SQL-Ledger

From http://www.sql-ledger.com/:

SQL-Ledger is a double entry accounting system. Accounting data is stored in a SQL Server, for the display any text or GUI browser can be used. The entire system is linked through a chart of accounts. Each item in inventory is linked to revenue, expense, inventory and tax accounts. When you sell and purchase goods and services the accounts are automatically updated.

Getting Started

You have SQL-Ledger installed, you are logged in. And then what? This is what I did:

Check the preferences

In the menu, go to System -> Preferences. Enter all the data about your organization. This is important, the data will be on your invoices etc. For details, see /SystemPreferences.

Chart of Accounts

System -> Chart of Accounts ... (the menu unfolds) -> List Accounts Edit the chart to your taste.

I was surpriced to see that the accounts are sorted alphabetically. The account "numbers" are strings. I just use numbers, and my account numbers range from 1,000 to more than 50,000. That means I must have a zero in front of the account number, for all accounts below 10,000.

TIP: There is an easy way to put a zero in front of all the short numbers. I connected directly to the PostgreSQL database, and used this query: UPDATE chart SET accno = '0' || accno WHERE LENGTH(accno)=4. (Or something like that. I didn't note the query at the time.) Now theres 5 digits in all my account numbers.

TODO: Explain the details if the "/EditAccount" screen.

There is now a SQL-Ledger wiki you can peruse.