Problem

In some very particular conditions, the program Banana 8 crashes while trying to create a new accounting year using the Create New Year command (Account2 Menu)

Solution

• Convert the file of the current year in which you are working (Tools menu -> Convert to new file).
• Create the new year (Account2 Menu -> Create new year) and save this file;
• No need to save the earlier converted file.

Then:

• In the file of the new year, under File Menu -> File and Accounting properties -> Options, define the correct path to the previous year.

Problem

Banana 8 hangs the first or second time the print dialog is opened.

System

The  'Devices and Printers' configuration contains printers no longer attached to the system or printer drivers that are not up to date.

Affected OS: Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7

Solution

• Open Start and select 'Devices and Printers'

• Remove all printers no longer used or attached to the system

• Update the drivers of all the remanining printers

Problem

Banana 8 stop working some seconds after the main page of the program is showed.

System

The system is running on a Acer notebook

Affected machines:  Acer aspire es 17
Affected OS: Windows 10, Windows 8

Solution

• Open in Explorer the folder C:\Program files\Banana80

• Create a new folder 'backup_dll'

• Move the files 'libeay32.dll' and 'ssleay32.dll' to the folder 'backup_dll'

• Restart the application

Problem

Banana 8 stops working as soon an Open File Dialog or a Save File Dialog is opened.

System

The system is running on a Dell computer or notebook.
The software Dell Backup and Recovery (from Softthink) is installed and running on the system.

Affected OS: Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7
Affected systems: Dell computer

Solution A (recommended)

• Update Dell Backup and Recovery tools to version 1.9.2.8 or greater
• Check Dell User's Guides and Support pages on how to update your system

Solution B

• Download the Autoruns for Windows - TechNet - Microsoft utility;

• Expand the file Autoruns.zip;

• Run the application Autoruns.exe as Administrator;

• Select the "Explorer" tab;

• Deselect all "DBRShellOverlay" entries from Softthinks SAS Publisher
  
  

• Close Autoruns;

• Restart Banana 8.

Notes

• In one case, after the changes in the registry, the customer had some problems running Internet explorer.
  Those problems could be resolved by restoring the changes in the registry.
• The number of "DBRShellOverlay" entries to be disable can be on some systems more than two, those entries have to be searched in all sections listed in the tab Explorer. 

Resources

• Dell Forum page "Backup and Recovery causing applications using Qt5 DLLs to crash": http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/software-os/f/3526/t/19634253

Problem

Banana 8 stop working on startup. After the crash the message "LoadLibrary failed with error 87: Wrong parameter." is displayed.

System

The system is an old notebooks where windows 10 was installed afterwards. 
The notebook's discrete graphic card is not officilally supported by windows 10.

Affected OS: Windows 10

Solution

• Update the graphic card driver

or

• Rename in folder C:\Windows\System32 the file "atig6pxx.dll" to  "atig6pxx.dll.bak"

Send us full details of the issue, giving as much detail as possible, this can include:

• For bugs:
  • Steps to Reproduce:
    Minimized, easy-to-follow steps that will trigger the described problem. Include any special setup steps;
  • Actual Results:
    What the application did after performing the above steps;
  • Expected Results:
    What the application should have done, if there was no bug;
  • The accounting file:
    An example of an accounting file where the problem occur;
     
• For feature requests:
  • A description of what you would like to achieve, and why.
    A user story is an effective way of conveying this;

You can submit your issue through our contact form.

There are different ways to create a new file:

• from one of the templates included in the program
• from one of the online templates available on our website
• from an existing file or template (without editing it):
  • copying the file with your operating system
  • using the Save as command from the File menu
  • using the Create file copy command from the Tools menu, that allows you to choose what data to keep.
  • using the Convert to new file command from the Tools menu; this command will reate a new file with different characteristics but keeping the existing data.
    This command is usually userd to add the VAT management or the multicurrency feature to an existing accounting file, or to change a file language.
• creating a new empty file
• creating a new file and loading the data froma an accounting file, but with a different chart of accounts.

Transfering to a new year

When transfering to a new year, there is a specific procedure to follow, in order to create a new year's file and automatically carry forward the opening balances.

New file settings

When creating a new file with new characteristics, you need to setup the outline of the new file.

Opening a file

• Accounting files can be opened in Banana Accounting if they are on the local computer or if they are accessible through a network.
  If they have been sent by email, before opening them you need to move them in a computer folder
• Only one user at a time can edit a file
  If you edit a protected file or a file already in use by other users, you need to save the file with another name in order to save your changes.
• The Banana Accounting program, notifies that you have opened a read-only file in the following cases:
  • the file is located on a non-writable disk (CD-ROM)
  • the file is located on a temporary non-writable folder
  • the file is protected or the user doesn't not have rights to edit it
  • the file has already been opened by another user
  • the file has already been opened from the same user but in another session

How to look for *.ac2 files

If you don't remember in which directory your accounting files are located, you can use the search Windows Explorer box or the Mac finder search tool.

Find your accounting file on a Windows computer

Banana Accounting files have an .ac2 or .sba extention. The Windows search tool will vary depending on your Windows version.

