Chapter 5: Accounting Software Package – GNUKhata
📌 Chapter 5 – Important Topics:
- Introduction – Free & Open Source Software (FOSS)
- Features of GNUKhata
- Create Organisation & Create Admin
- Groups and Sub‑groups (Balance Sheet, P&L)
- System Generated Ledger Accounts
- Creating, Editing, Deleting Ledger Accounts
- Voucher Types and Voucher Entry (F4–F9, Ctrl+1..4)
- Reports – Ledger, Trial Balance, P&L, Balance Sheet
- Treatment of Opening Stock & Closing Stock
- Bank Reconciliation Statement (BRS)
- Shortcut Keys (Complete List)
- Previous Year Exam Questions (2018–2024)
1. Introduction to GNUKhata
GNU Khata is free and open source software for accounting and inventory management. GNU Khata was developed by Digital Freedom Foundation, a public charitable trust, in association with ICFOSS.
Complementary Explanation: Unlike proprietary software (Tally, SAP), GNUKhata gives you freedom. You can use it on Linux, Windows, and even customise the source code if you are a developer.
Simple Hints: Lower cost, freedom to share, no licensing restrictions, transparency.
Features of GNUKhata
- Free and open source accounting software.
- Based on double‑entry bookkeeping.
- All financial reports can be prepared.
- Display of dual ledger facility.
- Attachment of source documents to vouchers.
- Linking of sales and purchase transactions to invoice.
- Export/import of data from spreadsheet.
- Password security and data audit facility.
Answer: 1. Free and open source. 2. Password security and data audit. 3. Attachment of source documents to vouchers.
Hint: Refer to the bulleted list above.
2. Create Organisation
Step‑1 Open GNUKhata: Applications → Office → GNU Khata (or desktop icon).
Step‑2 Create Organisation: Click “Create organisation” or press Shift+Ctrl+R. Fill details:
- Organisation Name
- Case (As‑is, Upper, Lower, Title)
- Organisation Type (Profit Making / Not for Profit)
- Financial Year (start date, end date auto)
- Inventory – tick only if needed (we use “Accounts only”)
- Proceed
Complementary Explanation: The “Case” option controls how the organisation name appears – useful for consistent printing.
Simple Hints: GNUKhata changes some group names (Capital → Corpus, Profit & Loss A/c → Income & Expenditure A/c).
Answer: On the home screen, click “Create Organisation” or press Shift+Ctrl+R, then fill the required details and click Proceed.
Hint: The first step after opening the software.
3. Create Admin
Creating Admin is mandatory. Fill: User Name, Password, Confirm Password, Security Question, Answer. Click “Create & Login”.
Complementary Explanation: Without an admin, no one can log in. This prevents unauthorised access to your accounts.
Simple Hints: To recover the password if you forget it – essential for data safety.
4. Groups and Sub‑groups
GNUKhata has 13 pre‑defined groups (9 Balance Sheet, 4 P&L) and 16 sub‑groups. Groups cannot be deleted or added; sub‑groups can be created under existing groups.
Balance Sheet Groups
| Group Name | Sub‑Group Name |
|---|---|
| Fixed Assets | Building, Furniture, Land, Plant & Machinery |
| Investments | Investment in Bank Deposits, Investment in Shares & Debentures |
| Loans (Asset) | None |
| Current Assets | Bank, Cash, Inventory, Loans & Advances, Sundry Debtors |
| Miscellaneous Expenses (Assets) | None |
| Capital / Corpus | None |
| Loans (Liability) | Secured, Unsecured |
| Reserves | None |
| Current Liability | Provisions, Sundry Creditors for Expenses, Sundry Creditors for Purchases |
Profit & Loss Account Groups
| Group Name | Sub‑Group Name |
|---|---|
| Direct Income | None |
| Direct Expense | None |
| Indirect Income | None |
| Indirect Expense | None |
Complementary Explanation: When you create a ledger, you must select the correct group. This decides whether the account appears in the Balance Sheet or Profit & Loss Account.
