Budget management

The idea was born when my informatic system was made by the awesome AMIGA 500. It managed through a basic interface and a dropdown menu a file containing three small arrays:

Funds
Credits
Debts

At the end of each month it generated a text document where all management operations were stored.

The basic idea is still substantially the same.

Definitions

Fund: every kind of saving e.g. cash, a bank account, where you add your income and such;
Credit: money other people owe you;
Debt: money you owe to somebody else.

Part I. Application time and date

Table of Contents

1. Set the application global date

Chapter 1. Set the application global date

Set the application global date using related calendar box on the right of the the main window.

Set application global time using the time picker on the right of the main window.

All operations will use this date and time unless the user specifies to use system time.

Part II. File operations

Table of Contents

2. Save a document
3. Revert document changes
4. Export a document in XML format
5. Document password
6. Browse the master archive
7. Exit the program

Chapter 2. Save a document

Click the menu item File ->Save or related button in the toolbar) to save a document.

If the document is saved for the first time since its creation, the dialog window to choose the document name will appear.

If the document password is not set, the dialog window to choose it will appear.

Shortcut: CTRL+S .

Chapter 3. Revert document changes

Click the menu item File -> Revert to reopen a document, losing all changes.

Warning

All changes will not be recovereable.

Chapter 4. Export a document in XML format

Click the menu item File -> Export XML to export the active document in XML format.

Chapter 5. Document password

Note

Encryption is not supported in all platforms. Do not enable password if you use the same database also in platforms with no encryption support.

Supported platforms:

Ubuntu (16.04 and greater)
Fedora (29 and greater)
Suse Leap (15.0 and greater)
Android

Unsupported platforms:

Microsoft Windows

Click the menu item File -> Modify password to change or set the active document protection password.

Shortcut: CTRL+P .

Click the menu item File -> Remove password to remove the document protection password.

Chapter 6. Browse the master archive

Click the menu item File -> Browse archive to browse the master archive.

When this menu is checked, it is possible to browse the archive using the calendar on the right side of the window. Selecting a month, items and operation stored for that month will be shown.

Chapter 7. Exit the program

Click the menu item File ->Exit> to exit the program.

Shortcut: CTRL+E

Part III. Monthly report operations

Table of Contents

8. Copy part of the report
9. Find a text portion in the report

Chapter 8. Copy part of the report

Click the menu item Edit -> Copy (or the related button in the toolbar) to copy currently selected line of the monthly report in clipboard.

Shortcut: CTRL+C

Chapter 9. Find a text portion in the report

Click the menu item Edit ->Find (or the related button in the toolbar) to find specified text in the monthly report, starting from currently selected position.

Shortcut: CTRL+T

Part IV. Funds operations

Table of Contents

10. Store a new fund
11. Remove a fund
12. Modify the value of a fund
13. Set the total budget value
14. Set the default fund
15. Fund groups

Chapter 10. Store a new fund

Click the menu item Funds -> New (or the related button in the toolbar) to store a new fund.

Type in the first edit box the name to identify the new fund: it will be added in the list on the left of the client window.

Type in the second edit box the value to be assigned to the fund: it will be subtracted to the default fund; in case the specified value is bigger of that fund an error message will be shown.

In case of missing or wrong data entry an error message will be shown.

Shortcut: CTRL+ALT+N

Chapter 11. Remove a fund

Click the menu item Funds ->Remove (or related button in the toolbar) to remove a previously stored fund.

Select from the dropbox the fund to be removed: it will be removed from the list in the left of the client window.

The value of removed fund will be added to the default fund.

In case of missing or wrong data entry an error message will be shown.

Shortcut: CTRL+ALT+R

Chapter 12. Modify the value of a fund

Click the menu item Funds ->Reset to modify the value of a previously stored fund.

Select from the dropbox the fund of which you want to modify the value.

Type in the edit-box the new value of the fund.

The difference between previous and new values will be added or subtracted from the default fund.

In case of missing or wrong date entry an error message will be shown.

Shortcut: CTRL+ALT+I

Chapter 13. Set the total budget value

Click the menu item Funds -> Set total to change the complete current budget value.