• Windows 10: click on the search icon on the Applications bar and enter "ac2" or "sba" or your file name and click on the Documents arrow.
• From the Explorer File Manager enter the "*.ac2" extension, the "*.sba" extension or your file name and let Windows look for it.
• When in Banana you get to the Open file dialog window (File menu -> Open), enter the "*.ac2" or "*.sba" extension in the top right search box and then click on the look in the whole PC icon, or select the directory where you want Windows to look for your file.

Find your accounting file on a Mac computer

• When in Banana you get to the Open file dialog window (File menu -> Open), enter "ac2" or "sba" or a word that is part of the file name in the top right search box. With the icons, select where you want to look for your file (in the entire computer or in selected folders).
• Open the Finder and enter "ac2" or "sba"or a word belonging to the file name in the search box.
• Right click on the Finder icon, then click on Search, and then enter "ac2" or "sba" or a word belonging to the file name.

Saving a file

With the Save or Save as... command, the data are saved onto the hard disk. Pre-existing disk data are replaced with the new ones.

• A single file can be saved by one user at a time
  The file can be saved by the user only if it is not also being used by other users
• Files can be saved anywhere.
  You can enter the file name and destination when saving it for the first time or when using the Save as command from the File menu
  As a first option, Banana Accounting suggest the Documents folder as destination folder for the .ac2 files, but it can be changed with the Browse button.
• If you are managing different accounting files, we suggest you to create a separate folder for each company and for each accounting year.
• Each file can be password protected.
   

Accounting files (*.ac2)

• Files created with Banana Accounting have an .ac2 extension, regardless the operating system used.
  The .ac2 file format is specific for Banana. When saving, all data are compacted and saved in bulk.
• Ac2 files are compatible between different operating systems (Windows, Mac and Linux)
  You can save a file with Windows, then open it and edit it on a Mac, and then reopen in on a Linux or Windows computer.
• Each file can be sent as an email attachment, edited on different operating system and resent to the sender.
• Accounting files are completely separated from the software Banana itself, that has an .exe extension for Windows,
• The installation files for Mac have a .dmg extension and a .deb, .rmp .run .tgz or .appimage extension for Linux.

Automatic saving

Banana Accounting automatically creates and saves your work in a temporary file that ends with ".autosave" . When you press the Save button or you exit the program, this temporary file is deleted. In case your computer should crash or turn off in the middle of your work, it would be possible to recover your data by opening this file.

In order to have the program automatically create this temporary autosave file, the corresponding option should be active (it usually is by default) in the Program Options (you can access them from the Tools menu).

How to copy or move your accounting files

Banana can save your files on any unit seen by the operating system or on a rewritable disc.
From non-rewritable discs (CDs or DVDs) Banana can open the files on a "read only" mode.

All .ac2 files can be moved in different ways:

from one directory to another:

• using Windows Explorer or Mac Finder to locate the directory where your files have been saved
• copying and pasting them in the new destination directory (once you pasted them you can delete from the original directory)

from one computer to another:

• saving the files on a memory stick and then saving them on the new computer:
  • open the file to be moved
  • from the File menu choose the Save as command, choosing the memory stick as destination unit
  • this copy can also be made from Explorer by dragging the accounting file into the memory stick unit
• by sending them as email attachments and then saving them on the new computer

DropBox, Google Drive and other synchronization systems

Banana is compatible with systems such as DropBox and Google that keep files synchronized with cloud storage services.
Banana overwrites *.ac2 files and deletes the *.ac2.bak files. In the deleted files list you will find all *.ac2.bak files previous versions.

Viewing changes

Banana Android works directly with Dropbox servers. If you make changes on your PC, usually you have to wait a few seconds before you see the changes on the server, so also on Banana.

To ensure that the file is properly synchronized with the server, the file on your PC must be marked with the green check mark.
If you do not see the sync symbols (green, red, blue), you have to update the Dropbox application installed on your PC.

Another way to check the synchronization status from your PC, is to click on the Dropbox icon in the bottom bar:

In addition, Android synchronization does not occur while you are working with the app. You must close and reopen it.

Attention: Banana cannot realize if some files are opened simultaneously on more than one computer. It could thus happen that someone erases some data or that someone else adds some new data. Only the more recent copy of the saved file is kept. For this reason we strongly advise to avoid working at the same time on the same file.

Security copies (backup)

We strongly advise you to create external backup copies of your accounting files, in order to prevent a possible data loss, due for example to a computer crash or other causes.

• if you have a Mac computer you can use "Time Machine"
• if you have a Windows computer you can use the "File history" function

You can find other programs on the market that allow you to automatically create a backup of your data.

Saving and .bak files

When saving, Banana Accounting replaces the contents of the existing file, with the more recent data, only if the saving process is successfull:

• Data are saved on a temporary file
  Only if the saving process is successfull the data on your disk are replaced to the existing ones.
• If the Create backup copy (.bak) option is activated (Tools menu -> Program options command -> Avanced tab) the program renames the pre-existing file with the same name, adding the .bak extension.
  A new file named "filename.ac2.bak" is created, containing the data before the saving process.

