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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1 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 30 May, 2022 09:25 AM
Thanks for your suggestions..
1/ You can just click on the row on the Home Screen to get to the relevant row config. So will not change.
2/ I understand, but I do not plan to do this... It's just outside the scope of what this extension is for...
3/ It's easy to see what's selected, they are highlighted.. Again, I do not plan to change. It actually would be a massive change / reengineering to make a left/right select list, and I just don't see the value - sorry.
4/ Again, I don't plan to do this at this time..
Thanks again.
2 Posted by RJron on 30 May, 2022 10:03 AM
fair enough - was just a suggestion. Nevertheless - great extension to have
Maddy closed this discussion on 30 May, 2022 04:12 PM.
RJron re-opened this discussion on 04 Nov, 2022 04:39 AM
3 Posted by RJron on 04 Nov, 2022 04:39 AM
Refer CUSTOM BALANCES.
I've added quite few line items and this is taking up a bit of space on the dashboard. My question is - are you able to make the 'custom balances' collapsible - so that only the word CUSTOMS BALANCES is visible when collapsed. This will also be similar in design to the other items such as Bank Accounts, Credit Cards, Assets, etc on the dashboard
4 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 04 Nov, 2022 06:05 AM
Good suggestion.
5 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 05 Nov, 2022 06:56 PM
OK, this one intrigued me and I have now added the capability. It's available in my latest PREVIEW version. Please can you download / install (1014) from my site and let me know if/how it works for you?
https://github.com/yogi1967/MoneydancePythonScripts/raw/master/net_...
(unzip, double-click the mxt to install)...
Let me know?
6 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 06 Nov, 2022 10:46 AM
@roneydxb - any good?
7 Posted by RJron on 06 Nov, 2022 11:39 AM
Hi. Am away and will be back home this evening. Will surely be trying it
and will advise.
8 Posted by RJron on 06 Nov, 2022 03:45 PM
Hello Stu.
Yes - installed and working great - thanks. ( I also like the fact that it remembered the list of balances even though I uninstalled the previous version first ).
If you are up for more suggestions - it would be good if there was a quick way to go straight into the particular account - or if this is a group of accounts clubbed together - then a report of sort. Agree this might be complicated - but just speaking out load.
Meanwhile, I am very actively using both the MEGA SEARCH (build 1005) and FUTURE REMINDERS (build 1018) extensions. Would be good to get all these signed as well - it has been quite a while. That RED BAR at the top is now listing all such extensions and taking up lot of screen space on the dashboard.
9 Posted by RJron on 06 Nov, 2022 04:08 PM
Stu,
On the custom balances - just found out that - an account that has "HIDE ON SUMMARY PAGE IF BALANCE IS ZERO" selected ( from the EDIT ACCOUNT option ) will not show up on the list ( when creating a custom balance ).
I just had a use case when such an account had to be funded. I did remember that such an account exists - and so went searching why. Good I did not create a new account instead.
Thus, I feel that option is better ignored. Instead, consider removing accounts that are marked INACTIVE.
10 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 06 Nov, 2022 05:55 PM
Glad it's working...
This is a no: "or if this is a group of accounts clubbed together - then a report of sort."
Signing.. I have asked.... In the meantime you are able to dismiss the red banner yourself..
As for the hidden/inactive, you can change the way this works using the Options menu and also the Include inactive filter/button
11 Posted by RJron on 06 Nov, 2022 06:49 PM
all clear - thanks
12 Posted by dtd on 06 Nov, 2022 06:50 PM
just a user - one thing that I don't understand in your comments/requests - it appears that everything is about accounts - for me, it is usually categories. All of your requests are specific to accounts, and doesn't address what your request means for all other types of usage (totaling securities, finding how much you spent in a set of categories, and so on)
Now, of course most everything is a form of an account, but you could always just click on the account itself in the summary page versus that ability being integrated into custom balances. As Stuart has mentioned - this just isn't the point of the extension.
As to Hide on Summary Page if Value is zero - I find it odd that you want that setting to be ignored and instead show as active in the list (all Stuart ends up doing is placing that account as if it is inactive, just as he does with securities), whereas you want inactive accounts removed which would make them unreachable from the extension. (there is already an option to say active only to make them invisible), I guess I just don't see the logic, since all you have to do is "show inactive" and pick the item. It WILL show within the row created, but of course with a 0.00 value, it won't do much.
Just some thoughts as an extensive tester/user of the extension.
13 Posted by dtd on 06 Nov, 2022 06:56 PM
BTW, I'm not trying to dissuade you from making suggestions - I'm sure Stuart is pleased to see the extension being used by someone with such exuberance for it.
I'm seriously just trying to understand the logic/concept behind some of the suggestions. Probably for me, primarily to see if the user interface could be tweaked to make what the extension specifically does more clear.
And I agree with Stuart that the collapsibility/expandability of the extension to match others on the summary page is an extremely good suggestion.
14 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 06 Nov, 2022 07:03 PM
PS. When the widget is collapsed there’s practically no overhead as the code to calculate balances doesn’t run…. 😃
15 Posted by dtd on 06 Nov, 2022 07:07 PM
Oooh, I do like that change - if you can't see the items, why run the code. Just run it when you expand it.
