Extension: Custom Balances - suggestions
Hello Stu,
Suggestions for Custom Balances:
1/
Since each row is identified by a row number, perhaps better to also display the row number against each item.
2/
Ideally, would be nice to click on one of those items - and to get into its transaction window. However, I realise there may be multiple accounts added and this is not possible/practical - except for a report.
3/
In the configuration, re. bottom window with list of accounts - and selected accounts highlighted.
With an extensive list of accounts - and multiple accounts selected, it is not easy to identify which accounts were selected and to be sure of the list. I think a split window option ( either left and right - or top and bottom ) would perhaps provide more clarity to the user.
In the case of a "left and right window" option, it would be similar to the accounts adding area in the GRAPHS & REPORTS feature of moneydance. But this would include the same search/filter field as well - to make it easier to find and add them.
4/
Additionally, in configuration, would be good if double-clicking an account/category would open the transactions window for that account/category. This will indirectly address point #2 I suppose.
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121 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 30 Apr, 2023 09:36 PM
New PREVIEW of CB on my site:
ability to backup config and restore / config (suggest doing backup config first).
ability to format rows
ability to use result of another row in calculation (eg derive a % of portfolio type result)
ability to filter out rows
Refer to CMD-I help for more details.
As I say, preview. Feedback welcome.
122 Posted by dtd on 20 Jun, 2023 01:20 AM
@RJron
I know you don't like to use preview versions, but I think Stuart now has an awesomely improved Custom Balances ready.
Rereading your messages, I think the one that would intrigue you the most is the "ability to filter rows" option. You mentioned having categories of rows, with priorities, and asked if you could expand or collapse rows.
I think "include/exclude" (i.e. filter rows) is probably pretty much the same thing. So, if/when you want to try it out, I think both Stuart and I would be interested in whether it meets your needs to show segments of your entire set of rows. (I use it to show/hide entire custom reports I've created.)
123 Posted by RJron on 20 Jun, 2023 08:21 AM
@dtd…
Thanks for reaching out.
As always, it is great news when there are updates and improvements to the software – and for sure I will attempt to provide feedback along with any wishes or suggestions for further improvement and in the interest of all users ( although I realise all wishes don’t come true always).
I am in the middle of some travel recently – and so restrictive on time. I will look at this again and advise. I see I am currently running preview 1022 – will look to download the latest update available asap ).
Just to reassure you and Stuart, I am definitely using and keen to see Custom Balances advance even further. The more customizable it is – the better for sure - to the extent that I would even look to use all this customization to create it as my main list of accounts on the dashboard ( if the enhancements will allow all this - but that is quite heavy… ).
PS. Here is another ‘wish’ - I feel Custom Balances can even be adopted to create more customizable reports – with very heavy and detailed report-customization-options given into the hands of the user :wink:
Regards,
Roney
124 Posted by dtd on 20 Jun, 2023 11:29 PM
The newest Custom Balances is now available from Moneydance directly. You may be able just to "update", but given you are on a preview version, you may have to uninstall, then install to get Version 1028.
I would recommend you read the Help/Information area, as there are quite a few changes/improvements that may not be obvious at first glance.
125 Posted by dtd on 30 Aug, 2023 10:03 PM
Have you had a chance to look at Custom Balances in the last couple of months?
I'm thinking about putting out a thread discussing its usage and capabilities, but you've been a long term contributor towards its concept development... so I thought I'd see what you thought about it now.
126 Posted by RJron on 31 Aug, 2023 04:38 AM
Hello dtd.. apologies for going quite. Been away for sometime.. but
returned ( although from the pan into the fire.. ). Will put some thought
into this.. will revert soonest....
127 Posted by dtd on 31 Aug, 2023 06:07 AM
Make sure you have the latest version - just update to it, not a preview.
128 Posted by RJron on 03 Sep, 2023 04:07 PM
hi. Sorry - but I'm afraid i will take more time to study thoroughly as I firefight other items on hand.
First and foremost, I feel this is such a great tool - but I suspect some users ( such as myself, you etc ) will have an extended list that will literally take over the dashboard with no visibility on the other items. Because its taking over the dashboard, I feel Custom balances should (perhaps) get a page of its own - and only alarms and similar selected items should be listed on the dashboard.
Meanwhile, I am already on build 1028 since some time and current crisis I have is that I have a 'parent is inactive warning ( row xxx ) ' - which I can click and it takes me straight to that particular row ( which is great - although I feel it would be better to highlight that row in a specific colour ? ).
Even though the message says 'PARENT IS INACTIVE WARNING' - when I edit that row - there is a small warning in the bottom right of the filters that say "Total includes inactive 'CHILDREN' " and then three red vertical lines. The original message says parent-error - whilst this one says 'children'. Just thought this a bit odd that they contradict each other - but perhaps there is a valid reason. No big deal i guess.
For items with such a parent-error-warning, is it possible that to automatically use the INCLUDE INACTIVE filters by default ? I say this as I went cross-eyed figuring out where the inactive accounts are - and just about noticed this option and found the inactive accounts.
I see that the inactive items are listed in italics - that is good ( although I'm in favour of a common colour/highlight that will standout and exclusively used for all errors )
That brings me to another question. Some of these accounts will eventually become zeros ( deposit accounts that have matured and/or no longer valid ) - and should not always affect the result. Thus, please see if it is worth considering an 'ignore closed/inactive/zero' accounts that should be specific to each entry. Or does the SHOW WARNINGS option on/off do just that ? I have to play with it to figure this out.. but I dont want to switch off any other warnings.
