r23464 - gnucash-docs/branches/2.4/guide/C - [23463] bug #693493: Add text to tutorial to explain debit-credit columns

[Cristian Marchi]

Author: cmarchi
Date: 2013-11-30 09:39:17 -0500 (Sat, 30 Nov 2013)
New Revision: 23464
Trac: http://svn.gnucash.org/trac/changeset/23464

Modified:
   gnucash-docs/branches/2.4/guide/C/ch_basics.xml
   gnucash-docs/branches/2.4/guide/C/ch_txns.xml
Log:
[23463] bug #693493: Add text to tutorial to explain debit-credit columns

Modified: gnucash-docs/branches/2.4/guide/C/ch_basics.xml
===================================================================
--- gnucash-docs/branches/2.4/guide/C/ch_basics.xml	2013-11-30 14:31:02 UTC (rev 23463)
+++ gnucash-docs/branches/2.4/guide/C/ch_basics.xml	2013-11-30 14:39:17 UTC (rev 23464)
@@ -144,16 +144,33 @@
       debits increase the balance and credits decrease the balance. In
       liability, equity and income accounts, credits increase the balance
       and debits decrease the balance.</para>
+      
+      <para>In traditional double-entry accounting, the left column in the
+      register is used for debits, while the right column is used for credits.
+      Accountants record increases in asset, expense, and equity accounts on the
+      debit (left) side, and they record increases in liability, revenue, and capital
+      accounts on the credit (right) side. <application>&app;</application>
+      follows this convention in the register.</para> 
+      
+      <note>
+        <para>This accounting terminology can be confusing to new users,
+        which is why <application>&app;</application> allows you to use the
+        common terms <guilabel>Deposit</guilabel> and
+        <guilabel>Withdrawal</guilabel>. If you prefer the formal accounting
+        terms, you can change the account register column headings to use
+        them in the <guilabel>General</guilabel> tab under
+        <guilabel>Preferences</guilabel> (see the
+        <application>&app;</application> Help Manual for more information on
+        setting preferences).</para>
+      </note>
 
-      <para>This accounting terminology can be confusing to new users,
-      which is why <application>&app;</application> allows you to use the
-      common terms <guilabel>Deposit</guilabel> and
-      <guilabel>Withdrawal</guilabel>. If you prefer the formal accounting
-      terms, you can change the account register column headings to use
-      them in the <guilabel>General</guilabel> tab under
-      <guilabel>Preferences</guilabel> (see the
-      <application>&app;</application> Help Manual for more information on
-      setting preferences).</para>
+      <warning>
+        <para>Common use of the words <emphasis>debit</emphasis> and <emphasis>credit</emphasis> 
+        does not match how accountants use these words. In common use, 
+        <emphasis>credit</emphasis> generally has positive associations; in accounting,
+        <emphasis>credit</emphasis> is associated with decreases in asset,
+        expense and equity accounts.</para>
+      </warning>
 
     </sect2>
   </sect1>
@@ -245,17 +262,19 @@
       and depositing a paycheck. <xref linkend="chapter_txns"/> goes more
       in depth on how to enter transactions.</para>
 
-      <para>In double entry accounting, transactions always involve at
-      least two accounts–a source account and a destination account.
+      <para>In <link linkend="basics-accountingdouble2">double entry accounting</link>, 
+      transactions always involve at least two accounts–a source 
+      account and a destination account.
       <application>&app;</application> manages this by inserting a line
       into the transaction for every account that is affected, and
       recording the amounts involved in each line. A line within a
       transaction that records the account and amount of money involved is
       called a <firstterm>split</firstterm>. A transaction can contain an
       arbitrary number of splits.</para>
-
-      <para>Splits in transactions will be covered in <xref
-      linkend="txns-registers-multiaccount2"/></para>
+      <note>  
+        <para>Splits in transactions will be covered in <xref
+        linkend="txns-registers-multiaccount2"/></para>
+      </note>
     </sect2> <!-- basics-transactions2 -->
   </sect1> <!-- basics-entry1 -->
 

Modified: gnucash-docs/branches/2.4/guide/C/ch_txns.xml
===================================================================
--- gnucash-docs/branches/2.4/guide/C/ch_txns.xml	2013-11-30 14:31:02 UTC (rev 23463)
+++ gnucash-docs/branches/2.4/guide/C/ch_txns.xml	2013-11-30 14:39:17 UTC (rev 23464)
@@ -150,6 +150,12 @@
       which to change the account. Then click the next split line and
       repeat the process.</para>
 
+      <note>
+        <para>When creating a transaction in <application>&app;</application>, splits can be entered in any order.
+        However, when the transaction is closed (either when leaving the transaction, or when 
+        pressing the <keycap function="enter">Enter</keycap> key), all debit splits will jump ahead of all credit splits.</para>
+      </note>
+
       <para>In this example, choose the deposit account
       (<emphasis>Assets:Checking</emphasis>) and then enter the amount that
       is being deposited into it (e.g. $670). Follow this by entering the