UbuntuHandbook | Tag Archive

Archives For November 30, 1999

How to Install GnuCash (5.4 Updated) in Ubuntu 22.04, 20.04

Last updated: September 30, 2023

This simple tutorial shows how to install GnuCash, the personal and small-business financial-accounting software, in all current Ubuntu releases including Ubuntu 23.10, Ubuntu 23.04, Ubuntu 22.04 and Ubuntu 20.04

GnuCash is available in Ubuntu repository, but old. For the latest release, you may install it via either Flatpak package or an Ubuntu PPA.

At the moment of writing, the latest version is GnuCash 5.4, and the changes are available in this page.

Method 1: Install GnuCash from Ubuntu repository

The package in system repository is old, but supported by Ubuntu Team, and available in all supported CPU architecture types, including x86_64, Arm 64/hf, ppc64el, riscv64, s390x.

To install the package, simply press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal. Then, run command:

sudo apt install gnucash

Run sudo apt update if package not found, and type user password (no asterisk feedback) for sudo authentication.

Method 2: Install latest GnuCash via Flatpak package

For the latest version, so far GnuCash 5.4, the official website refers to the Flatpak package. It can install in most Linux, though runs in sandbox! And, it supports both X86_64 and Arm 64 CPU architecture types.

1.) Open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to install flatpak framework:

sudo apt install flatpak

Type your password (no visual feedback) for sudo prompts and hit Enter.

2.) Then install the latest GnuCash as Flatpak package, by running command:

flatpak install https://dl.flathub.org/repo/appstream/org.gnucash.GnuCash.flatpakref

NOTE: First time installing a Flatpak app, may also install hundreds MB of runtime libraries. And, you may need to log out and back in to make the app icon visible.

Method 3: Install latest GnuCash via Ubuntu PPA

Want the latest version but hate running app in sandbox? The popular Xtradeb Apps PPA contains the package with support for Ubuntu 22.04 and Ubuntu 23.04 so far.

It’s native .deb package, though only support X86_64 architecture type (the common Intel & AMD CPUs).

1. First, press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal. When terminal opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:xtradeb/apps

Type user password (no asterisk feedback) when it asks and hit Enter to continue

2. If you’re following this tutorial in Linux Mint 21, then you have to manually refresh system package cache after adding PPA, which’s done automatically in Ubuntu.

sudo apt update

3. Finally, install the financial-accounting software by running command:

sudo apt install gnucash

After installation, search for and launch the software from either applications menu or the overview screen depends on your desktop environment.

Uninstall GnuCash

Depends on how you installed the software package, remove it by running either command below.

For the package installed via apt command in ‘Method 1’ and ‘Method 3’, open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to remove it:

sudo apt remove --autoremove gnucash

Also, remove the Ubuntu PPA from your system by running command:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:xtradeb/apps

For the software installed via Flatpak package, run the command below instead to remove it:

flatpak uninstall --delete-data org.gnucash.GnuCash

Also run flatpak uninstall --unused to remove useless leftovers.

In Howtos, News Free Accounting Software, GnuCash

GnuCash 3.4 Released with Tons of Bug-fixes / Improvements

Last updated: January 2, 2019

Free accounting software GnuCash 3.4 was released a few days ago with tons of bug-fixes and improvements. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 18.10.

According to the release note, GnuCash 3.4 redesigned gnc-uri-utils, cleaned up more report code, improved toolbar buttons, text options widget, and fixed a large number of bugs.

How to Install GnuCash 3.4 in Ubuntu 18.04:

While GnuCash flatpak package is still at version 3.2, you can install the latest 3.4 release via an unofficial PPA for Ubuntu 18.04 and Ubuntu 18.10.

1. Open terminal via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut key. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:sicklylife/gnucash

Type user password (no asterisks feedback) for sudo prompts and hit Enter.

2. Then either upgrade GnuCash via Software Updater, or install it via command:

sudo apt install gnucash

Uninstall:

To remove GnuCash 3.4, run command in terminal:

sudo apt remove --autoremove gnucash

And remove the PPA via Software & Updates -> Other Software.

In Howtos, News Free Accounting Software, GnuCash

GnuCash 3.0 Released! Ported to GTK+3.0, WebKit2Gtk API

Last updated: April 3, 2018

GnuCash, free and open-source accounting software, reached the 3.0 stable release series a few days ago.

GnuCash 3.0 now uses the Gtk+-3.0 toolkit and the WebKit2Gtk API. It also features:

New editors to remove outdated or incorrect match data from the import maps.
New user interface for managing files associated with transactions
Improved facility for removing old prices from the price database
Ability to remove deleted files from the history list in the file menu.
A new CSV importer largely rewritten in C++, adding new features including the ability to re-import CSV files exported from GnuCash, along with a separate CSV price importer.
A new preference panel for the Alphavantage API key
A Reconciliation Report based on the Transaction Report,a Income GST Report, and a Cashflow Barchart report.
And more and more other changes, see news page for details.

