Every day we offer FREE licensed software you’d have to buy otherwise.
Personal Finances Pro was available as a giveaway on July 28, 2009!
Personal Finances is an elegant, easy, yet technically advanced personal finance manager. Putting budget tracking on auto-pilot, the program will help users to track income, expenses and cut back on unnecessary purchases. The program will also help users to track expected income, spendings and see how much money the user will have at any date in the future. Personal Finances is portable and can run from the USB flash drive.
Windows 98/NT/2000/XP/Vista
3.58 MB
$34.95
Visual Clipboard is the simplest clipboard history manager of all similar programs. Visual clipboard allows you to store clipboard content and paste selected item to any program. Quick notes storage holds permanent text items, here you can store frequent used text fragments. And it is portable, can run from regular USB or U3 smart drive - your clipboard history and notes will be always at hand!
The program is great and usefull to those who need to preview and adjust their financial records on the move after the initial setup of your accounts/catagories etc everything will run so smooth and efficiently its a definate thumbs up from me....
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I just came to the end of the month and the balance of my cash account did not transfer over to the next month! it still shows it in the account on the left but not in the transactions on the right. If I try to add the balance form last month to the transactions then the account balance goes over that amount.
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"Personal Finances is portable and can run from the USB flash drive."
Well, it runs only to the same computer installed so ITS NOT PORTABLE !
Perhaps with tricks can be made portable, but GAOTD or the developoer should not advertise it as portable, when its not.
Only solution is to offer again the portable version.
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No matter what I do, download from here or the website, it installs as a demo (says so at the top). There is no "register" button under help. First time I've had this problem with a GOTD download. I'd really like to try out this program, it looks nice. If the developer is reading this, perhaps he could post a solution? Thank-you.
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Jeez, I installed it on my Windows XP SP3 laptop AND my stick. Works on both. No problemo.
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Doesn't Import
* .ofx
* .qfx
* .qif
* .ofc
Files, How is this useful?
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I love how you write, ALF. Great points with vague hints at sarcasm.
I tip my hat to you, Good Sir. I have epicly failed. =P
But in my defense, I wrote that comment before investigating the 'behind the scenes' workings of the software and therefore did not realize it's cut-backs. I.E. the settings being stored in the AppData folders. (I am using Vista so the directories are different from Windows XP)
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Jim (#68), the word *administrator* in "C:\Users\*administrator*\AppData\Roaming\Alzex\Personal Finances" should be replaced with the name of the administrator account on your PC. For example, if the admin account on your computer is "Jim", the path would be: "C:\Users\Jim\AppData\Roaming\Alzex\Personal Finances". Or simply type key.dat in the search box in Windows Explorer and search the whole system.
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Another cool giveaway. I prefer this budget layout to MS Money. Installed & no probs on Vista 64 bit.
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Just wanted to be fair and give an update.
I wrote comment #46 before #63 explained how to make it truly portable.
Those instructions do work, and I've tested it on different machines. Also, to the person who said those of us who want to make it portable must be financial professionals, trying to deprive the developer, etc.: I can't speak for anybody else, but I am certainly no financial professional (which is why I need something like this), nor am I trying to deprive anyone of anything. I need it portable because I own more than one computer but I need one location for my data AND I need to back it up my information once entered.
Now that it's portable I can just copy my backup to a new USB and I'm back in business if my USB or hard disk ever fails. The registration information can be backed up as well when it's portable (unlike the desktop/laptop version).
Now that it suits my needs and appears to be a well written and useful program, two big thumbs up.
Thanks to the developer, GAOTD and BSD(#63)!
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From what I am understanding here this Application don't do half of what Microsoft Money does which is what I use on all my Systems each and every time. So bottom line I will stick with Microsoft Money. It's more pack with Features in my opinion. As always Thanks anyway.
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Alzex wrote (#63):
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Thanks, BSD for posting how to make this truly portable.
I might not always need this app to be portable, but this way I also won't loose the use of it in case I'd ever have to reformat.
Another thing I really like about Personal Finance Pro is that it is multi-currency and that is something that not too many of the personal finance apps that I have tried have.
