<!--

      (Do not remove this comment block.)
  Version: 2.0.2
  Last modified: November 18th 2010
       modified: April 23th 2007
       modified: July 9th 2006
       modified: February 28th 2005
  Maintainers:
               Cristian Marchi <cri79@libero.it>
               Chris Lyttle <chris@wilddev.net>
               Neil Williams <linux@codehelp.co.uk>
  Author:
               Chris Lyttle <chris@wilddev.net>
  Translators:
               (translators put your name and email here)
-->

<chapter id="getting-started">
  <title>Getting Started</title>

  <sect1 id="first-time">
    <title>Running <application>&app;</application></title>
    <para><application>&app;</application> can be run from your desktop main menu by selecting the associated menu entry.</para>
    <para>Alternatively it can be run from a shell (command line) with the command <command>gnucash</command>.</para>

    <para>During the loading of the <application>&app;</application> main window you will see the
    <emphasis>&app; Splash Screen</emphasis> where some information
    about the program itself and the loading process are displayed.</para>

    <sect2 id="welcome-to-gnucash">
    <title><guilabel>Welcome to &app;</guilabel> dialog</title>
      <para>Next you will be presented with
      the <guilabel>Welcome to &app;!</guilabel> dialog with three choices:</para>

      <itemizedlist id="CreateAccounts">
        <listitem>
          <para><guilabel>Create a new set of accounts:</guilabel> Runs the
          <guilabel>New Account Hierarchy Setup</guilabel> assistant (see <xref linkend="acct-hierarchy"/>). Select
          this option if you want to be assisted in creating a set of accounts.</para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
          <para><guilabel>Import my QIF files:</guilabel> Runs the
          <guilabel>Import QIF Files</guilabel> assistant (see <xref linkend="import-qif"/>). Select this option
          if you already have Quicken files (<filename>.qif</filename> files) from another
          financial application and wish to import them into <application>&app;</application>.</para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
            <para><guilabel>Open the new user tutorial:</guilabel>
            Opens the <application>&app;</application> Tutorial and Concepts Guide. Select this
            option if you are completely new to <application>&app;</application> and
            accounting concepts.</para>
        </listitem>
      </itemizedlist>

      <note>
        <para>It is possible to run these items after you have made a choice here,
        but the <guilabel>Welcome to &app;!</guilabel> screen will not reappear.
        To try one of the other choices later, read
        <xref linkend="acct-hierarchy" />, <xref linkend="import-qif" /> and
        <xref linkend="tutorial" /> to see how to start them from the
        <application>&app;</application> menu.</para>
      </note>

      <para>This screen is intended for you to use to get up and running
      quickly. The <guibutton>Cancel</guibutton> button is used to exit the
      screen. It will then prompt you with <guilabel>Display Welcome Dialog
      Again?</guilabel>. If you do not want to see the <guilabel>Welcome to
      &app;!</guilabel> menu again click the <guibutton>No</guibutton>
      button. Click the <guibutton>Yes</guibutton> button or press the
      keyboard <keycap function="enter">Enter</keycap> key for the default which is to have the
      <guilabel>Welcome to &app;!</guilabel> screen run again.</para>

      <note>
        <para>Selecting either of these options will leave you with a minimum
        <application>&app;</application> main window. Operations in this window are described
        in <xref linkend="GUIMenus"></xref>.</para>
      </note>

    </sect2>

   </sect1>

    <sect1 id="acct-hierarchy">
      <title>New Account Hierarchy Setup</title>

      <para>This assistant helps you to create a set of <application>&app;</application> accounts. It will
      appear if you choose <guibutton>Create a new set of accounts</guibutton>
      in the <guilabel>Welcome to &app;!</guilabel> menu.</para>
      <para>This will create a new blank <application>&app;</application> file and then automatically start
      the <guilabel>New Account Hierarchy Setup</guilabel> assistant.</para>

      <tip>
        <para>To start this assistant manually, go to <menuchoice><guimenu>File</guimenu>
        <guimenuitem>New</guimenuitem></menuchoice> if you need to create a new file.
        If you want to run the assistant within the opened file, go to
        <menuchoice><guimenu>Actions</guimenu><guimenuitem>New Account Hierarchy...</guimenuitem></menuchoice>
        when the accounts tree tab is displayed.</para>
      </tip>

<orderedlist>
<listitem>
      <para>The <guilabel>New Account Hierarchy Setup</guilabel> assistant opens
      with a screen that briefly describes what this assistant does. The three
      buttons at the very bottom of the screen will not change while using the
      assistant.</para>