I'm a great fan of grouping and I need to spend some time and study the grouping options. Currently I use spaces and hyphenation to space them out. But i would also like to collapse/expand groups - so they can reduce the footprint on the dashboard ( and therefore allow me to add even more items to custom balances). However, a warning ( or display if condition is valid ) should always override and show the item. I'm sorry that I'm taking time but I will try these out soon.
129 Posted by dtd on 03 Sep, 2023 10:03 PM
The fact that clicking on the warning taking you to the row is the indicator of where the problem is, there are only so many colors that can work, and red is the primary indicator of a problem or a filter.
Being inactive is an indicator that you don't want the information included. That's why the warnings - you can do what you wish (the extension is robust), but for either parent or child - you are selecting something you've also said should be inactive.
One thing to understand is the difference between an extension versus when it grabs from the product. You can change things that the extension writer created, you have to follow what the program does when grabbing things like lists and such.
As for a specific page for custom balances, or the fact that custom balances is "taking over" the summary screen - that's what the group id and filters addition is for. I can set up one of my tables (i.e. a bunch of rows with a similar concept), assign them a group id, then simply change the filter to show that table when I want to see it. As you know I have more than 100 rows, but with a group id and filter, I can quickly flip through different sets of those rows.
130 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 08 Sep, 2023 05:02 PM
@RJron, thanks - a few comments..
Ref: "will have an extended list that will literally take over the dashboard with no visibility on the other items": As Dan points out, the new GroupID filters will do a lot of what you asking as regards Summary Screen clutter. Try it out.. You can set/save groupID(s) (yes multiple) against row numbers and then choose which Group to show on the screen. It's just a few clicks to switch Groups (e.g. from "Tax" to "YTD Expenses" for example).
Ref: " 'PARENT IS INACTIVE WARNING'":
I've just relearned that the FILTER "Active only" and "Include Inactive" dropdown is saved per row... Not intuitive, but it does... Just FYI...
It's quite hard to troubleshoot this... It took me ages to reproduce the actual warning.. So I know now that it's when you are including an account and initially the parent is active. Then save the config. Later in time, the parent becomes inactive. This then triggers the warning as you would want to know that you are including sub accounts in a calculation when you have said the parent is inactive.. You cannot actually create this warning any other way.. So....
This message in red already tells you the row: "* 'PARENT IS INACTIVE WARNING' (row: 14) *"
If you look in help/console... You will find: "WARNING: Row: 14 >> Excluding Inactive Accounts, BUT selected acct / parent hierarchy flagged as inactive somewhere: LLoyds Bank (1234) (stopping further checks...)" - this can be used for troubleshooting.
"'PARENT IS INACTIVE WARNING'" and "Total includes inactive 'CHILDREN" do not contradict - they are two different warnings/flags
Ref: "is it possible that to automatically use the INCLUDE INACTIVE filters by default".. Thanks for the idea, but no, I do not wish to do this... You have the warning.. You just need to click the Include Inactive filter and then perhaps Filter Out Zeros Active and it's obvious which rows are selected...
Ref: "I see that the inactive items are listed in italics - that is good ( although I'm in favour of a common colour/highlight that will standout and exclusively used for all errors )"... I just follow the MD scheme for inactive which is grey/italics.. They are not an error. They are just what you have configured and it may be correct.. So, again, no change here..
Ref: "That brings me to another question. Some of these accounts will eventually become zeros": Show warnings is saved per row.. So you can just ignore warnings per row. In any respect, accounts that become zero will of course never affect a total anyway? I don't actually understand this scenario you are describing, perhaps you can explain with examples?
Ref: "I'm a great fan of grouping [...]; ... However, a warning ( or display if condition is valid ) should always override and show the item. I'm sorry that I'm taking time but I will try these out soon."... Nope sorry.. If rows are filtered out (or disabled), then the calculation engine does NOT run for those rows and hence, no warnings can be highlighted...
I hope this helps..? On balance, I have decided no changes are required.. Happy to hear your views back?
S
131 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 09 Sep, 2023 07:45 AM
Actually I did make one change... Latest PREVIEW. If you enable debug mode, then it will display [row number] at the front of each row - to help picking the right row quickly..
Also, again, a quick way to find which rows have what errors is to (with debug OFF), open help/console, keep console open. Refresh the Home Screen (click away, back), then look in console at the end, and it will tell you what rows have what errors with more "help".....
132 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 17 Sep, 2023 12:30 PM
OK. BIG UPDATE. Latest PREVIEW here:
https://yogi1967.github.io/MoneydancePythonScripts/
New warning icon / system. Shows you when warnings with an icon you can click for all the details (both on the widget and the GUI/Config screen).
New GroupID Filter system which remembers your filters and a popup filter selector. Allows 1-click filter selection from the Summary Screen widget...
Let me know how you get on with it..?
133 Posted by RJron on 17 Sep, 2023 01:26 PM
Thank you will install.
Am super caught up for another 6 months but will surely be using the
software and will update.
134 Posted by dtd on 29 Sep, 2023 11:10 PM
Going forward, post here:
https://infinitekind.tenderapp.com/discussions/moneydance-development/7951-custom-balances-extension-questions-and-answers
System closed this discussion on 29 Dec, 2023 11:10 PM.