folder, select File type> All files (*.*) in the window below.
  • Once the file is opened, save it as a file. Usually it is given the same name as the lost file. 

Automatic saving

While in use, Banana Accounting automatically saves changes to a temporary file.

  • When the program is closed or a manual save is performed, the temporary file is deleted.
  • In case of an unexpected computer shutdown, the program will offer to recover unsaved data upon restart.

This feature can be customized from the menu Tools > Program Options > File Management by specifying how often the recovery information should be saved (default: every minute).

 

Damaged .ac2 file

Events such as hardware failures, viruses, or errors in file transmission via email can damage documents.

  • It is always advisable to have backup copies.
  • If a file is damaged, our Support Service can evaluate, for a fee, the possibility of recovering the data.

 

Recover autosave file

This dialog appears when the program closes unexpectedly, and it was not possible to save changes made to the file.

When the program is reopened, it detects that the autosave file (temporary file) has not been canceled, and then asks if you want to retrieve the file.

autosave

You can choose from the following options:

  • Recover
    • The autosave file is copied replacing the original file
    • The original file is renamed as indicated in the dialog window
  • Don't recover
    • The program deletes the autosave file.
    • The program opens the original file.
  • Ignore
    • The program keeps the autosave file and doesn't open any file.
    • Next time you open this file, the program will warn you that an autosave file with unsaved changes was found

If the program stops working

If the program is closed normally, it asks whether to save the modified data, and the autosave file is deleted.

The program may however unexpectedly shut down for a number of reasons:

  • A power outage or another event that caused an immediate arrest of the operating system
  • A problem that led to the crash of the program
    • Due to another program or to a situation of the operating system or driver that caused the program to stop.
      Try to restart your computer and use the program without other programs.
      • A flaw in the operating system or a faulty program can cause an interruption of Banana Accounting.
      • A computer fault (memory error)
      • A virus or some other problem
    • A problem in the Banana Accounting software
      Usually when, repeating the same command always causes the program to crash.
      If the program stops in completely different situations, it is more likely that the problem is due to a computer or operating system (see above)
      • First of all, make sure that you have the latest version of the program.
        Install the updates if necessary. The problem could have been solved in the meantime

Contact technical support

Countercheck the situation in which the program stops.

  • It is important to understand in what situations the program stops, so that technicians can replicate the problem.
  • When you contact the technical service:
    • Describe the problem and how it can be reproduced - describe the error.
    • Enter your system details (you can copy them under Tools menu > Program Options > Info System.
    • If the problem occurs in relation to a file, send a copy of the file (removing confidential data).

 

Local copy of your work

One of the key points of any Desktop application is saving files. The user's work and the data entered must not be lost. Even in the case of a computer crash, the amount of work lost must be minimized.

A new strategy for saving files has been introduced with Banana Accounting+. From the user's point of view nothing has changed, but internally important improvements have been made to make the data saving process even more secure and solid, and to optimize it for use on cloud and mobile disks.

How it works

With the new implementation of the file saving and recovery process, Banana Accounting creates a local copy of the open file and then works on the local copy present in the device (pc, mobile, tablet) until the user saves the document. At this point Banana Accounting returns and saves the modifications in the source file. In the meantime, Banana Accounting regularly saves the modifications made to the document in the local copy.

Banana Accounting proceeds as follows:

  • The user selects the file to be opened (source file)
  • Banana Accounting create a local copy of the source file
  • Banana Accounting blocks the opening of the source file to prevent modifications from multiple users
  • Banana Accounting reads the local copy
  • Banana Accounting regularly saves (by default every 2 minutes) the modifications made to the document in the local copy
  • As soon as the user clicks on the Save button, Banana Accounting returns and saves the modifications in the source file.
  • When the file is closed, Banana Accounting unlocks the source file and deletes the local copy.
  • If the application cannot close or correctly save the modifications in the source file (electricity interruption or other causes), the local copy remains on the device and the its content can be recovered at the next Banana Accounting launch.
  • If the file is temporarily not accessible (example if it is on a disconnected network disk or a USB pen), the user can keep working and the document modifications are saved in the local copy until when the source file is accessible again.

In other words the local copy is both a working document and a recovery document.
 

Advantages

The autosave feature is always active, so the work that could be lost (with the default settings for file recovery) corresponds at most to the work of the last two minutes.

Access to the file doesn't have to be continuous. Even if a file is temporarily inaccessible (e.g.: the file resides on a network disk or a disconnected USB pen), the user can continue working, and changes to the document are saved in the local copy until the source file is accessible again.

The local copy is not synchronized in the cloud. For this reason, the performance of the application is improved and the amount of data sent to the cloud is minimized.

This process is implemented in the same way on all operating systems: Windows, MacOS, iOS, Linux, Android and WebAssembly, regardless of where the file is saved.

Data recovery

In case of an interruption of the application, the local copy remains on the user's device. The next time the Banana Accounting is started, the application informs the user that changes have been found that have not been saved in the source file.

At this point the user has 3 choices:

  • Open the recovered file
    The user can decide whether to save the recovered file or to abandon the changes
  • Ignore the message
    The user can later decide what to do
  • Cancel de recovered file
    The recovered file will be canceled

The local copy remains on the user's device as long as the document remains in use or the changes have not been correctly returned to the source file. Once the file has been closed, the local copy is deleted.

The local copies are saved in a folder hidden under the system's user data. The user does not need to access this folder, access to this folder is not recommended. In case our support requires you to open this folder, you can access it through the menu Tools > Program Options > Advanced > System Info > Working copies path > Open path.

Keep in mind

This implementation:

  • It does not replace a good backup policy.
  • It does not replace a version control system.

Although this implementation is very secure and robust, we cannot guarantee that it will work 100% smoothly in all cases. For this reason, we encourage our customers to adopt a good backup policy and version control system.

Several operating systems provide backup and versioning functions. We ask you to browse the documentation of your operating system....