File / Export

File and export settings matter because Common Cents is a file-first app.

What belongs here #

Use this area when you want to control startup behavior for the current file, write a new .cents copy, or export CSV data.

Startup #

The Startup section controls whether the current file should reopen automatically when the app launches.

Auto-load this file on startup #

When Auto-load this file on startup is enabled, Common Cents remembers the current bound file and reopens it the next time the app starts.

Important limits:

• this only works when the current file is a reopenable bound file
• it is not available when no file is loaded
• it is not available for imported copies that are not bound to a reopenable file reference

Turning this on does not change the current file. It only changes what the app tries to load on startup.

Save As #

Save As writes the current document to a new .cents file name and then moves your active session to that new file.

Use this when you want a new working file rather than just a safety copy.

If the current session is an imported copy, Save As is how you turn that working copy into a named .cents file you keep editing.

Create a Backup #

Create a Backup writes a .cents copy of the current document without switching away from the file you already have open.

Use this when you want a checkpoint before a risky change, import, or cleanup session.

If the current session is an imported copy, the backup action still writes a .cents copy, but keeps the imported working copy open.

Export All Transactions CSV #

Export All Transactions CSV creates the broad reporting export for transaction data.

It includes transaction rows and detail rows with IDs, dates, amounts, and joined names such as payee, account, category, and label.

Use this when you want the fullest transaction export for analysis or external review.

Export Transactions Import CSV #

Export Transactions Import CSV creates an import-ready transaction export.

It keeps stable external IDs and normalized names for accounts, payees, categories, and labels.

Use this when you want a transaction export that is easier to reuse in an import or integration flow rather than just as a report.

Export Budget CSV #

Export Budget CSV exports monthly budget inputs only.

That means it focuses on:

• manual assignments
• net category moves per category

Use this when you want the budget-input side of the file without the broader planning calculations.

Export Planning CSV #

Export Planning CSV is the broader month-by-category planning export.

It includes:

• manual assignments
• moves in
• moves out
• net moves
• activity
• end-of-month available balances

Use this when you want a fuller planning view than the budget export provides.

What this page does not cover #

This page covers the Settings-based export actions.

If you want to export only a filtered set of transactions, use the Export Filtered actions from the full transactions page instead of the all-file exports here.