    <itemizedlist>
      <listitem>
        <para><guibutton>Cancel:</guibutton> exit the process and cancel creating
        a new set of accounts.</para>
        <warning>
          <para>If you click this button, any selections you have made up to
          this point will be lost.</para>
        </warning>
      </listitem>

      <listitem>
        <para><guibutton>Back:</guibutton> brings up the previous screen so
        that you can change a previous selection until the first screen.</para>
      </listitem>

      <listitem>
        <para><guibutton>Forward:</guibutton> brings up the next
        screen so you can continue through the assistant.</para>
      </listitem>
    </itemizedlist>

</listitem>
<listitem>

      <para>The next screen allows you to <guilabel>Choose Currency</guilabel>
      to use as default for your accounts.</para>

      <itemizedlist>
        <listitem>
          <para>The <guilabel>Currency:</guilabel> drop down list defaults to the currency
          configured in the <guilabel>Accounts</guilabel> tab under
          <guilabel>&app; Preferences</guilabel> (see <xref linkend="prefs-accounts"/>). If you wish your accounts to
          use a different default currency, select one from the list.</para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
          <para>The <guibutton>Forward </guibutton>button is used to confirm
          your selection and continue to the next screen.</para>
        </listitem>
      </itemizedlist>

</listitem>
<listitem>

      <para>The next screen is used to <guilabel>Choose accounts to create</guilabel>.</para>
      <para>You will see a screen divided into three parts.</para>

      <itemizedlist>
        <listitem>
          <para>The left upper portion has a list of
          <guilabel>Categories</guilabel> for commonly used hierarchies of
          accounts. Select from this list the types of accounts you wish to
          use. You can select as many of the categories of accounts as you
          wish.</para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
          <para>The left lower section has a <guilabel>Category
          Description</guilabel> that displays a detailed description of the
          category currently highlighted.</para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
          <para>The right side has a list of the <guilabel>Accounts</guilabel>
          that will be created from the selected category.</para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
          <para>The <guibutton>Select All</guibutton> button allows you to
          include all of the account categories.</para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
          <para>The <guibutton>Clear All </guibutton>button allows you to
          deselect all of the categories selected.</para>
        </listitem>
      </itemizedlist>

</listitem>
<listitem>

      <para>The next screen allows you to <guilabel>Setup selected accounts</guilabel>
      by entering the opening balances and by selecting if the account is a placeholder.</para>

      <note>
        <para>Equity accounts do not have opening balances so the
        opening balance value for this kind of accounts
        is locked and set to <guilabel>zero</guilabel> by
        <application>&app;</application></para>
      </note>

      <note id="placeholder-acct">
        <para><emphasis>Placeholder</emphasis> accounts are used to create a hierarchy of accounts and
        normally do not have transactions or opening balances.</para>
      </note>

      <para>Follow the instructions in the display on how to select the
      account and entering an opening balance for the account. A single
      click is used to highlight an account.</para>

      <itemizedlist>
        <listitem>
          <para>The left side of the screen has a list of <guilabel>Account
          Names</guilabel>. Select an account by "clicking" once in the
          <guilabel>Account Names</guilabel> column with the account highlighted. This will open
          the account name for changes.</para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
          <para>The right side of the screen has a check-box to make an
          account a <guilabel>Placeholder</guilabel> and a box to add the
          <guilabel>Opening Balance</guilabel> for the selected account. Again
          a single click in the <guilabel>Opening Balance</guilabel> or
          <guilabel>Placeholder</guilabel> column will
          open the field for changes.</para>
        </listitem>
      </itemizedlist>

</listitem>
<listitem>

      <para>The <guilabel>Finish account setup</guilabel> is the last screen and
      gives you a final list of the three choices to finish the assistant.</para>

    <itemizedlist>
      <listitem>
        <para><guibutton>Cancel:</guibutton> exits the assistant and cancels creating
        a new set of accounts.</para>
        <warning>
          <para>If you click this button, any selections you have made up to
          this point will be lost.</para>
        </warning>
      </listitem>

      <listitem>
        <para><guibutton>Back:</guibutton> brings up the previous screen so
        that you can change a previous selection until the first screen.</para>
      </listitem>

      <listitem>
        <para><guibutton>Apply:</guibutton> creates the accounts you have selected.</para>
      </listitem>
    </itemizedlist>
</listitem>
</orderedlist>

      <para>You should now have a hierarchy of accounts in your main <application>&app;</application>
      account window.</para>
    </sect1>

    <sect1 id="import-qif">
      <title>Import QIF Files</title>

      <para>This Assistant helps you import Quicken <acronym>QIF</acronym> files. It will appear if
      you choose <guibutton>Import my QIF files</guibutton> in the
      <guilabel>Welcome to &app;!</guilabel> menu.</para>

