Usability questions

[Derek Atkins]

Hi,

On Sat, December 11, 2010 6:21 am, Talengix wrote:
> Greetings,
>
[snip]
> 2. The process of creating splits seems very unintuitive (if I'm doing it
> right) to me. First I adjust the date and then add a description. Next, I
> must go way up to the main buttons and click Split. Then I must go way
> down
> to the transaction and add the transaction amount for one account. Then I
> must be careful to not hit enter or it wrecks the whole transaction and I
> must cancel and start over. Assuming I don't mistakenly hit the enter
> button
> by habit, to get the next part of the transaction I must go way back up to
> the split button on the main bar and click not once but twice. The first
> click collapses the first split line (why?). The second click finally
> opens
> them both up. Now, finally, I can choose the other account and finish the
> split. Furthermore, I was unable to find any shortcuts to do splits
> quicker
> and more efficiently. I think this is a serious problem since in double
> entry accounting probably 95% of all transactions involve a Split. Let me
> know if I am doing this wrong.

I think you're doing it wrong.

First, I think 95% of all transactions are "Basic" transactions, meaning
they have exactly two Splits, one debit and one credit of equal value. 
GnuCash is designed to make it extremely easy to enter in a Basic
transaction.  All you do is put the "other" account into the transfer
column.  Voila, you're done.  GnuCash will enter in both Splits for you
automatically.

For that other 5% where you really DO have a multi-split transaction
(involved >2 accounts), then yes, you need to expand the transaction.  The
way I do it is to still put one of the other accounts into the transfer
account, put the transaction value into the debit or credit column, and
*THEN* go push the Split button.  At this point it will expand into two
Splits (the current account and the account you entered in the transfer
column).