WINE or alternative accounting software?

[jeff-j-7]

Hi, I am Jeff and I am about 10 years away from the last time I was running Ubuntu. I am impressed at how it functions and all the updates since I was last using it seem very streamlined.

Here - I originally found the open-source community as an alternative to Windows, while trying to use programs such as Gimp and Blender. I am a hobbyist in that I enjoy photography and do simple edits before sharing travel photos, family photos, etc. I recently made my dream come true by using Blender to 3D print a model and was able to use it in the process of lost wax casting. A hobby, and possibly a side-business someday!

I remember first familiarizing myself with a later version of Ubuntu 6.xx and possibly updating to 7.xx years and years ago, before focusing on other things in life outside of technology. There was even a point where I played zero video games and watched zero TV programming and zero movies, it was great! Anyway, I decided to recently buy a desktop computer and made myself a bootable USB thumb drive and am running Noble Numbat.

Aside from browsing the web, I have a few things I might want to do in Ubuntu. I would greatly appreciate some information on where to ask within this site, or links to resources that might be helpful. Firstly, I am curious what kind of accounting software is available to Ubuntu users for the purpose of running a small business. I do not need networking capabilities or any kind of cloud-based support or the ability to reconcile data in between multiple machines. However, I would want a compatible double-entry system that can be used to make price sheets, keep vendor and customer information, keep track of invoices, and ledger expenses.

Ideally, I would be able to install WINE, and run the installation disk I have for Quickbooks Pro 2012. I can assure you my license key and validation are legitimate, these were purchased and installed on an older machine and I now wish to re-install on a machine (hopefully outside the windoze operating system)

I actually tried doing so and ran into a similar issue multiple times. Firstly, I may have installed an unnecessary “staging” package from the WINE website. Unsure if I need to get rid of that or if it can stay. The installer program kept giving me errors concerning “VC9.msi” and then after some tinkering a file called “vc_red.msi”

Anyway, the other thing I may want to pursue is creating a server that can host a website and my own email address through that website. Another issue entirely, and something I will research on my own time. Again, this is my first post on Discourse and am relatively new to this version of Ubuntu - though I did have some cursory knowledge of how previous versions operated many years ago. Thanks in advance for any information on how to get started with these things, where to ask the questions properly on this site, or if I am pursuing something implausible with older Windows software that might have an already available Linux alternative already ready to go.

Oh yeah, I did find some Brazilian website that seemed to host some VC9 related .msi files, so I tried to install some of those and went through some PHP installers in WINE… Not sure if that was the most rookie mistake I could have possibly made or if that is something I can easily “undo” if I uninstall WINE altogether.

Again, thanks in advance for any links or suggestions!

[jeff-j-7]

Was mainly just curious if this is a plausible application to use in WINE, or if I could possibly set up a boot-able USB with persistent memory to manage a backup of business related files.

Currently I am running a dual-boot system and would like to use Ubuntu as the main OS, if possible. I do not have reliable internet service and mainly run a mobile hot-spot, which is the main reason why I would prefer to get away from constant barrage of seemingly unnecessary (and data-hogging) Windows updates.

[ian-weisser]

General note for future readers: If you are in the United States, chat with your tax preparer to help choose your accounting/bookkeeping software.
Not doing so may be painful when time comes to prepare your taxes. When your preparer signs your tax forms, they are vouching for the accuracy of your information. If you need to train your preparer to use some system they are unfamiliar with, expect to pay for their learning curve.

QuickBooks Desktop has never been compatible with Ubuntu, including Wine. I have seen many people try, none succeed.

QuickBooks Desktop runs very well in a Windows VM. VM software in Ubuntu is free, the Windows license is not…but that Windows license is also tax-deductible.

I have run QB Desktop in a Windows 7 --and later Windows 10-- VM for a decade. I back up both the QB Data and the VM separately. I have needed those backups three times in 10 years due to a hardware failure, a Windows 10 self-destruct, and a corrupted QB database. The VM does not have network access, so cannot mooch data to update itself.

[graymech]

The Wine people maintain a database of applications that people have tried to run through wine. It contains notes on the success rate. Here is the section for QuickBooks

https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=application&iId=120

With wine a person may have a better chance of success when using the wine prefix that matches the version of Windows that the Windows application usually ran on.

I have found that without ttf-mscorefonts installed the text in an application will be unreadable.

Regards

[dragonfly41]

I am another migrant from ubuntuforums.org. aka @dragonfly41 in past.
I too have dual boot but 99% Ubuntu, 1% Windows usage.
I really avoid Wine, Windows etc.
I have explored Akaunting …
https://akaunting.com/
You can install locally.
But in U.K. I use instead a chain of tools supplied free by bank. Plus an end of chain tool to actually go through the pain of filing.
There is a host of tools to use to parse bank statements (PDF) and invoices. I suggest that you try parsing your own corpus of statements and invoices and other and build a local system to navigate your tax world links (documents, rules, penalties - I have had some due to leaving filing up to the wire - 10 hours late due to power outage). This helps me to navigate and control this annual tax jungle but using self developed desktop chain of Ubuntu tools to prepare for submission. Automation. I use a UI emulator script (see Actiona app) to “drive” the various web sites. Rather like Sikulix.

Since you have intermittent connection, building a desktop suite allows test runs.

Blender is a great tool, by the way. Can’t help you with appeasing the taxman though.

[aljames]

The only time I ever use WINE is with the occasional nice evening & dinner out.

Ian’s points are important to carefully consider before making a change in your accounting software. Some CPAs will not work with you unless you use more universally standard software. Of course, we can always fire our CPA and hire a new one, but, if they are good at their job, software is not a reason to do that in my opinion.

That said, I’ve been working 17 years with my CPA and have used QB desktop on a Windows laptop all along until last year. I use Linux for everything now. My CPA agreed, IF my software could do this, this, and this… We are working on tax projections now, and she has no complaints so far with the reporting & detailed entry capabilities of GNUcash. She still uses QB so she is nit running parallel software, but the GNUcash is mimicking QB quite nicely so far.

If I needed to run a Windows program for something, I would use a VM, always. For Windows multiplayer gaming, you’ll want to use real hardware for that.

[dragonfly41]

Of course plan depends on whether you are (a) a “one man band” with microentity (as am I) or (b) can afford a CPA for n years. Any dependency on a trusted 3rd party is another variable.

[geeteeh]

I’d recommend “Manager” as a great all purpose accounting package. Used it for years in my own business.

Free download for single user version. 100% local file storage and installation packs for Ubuntu, Win and Mac. Can be upgraded to multi-user / cloud (for a fee) - but has no nag-ware pushing you to do it. Localisation “plug ins” to configure reports etc as required in your area which in my experience work really well.

Extensive on-line documentation, active support community, and a responsive developer. Can be downloaded from their website without even having to set up an account.

Highly recommended.