Wrong balance for period (gnucash 2.2.9.4 on OS X)

[Brendan Simon]

On 8/03/10 11:32 PM, Mike or Penny Novack wrote:
> Brendan Simon wrote:
>
>> I am using GnuCash 2.2.9 on OS X (2.2.9.4).
>>
>> I think this is bug would like confirmation please.  It looks like the
>> Balance Period is displaying the wrong result.
>>
>> In the main accounts window/tab I have enabled the Balance and Balance
>> (Period) columns.  I also have Total and Total (Period) enabled.
>>
>> My accounting period is 1-July-2005 to 30-June-2006 (Australian
>> Financial/Fiscal Period).
>>
>> Account XYZ has a final entry on 12-May-2006 with a final balance of
>> $6,718.06 (this is correct).
>>
>> In the Accounts Summary view, the account XYZ shows :-
>>    $6,718.06    Balance
>>    $1,931.07    Balance Period
>>    $6,718.06    Total
>>    $1,931.07    Total Period
>>
>> This would appear incorrect (at least to me).
>> The Balance and Balance Period should show the same amount of $6,718.06
>> as the last entry is within the Accounting Period.
>>
>> Is this a bug ??  or have I misunderstood something, or have I not
>> configured something properly ??
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Brendan.
>>
>>  
>>
>
> I think a misunderstanding. I don't use the "balance period" column
> myself because I do an annual "close the books" operation and so for
> my organization the "balance period" and "balance" have the same START
> date. This account, it's an "income" or "expense" type account, yes?
> You should not expect the balances of those accounts for "just the
> current period" and "from the beginning, all periods" to be the same.
> Not unless you do a periodic "close the books".

The account is an 'asset' account.  The 'balance' is correct if I drill
down into the account and find the date (e.g. 30-June-2006) and look at
the balance.  However it is incorrect if I look at the 'Balance
(Period)' field in the main account summary view.

If my understanding is correct, then the Balance at the end of the
accounting period, should match the balance on my statement for that
financial period.

Cheers, Brendan.