If an error occurs during the saving process, if for example the network disk is no longer available, choose another file name for saving your data.

Recover your data from a .bak file

When for a number of reasons you cannot find your accounting file, you can recover your data from the backup copy automatically created by the program. Here is how to proceed:

• open the directory where your accounting file was located
• open the file with a .bak extension. If it is not shown in the dialog window, you need to select the "show all files (*.*)" option at the bottom right of the window
• once the file is opened, save it with a name. Usually the same name as the lost file is chosen.

Damaged .ac2 files

Sometimes a computer crashes due to technical problems or viruses. Sometimes data received by email are compromised or damaged. For these reasons we strongly suggest you to make copies of your files.
If, for technical reasons you have a damaged file, our support team can verify, for a fee, if there are data that can be recovered.

When a new file is created, the basic data need to be entered in the File menu, using the File and accounting properties command.

The file properties can vary depending on the chosen accounting type.

For the explanations of the different tabs please visit the pages hereunder.

In order to create a Pdf file choose the Create Pdf dossier from the File menu (or click on the corresponding icon on the Toolbar).

File Name
In this area you need to enter the name of the new file that the program will create to export the data. If, however, an existing file is selected by using the Browse button, the program will overwrite it with the new data.

Display file immediately
As soon as the Pdf file has been created, the software to view it will be launched. In this way, the result of the export can be seen immediately. It is best to remember that browsers like Mozilla and MS Explorer use a cache mechanism for files. When the export is made for a second time, it is possible that the user will see the previous version until the browser Reload button is pressed.

Table creation options
Headers 1, 2 and 3
These are the table headers.

Page options
By activating the page options it is possible to include:

• page numbers
• page progressive numbering
• date

Page size
You can select the page format

Other Tabs

For the explanations of the other tabs, please visit the following pages:

• Include
• Period
• VAT
• Composition

These commands display the list of recently used files and the favorite files.

In order to eliminate the list of recently used files, click on the File menu, Recent files, and on Clear list recent files.

In order to remove just one single file from the Recent Files list of the Favorites (Start page), position the cursor on the file name, proceed with a right mouse click and select Remove (Mac users should use the key combination Ctrl + right mouse button).
 

To make a file Favorite:

• Open the desired file
• Click on Favorite files
• Click on Add to list

To edit the list of favorites, click on:

• Favorite files
• Edit list..
• In the window that appears, edit the favorites, by using the buttons: Add, Remove, Open folder.

When the Banana Accounting program is being installed, the "Associate Banana Accounting 8 with the AC2 file extension" option is activated by default; as a result all the accounting files will be opened with the new version.

If, when clicking directly on the file before opening the program, it should occur that the file gets opened with a previous version of Banana Accounting, this problem can be solved in the following way:

Windows:

• right-click on the file icon 
• on the menu that appears select "Open with" and then "Choose Default Program..."
• choose the Banana program, the latest installed version.

Mac:

• right-click (or "ctrl "+ click) on the file icon 
• on the menu that appears select "Get Info"
• under "Open with..." choose the latest installed version of Banana, click then on "Change All..." option.

The text to be searched and the text to be used as a replacement should be inserted in the same format as the one displayed in the input field. For example, the amounts should be inserted without the separator for the thousands.

Search text
Enter the text to be searched.

Replace with
Enter the replacement text.

Options

Whole words only
If this box is activated, the program will find whole words only. For example, if the word being searched is Tot, it will not find Totals.

Match case
If this box is activated, the program will make a distinction between capital letters and small letters.

Selected area only
If this box is activated, the program will only search the information in the selected area.

Replace all
This key will replace the desired data throughout the whole document at once. When you need to change data that are being repeated in the Accounts, Categories, Transactions and VAT codes tables (for example, an account number or a VAT code), you can also use the Rename function.

Replace
This key will replace one data at a time.

Find all
Looks for all the information, according to the entered keyword, and displays it in the Information window in the lower part of the screen.

Find next
Looks for the following information item.

Search text
Enter the text to be searched. Amounts must be entered without separators.

Options

Whole words only
If this box is activated, the program will find whole words only. For example, if the word being searched is Tot, it will not find Totals.

Match case
If this box is activated, the program will make a distinction between capital letters and small letters.

Selected area only
If this box is activated, the program will only search the information in the selected area.

In order to begin the search, click on the Find button. The first piece of information corresponding to the request will be selected. To continue the search and find the next piece of information, select the Search next command from the Data menu, or else use the F3 key.

This command allows the user to change the account or category number (accounts or categories table) and the VAT code (VAT Codes table), without having to enter the necessary modifications in the transactions.

In order to rename, you need to:

• position yourself with the mouse on the cell that has to be changed (account/category number, VAT code);
• click on the Rename command from the Data menu;
• enter the new name in the appearing window.

Then, the software operates as follows (for example if you rename an account):

• verifies that there is no other account or group with the same number; if there is it the software will alert and ask if you want to proceed anyway. Please note that it is not possible to have to identical account numbers in the accounting plan;
• verifies where the account to be renamed has been used and makes sure that the rows are not protected or blocked; if they are it will alert that the rename operation cannot be carried forward;
• substitues the account number wherever it has been used, in the tables and in the File properties, with the new account number.

