Detailed Budget Extension
Is there any reason the "Detailed Budget" extension can't just be a report instead of an extension?? I use this quite a lot and was just wondering why it's an extension vs. a simple report (Budget vs. Actual reports). I can't figure out how to make such a report by itself (a report showing budget vs. actural.... a common report in personal finance).
Thanks for thoughts....
Marty
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1 Posted by Ben Spencer on 22 Jun, 2010 05:52 PM
The extensions interface does not include the necessary hooks to allow extensions to directly add reports to the existing report list. This would be a significant modification.
There is an existing report in the standard report list. It is called the Budget report. This report shows budgeted vs actual. See attached screenshot.
Ben Spencer
2 Posted by MWA_LAS on 22 Jun, 2010 06:08 PM
Ok, I see that... Thanks. It looks pretty good. I wish this report didn't have such a long column heading (Budgeted: 01/31/2010) for each month so that copy/paste to a spreadsheet would be quicker for viewing. Can this be changed to be shorter heading like the next column "Actual"? Perhaps have the date above the "Budget" and "Actual" headings.
Does that make sense? The first of the 3 columns is much wider than column 2 and 3. I know... picky, picky.
Thanks,
Marty
3 Posted by Ben Spencer on 22 Jun, 2010 06:15 PM
Hi Marty
I am not sure I understand why you want this changed. I copied the data into a spreadsheet and the result is shown in the attached screenshot. How is this insufficient? Do you get different results?
Ben Spencer
4 Posted by MWA_LAS on 22 Jun, 2010 06:23 PM
When I paste to a spreadsheet (with something like bud vs act reports) it's in landscape view due to it's width (Jan-Jun for example) and I try to have it print (if needed) on one page. However, with multiple column that have wide headers, I have to spend time to either adjust the header name or move it above the three columns (budget, actual, difference) to make the best use of limit space.
I am just trying to avoid this step a much as possible. See my sample screen shot when I moved that long column header above the other ones and then had it centered (merge and center). If this was already formatted this way, it would save Excel formatting time. It's not listed in my screen shot but, I'd just add the word "budget" to the formal long heading cell.
Ben, I could read your screenshot (Screenshot-5.png) for some reason. Hopefully, you can see my attachment.
Marty
5 Posted by MWA_LAS on 22 Jun, 2010 06:28 PM
Now I can see your attachment. No... when I copied and pasted, I got a different look. I've attached what I get when I copy and paste into Excel.
Marty
6 Posted by Ben Spencer on 22 Jun, 2010 07:42 PM
Ahh I see what you are referring to. You must have the subtotal by month option selected and the date range set to greater than 1 month. If you just want to see one months worth of data and don't want the dates included, set the date to "This month" or "last month", and set the "do not subtotal" option.
I created a suggestion ticket for your suggestion. Here is the link.
http://moneydance.com/trac/ticket/2921
Ben Spencer
Ben Spencer closed this discussion on 22 Jun, 2010 07:42 PM.
Angie Rauscher re-opened this discussion on 25 Aug, 2010 08:40 PM
7 Posted by Amon on 16 Jan, 2011 07:14 PM
hi,
I bought Moneydance a week ago.
after I imported everything I got some differences in my balance. I have been searching for the problem and I found it and made an simplified example.
I attached 2 screen shots of the example project, to display my problem.
screen shot 1: I have $ 1000 income and I made a budget where I have budgeted for $ 1000. I have spend $ 100 with clothing (not in budget).
at the end of the month I will have a negative balance of $ -100
the budget report says there's no problem. I still have $ 800 to spend.
I would expect a third row with the total of expenses I will have at the end of the month, including the expenses I didn't budgeted.
or at least an option to add this third row if it's needed.
screen shot 2: after searching I have found the 'Detailed budget'. I don't understand why it's an extension. I would expect to be able to memorize the result of that report.
this report works well if you don't have much records, but with my other project, where I have all the data from 2010, I just don't get anything if I click on the "Generate" button. I tried several options with selecting or not the check boxes.
so I tried all the combination's.
I started with really high expectations with Moneydance, but I think this is a major issue. a program like this should be able to have some reporting where you can overview the complete balance, with the budgeted and the non-budgeted things together.
will this be fixed soon?
is there some way I can change or create reports by my own?
otherwise, can I have my money back, because the system without this, is useless I think.
kind regards,
Amon
8 Posted by Ben Spencer on 17 Jan, 2011 04:42 PM
I am not certain I understand the problem you are describing. You budgeted for 1000 in expenses and you spent 200. The report says that you are still 800 under budget for expenses. To me this seems correct. Could you tell me exactly what you would like to see on the 3rd line you are referring to.
The Detailed budget extension was written by a 3rd party which is is accessed by the extensions menu rather than being available with the other reports.
Ben Spencer
Moneydance Support
9 Posted by amonvm on 21 Jan, 2011 11:34 AM
hi Ben,
sorry for the delay, I was on business trip this week.
yes, I spend 200, but only 100 as budgeted and I have spend 100 on non-budgeted items.
this means I will have a negative result at the end of the month of -100 and my cash flow would be reduced to 1100 au the end of the month. during the month this report doesn't display this.
imagine this example as somebody that only has 1000 to spend in a month. until the end of the month it will not be clear for that person, he has exceed the budget with 100 and the end result would be that he has 1100 on bills to pay
on the difference column the non-budgeted items are subtracted, but it would make more sense to rename that column to 'open estimated' (or something like that, or add a column) and sum all the values (budgeted and non-budgeted), instead of subtract the non-budgeted items.
kind regards,
Amon
10 Posted by Angie Rauscher on 21 Jan, 2011 06:00 PM
Amonvm,
To cover the situation you described above (spending in non-budgeted categories),
please try running the report again, and check the "Include Categories not Defined in Budget" box (see attached screenshot). Running the report with this option checked will track all spending, not just spending in categories with set budgeted amounts. I think this covers the function you are describing. If not, let me know and we can look at other possible options.
Please let me know if I can be of further assistance,
Angie Rauscher
Moneydance Support
11 Posted by amonvm on 21 Jan, 2011 06:36 PM
hi,
that check box was already marked in my report. otherwise the forth
record wouldn't appear in the example.
the value of the forth record (Personal:Clothing (Not in budget)), is
subtracted in the 'Difference' column, but it would make more sense if
it's added. then my actual status would be 200 payed, still to pay
900, if I sum those values and can see I will exceed the budget at the
end of the month.
please, read and understand the scenario. where can I see I will
exceed with 100 my budget of 1000 (I will have spend a total of 1100
at the end of the month)?
Amon
12 Posted by amonvm on 31 Jan, 2011 10:18 PM
hi,
any more idea's?
kind regards,
Amon
Ben Spencer closed this discussion on 20 Feb, 2011 04:50 PM.