Reconcile does not work for me

[Ken Heard]

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Elizabeth Dodd wrote:
> On Tue, 12 May 2009, Ken Heard wrote:
>> So, it appears that the only way I can "finish" the reconciliation is by
>> checking *all* the entries in the reconcile window as appearing both in
>> my ledger and on the bank statements.  If so, the purpose of a
>> reconciliation statement as a record of what has not cleared both is
>> obviated.
>>
>> Finally, I found no option which permits saving "a part finished
>> reconciliation", a contradiction of terms.
>>
>> Ken Heard, Toronto, Canada
> 
> If the difference isn't zero, you can't say that the reconciliation is 
> complete. Agreed.

No.  The reconciliation is complete if all the differences are accounted
for.  The ledger balance and the bank balance are reconciled -- in
accordance with the dictionary definition of that word -- even if the
two balances are different *as long as the differences are known and
recorded*.

If in the reconciliation process I find entries the bank has made but I
have not, then I can make a corresponding entry.  If the reverse, for
example I have written cheques which have not cleared the bank as of the
date of the statement, obviously I have to subtract the amount of these
cheques from the balance of the bank statement so that the "real" bank
balance agrees with my ledger.

In fact this information is shown in the balance pane.  What in that
pane is called the "ending balance" is the balance according to the bank
 which I entered at the beginning of the process.  The reconciled
balance is what my ledger shows.  The last line, the difference between
the two is the aggregate of the items making up the difference.  If I
know what those items are the two balances are reconciled.

So, what GnuCash calls"Postponed" I call "Reconciled".  I will
consequently only reach the state of bliss which GnuCash calls
"reconciled" -- and thus be able to "finish" the reconciliation as
GnuCash uses the term -- if both my balance and the bank's balance are
the same on the date of the bank statement.  Such a situation is rare.

Now that I understand the idiosyncrasies of the GnuCash "reconcile"
module and have reconciled myself to them, I have the following
question:  In the debit and credit panes of the reconcile window, will
using the "delete" button remove only the highlighted entries in each
pane, or will it remove the entry entirely from the transaction
register/journal as well?

If the former then I can use the reconcile window to track the items
making up the difference between the bank and ledger balances.  I know
that items cleared in the reconcile window are indicated as cleared in
the transaction register/journal, but it would be useful to have a list
of the outstanding items not cleared in the reconcile window.

Finally, is there a way I can have interest step in the reconcile window
removed?  I find it easier, quicker and simpler to enter the interest as
a separate transaction when it is paid, rather than go through that step.

> The option for saving a part-finished reconcile (because you have to search 
> out to find where the error is, and this might take some time of sifting 
> paperwork etc) is called "Postpone".
> It's on the menu.

In view of the forgoing, the terminology used by GnuCash is hardly
intuitive.  Why not remove Postpone button entirely and replace the
Finish button with a Close button?  So what if the "Difference" is not
zero?  It would certainly be simplify the window.

Is not requiring the Difference to be zero as GnuCash does an
overzealous attempt to be user friendly?  If the Difference is not zero
the user will surely know about it when she sees it without such a
forceable reminder -- and in due course take appropriate action.

Regards, Ken Heard

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