Simple Hints: No – GNUKhata has fixed main groups. You can only create sub‑groups under the existing 13 groups.
5. System Generated Ledger Accounts
GNUKhata automatically creates four ledgers when an organisation is created. These cannot be modified or deleted.
- Closing Stock – Current Assets (Inventory)
- Opening Stock – Direct Expenses
- Profit & Loss Account (or Income & Expenditure A/c for NPO) – Direct Income
- Stock at the Beginning – Current Assets (Inventory)
Complementary Explanation: “Stock at the Beginning” is a temporary account used when you roll over closing stock to the next year.
Simple Hints: It is the core account for calculating net profit – every income and expense transfers to it.
Answer: 1. Opening Stock, 2. Closing Stock, 3. Profit & Loss Account (or Income & Expenditure A/c), 4. Stock at the Beginning.
Hint: These are created automatically; you cannot delete them.
6. Creating Ledger Accounts
Path: Master → Create Account (or F2).
Select Group → Sub‑group → Enter Account Name → Opening Balance (if any) → Save.
Display Ledger Accounts
Report → List of Accounts (Ctrl+7).
Editing a Ledger Account
Master → Edit Account (F3) → Select Account → Edit → Change Name/Opening Balance (cannot change Group/Sub‑group).
Deleting a Ledger Account
Master → Edit Account → Select Account → Delete → Confirm.
Cannot delete: System generated accounts & accounts already used in a voucher.
Complementary Explanation: Opening balance is entered only for assets, liabilities, and capital – never for income/expense accounts.
Simple Hints: Changing the group would move the account from Balance Sheet to P&L or vice versa, making past reports inconsistent.
Answer: 1. Go to Master menu → Edit Account. 2. Select the ledger to delete. 3. Click Delete button and confirm. (Cannot delete system accounts or accounts with transactions).
Hint: Use F3 to quickly open Edit Account.
7. Voucher Entry
Recording a transaction through a voucher is called voucher entry. GNUKhata has pre‑defined voucher types – you cannot create new types.
| Voucher Type | Used To Record | Shortcut Key |
|---|---|---|
| Receipts | Receipt of cash/cheque | F4 |
| Payments | Payments by cash/cheque | F5 |
| Sales | Cash/credit sales | F6 |
| Purchase | Cash/credit purchase | F7 |
| Contra | Cash deposit/withdrawal, fund transfer | F8 |
| Journal | Rectification, transfer, adjustment, credit purchase/sale of fixed assets | F9 |
| Sales Return | Return of goods by customer | Ctrl+1 |
| Purchase Return | Return of goods to supplier | Ctrl+2 |
| Credit Note | Reduction in amount due from customer | Ctrl+3 |
| Debit Note | Reduction in amount payable to supplier | Ctrl+4 |
Finding and Editing a Voucher
Voucher → Find/Edit Voucher (F10) → Select criteria → Search → Select voucher → Edit → Save.
Deleting a Voucher
Find the voucher → Delete → Confirm. Deleted vouchers cannot be restored.
Add Account while in Voucher Entry
Click “Add Account” → Select Group, Sub‑group, Account Name, Opening Balance → Save → Return to voucher.
Complementary Explanation: You can add multiple debit and credit lines in one voucher – useful for compound entries.
Simple Hints: Voucher types help in quick data entry, automatic grouping in reports, and easier auditing.
a) Cash paid into bank ₹10,000
b) Salary paid ₹7,000
Answer: a) Contra Voucher (F8) b) Payment Voucher (F5).
Hint: Cash to bank is Contra; Salary paid is Payment.
8. Reports
From the Report menu you can view Ledger, Trial Balance, Profit & Loss Account, Balance Sheet, List of Accounts, List of Deleted Vouchers, etc.
Display Ledger Account
Report → Ledger → Select Account → From date, To date → View (F11).
Display Trial Balance
Report → Trial Balance → From date, To date → Select Type → View (F12).
Display Profit & Loss Account / Income & Expenditure Account
Report → Profit & Loss → From date, To date → View.