Type in the edit box the new budget value.

The difference between the new and previous values will be added to or subtracted from the default fund.

In case of missing or wrong data entry an error message will be shown.

Note

This function is useful only to increase the budget value. It cannot be decreased, unless if done with the Expense function.

Shortcut: CTRL+ALT+T

Chapter 14. Set the default fund

Click the menu item Funds -> Default fund to set the budget default fund.

The default fund is the one gains, expenses and changes to other funds are added or subtracted to, unless a different one is specified during the storing of these operations.

Select from the dropbox the fund you want to specify as default.

Shortcut: CTRL+ALT+P

Chapter 15. Fund groups

Click the menu item Funds -> Fund groups to create or delete the fund groups.

Type the name of the new group in the edit box and click the Plus button to add a new group.

Select an existing item in the group list and click the Bin button to remove an existing group.

To group the children of a group, select the group in the list and check the desired funds in the fund list in the bottom of the window.

Press the OK button to confirm the edited configuration.

In case of missing or wrong data entry an error message will be shown.

Part V. Profits and expenses

Table of Contents

16. Store a profit
17. Store an expense
18. Add a category to the report
19. Edit the list of categories

Chapter 16. Store a profit

Click the menu item Operations -> Profit (or the related button in the toolbar) to store a profit.

Select from the drop-box the fund to add the profit to.

Type in the first edit box the value to add to the fund.

Insert in the second edit box the reason of this profit (required).

Default currency. Uncheck this box to use a custom currency for the operation. Insert the currency symbol in the first edit box. Insert the change rate in the second edit box.

Use system time. Check this box to store the operation with the system time instead of time selected in the client window.

In case of missing or wrong data entry an error message will be shown.

Shortcut: F2

Chapter 17. Store an expense

Click the menu item Operations -> Expense (or the related button in the toolbar) to store an expense.

Select from the dropbox the fund to subtract the expense from.

Type in the first edit box the value to subtract from the fund.

Type in the second edit box the reason of this expense (required).

Default currency. Uncheck this box to use a custom currency for the operation. Insert the currency symbol in the first edit box. Insert the change rate in the second edit box.

Use system time. Check this box to store the operation with the system time instead of time selected in the client window.

In case of missing or wrong data entry an error message will be shown.

Shortcut: F3

Chapter 18. Add a category to the report

Click the menu item Operations -> Category (or the related button in the toolbar) to add a category in the monthly report.

Select the desired category from the dropdown list.

The category can be also selected by double clicking on the category field in the report.

Chapter 19. Edit the list of categories

Click the menu item Operations -> Edit categories to edit the personal list of categories.

Enter a category and click the Add button to add a new category.

Select a category in the list and click the Remove button to remove that category.

Select a category in the list and click the Icon button to change the icon.

Part VI. Objects operations

Table of Contents

20. Objects reception and donations

Store an object reception
Store an object donation

21. Lent objects

Store an object loan
Store the return of a previously lent object

22. Borrowed objects

Store the loaning of an object
Store the return of a previously borrowed object

Chapter 20. Objects reception and donations

Table of Contents

Store an object reception
Store an object donation

Store an object reception

Click the menu item Objects -> Received (or the related button in the toolbar) to store the reception of an object.

Type in the first edit-box the received object.

Type in the second edit-box the donor of the object.

Use system time. Check this box to store the operation with the system time instead of time selected in the client window.

In case of missing or wrong data entry an error message will be shown.

Shortcut: SHIFT+F1

Store an object donation

Click the menu item Objects -> Given (or the related button in the toolbar) to store an object donation.

Type in the first edit-box the donated object.

Type in the second edito-box the object receiver.

Use system time. Check this box to store the operation with the system time instead of time selected in the client window.

In case of missing or wrong data entry an error message will be shown.

Shortcut: SHIFT+F2

Chapter 21. Lent objects

Table of Contents

Store an object loan
Store the return of a previously lent object

Store an object loan

Click the menu item Objects -> Lend (or the related button in the toolbar) to store an object loan.

Type in the first edit-box the lent object.

