Chapter 2. Basic Structure and Setup

Table of Contents

2.1. Data Entry Concepts
2.1.1. Files, Accounts and Transactions
2.1.2. Double Entry
2.2. The GnuCash Interface
2.2.1. Create a new set of accounts
2.2.2. Tip of the Day
2.2.3. Account Tree Window
2.2.4. Account Register Window
2.2.5. Tool Bar Buttons
2.2.6. Menu Items
2.2.7. Menu Shortcuts
2.3. Setting Preferences
2.4. Getting Help
2.4.1. Help Manual
2.4.2. Web Access
2.4.3. Topic Search
2.5. Creating and Saving Files
2.6. Importing QIF Files
2.7. Backing Up and Protecting Data
2.8. Putting It All Together

The main building blocks of GnuCash are files, accounts, and transactions. Creating a file to store your data is the first step, and this chapter will walk you through that process. Before you get started with files, it is also helpful to understand how GnuCash helps you organize your data using accounts and transactions. We will cover accounts and transactions in more detail in the next few chapters, but for now let's take a look at the basic structure.