Feedback from a new user

[alensiljak]

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe. Hi! This is a feedback from someone who has just installed PP. I think writing these down would be useful for new users as it is viewed from a perspective different to those who are used to the software package.

Describe the solution you'd like

• Have more/better options for importing data.
• Description of the CSV format for import. I'd like to import my existing data but don't know how to provide it. A link to documentation or a dialog with a (copyable) description would be great.
• An intuitive way to create a Security. Right now, I see no way to add a security.
• Sort currencies in the Currency Converter dropdown
• A way to update currency exchange rates in the Currencies view
• Use a context menu more - right click inside the main window - for the most common actions on the active screen
• Currencies view, missing the ability to add and remove currency pairs, and update the exchange rates.
• The ability to see historical exchange rates. The tax administration requires me to have available the rates used for the calculations.
• when deleting a Security, prompt whether to automatically also delete the transactions
• Asset Classes and Asset Allocation are different? Adding Securities to Asset Allocation does not add them to Asset Classes. Aren't Asset Classes constituents of Asset Allocation?
• I don't see a way to edit a Deposit Account (need to change the currency) It would be good to have a disabled Edit context menu option to make it clear that it is because of a transfer transaction.
• The new Deposit Accounts, added in the Deposit Accounts view, are created with the default currency
• When adding a new Security from Yahoo Finance, it would be useful to pick up the security currency
• In Asset Allocation,
  • a field for the security symbol would be really useful
  • a value/column for setting/editing Allocation % of Total (right now the Allocation for sub-categories is expressed in % of the parent, not the total)
• Add New Instrument, the ability to sort by column (i.e. symbol) would help a lot

Describe alternatives you've considered Searching the documentation and forums, watching the introductory video again.

Additional context As mentioned, this is a view of someone just starting with the application. Without going back to the documentation/videos, I am unable to do pretty much anything besides what I added in the initial wizard. The Transaction menu is the only place where I could perform some actions but without a Security I'm stuck. I think the UI should be a bit more intuitive and user-friendly.

Thanks for this interesting software!

[pfalcon]

This is a feedback from someone who has just installed PP.

Suggestion: change the title to "Feedback from a new user" to improve clarity and avoid ambiguity.

I think writing these down would be useful for new users as it is viewed from a perspective different to those who are used to the software package.

I personally agree with that, and try to dump my mind in such cases too (example: https://github.com/buchen/portfolio/issues/3303). But hard-working, not-seeing-the-light-of-day maintainers and contributors obviously have different perspective on such feedback ;-).

Without going back to the documentation/videos, I am unable to do pretty much anything besides what I added in the initial wizard.

Well, I don't agree with most of your specific points, or this conclusion. You definitely should watch videos, read documentation (almost non-existent) and 3rd-party blog-posts, and just spend some time hovering your mouse cursor around and reading tooltips for application elements. And surely, you should do that after loading one of the sample portfolio files provided.

However, seeking for a rational seed anywhere, I do notice that "New security" action is indeed not available thru the main menu! Maybe @buchen would like to pay attention to that and add it to the "Transactions" menu, as not everybody can see right away that plus-in-a-circle toolbar button in the opposite corner from where they are likely looking initially. (Because indeed, another logical place for "New security..." would be right-click context menu on "All securities" in the left navbar. But having it in the main menu is apparently more important.)

[alensiljak]

Suggestion: change the title to "Feedback from a new user" to improve clarity and avoid ambiguity.

Done.

I personally agree with that, and try to dump my mind in such cases too (example: #3303). But hard-working, not-seeing-the-light-of-day maintainers and contributors obviously have different perspective on such feedback ;-).

Possibly. I've been writing and maintaining Open Source software for years and have been through that situation many times, on both sides of the fence. It really depends on what the goals and priorities are. I believe software should make our lives easier and if an application is not easy to use then it rubs me the wrong way, in a sense.

Well, I don't agree with most of your specific points, or this conclusion. You definitely should watch videos, read documentation (almost non-existent) and 3rd-party blog-posts, and just spend some time hovering your mouse cursor around and reading tooltips for application elements. And surely, you should do that after loading one of the sample portfolio files provided.

True. However, that sets a high barrier to entry, so to speak. How much time do I need just to be able to even start using the application? Hours, days, weeks? Am I certain that I will even find the thing I'm looking for? Having to make these decisions, the easier default is just to go back to using whatever I was using before.

Not to mention that I've already gone through every option available on the screen and have not found what I was looking for.

However, seeking for a rational seed anywhere, I do notice that "New security" action is indeed not available thru the main menu! Maybe @buchen would like to pay attention to that and add it to the "Transactions" menu, as not everybody can see right away that plus-in-a-circle toolbar button in the opposite corner from where they are likely looking initially. (Because indeed, another logical place for "New security..." would be right-click context menu on "All securities" in the left navbar. But having it in the main menu is apparently more important.)

Which exact plus are you referring to?

The only plus I see is the one next to the Securities title:

and that does not fit the bill. Maybe I'm blind but I really see no way to move ahead and, sorry but, your answer does not really provide any new insights. ;) The one next to Taxonomies I've already used to add Asset Classes.

Please take my feedback not as a requirement but as a way to make it easier for the newcomers to adopt the application. If that's what you want, that is.

[alensiljak]

Alright, based on your feedback, opening All Securities, then the plus icon and "New Instrument" seems to be the next step. Thanks for that.

It seems very simple once you know how to do it. That's exactly the point of my previous feedback. Now I can't unsee it but I can't help wonder how many users hit the same bump.

[pfalcon]

An intuitive way to create a Security. Right now, I see no way to add a security.

This should be fixed in the latest releases. There're now 3 ways to add security (and other objects with which PP works):

• New... menu item
• "Plus" icon in the navpane on the left (which previously was just "New watchlist...")
• Old "plus" icon on the top right of "All securities" pane.

In Asset Allocation, a field for the security symbol would be really useful

I believe this should be fixed by https://github.com/buchen/portfolio/pull/3425

Asset Classes and Asset Allocation are different? Adding Securities to Asset Allocation does not add them to Asset Classes. Aren't Asset Classes constituents of Asset Allocation?

I guess there may be some misunderstanding. "Asset Classes" is just is just one taxonomies supported by PP. There're a few predefined, which you can add to you portfolio with a few clicks, or you can make your own taxonomy in general. Then for each taxonomy, you can define its own desired asset allocation and PP will show desired vs actual and even somehow help with rebalancing.

[flywire]

See #3591

I'd say import is the best way to add securities for new users. See https://forum.portfolio-performance.info/t/import-csv-file/17123 or try importing pdf contract notes for new securities after the portfolio is created.