9.2. Configuring Reports and Charts

GnuCash reports have many configuration options. First, run the original report itself. Then, access the report options with the Options button on the toolbar.

Note

Check changed Graphic Engine Options

9.2.1. Report Options Buttons

After modifying report options, either

  • Click the OK button to apply the changes, regenerate the report and close the options window.

    or

  • Click the Apply button to apply the changes, regenerate the report and leave the options window open for possible further changes. In this case, both the Apply and OK buttons will be disabled, indicating changes have been applied, until further changes are made.

    or

  • Click the Cancel button to close the options window without applying any unapplied changes.

9.2.2. Common Report Options

Many reports share similar options. Some common ones include:

  • Report Name: Set the title of the report. This is also used to print the report for later viewing.

  • Date Options: Reports typically specify either a single date, or a date range, for the report. Dates can be specified in two ways, either directly (using the date selector), or by selecting a relative date from the menu. Relative dates allow you to specify dates like Beginning of this year or Today.

    Tip

    If you often run a report with a date as at the start or end of an accounting period, set the accounting period start and end dates in EditPreferencesAccounting Period then select appropriate report date options. See Section 10.2.1, “Accounting Period”.

  • Step Size: This option is used on bar charts to determine the interval which each bar represents. Typical values are daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly.

  • Accounts: Select the appropriate accounts for the report. Note that in some reports only certain types of accounts can be selected. For example, an expense piechart only allows expense accounts to be selected.

  • Show Long Account Names: This option allows displaying either short account names (for example, Power) or long account names (for example, Utilities:Power).

  • Include Subaccounts?: Summary reports typically have an include all subaccounts option, which if selected ensures that all subaccounts are included if the parent account is.

  • Depth: This option allows the selection of how many levels the report displays subaccounts. If the subaccounts go deeper than selected, an overall value for all the subaccounts is calculated and included in a total. To make sure every account selected is individually displayed, select All.

  • Style Sheet: Select a Style Sheet. Style sheets control how reports are displayed. At the moment, there are four style sheets: Default, Easy, Footer and Technicolor. You can customize each of these from the EditStyle Sheets... menu item. This is described in the Section 10.4, “Changing Style Sheets” section.

  • Plot Dimensions: There are width and height options for most charts, which specify the displayed dimensions (in pixels).

  • Report Currency: Select the report currency. Generally, values will be converted to this currency for display.

    The default Report Currency is defined in EditPreferences Reports tab. See Section 10.2.12, “Reports”.

  • Price Source: Select how stock and currency prices are calculated in this report. Choose between:

    • Nearest in time (default for most reports): A price retrieved from the prices database on the date nearest to the date of the report or of the datum for time-series reports.

    • Most recent: The latest price in the price database.

    • Average Cost: The amount-weighted net average of all splits exchanging the commodity for another regardless of account. Gain/loss splits are included in the calculation.

    • Weighted Average: The gross amount-weighted average price of all splits exchanging the commodity for another regardless of account. Gain/Loss splits are not in the calculation.

    More information on Average Cost and Weighted Average may be found in the Investments chapter of The Tutorial and Concepts Guide.

  • Totals: Charts display totals in the chart legend if this option is selected.

  • Maximum Slices: Controls the maximum number of slices displayed in a piechart - other accounts will be placed in a slice marked Other.

  • Maximum Bars: Controls the maximum number of bars displayed in a barchart.

  • Display Columns: Choose columns to show from the register.