Copy File Attachment To Permanent, GNUCash Location
Currently, you can attach a file to a transaction. However, I would expect GNUCash to "take in" that file, rather than simply store a pointer to the file's current location.
It would be better if GNUCash would copy the file into its own Attachments folder which would preferably be a hidden folder.
Here is my use case:
I download an invoice from a website with the intention of attaching it. I open up GNUCash, find the transaction, and attach the PDF from its current folder, 'Downloads'.
Regularly, I cull my 'Downloads' folder as it is not meant to be a permanent storage location and since I've already acted upon all my downloaded files, I wouldn't need them there anymore.
When the file attached in GNUCash gets deleted, well...it's deleted.
Sajan Parikh
shared this idea
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Anonymous
commented
How about a search and re-connect feature where the program searches a designated folder or folders for disconnected files that were once linked into the program and when it finds them in the searched folders it automatically reconnects to them.
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Anonymous
commented
I have to strongly disagree with this. Files are files, they are not raw data. I find that my workflow is no more difficult; I just process the invoice, scan into a folder for today's work, save using a formula:
INV 29826 - 2018-11-29 - client name - client number - total.
Now I am able to fully text-search these with Google any time, I can also choose to import these into ANY program at ANY time because I follow a data-import friendly naming schema.
You WILL change accounting programs one day - or your accountant will want copies - or something.
Your documents are yours. Raw data goes into databases, not files.
The devs are an extremely small team and we need them to focus on the core functionality of BOOKKEEPING. Linking to an existing file is a very efficient solution and is the same one used by QuickBooks. Odoo and others.
</Rant>
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Raja
commented
Please add this feature... for sample code check following
Money Manager Ex Portable version (http://www.moneymanagerex.org) has implemented this method beautifully
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Anonymous
commented
Yes, this is very crucial functionality indeed. If GNUCash can "take in" the file and place it in some central repository of documents, this can enhance user experience to great extent.
Further, some users like me are using portable version of GNUCash. So when I try to attach a document on my desktop, and try to open it on my laptop... it shows dead link error.
Is there any way possible to maintain central repository for documents on portable device with relative file address reference, so that it doesn't show dead link error?
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Anonymous
commented
Agreed! I haven't used Attachments yet for this exact reason.
Copying would be very useful, since if I some day take it upon myself to organise things, I'm sure to forget about the fact that Gnucash has a link to the file that would need updating. E.g say I find out "oh, my invoices/ directory looks messy right there in my company/ directory, it should actually be in company/accounting/" and suddenly I have to update a million links in Gnucash by hand …