moving transactions between accounts

[Kaaren Shalom & Richard Gilligan]

The new FAQ answer proposed below is based on the fast, safe, simple 
and obviously correct approach Rick described.

On Monday, September 15, 2003, at 03:44 PM, Rick Ziegler wrote:

> When relocating transactions en masse, I usually put the destination 
> account name in the clipborard with CTRL-C.  Then I simply highlight 
> the source account in the register by clicking on it, and then CTRL-v 
> replaces the source account.  Pressing enter then moves the 
> transaction out of the register.
>
> This simple technique is less prone to error.
>
> -regards
> Rick
>

 From 
<http://www.gnucash.org/docs/v1.8/C/gnucash-guide/appendixb_using.html>

B.3.1. Q: How can I move the transactions from account A into account 
B, thus combining them?

<Current answer>
A: There is no easy way to do this, you will need to change every 
transaction reference for account A to account B.  Use the "Find 
Transactions" feature and search for splits where Account = account A.  
This will list all of them in a single journal-style register window 
where you can actually edit the accounts.  Change the transfer account 
in each from A to B.  As you edit the transactions they will be removed 
from the register. When the register is empty, account A will be empty 
and you can remove it.
</Current answer>

<Proposed Answer>
A: At present, Gnucash does not offer a way to move groups of splits 
from one account to another. You will need to move them one at a time. 
Open the register for account A and select 
Menu>View>Style>Transaction_Journal to expose all the splits.  For 
every split where the "Account" field shows account A reset it to 
account B. To do this quickly and safely, first use <CTRL-c> to COPY 
the destination account name ("account B ") to the clipboard.  Then 
HIGHLIGHT each reference to account A by double clicking on it and use 
<CTRL-v> to PASTE the destination account name.  Pressing <ENTER> after 
each PASTE silently moves the transaction out of the register.

Be careful!  If you inadvertently reset the "Account" field to some 
other account, you will need luck to correct your mistake.
</Proposed Answer>

Thanks,

Richard