      <para>To start this assistant manually go to <menuchoice><guimenu>File</guimenu>
      <guisubmenu>Import ...</guisubmenu> <guimenuitem>Import
      QIF...</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.</para>

      <para>In the following all the screens that you can see in this assistant
      are described in order of appearance.</para>

<orderedlist>
<listitem>

      <para>The <guilabel>Import QIF files</guilabel> assistant opens with a
      screen that briefly describes what this assistant does and requests the
      file(s) to import. The three buttons at the very bottom of the screen
      will not change while using the assistant.</para>

    <itemizedlist>
      <listitem>
        <para><guibutton>Cancel:</guibutton> exit the process and cancel importing
        <acronym>QIF</acronym> files.</para>
        <warning>
          <para>If you click this button, any selections you have made up to
          this point will be lost.</para>
        </warning>
      </listitem>

      <listitem>
        <para><guibutton>Back:</guibutton> brings up the previous screen so
        that you can change a previous selection until the first screen.</para>
      </listitem>

      <listitem>
        <para><guibutton>Forward:</guibutton> brings up the next
        screen so you can continue through the assistant.</para>
      </listitem>
    </itemizedlist>

</listitem>
<listitem>

      <para>The next screen allows you to <guilabel>Select a QIF file to
      load</guilabel>. The <guibutton>Select...</guibutton> button on this
      screen is used to access the list of files. The
      <guibutton>Select...</guibutton> button brings up the <guilabel>Select
      QIF File</guilabel> dialog.</para>

      <para>Navigate to where you have stored your <acronym>QIF</acronym> files and select the
      first one then click <guibutton>Import</guibutton>. The next screen will
      display it in the <guilabel>Select a QIF File to Load</guilabel>
      field.</para>

      <note>
        <para>If the file you are loading does not have an <acronym>QIF</acronym> date listed
        in it you will see the <guilabel>Set a date format for this QIF file</guilabel>
        screen. Select the proper format from the pull down list and continue.</para>
      </note>

      <note>
        <para>If the file you are loading does not have an account name listed
        in it you will see the <guilabel>Set the default QIF account
        name</guilabel> screen. Otherwise you will skip this screen and go on
        to the screen in the next section that shows loaded <acronym>QIF</acronym> files.</para>

        <itemizedlist>
          <listitem>
            <para>The <guilabel>Account name:</guilabel> field is used to set
            an account name for this <acronym>QIF</acronym> file.</para>
          </listitem>
        </itemizedlist>
      </note>

</listitem>
<listitem>
      <para>The next screen shows you the <guilabel>QIF files you have
      loaded</guilabel>. You can use this screen to return to the previous
      screen and load more <acronym>QIF</acronym> files. It will also let you unload any files
      you have loaded by mistake.</para>

      <itemizedlist>
        <listitem>
          <para>The top panel shows the list of <guilabel>QIF Files</guilabel>
          you have loaded.</para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
          <para>The <guibutton>Load another file</guibutton> button takes you
          back to the previous screen to load another <acronym>QIF</acronym> file.</para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
          <para>The <guibutton>Unload selected file</guibutton> button allows you to
          select a file from the top panel and remove it from the list.</para>
        </listitem>
      </itemizedlist>

      <para>When you have selected all the <acronym>QIF</acronym> files to be imported, click the
      <guibutton>Forward</guibutton> button.</para>

</listitem>
<listitem>

      <para>Depending on the type of data contained in the
      <acronym>QIF</acronym> files to be imported, you may see only one or all of the following screens:</para>

<variablelist termlength="8">
  <varlistentry>
  <term><guilabel>Accounts and stock holdings</guilabel></term>
    <listitem>
      <para>This screen gives a description of the <guilabel>Accounts and stock
      holdings</guilabel> matching process on the following <guilabel>Match QIF
      accounts with &app; accounts</guilabel> screen.</para>

      <tip>
        <para>This and other informational screens in the
        <guilabel>Import QIF files</guilabel> assistant
        can be turned off in the <guilabel>Online Banking</guilabel> tab (see <xref linkend="prefs-online"/>)
        under <guilabel>&app; Preferences</guilabel>.</para>
      </tip>

      <para>The next screen lets you <guilabel>Match QIF accounts with &app;
      accounts</guilabel>. You will see a list of <guilabel>QIF account
      names</guilabel> on the left and suggested <guilabel>&app; account
      names</guilabel> on the right. The <guilabel>New?</guilabel> column
      indicates if the <application>&app;</application> account name will be created by the <acronym>QIF</acronym>
      Import.</para>