The software does not recalculate any total, simply renames the account number.

Select the Go to... command from the Data menu to open a window allowing the user to move to a desired row. When a selection table is active (for example, an account card), by using the Go to original row command, the program automatically takes the user to the corresponding row of the Transactions table.

The Extract and sort rows command is available from the Data menu. This command is different from the Sort rows command, since it creates a new table where the result of the extraction or the sort is shown. The rows of the original table will not be changed.

Extract

In the Extract table you can click on the row number (underlined) to return to the row of the original table.

Column
You need to select the column you wish to extract the data from.

Condition
You need to select the condition for the extraction (ex. Greater, less, contains text, starts with, ends with, ...)

Value
In this field you must enter the text you want to use as comparison in relation to the condition (for example, if the condition is = Equal, entering 25.01.2015 as value, the program will extract all transactions with date January 25, 2015).
The value is a date if the selected column was Date, a numeric value if the selected field was Amount, a text if the selected columns was Description.

Add
This button allows you to add new fields for the extraction.

Clear all
This button allows you to clear all the settings you have entered for the extraction.

Sort selected rows only
This option is only available when rows have been pre-selected. If activated, only the selected rows will be sorted.

Total row
If this option is activated, the program will show the total row for the extracted rows with an amount.

Sort

The sorting columns are being indicated. The options are the same as for the Sort rows command.

Composition

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

Example accounts list

It happens sometimes that you want to have a list with only the accounts.

• Put yourself in the Accounts table.
• Impart the "Extract and Sort" command
• In column, choose "Account"
• Under condition, indicate "Not empty"

In case you wish to have accounts sorted by description

• Put yourself on the "Sort" section
• In the "Sort by" box, indicate the "Description" column

If you want to display only certain columns, you can create a new view with the Tables setup command.

The Extract and sort rows command is available from the Data menu. This command is different from the Sort rows command, since it creates a new table where the result of the extraction or the sort is shown. The rows of the original table will not be changed.

Sort by
You can choose the desired sorting criteria.

Then by
The program allows you to choose two other sorting criteria other than the main one.

Ascending
The rows sorting is done in an ascending order, taking into consideration the selected sorting criteria (date, doc, ...)

Descending
The rows sorting is done in a descending order, taking into consideration the selected sorting criteria (date, doc, ...)

Number
If the column chosen as sorting criteria only contains numbers, you need to check this option.

Clear all
This button allows you to clear all the settings you have entered for the extraction.

 

The Sort rows command is available from the Data menu. Please take note of the fact that the Sort rows command is different from the Extract and sort rows... command, since it changes the order of the rows in the table you are currently working on, according to the sort keys you entered. We advise you to be very careful before pressing the OK button, especially if you are working in the Accounts Table, because you might completely change your accounting plan structure.

The rows on the table can be sorted according to the content of the columns. It is possible to enter up to three sorting keys:

Sort by
From the dropdown list choose the desiderd sorting key

Then by
You can here choose an additional sorting key other than the first one

Ascending
The rows sorting will be in an ascending order, according to the selected sorting key (date, doc, ...)

Descending
The rows sorting will be in a descending order, according to the selected sorting key (date, doc, ...)

Number
You need to activate this option if the sorting key you chose only contains numbers

Clear all
This button allows your to clear all settings previously chosen as sorting criteria

Selected rows only
This option is only available when rows have been pre-selected. If activated, only the selected rows will be sorted.

This command allows you to manage

• The Tables:
  These are the elements that contain the data in a format or rows and columns.
   
• The Views:
  Indicated under every table.
  These are the elements that define the way in which the columns of the table are displayed.
  Thanks to the views, one can define which columns need to be visible, the sequence of the displayed columns and the way in which they are displayed. 

View's Settings

In order to add tables, please go to the Add new functionalities command.

For each table, you can define:

• Name
  The name of the table in the file language. This field cannot contain spaces or special characters.
  It can only be changed for added tables.
• Xml name
  The name this is being used for the programming. This field cannot contain spaces or special characters.
  It can only be changed for added tables.
• Header
  The name that appears in thetables list
• Visibile
  Indicates whether the table is visible or not.

Manage Views

Name
It is possible to enter a new name for the selected View.

Xml name
This is the View name for the Xml export. For system Views this name cannot be changed.

Number
This is a number automatically given to the View by the program.

Visible
When selecting this checkbox the View will be visible.

System
If this checkbox is selected the View is a system View and cannot be deleted or edited.

Columns setup...
Displays the Columns setup page that allows to edit them, both in displaying them as well as in setting them up.

Page setup...
This button leads to the page format settings.

Add...
This button adds a new View to the active table.

Delete...
This button deletes a View.

Set as default

Defines the View that is being used.
 

In order to highlight the rows:

• Select the rows to be highlighted and on the icon , click on the first symbol if you want to color the background, and on the second one if you want to color the text.
   
• In order to deactivate the color, select the row(s) and click on No color (present in the menu of each color).

