Formatting Transaction Reports
Bonnie Wells
I have tried several times, looked through the questions and still cannot figure out how to format the printed report of my check register transactions. I need to modify the column widths--the "Description" column is only 7 letters wide, so it is hard to figure out the payees, while the deposit and check amount columns are twice the size they need to be. I see nowhere to change the format of the report and have gotten tired going through all the questions. There is no help at all in the manual. It is probably something simple, but it seems that Moneydance is not really very user friendly.
Any help would be appreciated. (I am on a trial version, if that matters).
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1 Posted by -Kevin N. on Feb 26, 2012 @ 08:38 PM
Hi Bonnie,
Changing the column width of a report is simalar to changing the column width in a spreadsheet. Bring your cursor up into the header area of the columns and position it over a column divider. The cursor will turn into a double headed arrow, indicating that you can now drag the divider so as to widen the column.
HTH -Kevin N.
2 Posted by Ben Spencer on Feb 26, 2012 @ 08:40 PM
If you place your mouse pointer at the division between the column headers at the top of the report you can drag the edges of the columns to the left or right making the column wider or smaller. The pointer will change to indicate when you can drag.
Ben Spencer
Moneydance Support
3 Posted by Bonnie on Feb 26, 2012 @ 08:46 PM
Yes, I have done that, and on screen, it is perfect. But when I go to print, those column widths that are fine on screen change on print.
4 Posted by -Kevin N. on Feb 26, 2012 @ 09:50 PM
Hi Bonnie,
So as to assist the Moneydance Support Staff in helping you, provide the following:
Version of Moneydance
Operating system and version
Version of Java installed
You should be able to glean this information from the first few lines of text displayed in the Console Window listed under Moneydance's Help menu. Open the Console Window and then try printing the report. Along with the requested information, provide any possible error message(s) included in the Console Window or displayed elsewhere.
Copy and paste the information into your next post.
HTH -Kevin N.
5 Posted by bonnie wells on Feb 26, 2012 @ 10:24 PM
Here is the paste
Starting Moneydance 2011r2 (803)
Settings Folder: /Users/bonnie/.moneydance
OS: Mac OS X 10.7.3 x86_64
Java: 1.6.0_29 (Apple Inc.)
I was unable to print while the Console Window was open. No error messages displayed.
Bonnie
6 Posted by -Kevin N. on Feb 26, 2012 @ 10:35 PM
Hi Bonnie,
Does this phenomenon happen will all reports or only a certain one?
If the resolution for this issue turns out to be an elusive one, the stand by measure is to use the 'Copy to Clipboard' button and Paste the report into a spreadsheet where you will more than likely have much better control over the Page Setup for printing.
HTH -Kevin N.
7 Posted by bonnie wells on Feb 26, 2012 @ 10:44 PM
It is the only report I have run.
Bonnie
8 Posted by james f on Feb 27, 2012 @ 02:19 AM
Could you provide a screenshot of what the report looks like?
To accomplish this on your Mac, hold down the Apple Key and Shift key then hit the number 3 key.
The screenshot ought to look something like the attached.
Also, what do you have your Mac's "Display" set at? It ought to be set to 1024X768 or higher.
Do you have the a check mark next to the "Print in Landscape"?
9 Posted by james f on Feb 27, 2012 @ 02:30 AM
How does a "Preview" of your intended print out look like?
10 Posted by james f on Feb 27, 2012 @ 02:36 AM
Did you happen to use File > Print Transactions or key strokes Apple key and P key?
11 Posted by james f on Feb 27, 2012 @ 02:51 AM
Starting Moneydance 2011r2 (803)
Settings Folder: /Users/jamesfalknor/.moneydance
OS: Mac OS X 10.5.8 ppc
Java: 1.5.0_30 (Apple Inc.)
I have tried different print-out combinations, and I can't reproduce your printing problem.
I've tried printing the report with a check mark next to "Print in Landscape". I tried printing the report without a check mark next to "Print in Landscape". I tried printing from File > Print Transactions. None of the scenarios that I tried, could I reproduce the "Description" field being only 7 letters wide upon printing.
I even tried changing my Screen "Display" to 800X600. That did not result in a print-out with the "Description" field being only 7 letters wide.
12 Posted by james f on Feb 27, 2012 @ 03:03 AM
Don't know if this would make any difference, but what do you have your Printer's "Default Paper Size" set to?
13 Posted by james f on Feb 27, 2012 @ 03:13 AM
What do you have the Font type and size set at within Moneydance?
14 Posted by bonnie wells on Feb 27, 2012 @ 04:39 AM
The font is Helvetica 12. I printed using File > Print Transactions. Once the I click Print Transactions, there is no box to change the print orientation. It prints in Landscape. The screenshot looks just like yours in Picture 1. It is only when I print, that the printed version comes out differently than the screenshot.