Display Balance Sheet
Report → Balance Sheet → Select Type → View.
Complementary Explanation: You can print these reports or export them to PDF/Spreadsheet.
Simple Hints: The software follows double‑entry strictly – every debit has a credit, so the total always matches.
9. Opening Stock & Closing Stock
Method of entering Opening Stock
- Master → Edit Account → Select “Stock at the Beginning” → Edit → Enter Opening Balance.
- Voucher → Journal Voucher (F9) → Debit “Opening Stock”, Credit “Stock at the Beginning”.
Method of entering Closing Stock
Voucher → Journal Voucher (F9) → Debit “Closing Stock”, Credit “Profit & Loss A/c”.
Complementary Explanation: The “Stock at the Beginning” account is a temporary bridge used only during the roll‑over process.
Simple Hints: It maintains audit trail – you can see exactly when the opening balance was introduced.
10. Bank Reconciliation Statement (BRS)
Path: Master → Bank Reconciliation Statement (Alt+R) → Select Account → Set Reconciliation Period → View → Enter Clearance Date.
Causes of Difference between Cash Book and Pass Book
- Cheque issued but not presented for payment
- Cheque deposited but not collected
- Direct payment by a customer to the bank
- Interest on deposit credited by the bank
- Dividend, rent, etc. collected by the bank
- Payment made on behalf of the customer
- Bank charges as per pass book
- Bills receivables discounted but dishonoured
- Interest on overdraft debited in the pass book
Terms associated with BRS
- Transaction Date: The date the transaction is recorded in cash book.
- Clearance Date: The date the transaction appears in the pass book.
- Reconciliation Period: The period for which BRS is prepared.
- Uncleared Items: Transactions where clearance date is after the reconciliation period.
Complementary Explanation: You must enter clearance dates for all bank transactions – this is the key to automated reconciliation.
Simple Hints: The bank statement is external; errors, omissions, and timing differences still occur. BRS ensures accuracy.
(a) Cash in hand (b) Machinery
Answer: (a) Current Assets (b) Fixed Assets.
Hint: Cash is current asset; Machinery is fixed asset.
11. Shortcut Keys in GNUKhata
| Use | Keys |
|---|---|
| Activate Toolbar Tab | F1 |
| Create Ledger Account | F2 |
| Find/Edit Ledger Account | F3 |
| Receipt Voucher | F4 |
| Payment Voucher | F5 |
| Sales Voucher | F6 |
| Purchase Voucher | F7 |
| Contra Voucher | F8 |
| Journal Voucher | F9 |
| Find/Edit Voucher | F10 |
| View Ledger Account | F11 |
| Display Trial Balance | F12 |
| Sales Returns Voucher | Ctrl+1 |
| Purchases Returns Voucher | Ctrl+2 |
| Credit Note Voucher | Ctrl+3 |
| Debit Note Voucher | Ctrl+4 |
| Cost Centre Statement | Ctrl+5 |
| Cash Flow Statement | Ctrl+6 |
| List of Accounts | Ctrl+7 |
| Create/Edit Cost Centre | Alt+P |
| Bank Reconciliation Statement | Alt+R |
| Manual | Alt+M |
| Master Tab | Ctrl+M |
| Inventory Tab | Ctrl+I |
| Transaction Tab | Ctrl+T |
| Report Tab | Ctrl+R |
| Administration Tab | Ctrl+D |
| Help Tab | Ctrl+H |
| Sign Out | Ctrl+S / Ctrl+L |
Complementary Explanation: Memorise these for your practical exams – examiners often ask shortcut keys for specific vouchers.
Simple Hints: Consistency – all voucher shortcuts are either F‑keys or Ctrl+number. The developers included all vouchers.
