Settings Guide
Overview
Section titled “Overview”The Settings tab is where you configure PrivateACB’s core options. It contains six expandable panels organized into three groups: licensing, data sources, and database & logging.
Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+7
License & Activation
Section titled “License & Activation”This panel shows your current license status and lets you activate or manage your license key.
Trial Mode
Section titled “Trial Mode”If you haven’t activated a license yet, you’ll see:
- Trial status — How many trial calculations remain
- Feature comparison — What’s available in trial vs. licensed mode
- Activate button — Enter your license key to unlock the full app
For details on trial limits and what happens when the trial expires, see the Trial System Guide.
Licensed Mode
Section titled “Licensed Mode”Once activated, the panel shows:
- License key (partially masked) and activation date
- Licensed jurisdiction — Canada, US, Australia, UK, or All Jurisdictions (determines which calculation engines and reports are available)
- Feature list — All unlocked features for your tier
- Deactivate — Removes the license from this machine (frees the seat for use on another computer)
For purchasing, tier comparison, and activation instructions, see the Licensing Guide.
Exchange Form Status (1099-DA)
Section titled “Exchange Form Status (1099-DA)”US jurisdiction only. This panel lets you record which exchanges have issued you a 1099-DA form for each tax year. This affects how PrivateACB categorizes your transactions on Form 8949.
How It Works
Section titled “How It Works”- Each row represents an exchange that appears in your imported data
- Toggle the 1099-DA Received switch for exchanges that issued you a form
- Select the tax year the form covers
Why It Matters
Section titled “Why It Matters”Form 8949 sorts transactions into different “boxes” based on whether cost basis was reported to the IRS:
- Exchanges with 1099-DA: Transactions go into Box G/H/I (short-term) or Box J/K/L (long-term) — basis reported to the IRS
- Exchanges without 1099-DA: Transactions go into Box C (short-term) or Box F (long-term) — basis not reported
Starting in 2026, brokers are required to issue 1099-DA forms for digital asset transactions. For the complete explanation of how this integrates with Account-by-Account Basis tracking, see the 1099-DA & Account-by-Account Guide.
Currency API Configuration
Section titled “Currency API Configuration”This panel manages your API keys for fetching exchange rates and cryptocurrency prices. PrivateACB uses three data sources:
| Source | Data Provided | API Key Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Bank of Canada | CAD/USD exchange rates | No (free, no key needed) |
| Federal Reserve (FRED) | USD/CAD exchange rates | Yes (free registration) |
| CoinGecko | Cryptocurrency prices in USD, CAD, AUD, and GBP | Yes (free tier available) |
Managing API Keys
Section titled “Managing API Keys”For each source that requires a key:
- Configure — Enter your API key. Keys are stored securely using Windows DPAPI encryption (not in the database).
- Test — Verify the key works by making a test API call. A success/failure message appears immediately.
- Delete — Remove a stored key.
For step-by-step instructions on obtaining API keys and configuring each source, see the Crypto Price Fetching Guide.
Database Security
Section titled “Database Security”This panel lets you change the encryption password for your currently open database.
Changing Your Password
Section titled “Changing Your Password”- Enter your current password
- Enter a new password
- Confirm the new password
- Click Change Password
A password strength indicator shows the strength of your new password as you type.
For more about database encryption and creating new databases, see the Database Management Guide.
Export Database Copy
Section titled “Export Database Copy”This panel provides a quick way to create an optimized backup of your current database.
- Database info — Shows the currently open database file path and size
- Export — Creates a compacted copy (typically 10-30% smaller than the original) by running SQLite’s VACUUM operation into a new file
For the full export workflow and options, see the Export Database Guide.
Session Logging
Section titled “Session Logging”This panel controls how PrivateACB records system messages during your session.
Controls
Section titled “Controls”| Control | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Enable/Disable toggle | Turn session logging on or off |
| Auto-delete old logs | Automatically remove log files older than a set number of days |
| Max log file size | Set the maximum size before a log file is rotated |
| Open Logs Folder | Opens the log directory in Windows Explorer |
| Export Events | Exports the events table from the current database as a CSV file |
| Copy System Info | Copies system information (OS version, app version, database path) to clipboard for support requests |
For details on log file format, event types, and using logs for troubleshooting, see the System Messages & Logs Guide.
Related Guides
Section titled “Related Guides”- Getting Started — Overview of all tabs including Settings
- Licensing Guide — Purchasing, activating, and managing licenses
- Trial System Guide — Trial limits and upgrading
- Crypto Price Fetching Guide — API key setup for CoinGecko and FRED
- Database Management Guide — Creating, opening, and encrypting databases
- Export Database Guide — Creating optimized database backups
- System Messages & Logs Guide — Log files and event tracking
Last Updated: February 2026 PrivateACB Version: 2.0