Related documents

• Start a new Income and expenses accounting and Cashbook file
• Start a new Double-entry accounting file
• Start a new Double-entry accounting with multicurrency file
• Utilities documents

Choose the initial model

This procedure creates a new accounting file, starting from an existing template (New command from the File menu)

Group

In the Group section all the different applications are listed. Choose the one that meets your needs.

File

In this section you can select the characteristics of the chosen application. You can choose between the plain version, with the VAT management, with a second currency or with more than one currency.

Examples/Templates

By selecting the language you will see predefined example/models that you can use to start and that can be personalized. All the template data and settings (language, decimal rounding, ..) will be used.
Once you have personalized the template you need to save the file with a new name.

Online Templates

Clicking on the Online Templates button you can access our website where we published all templates available for free.

Create a new file from an existing one

1. Open the source file
   This file will not be changed or edited.
2. Use the Create file copy from the Tools menu
3. Choose the data that you want to keep.
   For accounting files choose if you want to keep the existing amounts.
   
   
    
4. Save the file in the folder where you wish to keep the data (normally in the documents folder)
   • Enter the company name and the accounting year as file name, for example smith_company_2017.

Download and open the file with Banana

There are different ways to download the file, depending of what internet browser you are using.

• Click on the file link
• With the mouse right click choose the Save file command from the menu that appears
• Open Banana and drag the file or the file link into it.

Save the file with a name

Once you have opend the template with Banana you need to use the Save as command from the File menu

• Chose the destination folder
• It can be useful to create a separate folder for each year so you can also store there other documents related to that year.
• Chose a file name containing the company name and the accounting year, for example smith_company_2017
• The software will add the .ac2 extention, typical for the Banana files

Adapt the template

1. Edit the File properties
   • Enter the headings and the accounting period
   • Enter the address
2. You can now adapt your chart of accounts
   • Enter your bank accounts
   • Enter or edit the chart of account to fit it to your needs
     You will still be able to add or edit it as you work, if new needs arise.

• If you are taking over an existing accounting file, you will also need to enter the opening balances in the Opening column.
• If you are working in a multicurrency file, you need to update the opening exchange rates.

This command converts an existing file (which will not be modified) into another one with different characteristics:

• Change language
• Change the roundings
• Change the file type. For example:
  • Pass from an accounting without VAT to one with VAT
  • Pass from a Double-entry accounting to a Multi-currency accounting

It is as if you have created a new blank file and then have manually transferred the data.

The existing file characteristics can be consulted by executing the command Tools -> File Info
 

Creation and data transfer

The Convert to new file command, from the Tools menu:

1. Creates a new file of the specified type with the predefined columns setup
2. Transfers the data into the new file, proceding with the necessary conversions
3. Saves and indicates the name of the new file.

When converting a file with more options into one with fewer options, part of the data will be lost during conversion. If, for example, an accounting file with VAT/Sales tax is converted into an accounting file without VAT/Sales tax, all data in the VAT columns will be lost during conversion.
 

Passing from a Double-entry accounting to a Multi-currency accounting file

• Make sure that in the File and accounting properties the currency symbol is being specified (which will become the basic currency)
• Choose the Multi-currency accounting as destination
• The program creates a Multi-currency accounting, recovering the existing data:
  • The Transactions table includes the columns for managing the Multi-currency accounting, as a currency the basic currency and the exchange rate 1.000
  • The existing accounts in the Accounts table are being completed with the basic currency symbol
    • You have to add the predefined accounts for exchange rate profit & loss.
    • In the File and accounting properties, you have to indicate the predefined accounts for exchange rate profit & loss.
  • The Exchange rate table will be empty; it is therefore necessary to add the currencies and exchange rates used in the transactions
  • In the Accounts table, the accounts in foreign currency have to be added.

In order to change the currency of an accounting file, see the Accounting tab of the File and accounting properties.

Passing from an accounting without VAT to one with VAT

• Choose the desired type of accounting with VAT as the destination 
• The program creates an accounting with the VAT columns, recovering the existing data:
  • Add the VAT accounts into the Chart of accounts
  • The File properties regarding the VAT need to be completed, and the default acccount on which the VAT must be recorded needs to be indicated
  • The VAT Codes table has to be completed with the necessary VAT Codes
    With the Import to accounting command -> VAT codes, the VAT codes table of an existing accounting can be imported (for example it can be imported from a default VAT acccounting template).

Dialog

• The file type, in which the user is working, is being indicated
• For more information on the language, roundings and decimals, go to the File and accounting properties (from the File menu)
• A list with different options appears

Outline to create new file

For more information, please consult the specific page.