Download / Install GnuCash 3.0 in Ubuntu:

There’s no PPA repository contains GnuCash 3.0 package or updated snap package at the moment of writing, other than building it from the source tarball:

In News GnuCash

GnuCash 2.6.19 Released! How to Install it in Ubuntu

Last updated: December 18, 2017

The nineteenth maintenance release of GnuCash 2.6 stable series was announced 2 days ago. Here’s how to install it in all current Ubuntu releases.

Bugs fixed in GnuCash 2.6.19:

Disabling OFX, AqBanking or python-bindings support cripples the dist build target
FTBFS with libdbi 0.9.0-5 on Debian: DBI error
Set Invoice/Bill items date correctly from imported CSV
A better way to handle MySQL’s 0000-00-00 invalid date indicator.
Fix python build and test errors on Mac.
Add translator hint comments to C and glade files.
Improve type of bank accounts in SKR03
Stop testing GObject’s handling of invalid parameters

How to Install GnuCash 2.6.19 via Snap in Ubuntu:

For Ubuntu 16.04 and higher, GnuCash now is available as Snap package (run in sandbox).

Simply search for and install it from Ubuntu Software (need login with Ubuntu One account).

Or open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command to install the snap:

snap install gnucash-jz

The snapped package co-exists with traditional application. To remove it, run command:

sudo snap remove gnucash-jz

How to Install GnuCash 2.6.19 via PPA in Ubuntu:

For those who prefer traditional packages, you can install GnuCash 2.6.19 from the unofficial PPA, since the getdeb repository has not been updated for a period of time.

1. Open terminal via Ctrl+Alt+T and run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/gnucash

Input your password (no visual feedback) when it prompts. Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 17.04, Ubuntu 17.10, and Ubuntu 18.04 are supported.

2. Then upgrade the software from an existing release via Software Updater:

or simply run commands one by one in terminal:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install gnucash

Uninstall:

To remove the financial-accounting software, open terminal and run command:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove gnucash

And remove the PPA via Software & Updates utility under ‘Other Software’ tab.

In Howtos, News Free Accounting Software, GnuCash

GnuCash 2.6.18 Released with Some Fixes (Ubuntu PPA)

Last updated: April 4, 2019

Free accounting software GnuCash got a new update recently for its 2.6 stable series.

GnuCash 2.6.18 is primarily comprised of bug fixes, including 2 bugs that are six years old. They are:

Calendar of upcoming SXes has various display issues.
Interdependent report options fail to change state after using apply for a limited number of times.
Set Invoice/Bill items date correctly from imported CSV.
unifying “Clear the entry.” tooltip on Loan Repayment Calculator.
Persian currency symbol is doubled.
Added Catalan Accounts for the New Account Assistant
Fixed errors from loading init.py.
Run the python bindings tests in a CMake build.
Implement dist, distcheck, and uninstall targets for CMake build.

How to Install GnuCash in Ubuntu:

The ~~GetDeb repository~~ contains the most recent GnuCash packages for Ubuntu 16.04, and Ubuntu 17.04, though the 2.6.18 is not available at the moment (Be patient, it will be available in a few days).

1. To add the repository, open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command:

sudo sh -c 'echo "deb http://archive.getdeb.net/ubuntu $(lsb_release -sc)-getdeb apps" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/getdeb.list'

For Linux Mint 18.x, replace $(lsb_release -sc) in the code with xenial.

2. Then install the key so to trust the updates from the repository via command:

wget -q -O - http://archive.getdeb.net/getdeb-archive.key | sudo apt-key add -

3. Once the new release is published in that repository, use Software Updater to upgrade it:

or install GnuCash for the first time via either system package manager or run commands:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install gnucash

Uninstall:

To remove GnuCash financial-accounting software, either use system package manager or run command:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove gnucash

To remove GetDeb repository, launch “Software & Updates” utility and navigate to Other Software tab.

In Howtos, News Free Finance Software, GnuCash

Install GnuCash 2.6.17 via PPA in Ubuntu 16.04, 17.04

Last updated: April 4, 2019

GnuCash 2.6.17, the seventeenth maintenance release in the 2.6-stable series of the free financial-accounting software, was released 2 weeks ago. Now you can install it via ~~GetDeb repository~~ in Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 17.04, and Linux Mint 18.x.

GnuCash 2.6.17 fixed following bugs:

Relax the account type change restrictions. Prevent changing some Account Options if it has transactions.
Improve the styling of the table element used for foreign currencies in the Balance sheet report so they end up aligned with the other currencies.
link in github repo README file needs correction/editing
Add ‘transaction’ to the schema and document it in gnc-pricedb.h.
Fix that Online Banking Wizard Crashes for Windows (gnucash-on-windows)
Also separate translatable commodity namespace strings from those used in storage.
Transactions produced by Transfer Funds or Process Payment dialogs sort to beginning of day and do not honor NUM field for custom sorting.
Fix Stock Split Assistant crashes if you enter a New Price and that already exists in the Price DB
Fix gnucash-2.6.16 segfaults on startup
Fix typo in ‘import customers or vendors from text file’ dialog

