simple formula problems

[Brad Hajek]

Thanks, Fred. Asking for the total and interest fixed the issue.

It is disappointing that the formulas can't accept constants despite the
FAQ articles suggesting it does. Anyone know if that is scheduled to
change? I did a quick search in Bugzilla and didn't see anything related.

On Sun, Jul 15, 2012 at 1:10 PM, Fred Bone <Fred.Bone at dial.pipex.com> wrote:

> On 15 July 2012 at 9:42, Brad Hajek said:
>
> > I have reviewed the 4 links in the FAQ in regards to using variables
> > within scheduled transaction formulas, but have yet to get even a simple
> > formula to evaluate correctly. I'm certain I'm just misunderstanding the
> > documentation.
> >
> > Here is one of the formulas I'm working with for a car loan:
> >
> > checking account debit: 338.10
> > expense account credit: interest
> > liability account credit: 338.10-interest
> >
> > The scheduled transaction box always prompts me as expected for the
> > interest variable. Based on my reading of the FAQ links, I've configured
> > the subtraction formula with parenthesis around it and a colon-equals in
> > front of it without any success. I've also tried several different names
> > for the variable in case 'interest' is already taken for internal
> > purposes.
> >
> > However, no matter what I've tried it comes out unbalanced like this:
> >
> > checking account debit: 338.10
> > expense account credit: interest
> > liability account credit: 338.10
> > imbalance-USD account debit: interest
> >
> > Please tell me what I'm doing wrong. Thanks.
>
> I don't think you have misunderstood: it doesn't seem to support the
> functionality you want.
>
> To begin with, "interest" is *not* a reserved word: if it were, the
> correct amount wouldn't appear in the second split above.
>
> It looks as though the presence of figures suppresses the calculation. If
> you replace the "338.10" with "total", you'll find it works as expected -
> though you now have to enter that figure as well.
>
> What does work is to put "interest" in the debit side of "liability
> account" (and plain "338.10" in the credit side). Of course, if the
> calculation were more complicated this might not do, but for your simple
> use-case it does the trick.
>
> (Though I think you have "credit" and "debit" crossed over anyway).
>
>


-- 
Brad Hajek
brad.hajek at gmail.com