I am running Moneydance on a Macintosh [Version 2008r4 (640]with System 10.4 and also on a Windows XP machine [Version 2008r3 (631)]. I created the file on the Macintosh. The same file on both computers has the same behavior as follows:

I manually input a basic budget (which I named 2009) with most of the starting categories (taxes, utilities, Income, insurance, etc.) using the Budget Manager. I input dummy numbers for this draft for budgeted amounts. Didn't have any problem with inputting this. The resulting table on the "Edit Budget" screen looked reasonable. I have 3 years of transactions in which all of the budgeted categories are represented. On the home page, at the top middle, the chosen Budget Name says "2009 BUDGET". The Expenses number and the Income number on the right of the bar graph remain unchanged no matter which pull-down selection is made (i.e. "This month, This year, Last 30 days, Last 365 days"). However, the selection makes some change in the appearance of the graph.

Then I went to the "Graphs and Reports" icon and chose "Budget" for the desired report. On the right side of the "Report: Budget" screen the selections were 2009 BUDGET, Year to date, 01/01/2009, 09/30/2009, and Don't Subtotal. Then, when I hit the "Generate" button I get a screen titled "Budget: 2009 BUDGET, 01/01/2009 - 09/30/2009". The "Actual" Data in the resultant budget table is only for the September data. No matter how many times I re-do this process, and whether I do it on the Mac or the Windows machine, I can ONLY get the results tabulated for the last month. The resultant table is the same for "Actual" no matter which selection I make for "Date" (Year to date, Month to date, this year, this month) If I select "last year" the resultant table shows all the "Budget" and "Actual" values as zero.
THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A REASONABLE OUTCOME FOR THE BUDGET FUNCTION. I dont' know how to budget with this tool. Can you help.

Thank You Much
Ron Summers