Multi-currency

[Mike Alexander]

--On September 23, 2009 9:12:09 AM -0400 Derek Atkins <warlord at MIT.EDU> 
wrote:

> I think your recent changes make this patch more appropriate for
> inclusion:  It's off by default, you use a new 'trading account'
> account type instead of (IMHO incorrectly using Income), ...

I'm glad you think the recent changes are an improvement.  I always 
thought a new account type was the right idea, but didn't do it 
originally because adding an account type isn't trivial, although it 
turned out to be not as hard as I thought it would be.

I thought of something last night that might improve things even more. 
There really isn't any need for the global "use trading accounts" 
option.  I've always thought this was a bad idea and that the option 
should be associated with the GnuCash file instead of being global. 
Now that trading accounts are a different account type this is trivial. 
I should change things so that trading splits are created if and only 
if the current file has at least one trading account.  Then if you want 
to use these in a new (or existing) file simply create the top level 
"Trading" place holder account.  This could be a new option on the 
templates for new files.  Then the global option (which I never really 
liked) could be removed.

I'm leaving for Sicily tomorrow for a week or so, but I'll try to make 
this change when I get back if people think this is a good idea.  If 
so, it might be better to hold off for that before merging this, 
although I suppose it doesn't matter too much since the change would be 
upwards compatible.  I should have EMail access while I'm gone, but I 
may not have much time to follow this discussion.

        Mike