Upgraded to version 14.2 of the Database of British and Irish Hills (DoBIH).
When selecting Map on the main screen, added a new option to show surrounding hills in the selected lists.
Extended surrounding hills on the maps to 50 miles (~80 km).
Minor bug fixes.
Account Tracker supports importing transactions from a CSV file, as documented here. The reason the format is relatively strict is because I only really expect people to import transactions once, and that it is quick and easy to convert CSV files in a spreadsheet like Excel or Numbers.
For those of you not familiar with spreadsheets, I thought I’d write this quick guide/tutorial about converting the export format from a sample bank (Nationwide in the UK) to Account Tracker format.
First of all, here is how Nationwide exports transactions …
Account Name:,Flexaccount ****12345 Account Balance:,£0.00 Available Balance: £0.00 Date,Transaction type,Description,Paid out,Paid in,Balance 29-Dec-14,Transfer to,ABC,£1.23,,£0.00
If you open your exported CSV file with Excel (or another spreadsheet application) you will see the data in table format, with columns (A to F) and rows (1-6 or more, depending on the number of transactions).
Lets get rid of the redundant rows and columns first. Click on the number 1 to the left of the first row and drag down to row 5. This will highlight the first 5 rows. Right click and select Delete. Select the sixth column (F) and delete that in the same way. Finally select the second column (B) and delete that. You will be left with one row per transaction, with four columns (date, description/details, paid out and paid in).
To fix the date format in column A, simply select the whole column and choose Format then Cells. Select Custom and enter dd/mm/yyyy in the Type box.
To convert the two separate columns for paid in and paid out into one, select cell E1 and enter the formula =D1-C1. Select cell E1 again, copy it (control c), select all the remaining cells in that column (one per row) and paste (control v). You now have a single column with amounts. To convert these cells from formulas to values, select the whole column, copy (control c), then choose Edit then Paste Special then Values. To get rid of the currency symbols, select the column and choose Format then Cells. Choose Number, set the right number of decimal places (2), don’t use a 1000 separator and keep the – sign for negative numbers. You can now delete columns C and D as they are no longer needed.
Finally you need to add in the five missing columns. First of all select column A and choose Insert then Column. Enter your account name from the app in cell A1, then double click on the little box at the bottom right of the cell. This will autofill the account name for each row. Alternatively you can select cell A1, copy it (control c), select the remaining cells in that column (one per row) and paste (control v).
Now select column D, and choose Insert then Column three times (to add columns for the category, notes and cheque number. Note that Nationwide includes the cheque number in their description field so you might have to find these and move the cheque numbers from column C to column F. This can be automated, but only if you are a more advanced Excel user!
Now select cell H1 (for the reconciled flag). Enter the text Y, then double click on the the little box at the bottom right of the cell. This will autofill the flag for each row. Alternatively you can select cell H1, copy it (control c), select the remaining cells in that column (one per row) and paste (control v).
To export your new CSV file, choose File then Save As, making sure you select the format Comma Separated Values (.csv).
This post tries to explain some of the more common issues related to iCloud syncing in Account Tracker (Pro), together with workarounds where known.
Note that as of v6.4 (December 2020), the old (legacy) iCloud is provided for backwards compatibility only. If you are starting from scratch, please use iCloud Drive instead. To do so, disable syncing (if enabled), disable iCloud (in my app), then enable it again, choosing iCloud Drive.
In the rest of this post, references to iCloud also refer to iCloud Drive.
First an iCloud overview …
iCloud is basically “cloud” based storage tied to a single iTunes account. Apps can use it to share data between all devices belonging to that user. It cannot be used to share data between different users and that is why I introduced Dropbox support – see the Alternatives to iCloud section below.
When an app writes a file to iCloud, the operating system (iOS) takes care of copying this to “the cloud” and from there to other devices. Apps have no control over how long this takes but it is usually a few seconds to a minute or so.
Basic things to check
You should check that you are running the latest versions of my app and of iOS itself.
To use iCloud, each device needs to be signed in and using the same iTunes account. This is done in the main Settings app, under iCloud.
And for iCloud to work, you clearly need network access, otherwise files can’t be copied between devices. This can either be WiFi or mobile data (enabled in the main Settings app). Note that devices don’t have to be on the same network. They just need access to the Internet.
Finally you need a few MB of free space on iCloud – you can check this in the main Settings app, under iCloud.
Problems enabling syncing
Step 1 is where you enable syncing on your PRIMARY device. This copies a new sync file to iCloud. If using iCloud Drive, you can see this by running Apple’s Files app to browse iCloud Drive. There will be an Account Tracker folder with a single sync file (from your PRIMARY).
