After an evaluation, GNOME has moved from Bugzilla to GitLab. Learn more about GitLab.
No new issues can be reported in GNOME Bugzilla anymore.
To report an issue in a GNOME project, go to GNOME GitLab.
Do not go to GNOME Gitlab for: Bluefish, Doxygen, GnuCash, GStreamer, java-gnome, LDTP, NetworkManager, Tomboy.
Bug 769075 - Add a ref in A/R to the invoice for payments.
Add a ref in A/R to the invoice for payments.
Status: RESOLVED OBSOLETE
Product: GnuCash
Classification: Other
Component: Business
git-maint
Other All
: Normal enhancement
: future
Assigned To: gnucash-core-maint
gnucash-core-maint
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
 
Reported: 2016-07-22 09:55 UTC by Mike Evans
Modified: 2018-06-29 23:49 UTC
See Also:
GNOME target: ---
GNOME version: ---



Description Mike Evans 2016-07-22 09:55:09 UTC
Invoices in the A/R account have a reference to the invoice number but payments made to that invoice do not. This makes it difficult to match payments to an invoice when eyeballing the account.

A payment via the payment dialog should insert the invoice ref in A/R.

This can be done by populating the Num field in the payment dialog with the invoice number as this value populates the ref field in A/R.
Comment 1 Derek Atkins 2016-07-22 13:54:01 UTC
Except that the Num field is per transaction, not per split, and a single payment could apply to multiple invoices.  So I don't see how that approach works in general.
Comment 2 Mike Evans 2016-07-22 14:07:16 UTC
I missed/forgot that I could pay multiple invoices for the same customer at the same time. So not as easy as I first thought.

Same applies to pre-payments not having Num set in A/R
Comment 3 Mike Evans 2016-07-22 16:35:42 UTC
Since I'd forgot that payments are assigned to Customers not to invoices I'm not sure there's easy way to do this without changes to lots and that way things are connected together. Personally speaking I get paid per invoice so I never run into paying multiple invoices with one payment situation.

So I'll set this free for others to consider, or close if thought to be unreasonable. I can always set the Num field manually.
Comment 4 Geert Janssens 2016-09-19 14:21:45 UTC
In theory it's even possible to come up with a scheme for the scenario where one payment covers multiple invoices. However it can go bad afterwards. The information would be set when creating the payment transaction from the business features. However the user can alter the payment afterwards without using these same features, so the information set could become invalid and there's nothing code can do to prevent this other than also making payment transactions read-only. That will have a big impact.
Comment 5 Alex Straun 2016-09-19 15:12:42 UTC
Payments can be assigned and reassigned.  I believe that the balance on any invoice is dictated by the payments (amount, date etc ) assigned to the invoice.  I also believe that the aging reports feed off this information.  So the questions are as follows:
Is it possible to show an aging report for a specific invoice?
If partial payments are made will they be accurately affected in the invoice balance and or the aging report?
If one payment is assigned to multiple invoices, are the accurate portions assigned to each invoice?

If that is the case then it should be possible to generate reports by invoice and by customer without major rework of the software.

Let me know your thoughts on these.

Alex
Comment 6 Derek Atkins 2016-09-19 16:02:20 UTC
(In reply to Alex Straun from comment #5)
> Payments can be assigned and reassigned.  I believe that the balance on any
> invoice is dictated by the payments (amount, date etc ) assigned to the
> invoice.  I also believe that the aging reports feed off this information. 

Yes, the payments are assigned to invoices via the Lot.
The invoice balance is dictated by the Lot balance.
And yes, the aging report feeds off this.

> So the questions are as follows:
> Is it possible to show an aging report for a specific invoice?

No.  That doesn't really make sense.  However you can run an Invoice Report on a single invoice then turn on "Display Payments", which will show the payments that have been applied to that invoice.

> If partial payments are made will they be accurately affected in the invoice
> balance and or the aging report?

In the aging report: yes.
I'm not sure exactly what you mean by "affected[sic] in the invoice balance"?

> If one payment is assigned to multiple invoices, are the accurate portions
> assigned to each invoice?

This depends on your definition of "accurate portions". GnuCash uses a FIFO method, so it will apply the payment to the oldest invoice first, then when that's "full" it will continue on to the next invoice until it's full, and so on.  You can select which invoices go into this FIFO calculation.

> If that is the case then it should be possible to generate reports by
> invoice and by customer without major rework of the software.

I think all the data is already there.  But the original question was about having the data be in the Register, not in Reports.

> Let me know your thoughts on these.
> 
> Alex
Comment 7 Alex Straun 2016-09-19 23:10:54 UTC
Love the responses.  I am trying to turn on the display payments (covering face ) not finding it.  However, on your last comment I did not realise the discussion was about changing the register. Once I can generate reports that give the analysis I am comfortable.  It is just to understand how to get these reports.  Once successful I will update.
Comment 8 Alex Straun 2016-09-19 23:20:23 UTC
Can anyone provide step by step instructions on how to see payments made on the invoice as outlined :

However you can run an Invoice Report on a single invoice then turn on "Display Payments", which will show the payments that have been applied to that invoice.

Not getting to apply this suggestion.

Alex
Comment 9 Chris Good 2016-09-20 00:36:14 UTC
Hi Alex,

Reports, Business, Easy Invoice, Options, Display Tab, drag bottom edge down so can see 'Payments'.

Regards, Chris Good
Comment 10 Alex Straun 2016-09-20 01:41:41 UTC
Hi Chris

Thank you.  I needed to scroll down to see the option for payments.  

This report is useful.  Thanks

Alex
Comment 11 Derek Atkins 2016-09-22 14:34:50 UTC
Also works in Printable Invoice and, I believe, Fancy Invoice.
I don't know about Tax Invoice.
Comment 12 John Ralls 2018-06-29 23:49:57 UTC
GnuCash bug tracking has moved to a new Bugzilla host. The new URL for this bug is https://bugs.gnucash.org/show_bug.cgi?id=769075. Please continue processing the bug there and please update any external references or bookmarks.