15 Posted by james f on Feb 27, 2012 @ 06:23 AM
Even after setting Moneydance to use Helvetica 12 and choosing File > Print Transactions, I'm still not able to reproduce your printing anomaly.
What does the print-out look like when you run Tools > Graphs and Reports > Transactions?
The trial version does not make any difference. It is the same program, just limited to 100 manually entered transactions until you have purchased a license key and install the license key.
16 Posted by james f on Feb 27, 2012 @ 06:40 AM
Could you run through the process of File > Print Transactions, but choose PDF instead of Print > Choose "Save as PDF" > choose to save the PDF file to your desktop > open the PDF file > then try printing the pdf file.
The procedure is documented in the attached screenshots.
Does the print-out look any better?
Further, I have attached a test.pdf for you to compare results with.
Your results ought to look like mine.
If printing still doesn't look right, could you please post the PDF file that you created so that I can try printing your PDF file from my computer?
I am starting to believe that it might be an anomaly between Moneydance, your Printer, and the Printer Driver for your Printer.
17 Posted by bonnie wells on Feb 27, 2012 @ 12:38 PM
OK, when I go to Tools > Graphs and Reports > Transactions, I am able to adjust the column widths. Yeah! But I cannot find the exact report that looks like the screen shots. Using the Transaction Filter Report, and even though I do not have the "Splits" box checked, when I generate and print out the reports I get all of the splits, rather than just the total. For example, instead of just showing my total payment to American Express, it will have 10 lines showing all of the categories that I used for that payment. While the info is correct, I do not want to show all of that in my report.
Thanks for your help so far. If you can help with this last issue, it would be great.
Bonnie
18 Posted by james f on Feb 27, 2012 @ 01:01 PM
Then try post number 17. See what the results of that are.
19 Posted by Bonnie W on Feb 27, 2012 @ 02:16 PM
When I tried saving as PDF, it still came out with the shortened column width. Do I post the pdf file to this site by attaching the file? I hesitate to send you the PDF file, as it has all my financial info on it. I can prepare a modified version that still exhibits the same problem. I have never had so much problem to get a report to print, no matter what program I have used. Not a happy MD customer. Thanks for your help.
20 Posted by james f on Feb 27, 2012 @ 06:03 PM
The PDF file doesn't include account numbers, or it ought not to include account numbers.
As long as the PDF file does not include account numbers, you are safe to post it here.
As you can see in my previous posts, including the PDF file of mine, there are no account numbers showing. Just names.
Have you tried opening my test.pdf file and printing that to see if your problem still exists?
21 Posted by Bonnie on Feb 27, 2012 @ 06:23 PM
Your test pdf printed out just like the screen shot. I tried just using the Command "P" to print, but it did the same thing--reduced the width of the description column. Which is odd, because I adjusted all of the columns, and it recognized the changes, except for the description column. Screwy. Here is my pdf of a shortened version of the register with just one entry. How it shows on the pdf is how it prints, but that is not how it shows normally on the screen, i.e. the column width is greater for the Description field.
22 Posted by james f on Feb 27, 2012 @ 09:54 PM
Did my test.pdf file print-out properly for you?
Your PDF file "Description" field sure is bunched up.
Saving to PDF, in actuality with OS X, is basically "Printing to PDF". And since your PDF file has the "Description" field bunched up, that makes the print issue an issue with your Printer Driver, rather than a Moneydance issue.
What type of paper is your Printer settings set to in OS X? You can find that information from my screenshots from post number 13.
Also, what Printer Driver is your system set up with?
You can get that information by following the screenshots in post number 13, click on "Options & Supplies....." and click on "Driver".
I don't believe it is a Java issue. However, I have heard that Java 6 had a lot of problems.
Try downloading and installing Java 7. Here is a link for Java 7 dmg image from Oracle. http://jdk7.java.net/macportpreview/ .
Be sure to follow the Installation directions to the letter from Oracle's website.
23 Posted by bonnie wells on Feb 27, 2012 @ 11:13 PM
Printer Settings is US Letter, Driver is HP Photosmart 2600, which is correct. thanks for your help.
Bonnie
24 Posted by Bonnie on Mar 03, 2012 @ 09:16 PM
Does anyone have any other suggestions? Nothing has worked. If you look at the pdf attached to post 22, that is how my reports print out. That is completely unacceptable and I have tried everything I can think of, plus the suggestions in the posts above. This is enough to make me switch--guess I will spend the next few days looking at alternatives--or just go back to Quicken. At least their reports look better.
Jessica Little closed this discussion on Jun 21, 2012 @ 12:36 PM.