It's easy enough to use, doesn't come with an endless list of pre-defined categories that need to get erased one by one, has a nice calendar function, - I might just switch. Thanks, GOTD
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@markbnj, #65:
"Mumbles" is a special test-account om py pc (see #22). It would be very surprising if you had it on your pc too. Possible, yes, you could have created this user as I did, but very very unlikely.
@mike, #64:
Good point, though I would like to add that real stealth would also mean obscuring the running processes from the system i.e. explorer.
Real stealth would be a rootkit-like functionallity; not of any use ofcourse for an app. like this.
So recognize 'regular installation', 'semi-portable installation', '(true) portable installation', 'traceless portable installation' (what you referred to as stealth; "no temp files are written to the system" in contrast with "no temp-files are left at the system" but could have been written and existed fot some time. This is more or less a conceptual grey-area and is often not seen as a seperate category) and 'portable stealth installation'.
There is no reason at all (in theorie, I don't know in the particalar case of PFP) that a portable installation must be less functional comparing it to a regular installation. (Quote: "but like any portable version, you lose something too")
It is all a matter of redundancy. In a regular installation you share structures (i.e. registry) belonging to the system; in a portable installation you exclusively own a depending structure (i.e. a .dat-file).
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# 66 markbnj
>FYI, It appears that the version we have graciously been given is the Professional version, and NOT the portable version…which runs on a USB key.
Really? you figured that out all by yourself? Given the name and description of today's offering which clearly states "PRO" and then says "Runs from USB"
>if you move from computer to computer you are:
> 1) not using this software according to its license (non-commercial use only)
Okay, am on vacation. Not wanting to lug 15 pounds of laptop...
Would still like to sit down at the computer in the hotel lobby and record what I spend things on today.
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when the first page of the GAOTD description says "Personal Finances is portable and can run from the USB flash drive"; the picture shows a usb; and the features list "Install the application onto the USB stick."
... rather expect that does so.
ALF is telling us that that functionality is a different program download.
From the comments, doesn't seem to run portable.
Nor should it need adm rights to install to my flash. [My internet access is from public computers as only have dial up at home >> and tried to test program to U3 but unable to install.]
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#68,
If you have a good anti-virus program, spyware detector, and/or personal firewall, there is no need to "Run as Administrator.
Go to Control panel, User Accounts, click the Turn user control on or off and turn it off. Restart your computer.
Download http://www.revouninstaller.com/uninstall_delete_remove_programs.html
to uninstall the program completely.
Now run Setup again and the file should be in the C:\Users\*yourusername*\AppData\Roaming\Alzex\Personal Finances directory.
If you're worried about security, go back to User Accounts and turn on User Account Control
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Listen to ALF #5
It writes files to the registry, so when you plug it in to another computer, those files are not present in the registry of that machine.
For an app to be truly portable, no registry entries are written, most likely saved in the old style .ini files.
Final word..............It will NOT run an another computer.
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Vista Home Premium SP2
I messed up the installation! I forgot to use Run as administrator.
I then uninstalled and re-installed and used Run as administrator. However, when I open the program, it says that it is un-registered, with a limit of 200 transactions. I uninstalled and reinstalled several times, but no luck. As you can tell, I am a newbie when it comes to computers.
I tried to follow the instructions in # 56. I tried to search for
" C:\Users\*administrator*\AppData\Roaming\Alzex\Personal Finances " to look for "key.dat", but the search did not find that folder, nor the key.dat file.
In looking at this program on its website, it looks like a good finance program. I would like to try it.
Is there a way to recover from this bad install? Is there still a way I can install this program correctly? Can someone advise me?
Thanks,
Jim
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I have been using mint.com. Why do we need this any more ? Can any one explain me why and how its different from mint.com or other online finance tracking web site ?
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PS: FYI, It appears that the version we have graciously been given is the Professional version, and NOT the portable version...which runs on a USB key.
If you are a financial professional, and move from computer to computer (customer to customer) you are:
1) not using this software according to its license (non-commercial use only)
2) Totally in need of a purchased copy ofthe KEY version of the program that writes no registry entries.
c) denying this good fellow a living, thus giving him the ability to help US for free.
cheers to all
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OK.