Type in the second edit-box the object receiver.

If it is necessary to set an alarm for the object, mark the alarm checkbox and select the loan expiration date.

Note

This function is useful only if the Alarm Management Utility is installed..

The borrowed object will be visible under the name of who borrowed the object.

Use system time. Check this box to store the operation with the system time instead of time selected in the client window.

In case of missing or wrong data entry an error message will be shown.

Shortcut: SHIFT+F3

Store the return of a previously lent object

Click the menu item Objects -> Get back (or the related button in the toolbar) to store the return of a previously lent object.

Select from the first drop-box the lent object.

Select from the second edit-box the object receiver.

The lent object will be cancelled from the client window.

Use system time. Check this box to store the operation with the system time instead of time selected in the client window.

In case of missing or wrong data entry an error message will be shown.

Shortcut: SHIFT+F4

Chapter 22. Borrowed objects

Table of Contents

Store the loaning of an object
Store the return of a previously borrowed object

Store the loaning of an object

Click the menu item Objects -> Borrow (or the related button in the toolbar) to store the loaning of an object.

Type in the first edit-box the borrowed object.

Type in the second edit-box the name of who lent the object.

If it is necessary to set an alarm for the object, mark the alarm checkbox and select the loan expiration date.

Note

This function is useful only if the Alarm Management Utility is installed..

The borrowed object will be visible under the name of who lent the object.

Use system time. Check this box to store the operation with the system time instead of time selected in the client window.

In case of missing or wrong data entry an error message will be shown.

Shortcut: SHIFT+F5

Store the return of a previously borrowed object

Click the menu item Objects -> Give back (or the related button in the toolbar) to store the return of a previously borrowed object.

Select from the first drop-box the borrowed object.

Select from the second edit-box the object lender.

The borrowed object will be cancelled from the client window.

Use system time. Check this box to store the operation with the system time instead of time selected in the client window.

In case of missing or wrong data entry an error message will be shown.

Shortcut: SHIFT+F6

Part VII. Alarms

Table of Contents

23. Alarms

Chapter 23. Alarms

Lent and borrowed objects, credits, debts and shop-list items can contain an alarm. If OmbTray, component is installed, a message will be generated if this alarm is expired.

Part VIII. Credits

Table of Contents

24. Store a new credit
25. Remove a credit
26. Remit a credit

Chapter 24. Store a new credit

Click the menu item Credits -> Set (or the related button in the toolbar) to store a new credit.

Type in the first edit ox the name of new credit (usually the debtor name).

Type in the second edit box the credit value. If a credit with this name already exists the new inserted value will be added to the one previously stored.

Use system time. Check this box to store the operation with the system time instead of time selected in the client window.

Keep current budget. Check this box to store the credit or debit without changing your budget. This is useful to store exchanges made in the past.

In case of missing or wrong data entry an error message will be shown.

Shortcut: CTRL+ALT+C

Chapter 25. Remove a credit

Click the menu item Credits -> Remove (or the related button in the toolbar) to remove a previously stored credit.

Select in the drop-box the credit to be modified or removed.

Remove:

the whole value: completely removes the credit;
partially: removes only a part of the credit. In this case, type in the edit box below the collected amount of money.

Use system time. Check this box to store the operation with the system time instead of time selected in the client window.

In case of missing or wrong data entry an error message will be shown.

Shortcut: CTRL+ALT+A

Chapter 26. Remit a credit

Click the menu item Credits -> Remit (or the related button in the toolbar) to remit a previously stored credit.

Select in the drop-box the credit to be remitted.

Remove:

the whole value: completely remits the credit;
partially: remits only a part of the credit. In this case, type in the edit box below the remitted amount of money.

Use system time. Check this box to store the operation with the system time instead of time selected in the client window.

In case of missing or wrong data entry an error message will be shown.

Part IX. Debts

Table of Contents

27. Store a new debt
28. Remove a debt
29. Remit a debt

Chapter 27. Store a new debt

Click the menu item Debts -> Set (or the related button in the toolbar) to store a new debt.

Type in the first edit ox the name of new debt (usually the creditor name).

