word change requested for "to scrub"

10 Aug 2001 07:05:39 -0500

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On 09 Aug 2001 10:10:57 -0500, Bill Gribble wrote:

> On 09 Aug 2001 09:05:36 -0500, James A. Treacy wrote:
> > Why not use 'find unbalanced transactions'? If that is too long, 'find
> > unbalanced'.
> > 
> > This has two good features. First, the word find makes it
> > unthreatening - the action will not go and change things behind your
> > back. Words like cleanse, and most of the other words you suggested,
> > lead people (who don't read documentation) to think it could do
> > something dangerous. 
> 
> But "scrub" does more than just find unbalanced transactions.  It
> actually balances them by adding an additional split.  And orphan
> splits (those without an account) are changed to put them in an
> "orphanage" account.  
> 
> IMO we need to use a term like "cleanup" or "repair" that keeps the
> meaning that this is a beneficial but *not* idempotent operation. "Find"
> implies that nothing is actually done, which isn't the case. 
> 
> b.g.
> 

With all due respect, "to balance" would be the most appropriate
(English) appellation.  Here's what the dictionary says
(http://www.dictionary.com/cgi-bin/dict.pl?term=balance):

    5.  Accounting

      1. To compute the difference between the debits and credits of (an
    account).
      2. To reconcile or equalize the sums of the debits and credits of
    (an account).
      3. To settle (an account, for example) by paying what is owed.

"to reconcile" would also appropriately describe the actions that are
taking place (http://www.dictionary.com/cgi-bin/dict.pl?term=reconcile):

    4. To adjust; to settle; as, to reconcile differences.

I believe either one of these would be the most appropriate.  I
personally balance my checkbook, and reconcile my accounts with each
other.  Maybe I'm weird that way....

-- 
Matthew Vanecek
perl -e 'print
$i=pack(c5,(41*2),sqrt(7056),(unpack(c,H)-2),oct(115),10);'
********************************************************************************
For 93 million miles, there is nothing between the sun and my shadow
except me.
I'm always getting in the way of something...

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<BODY>On 09 Aug 2001 10:10:57 -0500, Bill Gribble wrote:<pre>&gt; On 09 Aug 2001 09:05:36 -0500, James A. Treacy wrote:
&gt; &gt; Why not use 'find unbalanced transactions'? If that is too long, 'find
&gt; &gt; unbalanced'.
&gt; &gt; 
&gt; &gt; This has two good features. First, the word find makes it
&gt; &gt; unthreatening - the action will not go and change things behind your
&gt; &gt; back. Words like cleanse, and most of the other words you suggested,
&gt; &gt; lead people (who don't read documentation) to think it could do
&gt; &gt; something dangerous. 
&gt; 
&gt; But &quot;scrub&quot; does more than just find unbalanced transactions. It
&gt; actually balances them by adding an additional split. And orphan
&gt; splits (those without an account) are changed to put them in an
&gt; &quot;orphanage&quot; account. 
&gt; 
&gt; IMO we need to use a term like &quot;cleanup&quot; or &quot;repair&quot; that keeps the
&gt; meaning that this is a beneficial but *not* idempotent operation. &quot;Find&quot;
&gt; implies that nothing is actually done, which isn't the case. 
&gt; 
&gt; b.g.
&gt; </pre><TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%">
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With all due respect, &quot;to balance&quot; would be the most appropriate (English) appellation. &nbsp;Here's what the dictionary says (<A HREF="http://www.dictionary.com/cgi-bin/dict.pl?term=balance">http://www.dictionary.com/cgi-bin/dict.pl?term=balance</A>):

<blockquote>
    5. &nbsp;<FONT SIZE="3"><I><U>Accounting</U></I></FONT SIZE="3"><br>
    <br>
    &nbsp;&nbsp;1. To compute the difference between the debits and credits of (an account).<br>
    &nbsp;&nbsp;2. To reconcile or equalize the sums of the debits and credits of (an account).<br>
    &nbsp;&nbsp;3. To settle (an account, for example) by paying what is owed.<br>
    <br>

</blockquote>
&quot;to reconcile&quot; would also appropriately describe the actions that are taking place (<A HREF="http://www.dictionary.com/cgi-bin/dict.pl?term=reconcile:">http://www.dictionary.com/cgi-bin/dict.pl?term=reconcile</A>)<A HREF="http://www.dictionary.com/cgi-bin/dict.pl?term=reconcile:">:</A>
<blockquote>
    4. To adjust; to settle; as, to reconcile differences.
</blockquote>
I believe either one of these would be the most appropriate. &nbsp;I personally <B>balance</B> my checkbook, and <B>reconcile </B>my accounts with each other. &nbsp;Maybe I'm weird that way....<br>
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<pre>-- 
Matthew Vanecek
perl -e 'print $i=pack(c5,(41*2),sqrt(7056),(unpack(c,H)-2),oct(115),10);'
********************************************************************************
For 93 million miles, there is nothing between the sun and my shadow except me.
I'm always getting in the way of something...</pre></TD>
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</TABLE>
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