I’d like to change or fix any things on report prints.
1st example:
the dates column in tax report has not the same width (even if in the same report) - frequently it is to much wide. And this take off place for other columns (Payee, Notice).
2nd example, data is print in light grey on white colour (not good readable) and sums are print in white on white (not readable at all).
So I 'm asking for a way to configure the printouts without knowledge in programming?
Thanks a lot in advance for helps.
I use
OS: OpenSUSE Leap 15.6 with KDE Plasma 5.27.11
KmyMoney 5.1.3
Hi Pin8, First of all, I am assuming that you mean you want to change the report “screens” and not hardcopy paper prints.
If so, then the place you have to investigate is the kmymoney.css file that can be found by default in ~/.config/kmymoney/html/kmymoney.css
I suggest moving a copy of that to your own subdirectory and editing it. Then you have to tell the program in Settings → Configure Kmymoney → Plugins (all the way at the bottom of the left column) → Reports View → Default CSS File.
As far as I know, there is no guide to help find which hex color you have to use, but search for lines like: background-color: #353535; and
color:#e1e1df; etc.
IF you discover something useful, please post it back here to help us all! Thanks, A
Hi Atheist,
thanks for support.
Actually I’d like to change the layout of paper (crtl+p) and I have realised meanwhile, that it is defined in the kmymoney.css, as you wrote.
I have no idea at all about software programming, but after a couple hours spent to read and testing changes, I was able to make some changes, but not what I wish to. About my 1st example: white printed sums of subcategories on grey background
One possible difficulty for me to understand, which line contains the look of the subtotal for the subcategories is, that the colours are not defined “plain” but with #.
BTW, the mentioned colour codes #353535 and #e1e1df are not there in kmymoney.css
I shall rather/maybe look for the “white code n°”, if I merely knew it!.
But maybe that does bring nothing … (further down)
About my 2nd example: the to much wide of the first column (date)
I realised, the column is so wide, because the length of the subcategory name. Somewhere (maybe in kmymoney.css ?) is defined that this name must be contained in the first column field, while it would be better giving more column fields for this name. Indeed I think, for the line containing subcategory name and the relates sum there is no specific definition in kmymoney.css. In my opinion it is conceived as part of the data table.
The best thing about a forum for me: few minutes later I posted, I get an idea how to get forward. In this case I came up to use an android app to pick up the code for white.
Unfortunately there is no line with a white colour code in kmymoney.css.
That means, my suspicion has been confirmed:
for the line containing subcategory name and the relates sum there is no specific definition in kmymoney.css. In my opinion it is conceived as part of the data table.
Maybe this part of report layout is not designed at all in kmymoney.css …
Anyway, I can live with this defect, because I use printed reports only few times in year, as support for the tax declaration.
I mean, if nobody among the kde or kmymoney developers gives an help (which before Discuss, in KDE Forum was normal), I’ll never get to a acceptable solution or if optimistic I’ll spent too much time - more then the problem is worth!
I know how frustrating it can be to solve problems with software, but don’t be too quick to judge the developers and contributors to KMyMoney. Believe me, they are not only very friendly but also very knowledgeable. I think your question slipped under their radar. Patience.
Also, I think there are many shades of white – or at least shades that look white. So, the fact that the Hex Color code you found is not in the CSS file, does not necessarily mean that the screen setup is not part of the file. (I’m assuming here.) Keep in touch and I will do the same if more comes to light.
@Atheist,
once more, kindly thanks for your support!
You are right ! I did not want to judge the developers of KMyMoney. On the other hand my experience with the KDE Discuss is not very enthusiastic.
But right: patience! I don’t need, the issue to be solved quickly. And I only wanted to say, I cannot spend a lot of time in attempts, which bring nothing.
Today I used onother time the Color Picker web side you suggested. There I searched for every colour code in kmymoney.css. Result: no white colour or similar one.
I don’t know this definition. What is a Master build? Is it the source code (of KMyMo.)?
Don’t click on the STABLE version, that’s for pu$$ies :), go down to the Development version. click on that one. Then right click (actually second-mouse-button click*) on the kmymoney-master-yaddayadda and save it. Then use AppImageLauncher (or equivalent) and you have the latest and greatest edition, albeit with perhaps a hiccup or two. That is the Master version.
A
I don’t like to say “right click” because I am a militant left-hander. So, for me the menu arises with a “left click”. Left-hander lives Matter!
@Atheist
Really, I appreciate your engagement in this cause and I feel gratefulness for this!
And I apologize for the next lines of mine, hoping you understand my point of view - even if not being agree with.