      <para>To change the <application>&app;</application> account to a different one select the <acronym>QIF</acronym>
      account. A screen will pop up to select another account or create a new
      one.</para>

      <itemizedlist>
        <listitem>
          <para>Select an account from the list to choose a already existing
          account.</para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
          <para>The <guibutton>New Account</guibutton> button allows you to
          add a new account name as a sub-account (child of selected) of the
          selected account.</para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
          <para>The <guibutton>OK</guibutton> button is used to confirm your
          selection.</para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
          <para>The <guibutton>Cancel</guibutton> button is used to exit the
          dialog without using any changes you have made.</para>
        </listitem>
      </itemizedlist>
    </listitem>
  </varlistentry>

  <varlistentry>
  <term><guilabel>Income and Expense categories</guilabel></term>
    <listitem>
      <para>This screen gives a description of the <guilabel>Income and
      Expense categories</guilabel> matching process on the following <guilabel>Match
      QIF categories with &app; accounts</guilabel> screen.</para>

      <tip>
        <para>This and other informational screens in the
        <guilabel>Import QIF files</guilabel> assistant
        can be turned off in the <guilabel>Online Banking</guilabel> tab (see <xref linkend="prefs-online"/>)
        under <guilabel>&app; Preferences</guilabel>.</para>
      </tip>

      <para>The next screen lets you <guilabel>Match QIF categories with
      &app; accounts</guilabel>. You will see a list of <guilabel>QIF
      category names</guilabel> on the left and suggested <guilabel>&app;
      account names</guilabel> on the right. The <guilabel>New?</guilabel>
      column indicates if the <application>&app;</application> account name will be created by the QIF
      Import.</para>

      <para>To change the <application>&app;</application> account to a different one select the QIF
      category. A dialog will pop up to select another account or create a new
      one.</para>

      <itemizedlist>
        <listitem>
          <para>Select an account from the list to choose a already existing
          account.</para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
          <para>The <guibutton>New Account</guibutton> button allows you to
          add a new account name as a sub-account (child of selected) of the
          selected account.</para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
          <para>The <guibutton>OK</guibutton> button is used to confirm your
          selection.</para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
          <para>The <guibutton>Cancel</guibutton> button is used to exit the
          dialog without using any changes you have made.</para>
        </listitem>
      </itemizedlist>
    </listitem>
  </varlistentry>

  <varlistentry>
  <term><guilabel>Payees and memos</guilabel></term>
  <listitem>
      <para>This screen gives a description of the <guilabel>Payees and
      memos</guilabel> matching process on the following <guilabel>Match payees/memos to
      &app; accounts</guilabel> screen.</para>

      <tip>
        <para>This and other informational screens in the
        <guilabel>Import QIF files</guilabel> assistant
        can be turned off in the <guilabel>Online Banking</guilabel> tab (see <xref linkend="prefs-online"/>)
        under <guilabel>&app; Preferences</guilabel>.</para>
      </tip>

      <para>The next screen lets you <guilabel>Match payees/memos to &app;
      accounts</guilabel>. You will see a list of <guilabel>QIF payee/memo
      names</guilabel> on the left and suggested <guilabel>&app; account
      names</guilabel> on the right. The default <application>&app;</application> account used is
      called <guilabel>Unspecified</guilabel>. The <guilabel>New?</guilabel> column indicates if
      the <application>&app;</application> account name will be created by the QIF Import.</para>

      <para>To change the <application>&app;</application> account to a different one select the QIF
      payee/memo. A dialog will pop up to select another account or create a
      new one.</para>

      <itemizedlist>
        <listitem>
          <para>Select an account from the list to choose a already existing
          account.</para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
          <para>The <guibutton>New Account</guibutton> button allows you to
          add a new account name as a sub-account of the selected
          account.</para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
          <para>The <guibutton>OK</guibutton> button is used to confirm your
          selection.</para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
          <para>The <guibutton>Cancel</guibutton> button is used to exit the
          dialog without using any changes you have made.</para>
        </listitem>
      </itemizedlist>
    </listitem>
  </varlistentry>
</variablelist>

</listitem>
<listitem>

      <para>The next screen allows you to <guilabel>Enter the QIF file
      currency</guilabel>. The drop down list defaults to the currency
      configured in the <guilabel>Accounts</guilabel> tab (see <xref linkend="prefs-accounts"/>) under
      <guilabel>&app; Preferences</guilabel>. If you wish the new accounts
      to use a different currency, select one from the list.</para>

      <para>When you have selected the currency, click the
      <guibutton>Forward</guibutton> button.</para>

</listitem>
<listitem>

      <para>Depending on the type of data contained in the
      <acronym>QIF</acronym> files to be imported, you may or may not see one or more of the following screens:</para>