Type in the second edit box the debt value. If a debt with this name already exists the new inserted value will be added to the one previously stored.

Use system time. Check this box to store the operation with the system time instead of time selected in the client window.

Keep current budget. Check this box to store the credit or debit without changing your budget. This is useful to store exchanges made in the past.

In case of missing or wrong data entry an error message will be shown.

Shortcut: CTRL+ALT+D

Chapter 28. Remove a debt

Click the menu item Debts -> Remove (or the related button in the toolbar) to remove a previously stored debt.

Select in the drop-box the debt to be modified or removed.

Remove:

the whole value: completely removes the debt;
partially: removes only a part of the debt. In this case, type in the edit box below the collected amount of money.

Use system time. Check this box to store the operation with the system time instead of time selected in the client window.

In case of missing or wrong data entry an error message will be shown.

Shortcut: CTRL+ALT+B

Chapter 29. Remit a debt

Click the menu item Debts -> Remit (or the related button in the toolbar) to remit a previously stored debt.

Select in the drop-box the debt to be remitted.

Remove:

the whole value: completely remits the debt;
partially: remits only a part of the debt. In this case, type in the edit box below the remitted amount of money.

Use system time. Check this box to store the operation with the system time instead of time selected in the client window.

In case of missing or wrong data entry an error message will be shown.

Part X. Shopping list

Table of Contents

30. Add an item to the shop-list
31. Remove an item from the shop-list

Chapter 30. Add an item to the shop-list

Click the menu item Shop-List -> Add item (or the related button in the toolbar) to store a new shop-list item.

Insert in the text box the object to de added in the shop-list.

If you want to set an alarm for this item, mark the alarm checkbox and select the expiration day.

Note

This function is useful only if theAlarm Management Utility is installed.

Use system time. Check this box to store the operation with the system time instead of time selected in the client window.

In case of missing or wrong data, an error message will appear.

Shortcut: F5

Chapter 31. Remove an item from the shop-list

Click the menu item Shop-List -> Remove item (or the related button in the toolbar) to remove a previously stored item from the shop-list.

Select from the drop-box the item to be removed.

Use system time. Check this box to store the operation with the system time instead of time selected in the client window.

In case of missing or wrong data, an error message will appear.

Shortcut: F6

Part XI. Utilities

Table of Contents

32. Program customisation

'General' page
'Charts' page
'Advanced' page
'External tools' page

33. Alarm management utility - OmbTray

34. Document creation wizard - OmbWizard

35. Old document converter

36. Import document

37. Web Update - OmbUpdate

38. Show map

Chapter 32. Program customisation

Table of Contents

'General' page
'Charts' page
'Advanced' page
'External tools' page

The program can be customised through the menu item Tools -> Options.

The dialog window will be shown, where it is possible to choose settings.

'General' page

Default document: type the full path of default document or click the Browse button to search for it;
Show command toolbar: check this box to show the command toolbar;
Automatically convert as XML at the end of each month: check this box if you want the program to convert documents to XML on month change;
Enable tray-bar icon: check this box if you want to run the Alarm management utility on program shutdown to work in background.
Prefix for generated documents: type the prefix you want to use for your documents, when generating xml's or backups.
Group funds: Fund groups are shown in simplified summary when this setting is enabled and any group is defined.

'Charts' page

Show fund chart: check this box if you want to show the pie chart related to bugdet distribution;
Show trend chart: check this box if you want to show the chart related to budget trend in current month;

'Advanced' page

Search for new version on startup: check this box if you want the program to verify online the availability of possible updates
Note
This function is useful only if the Web update Utility is installed.

'External tools' page

Click the Add button to browse and add an application or document as an external tool.

Select an external tool in the list and click the Remove button to remove it from the list.

Stored external tools can be accessed through the menu item Tools -> External tools.

Shortcut: CTRL+O

Related topics: Alarm management Utility; Web update Utility.

Chapter 33. Alarm management utility - OmbTray

OmbTray is an additional component for expirations management.

If it has been installed, it is possible to add an alarm when a credit or a debt is created, or when an object loan or borrow or a shop.list item is set.

