Possible problem with splits

[Mike or Penny Novack]

>
>I completely disagree with what (I think) you asking for. As it is
>now, there is a clean separation between the roles of the
>per-transaction transaction description and the per-split memo field.
>Each serves a well-defined purpose that does not change with the
>context. What you appear to be asking for is that the transaction
>description take on the value of the memo field, depending on the
>account you view the transaction from and how you view the transaction
>(expanded or unexpanded)? For me, this is confusing behavior that
>would subtract significantly from the cleanliness and consistency of
>the user interface. If you want to see the memo fields, either default
>to auto-split mode and click the transaction (from any account that's
>involved), or select the transaction and click the split button.
>
>  
>
NO --- there is nothing wrong with being in disagreement but we should 
at least be clear about what we are disagreeing about. I am talking 
about the DESCRIPTION field which shows up in the non-expanded view 
(forget about the fact that I initially called that "memo"). Nor am I 
talking about the (common) situation where in a split transaction there 
is nothing filled into the individual description fields (in each line). 
The current behavior is fine in that case. Nothing filled in for a split 
line, display the "master" description just like now. NO CHANGE.

What I am talking about is what would be normal for any business or 
other organization where all transactions would be by check (but not via 
invoices being paid) and what happens when a bank deposit is made. Are 
you suggesting.........
1) There be no USEFUL information in the description field of say any 
(unexpanded) transaction in an income account? The fact that the check 
was deposited is scarcely a useful description (you KNOW it was 
deposited if there is an income item booked).
2) That to see the information recorded in the description you need to 
expand the split (in the income account) and then try to find the right 
line among the many? Say the business deposits once daily and would have 
50 checks on that deposit slip.

I am not suggesting that this is a problem for our organization, but we 
operate in the UNREALISTIC environment of only a hundred or so 
transactions per year, rarely have more than a couple checks being 
deposited per month. That's why it took so long for me to see this. I am 
discussing the readiness of GnuCash for the real world of small business 
needs, realistic volumes, etc.

Are you trying to tell me (when you say that the suggested change would 
affect how you use GnuCash) that you fill information into the 
description fields of the individual lines because you thought that 
information would be useful (when viewing the transaction in the that 
account) but didn't want to see that information there? If you thought 
that what I was suggesting would make any change if there was no 
(individual) description entered then you misunderstood. Gnu cash 
already extracts (and displays) the amount from the correct line -- 
presumably not hard to have it also display the specific description IF 
there was one entered (if not spaces).