Track D BYOD with GnuCash (core_gl profile)

GnuCash is a free, open-source double-entry accounting system. In Track D, we use it as a “real but accessible” source system:

  • it produces realistic multi-line split exports (not toy spreadsheets)

  • it teaches a cleaning + normalization lesson that matches real analytics work

  • it requires no trials and works offline

What you’ll do

  1. Create a tiny mock business in GnuCash (guided transaction list).

  2. Export your transactions using Export Transactions to CSV with Simple Layout OFF.

  3. Run the Track D BYOD normalization pipeline to produce:

    • normalized/chart_of_accounts.csv

    • normalized/gl_journal.csv

Downloads (demo pack)

If you want to follow along quickly, download:

The export file above is adapter-ready (it matches what the gnucash_gl adapter expects).

Step 1 — Create a tiny GnuCash book

In GnuCash, create a new file (a “book”).

You can either:

  • use a default “Small Business” chart of accounts, or

  • create only the accounts you need (minimum below)

Minimum accounts used in the demo:

  • Assets:Current Assets:Checking

  • Assets:Equipment

  • Liabilities:Credit Card

  • Liabilities:Sales Tax Payable

  • Equity:Owner Capital

  • Income:Sales

  • Expenses:Supplies

  • Expenses:Rent

  • Expenses:Shipping

  • Expenses:Advertising

Step 2 — Enter the demo transactions

Use the downloaded transaction list as your guide:

gnucash_demo_transactions_to_enter.csv

Tips:

  • Most entries can be done in the Checking register.

  • For the “sales tax” example, use a split transaction.

  • For the credit-card equipment purchase, enter it in the Credit Card register.

Step 3 — Export from GnuCash (complex layout)

Use:

File → Export → Export Transactions to CSV

Critical setting:

  • Uncheck “Simple Layout” (this creates the multi-line export)

Export a CSV that includes your accounts and the date range that covers your demo transactions.

Step 4 — Initialize a Track D BYOD project

From any folder you like (your BYOD projects can live anywhere):

pystatsv1 trackd byod init --dest byod/gnucash_demo --profile core_gl

This creates:

  • tables/ (where you place exports)

  • normalized/ (generated outputs)

  • config.toml (tiny config: profile, tables_dir, adapter)

Step 5 — Point the project at the GnuCash adapter

Open:

byod/gnucash_demo/config.toml

Change:

[trackd]
adapter = "gnucash_gl"

(Leave profile = "core_gl" as-is.)

Step 6 — Place your export in the expected location

Copy your GnuCash export CSV to:

byod/gnucash_demo/tables/gl_journal.csv

Yes, the file is called gl_journal.csv even though it is still “raw export.” The adapter reads this file and writes the canonical tables to normalized/.

If you want to test without GnuCash, copy the demo export instead:

If you installed PyStatsV1 from PyPI (no repo clone), download “Demo export (complex/multi-line)” above and copy that file to byod/gnucash_demo/tables/gl_journal.csv.

If you have the repo source code, you can copy the demo export from this docs folder:

# (Windows PowerShell)
copy docs\source\workbook\_downloads\gnucash_demo\gnucash_demo_export_complex.csv byod\gnucash_demo\tables\gl_journal.csv

# (macOS/Linux)
cp docs/source/workbook/_downloads/gnucash_demo/gnucash_demo_export_complex.csv byod/gnucash_demo/tables/gl_journal.csv

Step 7 — Normalize

Run:

pystatsv1 trackd byod normalize --project byod/gnucash_demo

You should now have:

  • byod/gnucash_demo/normalized/chart_of_accounts.csv

  • byod/gnucash_demo/normalized/gl_journal.csv

Step 8 — Validate the normalized tables

pystatsv1 trackd validate --datadir byod/gnucash_demo/normalized --profile core_gl

Step 9 — Do a first analysis

Go to:

Troubleshooting

  • If normalization complains about missing columns, re-export and confirm Simple Layout is OFF.

  • If numbers import incorrectly (decimal commas, etc.), adjust your export settings so amounts use a . decimal.