Can't enter a stock spin-off as a split in a transaction

[rhill]

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On 13-03-04 02:27 PM, John Ralls wrote:
> 
> On Mar 4, 2013, at 8:42 AM, rhill <rhill at raymondhill.net> wrote:
> 
>> Here is the problem I have:
>> 
>> Let's say Stock A spin-off Stock B on a specific date. I am 
>> trying to enter the following transaction (with made-up 
>> numbers/date) to record the spin-off:
>> 
>> Transaction: 1901-01-01
>> 
>> Split 1: Action: RoC [as in Return of Capital] Memo: Stock A 
>> spin-off: new ACB of Stock A [adjusted cost base] = 60% of ACB
>> of Stock A before spin-off Account: Stock A Share: [empty]
>> Price: [empty] Buy: [empty] Sell: $6000
>> 
>> Above worked fine. Now:
>> 
>> Split 2: Action: Add Memo: Stock B issued by Stock A: ACB of 
>> Stock B = 40% of ACB of Stock A before spin-off Account: Stock B
>>  Share: 50 Price: [empty] Buy: $6000 Sell: [empty]
>> 
>> After I try to record the transaction, I am asked which field 
>> should be calculated by GnuCash regarding the split for Stock B, 
>> to which I say "Price". Then GnuCash proceeds to change the field
>> "Share", setting it exactly to the value 6000. I can't find no
>> way of preventing GnuCash from overwriting the "Share" field with
>> the amount appearing in the "Buy" field, while it sets the
>> "Price" field to "1". I tried all sort of ways, changing the 
>> order, etc, result is always the same, even when I explicitly 
>> enter the "Price" of Stock B, it will revert it back to "1"...
>> 
>> Essentially here, it is to reduce the value of an asset, Stock
>> A, while increasing the value of another asset Stock B, but
>> GnuCash does not go along.
>> 
>> I don't know how to solve the above, that is without creating two
>> distinct transactions, which involves creating a fake 
>> disbursement in some unrelated third account.
>> 
>> Any help appreciated.
> 
> I like that way of handling spin-offs. Very good.
> 
> When I follow your procedure, Gnucash just fills in the price
> field for me ($120) and records the transaction. You do already
> have the Stock B account and commodity set up and assigned in the
> second split, right?
> 
> Regards, John Ralls

Well geez, I decided to create a new transaction rather than trying to
fix the original one, and it worked all fine.

Somehow some internal states in the old transaction was preventing it
from accepting my changes. To answer your question, yes, the
"spin-offed" stock already existed.

I went into the XML file to see the original transaction's internal
state, and there appears to be an anomaly, the splits don't balance. I
didn't know this could happen.

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