Information on the CSV EXPORT module
====================================

This is the CSV EXPORT extension module for Account.

For installation instructions, please refer to "Install.txt".


CSV export?
-----------

CSV is a simple "industry standard" way of exchanging tabular data
between computers.

With Account, you may export your account data and reload it into
software such as Microsoft's Excel spreadsheet.


Using the CSV exporter
----------------------

a. Press Acorn-E (or Psion-E) to open the "Extensions" dialogue.

b. Select "CSV export".

c. You will be asked to provide a filename. The CSV data will be
   saved as the file that you specify.

d. A little slidey-bar thing will show you the progress of the
   export operation.

e. When the utility is finished, you will be return to Account.


The CSV file format
-------------------

The CSV file format is as follows:

2006/08/12,"This is a credit",,5.00
2006/08/14,"This is a debit",-4.79

The dates are specified in Japanese (ISO-like) format, as there
no no mistaking the layout (unlike, say, 12/08/2006 which could
be August or December).

Regardless of system configuration, the numerical values are
exported using a '-' prefix for negatives, and a period as the
decimal separator. There is no thousands separator.
This is the "international" method, mainly used because
braindead (mostly American) software would not know what to do
with input like "(1 294,55)".

If you look carefully, you will notice that there are two commas
before the value for credits. This was, actually, a bug but it
has been retained as it recreates the tabular separate-column
view presented by Account. Experiments with Excel (Office 97) do
not show this to be an issue (I think it looks better than a
straight list).
If you would prefer a straight list (credits and debits together),
or an option to select between the two - contact me.


Rick, 2006/10/31