The File info command, from the Tools menu, displays the characteristics of a file.

Columns

By activating the Complete view also the Xml columns are displayed, through which it is possible to transfer the values automatically when exporting the table.

• Section: the Group name of the values
• ID: the specific and explicit identification of the value
• Description: contains an explanation of the value
• The rows in bold print are the section titles that group the different elements together
• Value: the formatted value
• Section XML: The name of the section in English
• ID XML: the identification in English
• Value Xml: the field contents in Xml format.

The Section XML and the ID Xml identify the value unambiguously.

The Add new functionalities command is in the Tools menu. ff

The available option may differ according to the file type.

Add a new simple table

It allows you to add tables completely manage by the user.
Once is added, the table cannot be removed anymore.

You need to indicate the table's name.

The table will have two predefined columns:

• Id column - to indicate a selection group
• Description column - to enter a text

Inside the table you can add new columns with the Columns setup command from the Data menu.

New Documents table

Information are available at the Documents Table page.

Add addresses columns in the Accounts table

For accounting files.

This functions allows you to add, in the Accounts table, specific columns to enter clients, suppliers, or members addresses.

The program will add in the Accounts table the following items:

• the Addresses view, where the addes columns are visible
• the columns that allow you to enter addresses data and other information
  • In order to make one or more of these columns visible also in other views, you need to use the Columns setup command from the Data menu.
  • In order to create views with specific columns, you need to use the Tables setup command from the Data menu.

Add Budget table

For accounting files.

This function adds a Budget table, where you can enter budget transactions.
The program will do the following operations:

• Add the budget table, that will show the budget data indicated in the Accounts table (if present)
• Lock the budget column in the Accounts table
  From now on, the amounts contained in this column, will be calculated based on the budget transactions and on the period defined in the File and accounting properties.

More information are available at the Budget page.

Edit the VAT Amount type column in the transactions

For accounting files with VAT management.

This function allows you to edit the Amount type (VAT amount type) in the Transactions table.

This column allows you to enter, for each transactions, when it is necessary, one of the following VAT amount types:

0 (or empty cell) -  it means VAT included (with VAT/taxes)
1 = VAT excluded - it means VAT excluded (without VAT/taxes)
2 = Tax amount - the transaction amount is considered 100% VAT/taxes amount
For each transaction, the programs automatically fills in the data as setup in the VAT Codes table (for each code). If however, exceptionally, this needs to be changed, you can manually enter 1 or 2 in the Amount type column.

In the Program options window, several technical options are possible for the accounting file.

In the following pages you will find more detailed information.

This dialog window allows you to install, remove and execute Banana applications.

List of available applications

In this list you can find all the application that you added (installed).

Enable/Disable

By activating/deactivating the checkbox next to the application name, you will enable (disable) the applications.
Only enabled application will be visible in the Apps menu.
If an application appears in a light grey color, it means that the program does not find the Banana application file. If the file has been moved, you need to remove the application and add it again.

Information on the selected application

The program gives the following information:

System applications

The system applications are those included in the software that can be enabled or disabled:

• Germany DATEV
• Italy VAT management
• Print labels
• Labels formats
• Swiss VAT management

The other applications listed are the ones installed by the user.

Application ID

The internal application ID used to save the application settings

The required file type

The file type that the application requires to be executed.
This is the directory number. 100.* means that the application requires a double entry accounting file.

Properties of the required file

A text that must be entered with the Apply properties button or manually in the File properties.

Apply properties

Enters, in the Properties of the active file, the property required by the application.
If the button is not active, it means that the current file type is not supported by this application.

Side buttons

Execute

Runs the selected application.

Debug

Run the selected app in debug modus.

Test

Opens a dialogue with details such as id, date, author, etc. of the App.

Lower buttons

Manage Apps

Opens a dialog window where you can add or remove the Apps.

Help

Opens the Help page of the App.
 

Notes

The Apps management is not yet as smooth as we would like it to be; we are working to improve it.

From the Labels -> Print command from the Apps menu, 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 Compositions.

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

• Options
• Label
• Extract
• Sort
• Composition

From the Apps menu, Labels command, Formats option, you can access the labels setup.

The program already offers many predefined label formats; it is however possible to setup personalized parameters through the Default command.

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 Composition (Default) command.

You can also consult the list of keyboard shortcuts directly from the program, by choosing Keyboard shortcuts from the Help menu.

Short-cut Keys

If the program shows error messages:

• Update your software to the latest available version, by downloading it at the following page:
  http://www.banana.ch/en/node/3215
• Check that the opening balances are correct
• Recheck the accounting file by pressing Shift+F9
• If you have a multi-currency accounting, check that the exchange rate differences have been calculated
• Search for differences in the transactions with the Search for transaction differences command from the Account1 menu.

Compositions are saved personalized settings that can be used at a later date.

It is possible to create Compositions for the following accounting data:

• Account cards
• VAT report
• Enhanced Balance Sheet
• Enhanced Balance Sheed by groups
• Reports
• PDF dossier
• File export
• Extract and Sort rows
• Addresses / Labels

How to obtain Compositions

Compositions can been obtained mainly through the Account1 menu when it is about the Accounting cards, the Enhanced Balance sheet, the Enhanced Balance sheet with groups, the Reports and the VAT report, and from the File menu for the compositions concerning Create Pdf dossier and Export file. 