അധ്യായം 5: അക്കൗണ്ടിംഗ് സോഫ്റ്റ്വെയർ പാക്കേജ് – GNUKhata (മലയാളം)
📌 പ്രധാന പാഠഭാഗങ്ങൾ:
- ആമുഖം – സ്വതന്ത്ര ഓപ്പൺ സോഴ്സ് സോഫ്റ്റ്വെയർ (FOSS)
- ഗ്നുഖാതയുടെ സവിശേഷതകൾ
- ഓർഗനൈസേഷൻ സൃഷ്ടിക്കുക & അഡ്മിൻ സൃഷ്ടിക്കുക
- ഗ്രൂപ്പുകളും ഉപഗ്രൂപ്പുകളും (ബാലൻസ് ഷീറ്റ്, ലാഭനഷ്ട അക്കൗണ്ട്)
- സിസ്റ്റം ജനറേറ്റഡ് ലെഡ്ജർ അക്കൗണ്ടുകൾ
- ലെഡ്ജർ അക്കൗണ്ടുകൾ സൃഷ്ടിക്കുക, എഡിറ്റ് ചെയ്യുക, ഇല്ലാതാക്കുക
- വൗച്ചറുകളുടെ തരങ്ങളും വൗച്ചർ എൻട്രിയും (F4–F9, Ctrl+1..4)
- റിപ്പോർട്ടുകൾ – ലെഡ്ജർ, ട്രയൽ ബാലൻസ്, ലാഭനഷ്ട അക്കൗണ്ട്, ബാലൻസ് ഷീറ്റ്
- ഓപ്പണിംഗ് സ്റ്റോക്ക് & ക്ലോസിംഗ് സ്റ്റോക്ക് – രീതികൾ
- ബാങ്ക് അനുരഞ്ജന പ്രസ്താവന (BRS)
- ഷോർട്ട്കട്ട് കീകൾ (പൂർണ്ണ പട്ടിക)
- മുൻവർഷ പരീക്ഷാ ചോദ്യങ്ങൾ (2018–2024)
📘 Important Exam Questions – Chapter 5 (2018–2024)
Answer: Cash Account, Profit and Loss Account.
(a) GNU Khata (b) TALLY (c) SAP (d) Libre Office Base
Answer: (d) Libre Office Base (it is a DBMS, others are accounting software).
a) Investments b) Current assets c) Fixed assets d) Capital
Answer: b) Current assets.
(a) Current Asset (b) Fixed Asset (c) Direct Expenses (d) Indirect Expenses
Answer: (d) Indirect Expenses.
Answer: 1. Opening Stock 2. Closing Stock 3. Profit and Loss Account (Some versions include: Stock at the Beginning).
a) Cash paid into bank Rs.10,000
b) Salary paid Rs.7,000
Answer: a) Contra Voucher b) Payment Voucher.
(a) Cash in hand (b) Machinery
Answer: (a) Current Assets (b) Fixed Assets.
Answer: 1. Go to Master menu > Edit Account. 2. Select the ledger to delete. 3. Click Delete button and confirm. (Cannot delete system accounts or accounts with transactions).
Chapter 6: Database Management System (LibreOffice Base)
📌 Chapter 6 – Important Topics:
- Introduction – Database, DBMS, Relational Database
- Creating a New Database in LibreOffice Base
- Creating Tables (Design View & Wizard)
- Data Types in Base (Text, Number, Date, etc.)
- Setting Primary Key & Saving Tables
- Defining Relationships
- Creating Forms (Wizard & Design View)
- Subforms, List Boxes, Push Buttons, Check Boxes, Option Buttons
- Creating Queries (Wizard & Design View)
- Computational Fields in Queries
- Creating Reports (Static & Dynamic)
- Previous Year Exam Questions (2018–2024)
🔍 ഈ അധ്യായങ്ങളിലെ എല്ലാ ആശയങ്ങളും ലളിതമായ വിശദീകരണം, രണ്ട് ലൈവ് ഉദാഹരണങ്ങൾ, ഒരു ചിന്താ ചോദ്യം, പരീക്ഷാ പരിശീലനം എന്നിവയോടെ വിശദീകരിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു. GNUKhata, LibreOffice Base എന്നിവ പരിശീലിക്കുക.