Step 2 is where you enable syncing on your SECONDARY device. If it doesn’t give you the option of becoming SECONDARY, this is because the file in step 1 has not appeared on that device. It should do eventually, but you need to give it time (a minute or so). Use the Files app (or Finder on a Mac), this time on your SECONDARY, and you should see the same file as your PRIMARY.
Once enabled on your SECONDARY, step 3 is simply the SECONDARY waiting for an initial sync from your PRIMARY. Make sure my app is running on your PRIMARY device, and eventually you should see the “found a new SECONDARY device” popup. Again this can take a while (a minute or so). If it doesn’t appear, use the Files app on your PRIMARY and you should now see two sync files.
Step 4 is simply you initiating the initial sync from PRIMARY to SECONDARY. Leave the app running on your PRIMARY.
Finally step 5 is when the SECONDARY confirms the initial sync is complete (a minute or so).
In total this setup process involves writing 3 files to iCloud, and all the delays in copying them to “the cloud” and on to all devices. I have no control over how long this takes, however the 5 step process usually takes a minute or so in total.
Syncing has stopped working?
Once syncing is enabled, changes are tracked and when you close the app (by pressing the Home button or command Q on a Mac), that device’s sync file is updated. This eventually makes it to your other devices and you will see the Sync flag on the settings tab.
Sometimes it might appear as if syncing has stopped working. Often this is just iCloud being slow.
However …
Recent versions of iOS seem to prevent iCloud copies from working if your device is low on power. On the iPhone there is a low power mode in the battery settings, you might want to turn this off. Note there doesn’t seem to be an equivalent option on the iPad, however copies definitely don’t happen if you are low on power.
Try disabling and re-enabling access to iCloud for my app. This is done in the main Settings app, under your iCloud settings.
If all else fails, try to reboot/restart you device(s) as this often fixes bugs in iOS.
Alternatives to iCloud
In August 2014 I added support for Dropbox, to allow users with different iTunes accounts to exchange and share data. And because I am directly copying files to and from Dropbox myself, it is a lot faster.
The only drawback with Dropbox is that they now charge you to use more than 3 devices (called Dropbox Plus). You can manage the devices that can use your Dropbox account from the Dropbox app (or log in to Dropbox from a web browser). This is especially important after upgrading a device as the old one might need removing.
A few days ago, Apple adjusted all the AppStore prices throughout Europe. This is mainly due to changing VAT rules where sales tax now needs to be charged at the prevailing rate in the country of sale, rather than them using the lowest tax rate they could (15% in Luxembourg).
Apple have also made adjustments due to currency fluctuations, which they do from time to time.
In the UK, these price changes are as follows …
69p increases to 79p
£1.49 stays the same
£1.99 increases to £2.29
£2.49 increases to £2.99
£2.99 increases to £3.99
£3.99(?) increases to £4.49
£4.99 stays the same
Developers receive the sale amount minus VAT (Government’s share) minus a further 30% (Apple’s share), so a 79p sale generates 46p of revenue, a £1.49 sale generates 87p of revenue … etc.
For my own apps, Account Tracker is now £2.99, and Meter Readings and Hill Lists stay the same at £1.49. I have also reduced the price of the following in-app purchases …
Account Tracker “Personal Sync” is now £1.49 (the same as “Family Sync”)
Meter Readings “Power User” upgrade is now 79p
As 2014 comes to a close, I would like to wish everyone a happy and prosperous new year – hopefully 2015 will be a good one too!
Here are some personal highlights from the past 12 months …
Some app highlights …
Now, its time for a beer I think … cheers!
(Shamelessly copied and edited from last year)
Now that I have finished my Munros, I thought I’d pull together some stats of my round.
In the end it took me 131 hill days, giving an average of 2.15 hills per day.
The most I climbed on a single day was 7 (the South Glen Shiel Ridge, of course). I also did one round of 6 (east of Glenshee), four rounds of 5 (Lochnagar, Ben Lawers, the western Mamores and Mullardoch/Affric), 16 rounds of 4 (too many to list!), 15 rounds of 3, 46 pairs and 48 single hills.
I don’t have EXACT dates for 4 hill days (when I climbed 9 hills), but for the rest the three most popular months were July (63 hills or 23.1%), May (61 hills or 22.3%) and September (36 hills or 13.2%). Other months were August (27 hills or 9.9%), April and June (26 hills or 9.5%), October (17 hills or 6.2%), March (10 hills or 3.7%), November (3 hills or 1.1%) and February and December (2 hills or 0.7%). I don’t appear to have climbed any in January!