16 Posted by RJron on 06 Nov, 2022 07:44 PM
Hello dtd - some answers below.
I agree I am at odds at times as to what are accounts and categories. For
the time being, I use them to keep a track of certain specific accounts and
categories of interest - but it also works as a mini dashboard report. I've
been cautious to use this as I did not want it taking over the dashboard -
but with the collapse option, this is something I can get into.
Regarding the Hide on Summary Page if Value is Zero - this is an oversight
on my behalf. I had no idea those filters were related to these ( or perhaps
I had forgotten ). I looked into it and it works - and that works fine with
me. Thus, no changes needed.
17 Posted by RJron on 06 Nov, 2022 07:47 PM
Good to know. Be assured that I try to make use of the software to the best
I can and certainly look forward to even more features. I just don't see
much mention from many others.. but these extensions I can no longer do
without.
18 Posted by RJron on 06 Nov, 2022 07:47 PM
Excellent.. and good to know.
19 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 08 Nov, 2022 06:28 AM
There's a sight cosmetic enhancement on the PREVIEW version at my site now... Allows you to add row separators (optional)....
20 Posted by dtd on 08 Nov, 2022 07:31 AM
definitely check it out - it goes hand in hand with being able to collapse/expand - now you can also add segmentation to your longer lists.
21 Posted by RJron on 09 Nov, 2022 08:24 AM
installed. I like it !!
PS:
1/
Just noticed something and related to zero accounts.
One particular use (for me) with 'custom balances' is to display on the
dashboard money that is owed to me by family/friends. As such, some of
these are regular - so I do not want to remove them from 'custom balances'.
However, when the account becomes zero - ideally I dont want to see it in
the list. Would it not be nice to have that option to automatically remove
items that are zero ?
2/
Finally, it would help me greatly to have the Indian number formatting
available. Not sure if you are able to specify formatting. In excel, this
is what I use:
###\ ##\ ##\ ##0.00;[Red]\ -###\ ##\ ##\ ##0.00
Have requested moneydance to include this many years ago.. but perhaps
there are not many users available. the formatting is purely a display
thing and I can't figure out why it is such a big deal to add this to
moneydance
3/
The last update to 'custom balances' is still showing as v1014. I thought
that would be incremental with each change. But more importantly - is there
somewhere I could see a changelog for each version ? Ideally, I would like
to subscribe to them - so I get notified of each change made as well.
22 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 09 Nov, 2022 10:07 AM
Do you mean that if the row displayed in the summary screen widget totals to zero, that there is an option to hide zero rows?
Not really. I rely on the MD currency formats everywhere.
You are running a preview. The preview can change anytime. The build only increments once it’s signed and locked. There is no change log, but if you grab the .py file from my site, then at the top it lists the changes.
Thanks again for your inputs.
23 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 09 Nov, 2022 10:45 PM
OK, good ideas.
- Option menu now has Indian number format option - Rows now allow you to hide when zero balance, and also be disabled.
(I'm not sure if the Indian format should be separated with spaces or commas? What is correct?)
Latest preview 1015 on my site..... Please can you play/test/feedback.. Thx
24 Posted by RJron on 10 Nov, 2022 05:21 AM
1. Correct. So basically, to conserve dashboard space, it might be
useful for the user to opt for hiding rows that have a zero value.
Thanks
25 Posted by dtd on 10 Nov, 2022 05:28 AM
I'm the tester - so have been testing.
I think the hide if zero thing is not real important, now that we have collapse/expand.
Still - I push the envelope, so am asking Stuart for something a bit more comprehensive than "hide if zero", given he seems willing to provide it.
Your earlier concepts were more about reports - these are more about display. So, activity is at work.
26 Posted by RJron on 10 Nov, 2022 05:30 AM
Brilliant !
* Indian format working well
* Rows hiding when zero balance – also working well.
Ref. Indian format. Yes, I think the norm is for a coma – but ( for people who handle both numbering systems ) I believe the space has better readability and a lot less confusion – which is why I use that formatting in excel. However, if demand is for a comma – that is fine as well. Something is better than nothing… :wink:
Thanks again!
27 Posted by RJron on 10 Nov, 2022 05:36 AM
good to know dtd.. thanks.
Well.. lets just say.. I've been holding back from requests. when you say
'reports' - that section of moneydance definitely has a lot of work needed.
But simply put - "power to the users". The more options and filters etc -
the merrier. And such options should be fundamental to any finance
software..
28 Posted by dtd on 10 Nov, 2022 05:55 AM
Moneydance has many needs. But extensions have purposes and should not be overloaded with all the needs that moneydance has to work on.
Once you try to overload an extension - it becomes cumbersome, and actually not as useful. It's like trying to create a Swiss army knife versus a single powerful tool.
29 Posted by dtd on 10 Nov, 2022 05:57 AM
Oh, as to Swiss Army Knives? Stuart did that with his Toolbox.
30 Posted by Stuart Beesley ... on 10 Nov, 2022 07:44 AM
@roneydxb, @dtd, updated PREVIEW loaded to my site.. Please can you download/test/feedback etc. The Hide row when options have been updated (any you set on last build will be lost)...
Let me know..? Thanks