1) this version that is being given is apparently the "PRO" version.
Surmising from comments above, this is a CUSTOM version as opposed to the version you can download from the web site.
2) Please tell the author he has HARDCODED terrible options into his default directories.
(I have a win2k installation that does NOT have windows or WINNT root, and does NOT have a "documents and settings" directory,
YET I show an installation (attempt) into:
C:\Documents and Settings\Mumbles\Application Data\Alzex\Personal Finances
Which is non existent, as is a mumbles user in my pc..
thus my application version is hosed and needs to be reinstalled.
wait. it actually DID install into thecorrect location,
which (in my case is c:\files=\users\Application Data\Alzex\Personal Finances )
and I DO show a key.dat file there.
Strange,
my apologies.
My only complaint is that in offering a special GOTD version, it does NOT show anyway (previously mentioned) that it is a LICENSED version!
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FWIW, there's some earlier discussion/comments on what is portable, & what isn't.
The developer of Personal Finances Pro did a nice job, bending over backwards to provide the app in so many portable / non-portable formats - Thanks! The portable version is just what it should be -- a zipped copy of the program folder, with the app set up to be run that way, wherever you put that folder, on whatever Windows machine. As true portable software, it isn't dependent on any registry entries or files on the host PC -- after all, on a public PC you won't be able to add either to get this or any other app to run [with the exception of temp files].
Some folks go a step further asking for stealth. They don't like that Firefox Portable for example writes temp files to hdd & then deletes them. Personal Finance Pro Portable version is not a stealth app -- Windows adds User Assist registry entries that might be used to tell that you ran this program, but nothing more. Whether someone might be able to go beyond that, analyzing the disc cache for data I don't know, but if they wanted your info that badly a key logger would be more practical anyway.
Running the set-up program for today's GOTD is how you get a registered copy of the program, but installation itself adds registry entries -- most every installer will. You also get convenience entries in the registry for features that just aren't possible otherwise. Running the portable version of Personal Finances Pro is cool if you really need portability, but like any portable version, you lose something too.
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Sorry for bad english.
To make it portable:
1. Install and run.
2. Download Personal Finances Pro Portable on http://br.financessoftware.com/download.php and unzip it.
3. Copy C:\Documents and Settings\\Dados de aplicativos**\Alzex\Personal Finances\key.dat to "PersonalFinancesPro" folder.
**Application data
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I can't get the software to install anywhere? After running the setup.exe file, it opens Firefox and says its activated, but thats it. I get notifications that it modified registry keys, and such. But the software is nowhere on my computer.
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The GOTD Personal Finances Pro IS NOT portable. The Portable version offered on the developers' site is. Move the key.dat file into the program folder & the portable version works -- remove it & it shows the Share-Ware screen.
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Hi Folks,
It would be nice to have an explanation of the similarity of the look of the iMoney app to this one.
And this idea of generic names "Personal Finances.." works against any real identity, although at least here we apparently have a persons names (Alex Shirokov) with two products and a web site. Better than iMoney, but not real strong.
Really, if I want to get involved with a new program, I'd like a bit more background info, like you would have with GnuCash or AceMoney or MoneyDance or this or that. Forums, people, blogs, a spot of history.
Shalom,
Steven Avery
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A well-thought-out GUI, with all the required features of such a program. Nice use of Icons, surprisingly.
I'd ask for a SKINNABLE GUI, though, for the fact that ANYTHING that allows bonehead-me to actually DO my timely fiscal accounting would be, well...THE one and only feature most needed. That is, getting me to do it! Really, at least on my XP H. OS, the buttons and menu bars "look" abit...dated, ya know? And no real way to adjust Toolbar Settings, disallowing such USER-customization. Celebrate it, alzex, by including much more GUI-customization, if not Skins, please.
Alzex, how does one transfer on-the-go-generated financial records, via the portable-PF version, please? The Pro or Free versions allow no data-swapping, apparently?! How can that be? There's no point in a USB-version, if one has to tediously re-enter any most-recent financials therein, onto the Pro's presumably-desktop location, yes? Maybe I'm corn-fused, but interconnection of your products seems Essential, and lacking :-( Alzex, here's hoping you'll re-submit to GOTD/us a future version with these suggested "improvements"
Methinks, I'll keep just Personal Finance Portable Free, as sufficient. If the free alternative (Money Manager EX) DOES allow easy data interchange, well...PF's outahere. Great day!