• Once the document to be created has been chosen, start from the corresponding menu (Ex. Account cards or Enhanced balance sheet by groups...) and click on Default
• from the dialog windows that appears click on Composition and on the New button
• enter the name of the new composition
• check the desired options
• click on the Apply button

Each composition, once created, will appear in the menu of the corresponding command and can be edited, renamed, duplicated or deleted.

Name
Enter a name to identify the composition (for instance, Quarterly Report).

Description
Enter the description for the composition.

Show this window every time
If activated (default), when selecting a composition from the menu, the dialogue for editing the settings will be shown. If not activated, the preview of the requested report (Balance sheet, report, etc.) will be shown directly.

Show in menu... (depending on the menu/command in which one is being positioned)
If this option is activated, the composition will appear in the menu of the command.

Show in 'Favorites' menu
If this option is activated, the composition will appear in the Favorites menu.

Read only
If this option is activated, it will not be possible to edit the settings.

New
This button allows you to create a new composition.

Delete
This button allows you to delete an existing composition.

Duplicate
This button allows you to duplicate a composition.

Import
This button allows you to import a composition from another Banana Accounting file.

Apply
This button allows you to save the chosen settings for the new composition.

Display in the starting menu

According to the menu you are in, the Default composition and your personal saved compositions will be shown.

Composition (Default)
This is the composition used by default from the program, if no other composition has been created.

In the following example the menu of the Accounting reports is shown.

Direct access to the compositions

In the tables where the compositions are being shown and in the previews, the composition menu and the settings icon are being displayed. These make it possible to easily move from one composition to the next and provide rapid access to the settings in case you want to edit these. 

Export selection only
When activating this option, the program exports only the selected area.

File Name
In this area it is necessary to insert the name of the new file that the program will create to export the data. If, however, an existing file is selected by using the Browse button, the program will overwrite it with the new data.

Display file immediately
As soon as the MS Excel file has been created, the software to view it will be launched. In this way, the result of the export can be seen immediately.

Options

Create cell names
This option will automatically give a name to each cell as the file is exported. For example, the cell that contains the balance for account 1000 will receive the name: "Accounts_1000_Balance" in Excel. This means the user can univocally identify each cell independently from its position on the sheet and thus create Excel reports that don't have to be corrected if the account plan is changed. The user thus saves having to manually carry forward any accounting data to Excel. However, inserting the names of the cells does slow down the opening of the Excel file.

Create table names
With this option, the program will automatically give a name to the whole area of the cells belonging to a table, at the moment the file is exported. For example, the area formed by the cells belonging to the Accounts table will be identified by the name DB_Accounts. This option is necessary if, when creating reports in Excel, database functions are used.

Use names Xml (English)
The cell names can either be defined in their original accounting language, or with their English name. In the original language, the names will be understandable to someone who speaks that language, but they will not be universally understood like a name in English would be. By selecting this option the user would have, for example, "Accounts_1000_Balance" instead of "Conti_1000_Saldo".

Protect tables
The entire content of cells is locked when selecting this option so that it is only possible to edit the format. This prevents the possibility of making any unintentional changes to the exported data. The user can remove this protection at any time by using the appropriate command in Excel.

Export selection only
If this cell if activated, only the selected area is exported.

Other Tabs

For the explanations of the other tabs, please visit the following pages:

• Include
• Period
• VAT
• Composition

Export result

Each accounting table is displayed in a different sheet in the Excel file

Use the cell names instead of the row/column references:

• The names return the desired value even when a new row or column is being entered.
• The names are easy to use and understand
  "Accounts_1000_Balance" refers to the balance of the 1000 account
  "Accounts_1000_Description" returns the value of the cell that contains the description of the 1000 account
• The names can be used in the formulas
  "=Accounts_1000_Balance" returns the value of the cell that contains the balance of the 1000 account
  "=Accounts_1000_Balance/1000" divides the balance of the 1000 account by 1000
• By using the names, it is possible to create links to various files.

A link to a cell is being composed of:

• File name
• Table name
• Cell name

Recheck accounting
By ticking this box, the accounting will be rechecked before it is exported.

Include

By ticking the different boxes, the user can export in MS Excel Xml the various tables and/or all the account cards and the VAT/Sales tax Report.

View
It is possible to select the view where the data are to be imported. This option is available for the export in PDF, Html and Xml format.

Periods

This function lets the user export the accounting data subdivided by period.

Accounts/Categories by period
This option allows to export the accounts and categories balances according to the selected period.

VAT/Sales tax report
This option allows to export the VAT/Sales tax report according to the selected period.

Create periods for the whole year
By selecting this function, the partial balances for the whole year will be exported, and not only the ones of the specified accounting period or the selected export period.

Max number of periods
The maximum possible number of periods.

File Name

In this area, the user must insert the name of the new Html file that the program will create to export the data. If however the user selects an existing file through the Browse button, the program will overwrite it with the new data.

