Trouble With "Enter" vs. "Tab" (Again)

[John Ralls]

On Nov 12, 2011, at 10:38 PM, David T. wrote:

> As a long time user of Gnucash, I understand that the developer group makes distinctions between the "Enter" key and the "Tab" key, but once again, I have had scratch my head at this seemingly arbitrary distinction.
> 
> The circumstance that had me pulling my hair out this time was when I attempted to enter the sale of a stock with a capital gain/loss. I don't buy or sell stock often, so each time, it's an adventure.
> 
> You see, I *know* there is an oddity with this situation, but it *still* took me about 20 minutes to remember how to work Gnucash into doing what is supposed to happen. 
> 
> 
> I looked at some of my earlier transactions, and tried to follow them. Each time I entered the split for the gain/loss in the asset account, Gnucash dutifully filled in 1 share priced at the gain/loss. If I then went in and zeroed these out, Gnucash dutifully added *another* line against Imbalance-USD in the full amount.
> 
> I tried going into the transaction from one of the other accounts, but that was not successful either.
> 
> 
> Then, I went to the Concept Guide (Chapter 8.7), and looked at the description there. I found nothing of help to solve my problem.
> 
> Finally, just about ready to give up, I REMEMBERED.
> 
> On the line, as I am finishing putting in the zero share line, instead of using the Enter key, I MUST TAB OFF THE LINE.
> 
> Then--and ONLY then--does the transaction get entered the correct way.
> 
> I continue to marvel at this distinction, and I cannot fathom why it would make any difference if these two keys caused the same actions in the software. I understand that some feel that "Entering" a transaction is Something More than merely "Tabbing," but honestly, this is just a nightmare for an average user (like me).
> 
> If there Truly is a Reason for this distinction--and that reason is still relevant in 2011--then I think that both the differences and their reasons NEED TO BE DOCUMENTED IN EVERY PLACE THAT THEY OCCUR. For example, I also know that 
> Tab/Enter do different things when a user types a new account while 
> inputting transactions in the register.
> 
> This one in particular is almost unfathomable.

Only because your lead-line* is too short. ;-)

When editing a transaction, "Tab" means to move to the next field in the split, or to a new split. "Return" means that
you're done with the transaction and runs the transaction balancing code, which is what creates the imbalance split.

It's absolutely true that the method of entering a split in a stock account which doesn't affect the number of shares
is a hack and that the balancing code will over-ride it if it isn't done perfectly. You can try the "lots" method for
generating your cap gains transactions, and while it has its own irritations, it doesn't require you to remember an arcane operational distinction when editing. 

Regards,
John Ralls

* For non-sailors: A fathom is a maritime unit of measure for the depth of water. In the days before electronics, it
 was measured by a weighted line called a lead-line. If the water was deeper than the line was long, then one couldn't 
measure it: It was "unfoathomable".