Tutorials and concept guide

Tue Jan 17 21:19:46 EST 2012

Peter--

Please use Reply-All and keep the discussion on the list.

When I look at the Tutorial and Concepts guide, section 4.2.3 (http://code.gnucash.org/docs/guide/txns-registers1.html#txns-registers-features2), I see the attached image, which is for a checking account.

I do not know what documentation you are using; perhaps you might re-download the documents from the Gnucash website and check again?

Regarding your confusion about the "Transfer" column, the image does show the Transfer column, but it's labelled "Account" here. What *is* confusing is that the text discusses what you will see in Basic view mode, even though the image for the section shows the Split view. The text is accurate, but misleading because of this; as I noted before, the heading in Basic view IS "Transfer", and this is shown in the figures under 4.2.1.

As for the comments about how the column headings change, this image clearly shows the cursor in a split, and the heading for the split in the image shows "Account." Compare this to the image immediately prior to this one (under section 4.2.2, where the cursor is placed in the Description field. In THAT image, there is NO text at all in the heading above the Transfer accounts. THAT is the "change" being referred to.

David

________________________________
 From: enviroman.com <peter.thompson at enviroman.com>
To: 'David T.' <sunfish62 at yahoo.com> 
Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2012 12:17 PM
Subject: RE: Tutorials and concept guide

Hi,
I will try to answer your questions in order:
·         GnuCash personal finance manager.  GnuCash 2.4.8 The GNU way to manage your money!  This copy was built from svn r21471 on 2011-10-21.
·         It is the following section of the Tutorial that I cannot understand: ( I cannot insert the screen shot so you need to  look at the original).
“Features of the Account Register
The Titlebar of the account register displays the account name, which in this case is Assets:Checking.(NO)Below the Titlebar, the Menubar displays the menu items available within the account register, and the Toolbar contains handy buttons that help you work with the account register.
Although each transaction has at least two splits, all you see in the basic register is a summary of the splits affecting the current account. In the Transfer column, .(WHERE IS THIS?) you can see the other account from which money is transferred into or out of this account. If the transaction affects more than two accounts, GnuCash displays -- Split Transaction -- to show it is a multiple-split transaction. You can see the individual splits of each transaction by clicking the Split button in the Toolbar while selecting the appropriate transaction.
For split transactions, the first line of the transaction is the transaction line. It contains a Date, optional Num (such as a check number), transaction Description, total amount affecting the current account (Tot Deposit here), and updated account Balance after the current transaction. Note that in the expanded view, the Transfer column heading disappears, and there is no account name listed in that field. This line shows you only a summary of the transaction’s effect on the current account. For more detailed information, you need to look at the individual splits that make up the transaction.
The partial lines below the transaction line are the split lines, and they are separated by gray lines. As you highlight one of the split lines, the column headings change to show the split-related fields:
THE SCREEN SHOT  SHOULD BE HERE
This image shows how split headings change .(I CAN’T SEE HOW).
Each split contains an optional Action, or type of split, which you can either type in or choose from a pull-down list. The split also contains an optional Memo which describes the split. Each split affects an Account, which can be selected from a pull-down list of your accounts. The R field indicates whether the split has been reconciled. The last two columns show the amount of the split and whether money is coming into or going out of the account”

All I can say is that this screen shot does not match the text. 
I suggest we concentrate on this problem first before investigate the use of the word ‘account’
Kind Regards
Peter

From:David T. [mailto:sunfish62 at yahoo.com] 
Sent: 17 January 2012 16:05
To: Yawar Amin; enviroman.com
Cc: gnucash-user at gnucash.org
Subject: Re: Tutorials and concept guide

Peter--

In regards the first problem, could you please tell a little more about where you are looking, and what version of the program and documentation you are looking at? I am not sure where you're seeing the figure discrepancy.

As for the terminology, it is my experience that the Category/Account parallel is accurate. Can you explain what use of the word "account" is confusing? If you can point specifically, we can try to rewrite it more clearly.

Finally, it may be a little confusing to realize that the Heading may not always be labelled in the register. In Basic (one line) viewing mode, the column is labelled "Transfer;" in Split mode, the column is not labelled.

Thanks for the feedback, and welcome!

David

________________________________

From:Yawar Amin <yawar.amin at gmail.com>
To: enviroman.com <peter.thompson at enviroman.com> 
Cc: gnucash-user at gnucash.org 
Sent: Monday, January 16, 2012 8:33 PM
Subject: Re: Tutorials and concept guide

Hi,

I am forwarding your email to the GnuCash users mailing list, which is a public discussion forum where everyone can benefit from sharing questions and answers. To participate in the mailing list, click the ‘Reply All’ button in your email program whenever you get an email from someone in the list.

Thanks,

Yawar

On 2012-01-16, at 16:29, enviroman.com wrote:

> Hi,
> I am just beginning with GNUcash having spent many years using Microsoft Money. I decided for once to follow the tutorial before starting in earnest. I am finding it difficult to follow in particular ' Features of the account register. The descriptions appear not to match the screenshot. E.g. Account name is not Assets:Checking: There is no transfer column.... and it goes on. Please tell me is this an error or am I just misunderstanding.
> It is vital for me as if I can't get the simple things right what chance have I when it gets complex.
> As a general point I find the loose use of the word ‘account’ also quite confusing not helped by the helpful tip that tells me that for erstwhile users of Quicken (and presumably Money)that 'account' is the same as 'category'
>  
> Please pass this on to the relevant person if it is not in your area.
> Kind Regards and thanks
> Peter Thompson
> 
> 
> __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 6801 (20120116) __________
> 
> The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.
> 
> http://www.eset.com

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