
Warning!! This is a DEVELOPMENT version of GnuCash. It probably has lots of bugs and unstable features! If you are looking for a stable personal finance application, you should use the latest release of GnuCash 2.0.

The GnuCash online manual has lots of helpful information. If you are upgrading from earlier versions of GnuCash, the section \"What's new in GnuCash 2.0\" is particularly interesting. You can access the manual under the Help menu.

You can easily import your existing financial data from Quicken, MS Money or other programs that export QIF files or OFX files.  In the File menu, click on the sub-menu Import and click on QIF or OFX file, respectively. Then, follow the instructions provided.

If you are familiar with other financial programs such as Quicken, note that GnuCash uses accounts instead of categories to track income and expenses.  For more information on income and expense accounts, please see the GnuCash online manual.

Create new accounts by clicking the New button in the main window tool bar.  This will bring up a dialog box where you can enter account details.  For more information on choosing an account type or setting up a chart of accounts, please see the GnuCash online manual.

Click the right mouse button in the main window to bring up the account menu options. Within each register, clicking the right mouse button brings up the transaction menu options.

To enter multiple-split transactions such as a paycheck with multiple deductions, click the Split button in the tool bar. Alternatively, in the View menu, you can choose the register style Auto-Split Ledger or Transaction Journal.

As you enter amounts in the register, you can use the GnuCash calculator to add, subtract, multiply and divide .  Simply type the first value, then select '+', '-','*', or '/'.  Type the second value and press Enter to record the calculated amount.

Quick-fill makes it easy to enter common transactions.  When you type the first letter(s) of a common transaction description, GnuCash will automatically complete the remainder of the transaction as it was last entered.

Type the first letter(s) of an existing account name in the Transfer register column, and GnuCash will complete the name from your list of accounts. For subaccounts, type the first letter(s) of the parent account, followed by ':' and the first letter(s) of the subaccount (e.g. A:C for Assets:Cash.)

Want to see all your subaccount transactions in one register? From the main menu, highlight the parent account and select Accounts -> Open Subaccounts from the menu.

When entering dates, you can type '+' or '-' to increment or decrement the selected date. You can use '+' and '-' to increment and decrement check numbers as well.

To switch between multiple tabs in the main window, press Control+Alt+Page Up/Down.

In the reconcile window, you can press the spacebar to mark transactions as reconciled.  You can also press Tab and Shift-Tab to move between deposits and withdrawals.

To transfer funds between accounts with different currencies, click on the Transfer button in the register toolbar, select the accounts, and the Currency Transfer options for entering the exchange rate or the other currency's amount will be available.

You can pack multiple reports into a single window,  providing all the financial information you want at a glance. To do so, use the Sample & Custom -> \"Custom Multicolumn Report\" report.

Style Sheets affect how reports are displayed.  Choose a style sheet for your report as a report option, and use the Edit -> Style Sheets menu to customize style sheets.

To raise the accounts menu in the transfer field of a register page, press the Menu key or the Ctrl-Down key combination.

The GnuCash developers are easy to contact.  As well as several mailing lists, you can chat to them live on IRC! Join them on #gnucash at irc.gnome.org

There is a theory that if ever anyone discovers what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced with something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory that this has already happened. Douglas Adams, \"The Restaurant at the End of the Universe\"
