I'm trying to understand 'Exporting Data' and XML and not
having a lot of success.
Okay, I've downloaded the data as an XML file. If I open it
in a browser it just comes up a whole lot of text...means
nothing to me.
If I open with Excel, it opens up okay but not very user
friendly. I would be pretty sure in saying that if I were to
present this to our accountant for auditing, he would have a
difficult time of this.
So the question is. What can I do with this file if I want
to show it to our members or our accountant? I've checked
out "You can learn more about XML from the World Wide Web
Consortium™." link in the help site but this is all too
high tech for me.
Thank you
Tekko Roos

XML is an open, industry standard format for data exchange.
We support XML so that others will adopt this open exchange
format for club accounting data. We've been partially
successful, as at least one other program can read the club
accounting XML.

Although you can open and read the XML file, it isn't
designed to be interpreted by humans. Use the accounting
reports for that. The ledger and contributions reports are
especially useful in audits.

You can download a complete, documented copy of your club's
data in XML. If you wish to reload an XML backup to bivio,
simply attach the file to a message and send it to
support@bivio.com.

By the way, the NAIC has refused to adopt the XML format or
any other open format (in fact, NCA and NOCA encrypt your
data so that only NCA/NOCA can read the files). We
encourage you to contact the NAIC about this, if you are
concerned. It is out of our hands, unfortunately.

Best,
--Ion

Tekko Roos wrote:
> I'm trying to understand 'Exporting Data' and XML and not having a lot of success.

Thank you Ion for your reply,
Basically from what I can gather XML is useless for what I
want.
For an accountant to do an audit on my club accounts he can
go through the website or I have to print out out lots an
lots of reports.

Ion Yadigaroglu wrote:
> XML is an open, industry standard format for data exchange.
> We support XML so that others will adopt this open exchange
> format for club accounting data. We've been partially
> successful, as at least one other program can read the club
> accounting XML.
>
> Although you can open and read the XML file, it isn't
> designed to be interpreted by humans. Use the accounting
> reports for that. The ledger and contributions reports are
> especially useful in audits.
>
> You can download a complete, documented copy of your club's
> data in XML. If you wish to reload an XML backup to bivio,
> simply attach the file to a message and send it to
> support@bivio.com.
>
> By the way, the NAIC has refused to adopt the XML format or
> any other open format (in fact, NCA and NOCA encrypt your
> data so that only NCA/NOCA can read the files). We
> encourage you to contact the NAIC about this, if you are
> concerned. It is out of our hands, unfortunately.
>
> Best,
> --Ion
>
> Tekko Roos wrote:
> > I'm trying to understand 'Exporting Data' and XML and not having a lot of success.

Yes - XML won't help you with your accountant, unless he is
importing into a club accounting program that supports XML.

Why don't you simply make the accountant a guest in your
club? He can browse all the reports he needs - you need
print out nothing.

--Ion

Tekko Roos wrote:
> For an accountant to do an audit on my club accounts
> he can go through the website or I have to print out out lots > and lots of reports.