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I would like to know what the difference is between Quicken and this program, other than the fact that it doesn't interact with your bank. Also, will it transfer data to tax programs, such as, Turbo Tax?
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In the agreement in setup, it says that this is not a freeware programme and is only available on a 30 day trial - after 30 days you need to register it. I did not get a registration ID or anything similar with my download - will I lose this programme after 30 days??
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To activate the program under Vista, copy the file key.dat into the correct folder. Because setup.exe is run as administrator, key.dat is placed in the folder C:\Users\*administrator*\AppData\Roaming\Alzex\Personal Finances. Find key.dat in this folder and copy it to C:\Users\*YourUserName*\AppData\Roaming\Alzex\Personal Finances\.
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#44 Peli11:
Thanks for the tip. I found some incredible software at the author's website. I just love the interfaces, much better than what I have been used to.
The range of free office suites are just amazing. They don't even require Java or .net to run on. For those that are interested, here is the direct link to SSuite Office's website: [www.ssuitesoft.com].
Have a look! :)
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Everyday that I view this site people always ask about promblems with the activation of a giveaway. I have had a few promblems myself but so far my new method of activation has proved successful. (This process may only work best for Windows Vista).
First I save the giveaway to a location on my computer.
Second I view the files in the compressed folder by simpily double clicking on it.
Third I run the setup and install the program. (I have found that sometimes it works better to unselect the box that usually appears during the instalation asking whether you want to run the program immediately)
Fourth I will go into the compressed folder and right click on the activation icon and select Run as administrator. (If you don’t see a activation icon go to the setup and click extract all). This should bring up a activation icon. This should also work if the Run as administrator option isn’t there.
Once you complete this the program should be activated smoothly. It is important to install and activate a giveaway corectly because most of these giveaways are also trial versions. Trial versions may not work if they are reinstalled. (I am just telling you from my personal experience). It is a real shame when you accidently ruin your opportunity to a good giveaway.
Feel free to send me questions us –moderated– or visit my friend’s website –moderated–.
Thank you GAOTD for this excellent site and WONDERFUL giveaways!!
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Hi All,
Whilst on a finance theme, there is a free utility available that will answer a lot of the shortcomings of this software.
It is called First Direct Plus and it is available for anyone to use. get it here --
http://www2.banking.firstdirect.com/1/2/ourservices/internet-banking-plus/overview
This will securely download info from any Bank, C/C Co, Paypal, etc and update you with outstanding credit card bills and bank totals and a lot more.
These two combined are a perfect match as the entry of data will be greatly simplified.
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What is the difference with Microsoft (r) Money Product Brand?
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@Jeania, #17 Jeania:
If you like this product, there is a special U3-version too
at the bottom of: http://www.financessoftware.com/download.php
@Frank St Francis, #49:
I'm happy for you this app. works for you the way you want, but you'll see (at least keep it in mind) that as soon you try to run the program while the usb-stick is plugged into another pc (where PFP is not installed) you will not have the benifits of registration over there(like a limit of 200 transactions). Only when you return to your own pc it will be registered again.
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I downloaded PFP this morning and have already started using it. I actually think that I'll continue to do so on a regular basis.
This one gets Two thumbs up!!! :)
Thanks GOTD!!
afemmegeek
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My OS is windows vista home premium 32 bit. my usb stick is 2 GB.
I installed the download to my usb stick. Opened the download and installed the program on my usb stick. NO PROBLEMS.
I opened the program from my usb stick, clicked the personal finances pro folder on my usb drive(11.1MB).
I double clicked person finances pro.exe and poof "there it is" as it should be.
I did a quick run through of the program, changed some of the settings, and am now ready to use the program.
I do not have another computer. I am unable to test my usb stick on another computer at this time to see if the program works there.
However, it works great on my computer. Thanks GAOTD from one fiesty senior citizen.
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#17 Jeania
I believe only U3-designated software (from a U3 flash drive or www.U3.com) can be used on a U3 flash drive.
