how to handle different expenses in a single transaction

[John Dablin]

On Monday 20 October 2008, David T. wrote:
> Yes you can. The split transaction is precisely the way you
> accomplish this.
>
> Your example would read as follows:
>
> Liabilities:Credit Card     150
> Expenses:Computer                50
> Expenses:Groceries               50
> Expenses:Clothing                50
>

It may help Girard Aquino if I say that when I first started using 
Gnucash I didn't find entering split transactions at all intuitive. 
This is how I would enter the above example. I don't know if it's 
the "correct" way, but it seems to work...

1. Enter the total amount of the transaction (150) under 'Charge'. 
Don't hit return.

2. Click on the 'Split' button. 2 extra lines will drop down, one 
with Liabilities:Credit Card as the transfer account and 150.00 
under 'Charge', and one with 150.00 under 'Payment'.

3. In the second line, click on the transfer account and select 
Expenses:Computer. Change the amount under 'Payment' to 50 and hit 
return. A new line will appear with 'Imbalance' in the transfer 
account and 100 (the remaining balance) under payment.

4. In the new line, change the transfer account from 'Imbalance' 
to 'Expenses:Groceries', and the amount to 50.00, and hit return. 
Again, a new line will appear with 'Imbalance', and the remaining 
50 under Payment.

5. Change 'Imbalance' to 'Expenses:Clothing' and hit return. As 
there is now no imbalance remaining, no new line will appear, and 
you're done.

If you wish, click on the 'Split' button to hide the split.

Hope this helps
John Dablin