Display file immediately

As soon as the Html file has been created, the software to view it will be launched. In this way, the result of the export can be seen immediately. It is best to remember that browsers like Mozilla and MS Explorer use a cache mechanism for files. When the export is made for a second time, it is possible that the user will see the previous version until the browser Reload button is pressed.

File creation options

Headers 1, 2 and 3

These are the file headers.

Other Tabs

For the explanations of the other tabs, please visit the following pages:

• Include
• Period
• VAT
• Composition

File Name
In this area it is necessary to insert the name of the new file that the program will create to export the data. If, however, an existing file is selected by using the Browse button, the program will overwrite it with the new data.

Display file immediately
As soon as the file has been created, the software to view it will be launched. In this way, the result of the export can be seen immediately.

Style sheet XSLT
In this area, the user can select the style sheet according to which the program should organize the graphic display of the accounting data. Thanks to the style sheets, the user can input his/her own data and conform to the print-outs required by the authorities. On the www.banana.ch various examples and further information on style sheets are available.

Options

It is possible to choose between the following options:

• Export visible columns only
• Include view list

Export selection only
If this option is activated, only the selected area will be exported.

Other Tabs

For the explanations of the other tabs, please visit the following pages:

• Include
• Period
• VAT
• Composition

In order to export rows, please select the Export rows command from the Data menu. Different options are available:

File name
Enter the file name or select an existing one using the Browse button

Format
Select the desired format.

Display file immediately
As soon as the file has been created, the software to view it will be launched. In this way, the result of the export can be seen immediately. Please notice that browsers such as Mozilla or MS-Explorer have a documents cache mechanism. It is then possible that, when exporting a second time, you will still see the previous version if you don't use the Refresh browser's button.

Options

If activated, different options will allow the export of:

• selected rows only
• visible columns only
• columns header
• unicode (Utf-8)

This window is shown when you need to create a PDF file, export in Html or Excel format, or copy into the clipboard.

File Name
In this area it is necessary to insert the name of the new file that the program will create to export the data. If, however, an existing file is selected by using the Browse button, the program will overwrite it with the new data.

Display file immediately
As soon as the file has been created, the software to view it will be launched. In this way, the result of the export can be seen immediately.

New import extensions

In the new version Banana Accounting Plus, you will find new extensions for importing data from SmartBusiness and also files in .zip format.
We advise you to switch now to Banana Accounting Plus and take advantage of the many new features.

Supported import formats

With Banana, one can import from whatever format (see the list of current supported formats). In case you should need to import from other file types that are not included in the list, specific Banana Import Apps can be developed.

The Import to accounting command

The Import to accounting command from the Account1 menu makes it possible to import the following data:

• Transactions - to transfer the transactions from another Banana file or from the bank statement
• Accounts - to transfer the accounts from another Banana or a text file
• VAT codes - to transfer the VAT codes from another Banana file or from a text file
• Files - to transfer a complete file in order to convert the Chart of accounts

In order to transfer data just one single time, please consult Transferring data from other accounting software.

Procedure for importing

1. Choose the destination table of the data
2. Choose the file type from which to import
3. Indicate the file name
4. Choose the transactions to be imported

Destination table

For each data type, there are specifique pages

• Import transactions
• Import accounts
• Import VAT codes
• Import exchange rates

Import formats

According to the type of destination table, different import formats are availbale.

However, the following formats are available for all options:

• Text file with column headers
  These are files that are especially created with other programs (for example, a program that creates invoices) so that the data can be transferred into Banana Accounting.
  Technical indications on how to prepare these type of files can be found here.
• There are also other file types for which a specific import filter exists or has been created.

File name

• The name of the file of which the data need to be imported needs to be indicated here. 

Manage apps...

• To add or to update import filters.
  Scripts that decode file types can be created.

Ok Button

• Starts the import.

Error messages

In case error messages appear during an import operation, update, first of all, the Import App.

On the page web filter for PayPal transactions you will find the information about the new feature that makes it possible to import all the Paypal transactions directly into Banana Accounting and the instructions on how to proceed. 

We have also prepared specific predefined templates for double-entry or multi-currency accounting that you can look at as an example or use as a separate accounting file just for the accounting transactions from Paypal.

More information about all types of import filters can be found on the Import filters page.

• BananaApp for importing Paypal transactions
• examples for the Double-entry accounting
• examples for the Multi-currency accounting

Il is possible to merge two files, but they have to belong to the same group (for example two double-entry accounting files). It is not possible to merge files belonging to different groups (for example one double-entry accounting file and one simple accounting file).

In order to successfully merge two files, it is crucial that they have the same accounts numbering. Proceed as follows:

• Open the file which will contain the data of both files
• Select the Merge File command from the Tools menu
• Select the path and the name of the file to be merged
• Confirm the merge operation
• If the files are not the same, even though they belong to the same group, (for example, accounting with VAT/Sales tax and accounting without VAT/Sales tax), a message will appear advising the probable loss of data.

In order to import the rows, click on the Import Rows command of the Data menu.