Suggest: 1. Writing unzipped Personal Finances Pro files to a CD-RW or DVD and installing from there, or 2. Transfer files to a non-U3 flash drive and install from there.
BTW, you can make a quick “flash drive” with any camera flash card and an inexpensive USB flash-card reader.
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Surprised not to see 1 comment about the lack of a checkbook register.
I have never been without one all of my adult life. Quicken can't be beat!
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Not sure if this is a deliberately false claim, or just a poor understanding of the English language:
"Personal Finances is portable and can run from the USB flash drive."
Yes, it does install and run on a USB, but as soon as you plug that USB into another computer, it reverts back to demo mode.
So it's definitely NOT portable!
In fact so much so, it's now uninstalled.
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Does anyone happen to know if there are plans for future development of direct interactions with banks. For example with Quicken, i can sync directly to my bank (Credit Union in my case) which will download automatically the transactions that have occurred (direct). other banks of course allow you to download qif files manually via web. Of course Quicken, the bastards they are, disabled the direct connection on my older software wanting me to upgrade, claiming technology changes, however since it connects directly to the bank, they aren't really in the middle. I'd love to change, but like the software otherwise, UNLESS the new software has that connection feature. Any comments? Thanks!
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a tip for those looking for portable and free personal finances software - SSuite Office - My Money - Portable
http://www.softpedia.com/get/PORTABLE-SOFTWARE/Office/Suites-editors/SSuite-Office-My-Money-Portable.shtml
BTW, as can be understood from its name it is a part of full featured Office suite (word processor, database, address book, calendar ...)
worth a look, just click at More programs
http://www.softpedia.com/progMoreBy/Publisher-Van-Loo-Software-13031.html
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I tried this out, and was shocked to find it does not support QIF (or any other financial format) import.
This program is therefore a joke (and useless to me), as it can't be used for serious personal financial management.
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#23 Asked if it can be switched to German. YES
There are 43 languages listed in the "Setting"
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Concerning the new GAotD-version #30: only "key.dat" has changed.
The info is encrypted I can not tell what was wrong and what is fixed now. I guess it has something to do with the inability to register (still automatically) for some.
The installed files (and folder structure) are binary equal (except for key.dat) comparing the old an new GAotD-release.
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Mike (23) just go to settings and all the languages are there
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Aesthetically I think the developer has put together a decent marketing presentation about the product on their web site. The site is 99.9% free of typo’s, misspelled words, and uses the correct grammar for the language (in my case English). I look at that as an indicator of a products performance and overall quality. My only criticism with the web site would be I’ve never cared much for light gray text fonts against white backgrounds; if that’s suppose to improve readability and lessen eye strain, it doesn’t work that way for me. As an indicator it gives me an impression the developer has taken the time to thoroughly debug the program. Which I don’t think would be all that labor intensive considering the program is nothing more than a glorified spreadsheet template.
When setting up the program a user has to assign a currency to each account in the program, and then specify the exchange rate for those currencies in order to calculate sums correctly. What’s not clear about that is whether a user has to do that manually every time they need to check the sums, or does the program automatically access some database for those rates then adjust the sums accordingly. Overall, though, I think the program is something a user should not have major issues with learning how to use it.
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Great Program . very detail to track your montly finances, including 3D graphics for better view and undestanding
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@ThirstyFirsty, #29:
You obviously don't get the point. Nobody is making a fuss "about an application leaving a few small data files on the operating system."
Quote: "The application is “Portable” in the sense that it runs with all dependent files on the USB drive." Do you think a settingsfile (.ini) or a registration-data file (key.dat) is a dependent file? It is on the host computer !!! not on your pen-drive.
You are talking about semi-portabililty, being able to carry it around on a usb-stick and run it everywhere (losing your settings and you registration in this case and writing some traces).
Even the developer thought it is wise to develop a special product that is portable (this is the desktop-version). You obviously don't agree with the developer too.
Please read:
http://www.wordwebonline.com/search.pl?w=portable+application telling you "A portable application does not leave its files or settings on the host computer."
Of course this desktop version might suit your needs, keep on feeling happy "LOVING this program".
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