2.0.1 and lots

[Guillaume Lessard]

I have been using Gnucash 1.8.* since early 2004 and, as such, have a 
lovingly-generated, multi-megabyte file.

I wanted to upgrade to 2.0.1, but I ran into a showstopper: lots. Simply 
put, 2.0.1 wrongly generates lots in my *cash account* as a side effect of 
"repairing" my transactions. Obviously, I don't *need* to "check and repair 
accounts" after my import... but should that command really change the 
information I put in my file?? After all, it may be necessary for me to use 
it down the road, and then I'd be hosed!

As an example, I started with this transaction:

9/1/06     Withdrawal
                        Wallet                 100.00
                        Output:Bank Fees         1.50
                        Banks:Checking                  101.50


But after importing into GnuCash 2 and "repairing", I now have, thanks to 
lots:

9/1/06     Withdrawal
                        Wallet                  19.05
                        Output:Bank Fees         1.50
                        Wallet                   8.38
                        Wallet                  15.00
                        Wallet                  19.00
                        Wallet                   6.00
                        Wallet                  10.00
                        Wallet                   4.97
                        Wallet                   1.49
                        Wallet                  10.00
                        Wallet                   1.00
                        Wallet                   0.70
                        Wallet                   4.41
                        Banks:Checking                  101.50


Upon investigation, what seems to have happened is that there were some 
transactions where I purchased and resold some Hong Kong Dollars (from my 
Wallet account, obviously not for the same amount of USD). During the 
scrubbing operation, GnuCash left a lot opened. Afterwards, it opens a new 
Lot at every debit transaction I do, and then closes the lots on credits 
(typically ATM withdrawals). It's pretty messy, there's no way to delete 
them wholesale... terrible!

I have read some info about lots:
<http://svn.gnucash.org/docs/HEAD/lotsoverview.html>

...and I agree they're a good idea, but *not for every account* !!!
In the case of buying foreign currency during a trip, I really really don't 
care how much loss or gain I experience in the transaction!! I'm happy the 
lots exist if I ever need them for my investment accounts, but otherwise I 
don't want them.

Is it possible add a preference to selectively turn off lots on 
non-investment accounts? Or, even better, selectively turn them on? Until 
such a preference exists, the fear of a potentially stealthy mangling is 
likely to keep me away from GnuCash 2...

--
Guillaume Lessard
glessard at tffenterprises.com