Comments for Lazy8 Ledger

Comment on Thanks for choosing Lazy8 Ledger by gilberto dos santos alves

gilberto dos santos alves — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:41:18 +0000

these program are very goot. today i install this in my note book acer with debian 5.0.4 lenny and everything is ok. I use gnome interface. thank you.

from são paulo – Brasil

Comment on jEdit installation by bill h

bill h — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:55:12 +0000

F:\Downloads\booking\Lazy8Ledger.jar:
The file could not be loaded correctly (some data might be lost) with
the encoding “Cp1252″.
(java.nio.charset.UnmappableCharacterException: Input length = 1)
Try selecting a different encoding.
It can be selected with the menu File->Reload with Encoding.
If you want it to be done automatically, add the candidates into
“List of fallback encodings” in Encodings pane of Global Options.

Comment on Thanks for choosing Lazy8 Ledger by Thomas

Thomas — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:18:51 +0000

Thanks for your help with this. I just downloaded the new 2.25 version and tried it. I still have the same problem. Even following your suggested sequence for a new account, it always ends up as a type 0 “current asset” account type. (I think I was able to change an account type once recently, but I can’t duplicate that success).

When I started testing Lazy8Ledger initially I had no problem making new accounts (with varying account types) and changing the account type, but now that I have a number of transactions posted I don’t seem to be able to “change” account types, or add new accounts with the proper account type.

Sounds like it might be a hard bug to track down. What do you suggest??

I also tried to backup the company and restore it to a different company name to see if that might help. However, when I try to restore it I get an error message: “Invalid file name.:Immediate primary Key constraint violation(_ANONYMOUS_CONSTRAINT_7)Columns=(AccountCompld)Table=(APP.Account)”. This error message happens after I click “No” to the question: “Do you wnat to restore this company to an already existing company?” Perhaps these problems are related???

I don’t think it matters, but, for the record, I am running Windows XP-SP3 and “jEdit 4.3.1 server mode, using Java 1.6.0_18)”. I’m not sure why I’m in “server mode” or if that matters.

Also, do you prefer that I email you directly, or keep using the comments page?

Thanks for your help.

-Thomas

Comment on Thanks for choosing Lazy8 Ledger by admin

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 07:50:06 +0000

I just now tested creating a new account and I had no problem setting the account type. Maybe you are not aware of how the account entering works. Try the following:
1. Open the “account” window.
2. Hit the “Clear” button (just to be sure)
3. Enter the account number and name. Click on the Account type you want so that it is highlighted.
4. Hit the “Add” button. Thats it..

By the way, do you have any AccountTypes in the advanced->accountTypes window? If not you may need to download the latest version I just made. Somebody reported a bug where they could not enter Account Types into the account type window. Anyway, download http://www.lazy8.nu/download/Lazy8LedgerPlugin.jar and replace the Lazy8Ledger.jar(note the name is slightly changed) that should be in your “/home/(username)/.jedit/jars” directory with the one you downloaded. In Windows this directory is often “c:\Users\(username)\.jedit\jars”. In macintosh it is usually “User/Library/jEdit/jars”. Restart jEdit.

Comment on Thanks for choosing Lazy8 Ledger by Thomas

Thomas — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:39:44 +0000

Another minor problem: Now that I’m at the end of my first accounting period with Lazy8, I’m trying to add additional accounts. However, they all end up as type “0″ accounts (Current Assets), even after I “Change” them to other types. Looks like a bug to me. What do you think? Is there an easy work-around, or something I am missing?

Thanks for your patience with me.

-Thomas

Comment on Thanks for choosing Lazy8 Ledger by Thomas

Thomas — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:45:18 +0000

Thanks again for your prompt reply. I think that all reports generating automatically is a huge benefit that IS automatic. That is the root of my problem… that a North American type of Balance Sheet can only be produced with extra manual input. I can live with having to deal with transferring profit and loss manually, but it is obviously not my preference. This is the only major weakness I have found with Lazy8Ledger relative to other software I have recently reviewed (though Lazy8 takes a little more computer savy to install and use).

I think virtually all of the accounting programs written for North America (including ones limited to general ledger functionality) automatically produce a Balance Sheet showing year-to-date profit and loss as a single-line equity item (often called “retained earnings”). Some examples of relatively simple software that includes this feature are: Medlin.com “General Ledger” software ($45), “Ledger” software by Responsive Software (free version), “Express Acounts” software by NCH Software (in Australia, free version), and “BS1 General Ledger” by Davis Business Systems (free version). I would add, however, that each of these programs have weaknesses that Lazy8Ledger does not have.

I understand that the developers of Lazy8 aren’t doing this for the money (the program is free, thank you), and it’s fine if you want to keep it like it is. But, if you want more people in North America to use it, I recommend that you consider this as a possible area of improvement for future versions.

Again, thanks for a great program, and your prompt responses to my inquiries.

-Thomas

Comment on Thanks for choosing Lazy8 Ledger by admin

admin — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 08:41:33 +0000

Hello Thomas, This is only a general ledger. Similar to what you would write yourself on paper except that you do it in a computer. That means there is NOTHING that is automatic. The only gain you get by doing it in the computer as opposed to paper, is that the reports are very very powerful so you can get in seconds reports that in the old days would take days to produce. To summarize, you need to enter equity manually into an account that has an account type = Equity. Before we made this change for North America, there were no “Account-Types.” The account-types were added to accomadate the need for an “Equity” account type that would have its own summary in the balance/result report.

In order to understand better, log-in to this lazy8Web with the username=english and the password=english. Then go to the Report menu and look at the Balance/Result report. From there you can see how the equity is used as well as if you do the Account Summary report.

I don’t have any other ideas about the fonts. I need to look into this further as you say.

Comment on Thanks for choosing Lazy8 Ledger by Thomas

Thomas — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:02:36 +0000

Thanks for your prompt reply. I am using version 2.24.

Regarding the balance sheet issue: I understand that the “equity” type of account may be applicable only to North America. However, I don’t see any way to automatically add all income and expenses into a single equity account, for use in a balance sheet (to show profit or loss year-to-date). Please clarify. Thanks.

Regarding the font-size and line spacing issue: Changing the “List and text field font” did help quite a bit. However, adjusting the font size does not adjust the line spacing, so the larger fonts I prefer don’t fit well. Is there any way to make the line spacing in the transaction entry area larger? If not, this might be something to consider for a future release.

NOte: I first had to change the “Swing look and feel” item to “Metal” in order to adjust the “List and text field font.” I was previously in “Windows classic” mode, and I presume the Windows font settings apply in that mode. I prefer the Windows mode, except that my preferred font sizes don’t fit well with the small line spacing in the transaction list.

Comment on Thanks for choosing Lazy8 Ledger by admin

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 23:06:56 +0000

You need to adjust your fonts. You need to get to the jEdit Global Options menu and then the “Appearance” section and the “List and text field font”. Let me know if this fixes it for you.

Comment on Thanks for choosing Lazy8 Ledger by admin

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:57:57 +0000

You need to adjust your Account-Types in order to get your equity and balance sheet as you want. Look in the advanced menus. You need a recent version of lazy8ledger as well. Like version 2.24. Let me know if you don’t understand. I changed lazy8ledger a few years ago just to make it work for this equity problem in North America.