I only remember having two pairs of boots: Karrimor KSBs and a sturdier 3 season boot from Berghaus (both now worn out!). A small number of hills were done in Walsh PB Ultras and/or Inov-8 Mudclaw 265s, mainly in the summer months.
It would be nice to work out how far I walked and climbed, but that would take quite some time. I would guess at around 15-25km and 800-1000m ascent (and descent!) per day. Times 131 of course!
By default, transactions are imported from a CSV file using a single row per transaction.
For transfers, you simply specify the “other” account in the details column in square brackets, and you control the direction with the amount (+ve or -ve). For example, to transfer 100.00 from your Current account to your Visa account, paid with cheque number 100001, use the row …
Current,10/12/2014,[Visa],Credit Card,Paid in full,100001,-100.00,Y
In version 4.5.1 onwards, I now support importing transfers from two separate rows. The above example can also be specified as
Current,10/12/2014,<Visa>,Credit Card,Paid in full,100001,-100.00,Y
Visa,10/12/2014,<Current>,Credit Card,Paid in full,100001,100.00,Y
The rules are that the rows need to be adjacent, the accounts need to be different (clearly), the dates need to be the same, the details fields need to specify the other account in angle brackets, the category needs to be the same, the notes (if specified) need to be the same and the cheque number (if specified on both rows) needs to be the same.
If the accounts are in the same currency, the amounts also need to be the same (but clearly one must be +ve and the other -ve). If they are in different currencies, you can now specify the two amounts separately.
Finally you can specify the reconcile flag separately per account.
Prior to version 5.8, it was not possible to import split transactions, but this is now supported using one row per category.
The rules are that the rows need to be adjacent, the accounts, dates, details, notes (if specified), cheque number (if specified) and reconciled flag need to be the same. Only the category and amounts should be different.
These ongoing (FREE) updates can only continue with YOUR support. Please help by leaving a review on iTunes (since previous reviews are removed with each update), and by telling others about #AccountTracker on social media (e.g. Facebook and Twitter). Alternatively you can always make a donation on my website. 🙂
Added a small but powerful new feature that you might like (a lot). Please read the User Guide for details of this any many other features. Hint: advanced settings …
Added support for importing transfer transactions using two separate rows in a CSV file (one for each account). See my support pages for more details.
When stepping forward beyond 24 months, a right tap will advance to the end of current year and then forwards a year at a time.
Fixed a difficult to reproduce bug that might have caused transactions to be duplicated when using Family Sync. Apologies if you saw this issue.
If you are using iCloud for syncing, note that Apple fixed a lot of issues in iOS 8.1.1. Please update if you have yet to do so.
Other minor improvements.
Did you know that my Hill Lists app was written specifically for me to track my own Munros (the 282 Scottish hills at least 3000 feet in height)?
After ~27 years, I finally “compleated” them on 19th November, so thought I would write up my journey. In it I include some links to photos. You can either click on these separately, or feel free to browse them all on Twitter.
The Early Years (~1987-2002)
I can’t actually remember when I did my first Munro, other than knowing it was before we were married. We had a trip around the Highlands (a long way from Cambridge at the time) and I remember doing the Five Sisters of Kintail and Ruadh-stac Mor on Beinn Eighe. It might have been Beinn Alligin, or perhaps Cairn Gorm while there on a University ski trip.
We moved to Edinburgh in 1993 and it then became a lot easier. I carried my (then first) son up Ben Hope and Ben Vorlich (Loch Earn), something I’d struggle to do now! I picked off a lot of the eastern Munros on orienteering trips to Deeside, most notable was the complete plane wreck on top of Carn an t-Sagairt Mor. A good few others were climbed during family holidays (Liathach, Sgurr nan Gillean … etc). I remember spotting ring ouzels on the Aonach Eagach ridge and also on Beinn Eunaich, but haven’t seen them since.
In September 2000, my work took part in a Guinness Book of Records attempt on the most hills climbed simultaneously, where we had to be on a particular summit at midday. We did the two Munros on Buachaille Etive Mor. And yes we got the record!
Munro Bagger (2003)
I only really started counting in 2003. I did all the central Cairngorms in one trip, staying at the Falls of Avon and Corrour bothies.
The next few years saw a steady 15 per year. Loads of mountain hares on Ben Chonzie (2004). The kids made it up An Caisteal (2004) and a very boggy Ben More on Mull (2006). Spotted a male hen harrier coming off Carn Liath (2006). My worst yearly total was 6, including a wet Beinn a Chaorainn and Beinn Teallach (2008).