When one or more alarms expire, OmbTray will pop a message up. It will be possible to postpone or remove the expired alarm.

Note

In order for OmbTray to be active, it is necessary to set a default document.

Chapter 34. Document creation wizard - OmbWizard

OmbWizard is an additional component for the assisted creation of OpenMoneyBox documents.

Click the menu item Tools -> Document creation Wizard to create a new document using OmbWizard assisted procedure.

Chapter 35. Old document converter

OmbConvert is an additional component for the assisted conversion of an old OpenMoneyBox document.

Click the menu item Tools -> Old document converter to convert an old document.

Chapter 36. Import document

Click the menu item Tools -> Import to import an OpenMoneyBox document into the master database.

Chapter 37. Web Update - OmbUpdate

OmbUpdate is an additional component for the verification of online program updates.

If activated, it will verify on startup the availability of possible updates and will announce them.

Chapter 38. Show map

When visible, this command show the map of the locations for operations stored with the mobile app.

Appendix A. Command line parameters

Syntax: openmoneybox [[--tray] [--force]]

--tray: starts minimized in the system tray.
--force: forces new instance.

Appendix B. Shortcuts

CTRL+A: open a saved document

CTRL+ALT+A: remove or modify a previously stored credit

CTRL+ALT+B: remove or modify a previously stored debt

CTRL+ALT+C: store a credit

CTRL+ALT+D: stores a debt

CTRL+ALT+I: reset the value of a previously stored fund

CTRL+ALT+N: store a new fund

CTRL+ALT+P: set the default fund

CTRL+ALT+R: delete a previously stored fund

CTRL+ALT+T: modify the total budget amount

CTRL+C: close active document

CTRL+E: exit the program

CTRL+O: open the application option dialog

CTRL+P: set the protection password of the active document

CTRL+S: save the active document

CTRL+T: search for a text in the monthly report

F2: store a profit

F3: store an expense

F5: add an item to the shop-list

F6: remove an item from the shop-list

SHIFT+F1: store the reception of an object

SHIFT+F2: store the donation of an object

SHIFT+F3: store an object borrow

SHIFT+F4: store the restitution of a lent object

SHIFT+F5: store an object loan

SHIFT+F6: store the restitution of a borrowed object

Appendix C. History

Table C.1. Change log

DATE	VERSION	DESCRIPTION
16/11/2024	3.5.1.1	New feature: fund groups; New feature: Support SqlCipher v4 format; Fix LP #2077873: Categories are not exported in master database; Fix LP #2078562: [Desktop] Alarms not postponed in database if 'Postpone all' is not checked; Code maturity: wxFormBuilder classes updated to v4.2.1;
30/03/2024	3.4.2.11	Fix LP #2059802: New Fund tool button does not work.
23/03/2024	3.4.2.10	Privacy policy added.
14/01/2024	3.4.2.7	New icon for New Fund.
19/12/2023	3.4.2.6	Minor improvements.
05/08/2023	3.4.2.5	Show alarm date in tree-list for lent and borrowed objects; Show currency in tree-list for funds, credits and debts; Improved toolbar colors with dark theme.
30/05/2023	3.4.2.4	Fix LP #2021414: Category change not saved from drop-down list in report.
02/05/2023	3.4.2.3	Fix LP #2018240: crash if master db folder does not exist; Fix LP #2018221: ombMapViewer zoom and centering improved.
15/04/2023	3.4.2.2	Fix LP #2015934: Language detection not working on wxWidgets 3.2 builds.
19/03/2023	3.4.2.1	New feature: show complete trend chart; Graph trend color based on first date value.
21/11/2022	3.4.1.18	Fix LP #1996427: Report cannot be edited; LP #1995712: Category selectable from drop-down list in the report; LP #1995712: Shopping list popup menu moved onto shopping list view.