Hereunder we explain how to proceed when:

• passing to a chart of accounts with a different numbering
• retrieve and convert the data of an existing accounting, including the transactions.

Converting for the new year

The program will convert the file for the choosen year. If you have already entered the year 2014 you can convert the 2014 file.
If you wish to start a new year with a new chart of accounts, there are two possibilities (for example considering the year 2015 as the new year):

• converting the previous year (2014) and then creating the new year (2015)
  You will have two different files for the year 2014 (the one with the old chart of accounts, and the new one), and a single file for the year 2015, with the new chart of accounts. This procedure is useful when you need to have both years with the same chart of accounts
• creating the new year's file (2015), and then converting it the new system.
  In this case the year 2014 will remain unchanged. For the year 2015 you will have a transition file, with the old chart of accounts, but with the updated opening balances. The conversion of the 2015 file can be done right at the beginning, but also after some transactions have been entered.

Step 1: Creating a new accounting file

1. Create a new accounting file, choosing the desidered type.
2. Adapt the chart of accounting to your own needs

Step 2: Adding the matching accounts

1. Position yourself in the Accounts table and add a new column called Account_1 (Data menu; click on the Add button of the Columns Setup window and then enter the Account_1 description);
2. For each new account, in the Account_1 column, enter the corresponding account in the old chart of accounts;
   In case the account remains the same, you can also choose to not indicate it.
3. In case several accounts need to be grouped in one, enter the separated accounts with a semi-colon "1000;1001".
4. In case one account needs to be subdivided on several accounts, you need to proceed manually, see herunder.

Step 3: Starting the import operation

For more information, please check the related pages Import to Accounting and Import File.

• From the Account1 menu, choose the Import to accounting and then Import File commands
• Using the Browse button, select the file of your old accounting plan
  
  
   
• Confirm by clicking on the OK button and pass on to the next window
• Define the import options
• Activate the Activate account numbers option, indicating that the account matches are in the destination file.
  
  

Subdivision of one account into several accounts

When one transfers to a more detailed chart of accounts, it is probably necessary to subdivide one account into several accounts.
After the import operation, proceed manually in the following way:

• In the Chart of accounts, subdivide the opening amounts, budget amounts and previous amounts of one account into several accounts;
• Go over the transactions, one by one, of the account that needs to be subdivided and assign them to the more specific account, or create extra transactions if it is necessary to subdivide one amount into more detailed amounts;
• Proceed in the same way for the transactions of the Budget table.

Results and possible errors

In case the program reports mistakes (absence of accounts or others), the import operation probably needs to be cancelled and the matches need to be completed;then repeat the import operation.

The program, confronted with different charts of accounts, cannot automatically do extensive verifications and guarantee that all the data have been imported and grouped correctly.

It is therefore strongly advised to manually check the result, making sure that the totals of the Balance Sheet and the Profit & Loss Statement are correct.

In the Examples/Templates section, choose the language/nation and select the New blank file (without data, without chart of accounts)

In this case the file doesn't contain any data. You will need to create a new accounting file starting from zero.

• Setup the File and accounting properties
   
• Create the accounting plan structure

Language
The language used for the columns headers of the various tables.

Decimal points for amounts
In order to avoid accounting differences, the number of decimal points for the amounts is fixed for each file. Two decimal points are normally used, but there are currencies where decimal points are not required so 0 needs to be inserted.

Decimal points for amounts in foreign currency
If using multi-currency accounting, then it is necessary to define the number of decimal points for the amounts in the foreign currency as well.

Rounding type
The amounts are rounded up or down to the closest whole number. In the case of exactly half (for example: 100.5 / 101.5 / 102.5 / 103.5) the following systems are being used:

• Banking (Half at even) is being rounded up or down towards the nearest even number (100 / 102 / 102 / 104).
• Commercial/Arithmetic (Half up) is being rounded up to the next whole number (101 / 102 / 103 / 104). In accounting, this is the system most used.
• Compatible version 4. A minor precision is being used, which in very special cases, can bring forth a different rounding.

Address fields in accounts table
When this option is activated, the Address view is created in the Accounts table. In this view, the user can enter the addresses of clients, suppliers and members.

Budget Table
When this option is activated a Budget Table is created, where the user can enter his budget transactions.

The user can thus create different accounting files, in different languages, and with different decimal points. In order to change the language or the decimal points once the accounting file has been created, the accounting type must be converted by selecting Convert to new file from the Tools menu.

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.

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
  • Both the original file and the autosave file are kept
  • The program will not warn you anymore that the autosave file was kept
• Cancel
  • Both the original file and the autosave file are kept
  • Next time you open this file, the program will warn you that an autosave file with unsaved changes was found

The autosave files that were not recovered will be kept, and will have to be deleted manually.