In 2009 things picked up again. All those beginning with F (on 21st Feb), the western Mamores and those around Bridge of Orchy. While doing the Black Mount, I almost stood on a red deer calf before it ran off to its mother. Later that day I followed a cuckoo a long way down the West Highland Way.
A family trip to Skye in 2010 to do the southern Cuillins, where I took the whole family up and over the Inaccessible Pinnacle. 2010 was the first of many trips to Cluanie, with its 20-odd Munros all in the one valley.
We had a holiday cottage in Ullapool in early 2011, and I did Beinn Dearg, the western Fannaichs and Ben More Assynt and Conival. The Etive peaks were finished after a speeding ticket going through Lochearnhead. 😦
Only 100 to Go (2012)
Going in to 2012 I had just over 100 to go. I finished the Mamores and did the remote Carn an Fhidhleir and An Sgarsoch from Linn of Dee (one of my favourite places). A few days later I finished the Fannaichs. My final trip of the year involved getting the train in to Corrour station, staying at Loch Ossian Youth Hostel and doing the 5 Munros between there and Fersit, getting the train back from Tulloch. Certainly a different and romantic way to do some hills.
2013 started with the whole family doing Gleouraich and Spidean Mialach by Loch Quoich in glorious sunshine, as well as Maol Chean-dearg in Strath Carron. A similar trip north saw us doing the 7 Munros of the South Cluanie Ridge on another very hot day. After Gairich we saw a pine martin by Loch Garry, and after Beinn Sgritheall we spotted a sea eagle by the Glenelg ferry. We did the Strathfarrar Munros on a windy day, and my last trip of the year was to Culra bothy to do the Ben Alder six. I don’t know why I finished so early (July) – I guess 28 Munros was a pretty good yearly total!
A Big Push (May-September 2014)
So this brings me to 2014. I had always wanted to finish the Munros before I was 50 (next year), but with 47 to go it was going to be a stretch. Looking back at my many trips, the year has been a blur, but with some really spectacular hills. Almost all were climbed in excellent weather too. 🙂
Gulvain was the first, followed by the spectacular Sgurr na Ciche (that Loch Arkaig road is a real roller coaster). A complete Loch Mullardoch round with a very cold high camp saw me complete Glen Affric too, surely one of Scotland’s prettiest valleys? Brocken spectres on Carn Eige, a golden eagle in Knoydart, ptarmigan chicks and a merlin on Bla Bheinn, spectacular cloud inversion on a round of Corrie Laggan, the Grey Corries, the Aonachs and Ben Nevis via the Carn Mor Dearg arete, Lurg Mhor to Maoile Lunndaidh with a high overnight camp, Slioch with its goats, and finally Fisherfield with an overnight camp on the summit of A’Mhaighdean and the best sunrise ever!
“Compleation” (18-19th November 2014)
And then it rained for 40 days and 40 nights. My last 3 were all near Ullapool, a long way to go if the weather wasn’t settled. I was beginning to think there was no chance before the end of the year. But then the weather gods smiled on me, with three days of sunshine forecast for the west coast. We drove north and did Seana Bhraigh from Oykel Bridge (by bike) on Tuesday 18th November. It had to be an early start as we only had 8 hours of daylight, but the weather was good, and we saw more Brocken spectres on the summit.
Finally on Wednesday 19th November, we drove to Dundonnell in the dark, and started walking at 8:30am. Apart from a tiny bit of cloud sitting on the tops (that cleared), it was a beautiful sunny day. An Teallach, with its 2 Munros, is a mountain I have read about for years. I have looked at it from all the surrounding hills, studied the pictures and I knew exactly what to expect. After an enjoyable walk up, it didn’t disappoint at all. 🙂
It would have been nice to have arranged more of a summit party, but due to my incredibly bad planning, the dubious weather and leaving such a remote hill until last, it just turned out to be too difficult. But I did get to share my moment of glory with my wife (of course). Plus the “entire” British Army on training!!
So What Next?
It will be nice to do hills and routes that I fancy doing, rather than being driven by a list. So I am really thankful there aren’t any other lists of hills to be done!
Oh, hang on …
Added support for Touch ID (PAID version only).
Added support for the 1Password app extension, making this a lot easier to use (PAID version only).
As well as setting the font size of the running balance (vs the amount), added support for turning it off too (see advanced settings). This is not supported on the iPad where there is plenty of space to see both.
Fixed a bug where some recent settings were being turned off.
Other minor fixes and improvements.
Graham Haley 