15/10/2022	3.4.1.17	Closes LP #1990718 - English translation improvement (remit).
20/07/2022	3.4.1.16	Fix LP #1981371 - Contact image for credit, debt, objects (if available) not shown in the report after removal; Close LP #1981499 - Added generic image in case contact picture is not available.
21/05/2022	3.4.1.15	Swedish translation updated, thanks to Simon Nilsson (Simon@Observeramera.com).
30/04/2022	3.4.1.14	Swedish translation added, thanks to Simon Nilsson (Simon@Observeramera.com).
08/03/2022	3.4.1.13	Fix LP #1963827 - Error if custom category icon not available in the device.
12/10/2021	3.4.1.12	Fix LP #1946607 - Wizard does not create the document.
15/08/2021	3.4.1.11	Fix LP #1937902 - Crash if no contact with specified ID; Italian translation updated; New icon for Add Shopping-list item.
26/03/2021	3.4.1.8	Added the capability to store old debits and credits.
28/02/2021	3.4.1.7	Trend chart visualization improved.
05/02/2021	3.4.1.6	Fix LP #1910931 - New date not added after Shopping List item is added; Top categories improved when less than three items are shown; Message dialog on selecting unexisting external tool; Fixed code errors in XML export for archive; New icon for Remove Fund and Remove Shopping list item.
26/11/2020	3.4.1.5	Fix LP #1902354 - [ombTray] Exception when exiting after OpenMoneyBox is launched from menu.
16/08/2020	3.4.1.4	French translation added (application only); fix LP #1888134 - About dialog missing translations.
09/03/2020	3.4.1.3	Splash screen removed;
04/12/2019	3.4.1.1	Category icons and Top categories added; fix LP #1848840 - Wrong category id assigned in operation; fix LP #1848370 - Custom currency fields not exported in archive; fix LP #1852021 - Wrong object shown in alarm dialog.
04/09/2019	3.3.1.7	Fix LP #1841362 - Cannot open crypted document.
11/08/2019	3.3.1.6	Fix LP #1835113 - modified trailname ' [*]' not shown when archive is attached;
23/06/2019	3.3.1.5	Fix LP #1833806 - Wrong categories shown in archive.
21/05/2019	3.3.1.3	custom currency added.
27/04/2019	3.3.1.2	First MacOS test version.
05/12/2018	3.2.2.9	Category change fixed.
01/12/2018	3.2.2.8	XML export fixed (quotes in values).
19/11/2018	3.2.2.6	fixed bug LP #1801611 - Wizard creates document in old format; theme improvement in charts.
11/10/2018	3.2.2.5	Show contact thumbnails from archive.
17/08/2018	3.2.1.4	fixed bug LP #1787562 - Error on operation after archive is browsed; fixed bug LP #1787560 - Error copying data from archive;
04/06/2018	3.2.1.1	added support for phone contacts chosen in mobile app; added support for locations stored by mobile app; fixed bug LP #1737495 - Shoplist item not removed when confirmed on external alertBox.
16/10/2017	3.1.2.4	Fixed bug LP #1709438 - Datababase is still recognizied as modified after 'revert'; Fixed bug LP #1715025 - Broken convertion app; Chart rendering improved.
02/08/2017	3.1.2.2	Updated chart rendering.
02/06/2017	3.1.2.1	Renamed to OpenMoneyBox and rebranded; Feature LP #1664378 - User setting for export prefix; Fixed bug LP #1664735 - Wrong export folder name;
02/01/2017	3.1.1.4	Fixed bug LP #1653461 - Master database wrongly reported; Fixed bug LP #1578367 - Biltray icon size.
09/12/2016	3.1.1.2	Export XML from archive.
27/11/2016	3.1.1.1	Version 3.1 (Linux, Windows and Android)
02/06/2016	3.0.2.9	Fixed bug LP #1588070 - Malformed XML.
29/02/2016	3.0.2.5	Solved crash when adding operations on leap day.
06/12/2015	3.0.2.2	new branding logo; license added in AboutBox; check if shop item already exists when adding a new one; minor improvements.
29/08/2015	3.0.2.1	Android support.
08/02/2015	3.0.1.4	Minor improvements.
08/12/2014	3.0.1.2	Fixed bug in object deletion.
05/11/2014	3.0.1.1	Version 3.0 (Linux and Windows)