<variablelist termlength="8">
  <varlistentry>
  <term><guilabel>Tradable Commodities</guilabel></term>
    <listitem>
      <para>This screen gives a description of the <guilabel>Tradable
      Commodities</guilabel> process on the screen.</para>

      <tip>
        <para>This and other informational screens in the
        <guilabel>Import QIF files</guilabel> assistant
        can be turned off in the <guilabel>Online Banking</guilabel> tab (see <xref linkend="prefs-online"/>)
        under <guilabel>&app; Preferences</guilabel>.</para>
      </tip>

      <para>A series of screens, one for each of the stock, mutual fund, or
      commodity, displays the exchange, full name, and symbol for each of the commodities
      listed in the <acronym>QIF</acronym> file you are importing so that you can
      check them before proceeding.</para>
    </listitem>
  </varlistentry>

  <varlistentry>
  <term><guilabel>Match duplicate transactions</guilabel></term>
    <listitem>
      <para>This screen gives a description of the <guilabel>Match
      duplicate transactions</guilabel> process on the following <guilabel>Select
      possible duplicates</guilabel> screen.</para>

      <tip>
        <para>This and other informational screens in the
        <guilabel>Import QIF files</guilabel> assistant
        can be turned off in the <guilabel>Online Banking</guilabel> tab (see <xref linkend="prefs-online"/>)
        under <guilabel>&app; Preferences</guilabel>.</para>
      </tip>

      <para>The next screen lets you <guilabel>Select possible duplicate
      transactions</guilabel>. Imported transactions are shown on the left
      panel and possible matches to each selected transaction are shown on the
      right.</para>

      <itemizedlist>
        <listitem>
          <para>The left panel shows the list of Imported transactions to
          select from for matching duplicates</para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
          <para>The right panel shows the list of <emphasis>possible</emphasis> duplicates for the
          selected imported transaction. Select the one that most closely
          matches</para>
        </listitem>
      </itemizedlist>
    </listitem>
  </varlistentry>
</variablelist>

</listitem>
<listitem>

      <para>The last screen, <guibutton>Update your &app;
      accounts</guibutton>, gives you a list of three choices to finish the
      assistant.</para>

    <itemizedlist>
      <listitem>
        <para><guibutton>Cancel:</guibutton> exit the process and cancel importing
        <acronym>QIF</acronym> files.</para>
        <warning>
          <para>If you click this button, any selections you have made up to
          this point will be lost.</para>
        </warning>
      </listitem>

      <listitem>
        <para><guibutton>Back:</guibutton> brings up the previous screen so
        that you can change a previous selection until the first screen.</para>
      </listitem>

      <listitem>
        <para><guibutton>Forward:</guibutton> imports the data and creates the
        accounts you have specified.</para>
      </listitem>
    </itemizedlist>

</listitem>
</orderedlist>

      <para>You should now have successfully imported your accounts.</para>

      <tip>
        <para>Imported transactions might need to be <emphasis role="strong">reconciled</emphasis>.
        This process is described in the <application>&app;</application> Tutorial and Concepts guide.</para>
      </tip>

  </sect1>

  <sect1 id="tip-of-the-day">
    <title>Tip of The Day</title>

    <para>The <guilabel>Tip of the Day</guilabel> screen starts whenever you
    start <application>&app;</application> unless it has been disabled in the
    <guilabel>&app; Preferences</guilabel>. It gives tips on features and
    using <application>&app;</application>. You can use the three buttons at the bottom of the screen
    to look through the tips.</para>

    <variablelist>
      <varlistentry>
        <term><guibutton>Close</guibutton></term>
        <listitem><para>Dismiss the <guilabel>Tip of the Day</guilabel> screen</para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term><guibutton>Prev</guibutton></term>
        <listitem><para>Shows the previous tip</para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>

      <varlistentry>
        <term><guibutton>Forward</guibutton></term>
        <listitem><para>Shows the next tip</para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>
    </variablelist>

    <para>The <guibutton>Show tips at startup</guibutton>
    check-box is used to enable or disable the <guilabel>Tip of the
    Day</guilabel> from running at <application>&app;</application> start-up.</para>

    <para>It is also possible to configure the <guilabel>Tip of the
    Day</guilabel> to run at start-up under the <guilabel>General</guilabel> tab
    in <guilabel>&app; Preferences</guilabel>.
    The <guilabel>Tip of the Day</guilabel> can also be manually run by going
    to <menuchoice><guimenu>Help</guimenu><guimenuitem>Tip of the
    Day</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.</para>
  </sect1>
</chapter>
