Bill System Questions

[David T.]

Derek--

Thanks for the reply, and the explanation of your choice for the interface. And I apologize for getting snarky.

The leads on using these features have indeed been a great help (especially that whole "posting" thing 8-) ), and I am continuing to try things out there to see how to utilize the system effectively for my needs.

As I try to convert over to using this module, I would like to ask others whether there are any positive or negative reasons for engaging this retroactively. I am thinking about applying the invoicing retroactively to the beginning of the year (and perhaps further), but wonder whether the effort is worth it. I honestly don't know what the pros or cons for this might be. And if I do, is there a way for me to link a pre-existing check transaction to a newly-created Gnucash bill, or is there some other way to handle that scenario?

TIA,
David

--- On Wed, 3/25/09, Derek Atkins <warlord at MIT.EDU> wrote:

> From: Derek Atkins <warlord at MIT.EDU>
> Subject: Re: Bill System Questions
> To: sunfish62 at yahoo.com
> Cc: "Des Dougan" <des at douganconsulting.com>, "Users Gnucash" <gnucash-user at gnucash.org>
> Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 10:51 AM
> Hi,
> 
> The fact that there are circular paths in the GUI is a
> direct
> result of the pre-meditated choice to allow different
> mechanisms
> to get to various business features.  Instead of forcing
> you to
> get to different pages/dialogs only from one path through
> the UI
> I chose explicitly to provide multiple ways to get to
> various
> dialogs.   The result of this is that there are circular
> paths.
> 
> I'm sorry if that confused you, but it was a deliberate
> choice
> to make it EASIER to get to a specific page.  Each page is
> independent, with no knowledge of how you got to the page,
> so going from A -> B -> C -> D doesn't let D
> know that it shouldn't
> let you get to A again.  However you can get to C either
> through
> the main menu or through B, or perhaps even from A or D.
> 
> As for my comments about stupid users and idiots, there are
> lots
> of stupid people out there, and lots of idiots, too.  I
> certainly
> wasn't directing it at you specifically.  I just
> pointing out that
> gnucash is a tool and all tools can be used to help you or,
> if
> used incorrectly, to hurt yourself.  Even the simple
> gardening
> trowel can slice open your finger if used incorrectly.
> 
> I recognize you've worked hard over the years supplying
> bug reports
> and periodically a patch or two, and I thank you for your
> continued
> support.
> 
> -derek
> 
> "David T." <sunfish62 at yahoo.com> writes:
> 
> > Des, Derek and Elizabeth--
> >
> > I appreciate all the assistance. I will strive to
> understand these features better. Posting the invoices will
> (obviously) help a great deal. It's too bad I didn't
> see the section on posting invoices in the Concept Guide, or
> the button on the toolbar; my eyes stayed within the Edit
> Bill window.
> >
> > Derek, I take exception to your comments with regard
> to "stupid users" and "idiots." Your
> comments are rude, and do a disservice to the Gnucash
> community. Many software developers consider the input of
> their user base (even the "stupid" ones) to be a
> valuable asset, and use these inputs to gain insight on how
> their software is received by that user base. This feedback
> can serve to improve the software. I have seen over the
> years, however, that you frequently consider users to be
> annoyances best dealt with by insulting them, as you have
> done here.
> >
> > I recognize that you have made great contributions to
> this software package, and I am sincerely grateful for both
> the software and your ongoing support for it. 
> >
> > In anticipation of your hackneyed response that
> "patches are always welcome," I will reiterate
> that I am not a programmer, and have done my best to help
> this software and this community in the ways I know how. 
> >
> > David
> >
> > --- On Mon, 3/23/09, Derek Atkins
> <warlord at MIT.EDU> wrote:
> >
> >> From: Derek Atkins <warlord at MIT.EDU>
> >> Subject: Re: Bill System Questions
> >> To: "Des Dougan"
> <des at douganconsulting.com>
> >> Cc: sunfish62 at yahoo.com, "Users Gnucash"
> <gnucash-user at gnucash.org>
> >> Date: Monday, March 23, 2009, 11:21 PM
> >> HI,
> >> 
> > [snip]
> >> >> 7) When searching for a bill to pay from
> the
> >> Process Payment window,
> >> >> the search results window re-uses the
> general
> >> results window.
> >> >> Unfortunately, this window includes a
> Process
> >> Payment button, which
> >> >> leads the unsuspecting stupid user (me)
> into a
> >> foggy haze trying to
> >> >> figure out where they are in the Process
> Payment
> >> process.
> >> >
> >> > If you use the Payables Aging report (and
> Receivables
> >> Aging for your
> >> > invoices), you can select the sum owed, click
> on the
> >> Bill link to see
> >> > the bill you created, then select Business,
> Pay
> >> Invoice. To me, it's a
> >> > cleaner process.
> >> 
> >> Either way, stupid users can shoot themselves in
> the foot. 
> >> There just
> >> aren't that many safety measures in the world
> to
> >> protect an idiot.  If
> >> you don't understand the tools you're
> using you can
> >> still drill a hole
> >> in your head.  I'm sorry, but I'm of the
> opinion
> >> that the drill maker
> >> is NOT responsible for you putting the bit to your
> skull
> >> and you pulling
> >> the trigger.   You get what you deserve.
> >> 
> >> >> Please remember to CC this list on all
> your
> >> replies.
> >> >> You can do this by using Reply-To-List or
> >> Reply-All.
> >> 
> >> -derek
> >> 
> >> -- 
> >>        Derek Atkins, SB '93 MIT EE, SM '95
> MIT
> >> Media Laboratory
> >>        Member, MIT Student Information Processing
> Board 
> >> (SIPB)
> >>        URL: http://web.mit.edu/warlord/   
> PP-ASEL-IA    
> >> N1NWH
> >>        warlord at MIT.EDU                        PGP
> key
> >> available
> >
> >
> >
> >       
> >
> >
> 
> -- 
>        Derek Atkins, SB '93 MIT EE, SM '95 MIT
> Media Laboratory
>        Member, MIT Student Information Processing Board 
> (SIPB)
>        URL: http://web.mit.edu/warlord/    PP-ASEL-IA    
> N1NWH
>        warlord at MIT.EDU                        PGP key
> available