GNOME Bugzilla – Bug 633524
Section 4.1 (Transactions > Basic Concepts) introduce some splits concepts to help with understanding transactions
Last modified: 2018-06-29 22:46:21 UTC
§4.1 talks a little bit about transactions, splits, and the account register. I think it should expand on what a transaction is in GnuCash, and what a split is, and what information they can contain (e.g. date, description, accounts, amounts, memos). This will lay the groundwork for entering transactions and splits in the next section and provide a natural progression onto that section. See also [1]. [1] https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=621573#c7
I suggest that 4.1 should refer to chapter 2.2.1 for the basic explanation of a transaction. As you say, this section should focus on laying groundwork for entering transactions. Therefore, here we can focus on Gnucash implementation. My initial proposal: §4.1 Basic Concepts For a general explanation of transactions, see 2.2.1 Files, Accounts and Transactions. For more on Double entry bookkeeping, see 2.1.3 Double Entry. In GnuCash, double entry bookkeeping is handled in transactions using Splits. A split identifies the account to which it refers, the amount of money specifically involved with that account, and can contain an additional note if needed. As noted in 2.2.2 Double Entry, each transaction requires at least *two* splits: one for the source account, and one for the destination account. However, Gnucash supports multiple splits in a single transaction, and it is possible to have multiple accounts involved for both source and destination accounts. The following sections explain how to enter a basic transaction (with two splits), and a complex transaction with multiple splits.
Hi David, this is a good start. What I'm realising now is that this issue needs to wait until we clear up the overlap between sections 2.2 and 4.2, as per bug 633385. Then we can come back to this and hash it out. So I'm setting the `Depends on' attribute of this bug to help us manage this.
Yawar-- Although I notice a couple of discrepancies between the texts (e.g. the reference to "2.2.2 Double Entry here, which should be "2.2.3 Transaction"), my proposed text here takes this into account, and assumes that 2.2 is rewritten. Did you check out my proposed changes there? David
Hi David, sorry about that, it's a limitation of the workflow :-( Let me explain. I have to make sure whatever changes I make to the docs are based off of the `trunk', or canonical, version of the documentation. So right now I have bug 633385 as a work in progress, and my fix for that bug [1] makes some changes that are necessary to start work on this bug. I could just push that fix into the trunk, then start work on this fix, but that would be somewhat bad form as it wouldn't give people who watch BugZilla a chance to look at and comment on it. Especially since it's a relatively big change compared to the usual. Hopefully we can get this one started soon. Meanwhile, I'm also looking at bugs in unrelated areas that can be worked on right now. [1] bug 633385, comment 7
Created attachment 233839 [details] [review] Apply to gnucash-docs trunk David, I think my intent with this bug initially was to do a full explanation of the transaction and split objects in GnuCash. But now I'm realising that detailed specifications are probably better handled in the Help rather than the Concepts Guide--so I'm proposing now to just introduce the bare minimum possible in this section and let the reader absorb the specifics of working with transactions organically in the next section, with the help of the screenshots.
Created attachment 233840 [details] [review] Apply to gnucash-docs 2.4
Committed in revisions: 22718 22719
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