jGnash
jGnash is a cross platform personal finance application written in Java. jGnash is a double entry system with support for multiple currencies. jGnash can import OFX and QIF files.

Main features;
  • Double Entry Accounting with reconciliation tools
  • Budgeting with multiple scenario options and export to spreadsheet capability
  • Investment Accounts and automatic import of Stocks, Bond, and Funds price history
  • Nestable accounts with automatic rollup of totals and intelligent handling of mixed currencies
  • OFX, QFX, mt940, and QIF import capabilities
  • Reminders and automatic transaction entry and notifications
  • Intelligent handling of multiple currencies and exchange rates with automatic online exchange rate updates
  • Printable reports with PDF and spreadsheet export capability
  • XML and relational database file formats
  • Operates on any main-stream PC operating system

System requirements
  • Minimum JRE: 1.6.0 Build 22 GA


jGnash on an eComStation machine with Open JDK


Installing jGnash
Download jgnash-2.8.0-bin.zip. Create a folder (directory) "jgnash". Open the zipfile "jgnash-2.8.0-bin.zip" and go in the subdirectory (folder/map) "jgnash2-2.8.0". Copy all files to the subdirectory (folder/map) "jgnash". That's it for now. This is the last version which works with OpenJDK 6, the next version "jgnash-2.9.0-bin.zip" and up needs Java 7.

The jgnash2.cmd file
With this file the program jGnash starts. I have made a jgnash2.cmd file with the following contents; 
@echo off
set path=[drive: java]\JAVA160\bin
set BEGINLIBPATH=[drive: java]\JAVA160\bin
[drive: jgnash]
cd [drive: jgnash]\jgnash
java -Duser.home=[drive: jgnash]\jgnash -jar jgnash2.jar -portable 2>jgnashbugs.txt
I use 2 separate folders (directories), one for Java and one for jGnash with the files created by this program. The references used in the cmd file;

  • [drive: java] = drive with Java
  • [drive: jgnash] = drive with jGnash

should be replaced with real drive letters. Edit and save the file "jgnash2.cmd" from the distribution. This file is copied to the "jgnash" folder (directory). Furthermore, different paths?, adjust according to your needs. Create a new program object. Specify the path and file name: "[drive: jgnash]\jgnash\jgnash2.cmd". In the tabpage Session check the boxes "OS/2 window", "Running as an icon" and "Close Window to end program". In the tabpage General you can enter the name "jGnash". You find enclosed in the file a suitable OS/2 icon.

Parameters / options explained
  • The statement "-Duser.home=[drive: jgnash]\jgnash" will ensure that jGnash will save all necessary files in own directory instead of saving them in the home directory.
  • The jGnash option "-portable" will save the file "pref.xml" in own directory instead of saving this file in the home directory.
  • The addition "2>jgnashbugs.txt" ensures that errors are saved in the file "jgnashbugs.txt". The 2 in "2>" is not a typo! Don't be alarmed that this file will never be 0 bytes. The program dumps also its log into this file.

First time run
When you start the application for the first time you need to setup the program. This is not difficult. It is best to go to the help topics (F1) page of the program and open the tabpage "Getting Started". Follow the instructions. Next time it will load your preferences. I have not tested its capabilities, setting up this kind of system needs many days.

Download
In the file you can find the above command file (all driveletters are set to C:) and an OS/2 jGnash icon: jgnash2-ecs.zip.

revision July 10, 2015