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.

However that program may be unexpectedly closed 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.
      • Problem with some Dell computers.
    • 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, is more likely that the problem is due to a computer or operating system problema (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

Verify 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 -> Program Options -> Info System.
  • If the problem occurs in relation to a file, send a copy of the file (removing confidential data).

Left and right headers

These are the two empty cells at the top where any desired text can be inserted which will be used as a header for print-outs (left and right).

Opening date

The opening date is the date when the accounting begins. It can also be left blank. If a date prior to the opening date is inserted when entries are made, the program will give an error message.

Closing date

This is the closing date of the accounting. It can also be left blank. If a date greater than the closing date is inserted when entries are made, the program will give an error message.

Basic currency

The code of the currency in which the accounting is being handled. You can enter any currency code, even the one that are not in the list.  When the code of the basic currency is being changed, the program changes the column headers for the amounts in basic currency using the new code.

In the multicurrency accounting files it is mandatory to select the basic currency, which will work as the funcional currency, the one used for the calculation of the Balance sheet and Profit & Loss statement.

Changing the basic currency symbol

If you change the basic currency symbol the program will not change the existing amounts. We advise you to change your basic currency symbol only if you don't have yet entered any opening balances and any transactions.

Accounting file WITHOUT foreign currencies

You can replace the basic currency symbol with the new symbol.

Accounting file WITH foreign currencies

• Replace the currency symbol in the File properties dialog (from the File menu)
• in the Accounts table
  • Select the whole Currency column (click on the column's header)
  • Use the Find and replace command from the Data menu and enter the old and the new currency symbol - make sure to check the Selected area only option. Replace all the symbols found.
• in the Exchange rates table
  Enter the new exchange rates for all the currencies.
• Give the Check accounting command from the Account1 menu.
• If there are opening balances or transactions, the amounts and the exchange rates will have to be manually updated.

Transaction date required
If this option is activated and then a transaction is entered without a date, there will be an error message.

Recalculate totals manually (F9)
If this option is activated, the program will not automatically recalculate the principal groups of the accounting file, but the user needs to use the F9 key.

File from previous year
By using the Browse button, the user can select a file from the previous year.

Smart fill with transactions from previous year
If this cell is checked, the program keeps the transactions from the previous year in memory, and offers them as Smart Fill while the user inputs new entries.

Use the minus sign (-) as segments separator
When this option is activated, the segments have to be entered in the Transactions table with the minus (-) sign preceding the segment code. When this option is deactivated, the segments need to be entered with the colon sign (:), as in the chart of accounts. The colon needs to always preced the segment code.

Records (+/-) cost centers according to the category
This function is active only for Simple accounting and Cash book. By activating this box, the amount is entered in the cost center (positive or negative) according to the category.

If, instead, this option is not active, in order to enter a negative value, it is necessary to enter a minus sign before the cost center (-CC).

Related document: Text imput, edit and Smart fill

In this tab data about the company or the individual whose accounting is being handled can be entered.

For the explanations of the different tabs please visit the corresponding page Starting a multi-currency accounting.

For the explanations of the different tabs please visit the corresponding page File properties (VAT/Sales tax tab).

Current language
There are some file texts that the program generates automatically, (e.g. the lines of the Totals table, the transactions on the account card, and the printout of the Enhanced balance sheet); in this tab, the user can indicate the language for these texts (usually the same as the creation language).

Creation language
This is the language chosen and selected when the user creates an accounting file; this language is used for the column headers. If the user wants to change the creation language, then it is necessary to convert the file to a new one using the Convert to new file command in the Tools menu.

 Apps properties
 List of the activated properties in the Manage Apps dialog. In order to remove an App, delete the corresponding property.

The files can be protected by using a password.

Entering a password in a file that doesn't have a password

• The box Confirm old password is shown in gray.
• Indicate your new password twice (New password and Confirm new password).
• Confirm with OK.

Changing an existing password

• Enter the existing password.
• Indicate your new password twice.
• Confirm with OK.

How to cancel a password

• Enter the existing password.
• Leave the boxes for the new password empty.
• Confirm with OK.

Note

Using a password does not give a high level of protection. In order to render the data truly inaccessible to third parties, it is necessary to have the appropriate cryptographic software.

In this tab it is possible to enter different keys in order to save extra information, such as the accountant name, for example.

Key
In this field, input the reference text (e.g.: Address).

Value
In this field, it is necessary to input the value related to the key (e.g.: Ocean Avenue, ...).

Add
This button saves the new entered data.

Remove
This button removes the selected Key.