Using the KmyMoney AppImage could maybe solve the issue with reports, but I don’t want to contaminate the OS with AppImages and similar applications.
I know something about sandbox and container techniques and that many linux experts think, this new art to package and install software does not represent a danger for the OS. Also there are many other developers, that have the opposite opinion. I am agree with the last ones.
Furtherer there are other complications about managing AppImgages (i.e.: Update outside the packet manager, security holes check).
What I mean practically:
Even if the AppImage provides reports in a correct style - and we don’t know, whether this is true - I’ll stay better with the official KmyMoney provided by OS repo.
If the AppImage is really better then the official repo package, it will be soon (or later?) end into official OS repos .
Sorry if I have deluded you.
I totally respect your position, PIN8. And you are correct, we do not see eye-to-eye on this. I love taking chances with my system. That sometimes does get me into trouble – and I have to wipe the drives and reinstall. But I do have a system of backup that gives me peace of mind. But that’s me. As they say “you do you”. No judgement.
If I can be of ANY help don’t hesitate to reach out.
I too am struggling with editing the CSS file to make my KMyMoney look right. Not there yet. A
I do that to, but the problem with ImageApps is, that you maybe do not see the damages on system as soon as the app is installed or used, because they run “outside” the system control.
Nevertheless I’ll test the KmyMoney master version on a no productive PC as soon as I had time for. It the problem is solved there, I’ll try to copy the file kmymoney.css from the ImageApp-KmyMoney to the PC, where I usually work, hoping that this helps.
I’ve just tested / compared KmyMoney 5.1.3 from official repo on “my” standard OS (openSUSE Leap 15.6 - KDE Plasma 5.27.11) with:
KmyMoney 5.1.3 from official repo on KDE Neon 6.2
KmyMoney master-3656-linux-gcc from ImageApp on KDE Neon 6.2
and found, that
a) the colours used in kmymoney.css from the official repos are different, but it seems, that does not influence the report layout in decisive manner;
b) the colours of reports layout both on screen and on paper are the do not depends on the kmymoney.css, but the colour schema used. The is true for the KmyMoney master.
c) The KmyMoney master has solved a big issue at tax reports (printing also a lot of not pertinent transactions), but the report layout is now worse then in the official version (5.1.3) - The calendar date column can now (ImageApp) be absolutely to much wide (so wide as the largest sub-account denomination), while these are truncated in reports of official version. See pictures below.
Conclusion
a) The KmyMoney master version does not solve no one of two issues
b) As the colours in both screen and pepar layouts depend essentially on KDE settings (colour schema) the only way to make sums readable is to choose an appropriate colour schema.
c) The issue concerning the too wide calendar date column is not resolvable. Strictly seen it is a bug …
I have used KMyMoney for over 6 years. One of the reasons is that you can easily export the reports in CSV format. (On any report just click “Export”).You can then open in Excel or Libre Office Calc and then play around with the formatting to make pretty reports changing colours column widths and so on. I always find the reports in any financial software tend to be limited and nearly always difficult to print.
Hope that might help
I have been also using KmyMoney for many years, since KDE3x, and I have oft exported reports over csv files in OpenOffice. For me it is only useful in specific cases - not in general: I’ve experienced, after any changes in the report I had to make the cell formatting job in spreadsheet.
I’m wondering, if there is possible to use (a lot of) conditional formats, in order to avoid the cell format job every time again.
I regularly use the same reports - Income Statement and Balance Sheet (Net assets) from month to month.
I import to Libre office Calc (much more logical than excel which often has a mind of its own!!). I have a multi sheet Excel file with a sheet for the export. I copy paste into Excel from Calc. I then have built the reports that are properly formatted for display and printing on other sheets. I use a combination of Lookup formulae to fetch the data from the export sheet. That way I never have to re-format exports and the excel sheets update automatically (as long as you don’t change the accounts too often!) The time spent in setting up the file is worth it since I know what I am doing in Excel. One can waste hours trying to get software to behave how you want it only to be thwarted when there is an update.
All this is a work around but I have concluded that it is the only way to comfortably produce the reports I need.
I didn’t know, how many repos there are for KDE- Software, so I used the word “repos” as general.
With “repo” I mean DEB-, RPM-, ARCH-packages or apps in source code.
I had a short look on Mid Nov and I suppose, there is an ImageApp., isn’t it?
As I don’t like to “compromise” my system with ImageApss and similar “extern software”, I prefer to wait, the improvement will be ported to a RPM-Package.
It is surely possible to generate a RPM-App from the source code. But maybe I am not able to do that due to dependencies.