Activate the options of your choice in the following window:

File name
Using the Browse button, select the file from which to extract the data. By clicking on the OK button, confirm the options selected.

Format
This area contains the list of formats with which it is possible to import the data to the table. These include: ASCII format, Text, CSV.

Options

Import data from clipboard
By selecting this box, the user can import data from the Windows clipboard.

Autocomplete values
It is advisable to select this function when it is necessary to import rows from a less complex accounting file into a more complex one. In this case, in the imported rows, some columns will stay blank. By selecting this function, the program will automatically complete the missing values with those from the current accounting.

Fields header 
By selecting this box, not only data, but field headers will be included in the import.

Unicode (Utf-8)
By selecting this box, all the data will be imported in a format readable by Unicode programs.

New import extensions

In the new version Banana Accounting Plus, you will find new extensions for importing data from SmartBusiness and also files in .zip format.
We advise you to switch now to Banana Accounting Plus and take advantage of the many new features.

Recurring data importing from other programs

It can often happen to be regularly needing to import data from other programs.

For example:

• in order to import monthly transaction from your salaries software
• in order to import the invoices issued with a invoicing software
• in order to import the payments made with your invoicing software
• in order to import your sales transactions from your online shop
• in order to import data from another accounting software
• in order to import data from another cashbook management software (for example a restaurants or a hotel).

In these cases you can proceed in two different ways:

• adapt your data generating application by creating a txt file specifically set to be imported in Banana.
  For more information please consult the technical information on how to create a file to be imported in Banana;
• create an import script that will transform data exported from another program so that they can be imported in Banana; depending on the installed import filters (see the Manage filters page), many formats can be available. See also how to create filters (Banana App)

One time data importing from other programs

If you are starting to work with Banana for the first time and you need to import your data from another software, you can easily transfer data from any accounting program, passing through MS-Excel.

1. With your old accounting software, export the data in a format that can be read by Excel (CSV, txt, ...)
2. Open the exported file with Excel
3. In Excel, organize the data (columns) in the same order as they appear in the Banana tables (Accounts, Transactions)
4. Open your new accounting file in Banana
5. In the Accounts or Transactions table, add as many empty rows as there are rows to transfer from Excel.
6. In Excel, select the data to be copied and use the Copy command
7. Go in Banana and execute the Paste command.

This method is useful to transfer data from MS-Money, Intuit Quicken and Quickbooks, and from most other accounting programs.

You can access the page numbering feature by clicking on the icon on the Print Preview toolbar.

In this dialog box are set the options for page numbering. The printing of the page number is enabled or disabled by using the settings of page setup or report.

Start with
The starting number for page numbering.

Add prefix
The prefix to insert to the page numbering.

Allows to define the printing properties. Each view has its own printing setup.

Header left
This is where the title for the current view is shown. The title can be edited to appear at the top left of the printed page.

Header right
It is possible to enter a different text that will be printed at the top right-hand side of the page.

Margins

It is possible to input the page margins here: Left, Right, Top, Bottom. Measurements are in centimeters.

Shrink page to printable area
This function makes it possible to adapt the printable area when the print goes past the earlier defined page margins.

Include in print

When these functions are being activated, they allow to display the following data:

File Headers
This is the text that is being entered in the File and Accounting properties found in the File menu.

Page Headers
The page header will also be included in the printout.

Table Name
The table header (f.i. Accounts, Transactions, etc.) is also being included in the printout.

Column headers
These are the headers for the various table columns.

Large font
The program prints the headers using a slightly larger font.

Page break
When activated, this option maintains the entered page breaks; if not, they will be ignored, even if they are present.

Page numbers
Activate this option to request that the pages be numbered.

Print time
Activate this option to include the hour when the page was printed.

Print date
Activate this option to include the date when the page was printed.

Row number
Activate this option if a progressive number is to be given to each row.

Grid
The grid can be printed just as it is viewed on screen.

Layout

The program automatically adapts the page dimension.

Font size %
This allows the increase or decrease, on a percentage basis, of the size of the font to be printed.

Reduce to page width
If some columns exceed the width of the page, the program reduces the columns or reduces the zoom so that all the columns will be printed correctly on the page.

As on screen
The print-out will be carried out exactly as presented on the screen.

In case the contents goes past the page dimension:

• If the option "Reduce to page width" is being activated, the font size will be reduced;
• If the option "Reduce to page width" is not being activated, the part that goes past the paper will not be printed.

Print black and whilte
All colors will be converted in grey scales.

Print landscape
To print in landscape format which makes the page read horizontal.

This tab appears in many dialogs (for example the Account card) and can specify the period to be show or to be calculated.
If for example a quarter is selected: in the account card only the transactions of the selected quarter will be shown, and in the balance sheet only the results for the selected quarter will be calculated.

All
If this option is selected, the entire accounting period is included.

Period selected
If a specified period is desired, indicate the start and end dates.

Transactions with no date
If there are transactions with no date, they will be considered only if you chose the whole period (All...)
If however you enter the initial and final dates January 1sr and December 31, the transactions with no date will not be included in the report.

In this chapter, the basic theory of the Double-entry accounting is being explained.