How to Install GnuCash 2.6.17 in Ubuntu:

Open terminal via Ctrl+Alt+T or by searching for “terminal” from app launcher. When it opens, run following commands one by one:

1. Add the GetDeb repository via command:

sudo sh -c 'echo "deb http://archive.getdeb.net/ubuntu $(lsb_release -sc)-getdeb apps" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/getdeb.list'

For Linux Mint 18.x, run following command instead to add the repository:

sudo sh -c 'echo "deb http://archive.getdeb.net/ubuntu xenial-getdeb apps" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/getdeb.list'

2. Upgrade GnuCash via Software Updater utility if you have a previous release installed:

Or install it via commands:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install gnucash

Uninstall:

To remove GnuCash, either use your system package manager or run command:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove gnucash

The GetDeb repository can be removed via Software & Updates utility under Other Software tab.

In Howtos GnuCash

How to Install The Latest GnuCash 2.6.16 in Ubuntu 16.04, 17.04

Last updated: April 4, 2019

While Ubuntu repositories only provide old versions of GnuCash, here’s how to install the latest version of the financial-accounting software, GnuCash 2.6.16, Ubuntu 16.04, Linux Mint 18, and Ubuntu 17.04.

GnuCash is free small-business financial-accounting software designed to be easy to use, yet powerful and flexible. It allows you to track bank accounts, stocks, income and expenses.

The latest so far is GnuCash 2.6.16, features various bug-fixes and translation updates.

How to Install GnuCash 2.6.16 in Ubuntu:

The ~~GetDeb repository~~ offers the binary packages for Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 16.10, Ubuntu 17.04, and their derivatives.

1. Open terminal via Ctrl+Alt+T or by searching “Terminal” from app launcher, when it opens, run command:

sudo sh -c 'echo "deb http://archive.getdeb.net/ubuntu $(lsb_release -sc)-getdeb apps" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/getdeb.list'

Type in your password (no visual feedback) and hit Enter to add the repository.

For Linux Mint, please enable GetDeb App repository via Software Sources -> Additional repositories.

2. For those who have a previous release installed, launch Software Updater (Update Manager) and upgrade GnuCash after checking for updates:

or simply run commands to update and install the financial-accounting software:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install gnucash

Uninstall:

The GetDeb repository can be removed via the Software & Updates utility under Other Software tab.

If you want to downgrade GnuCash to the stock version in Ubuntu repositories, install Synaptic Package Manager via Ubuntu Software, launch it and force install old version of gnucash.

In Howtos GnuCash

Free Accounting Software GnuCash 2.6.0 Stable Released

Last updated: July 25, 2014

The latest stable release of GnuCash, a personal and small-business financial-accounting software now is at version 2.6.x, announced on 29th Dec 2013.

What’s New in GnuCash 2.6:

New Features:

Preferences have been migrated from GConf to GSettings. This is a simpler and more robust backend which writes to the OS’s native prefs — defaults on OS X and the Registry on MSWindows — and allows us to remove several troublesome dependencies including GConf, ORBit, and DBus. The change includes a migration script that will run at Gnucash startup.

New date handling which allows GnuCash to use dates after March 2038.

Guile-2 compatibility: GnuCash now requires either Guile-1.8 or Guile-2.0 Documents outside of GnuCash, images of receipts for example, can now be linked to transactions, with the facility of opening them in the default application for the document type.

Cutsom Reports can now be saved without renaming the report, and modifications can overwrite an existing report.

The import assistant now finishes much more quickly after assigning contra-accounts.

GnuCash now requires Gtk+-2.24.0 and GLib-2.26.0. Most of the dependencies on obsolete libraries have been removed; only libgnomecanvas remains. Unfortunately the effort to rewrite the register code to use GtkTreeModel wasn’t completed in time, so GnuCash is not on the cusp of converting to Gtk3.

The Business Module has been substantially revamped, including support for Credit Notes and import of customers and vendors from a CSV file.

The Num field in the register display is now optionally per-split, so for example a check number can be entered for the checking account split and an invoice number for the expense account split.

GnuCash can now open locked books read-only so that more than one user can view a file. GnuCash still does not support multiple simultaneous writers.

By agreement of all authors, GnuCash is now licensed under the GNU General Public License Version 2 or later rather than simply Version 2. This allows derivative works to be licensed under the GPL Version 3 if the author of such a work so desires.

Bug fixes since 2.5.10:

Asset account’s “total” value should use most recent transaction prices
libofx can supply broken UTF-8 for account id
GnuCash should sanitise UTF-8 before serialising files to avoid writing broken unparseable XML.
General Ledger – Can’t Enter Transaction Amounts
The Tip of the Day preference isn’t getting saved
New Book Tabs on Windows

Other Changes:

Don’t create a second account hierarchy page when cancelling the Hierarchy Assistant or when using Actions->New Account Hierarchy on an already open book.
Reset Warnings dialog: show translated warnings
The locale-names for Help and the Tutorial and Concepts Guide have been renamed to language-only so that, for example, someone using the Swiss-German locale will be shown help in German instead of English.