using account numbers in gnucash

[David Carlson]

On 12/18/2014 6:34 PM, Wm wrote:
> Mon, 15 Dec 2014 16:58:05
> <CALj19FkEa9hAPNXd6h5KnOV3fArg9PXvimE=7n_Ch3M9U+zs=w at mail.gmail.com>
> Mark Mason <jmwmason at gmail.com>
>
>> Hello Gnucash - I am treasurer of a not for profit Community Amateur
>> Sports
>> Club in UK.  I am just completing two years use of Gnucash.
>>
>> I want to number the accounts I use, with the purpose of making it a bit
>> quicker to post entries.
>
> Not sure I get that, I'll say why, depending on settings:
>
> if you start entering a transaction you've done before by typing
> "refreshments" into the Description gnc should fill in the rest of the
> desc and fill in the Transfer bit with what you used last time
> (something like Expenses:Refreshments) leaving you to type a number
> (the cost of the barrel of fizzy lemonade), press enter and you're done.
>
> or
>
> type a new Desc like "squeaky plimsolls", enter ex(for
> expenses):sq(for squeaky) in the Transfer and it should fill it in or
> offer to create a new account.
>
> Where were you expecting numbered accounts to help?  gnc doesn't pay a
> lot of attention to Account Codes if that was what you meant by
> numbered accounts it behaves better with
> Income:Tickets:ParentsDay2013
> Expenses:ParentsDay2013:Tent
> or whichever way you want to structure your CoA
>
>> I thought I would be able to enter the account number into the
>> transfer box
>> - I have not found how to do this.  Please can you advise if this is
>> possible?  All the best - Mark Mason
>
> It is possible but, unless I misunderstand, it is a "I wouldn't start
> from there" situation.  Account numbers aren't necessary in gnc though
> you can use then for reporting if you want to.
>


I use account numbers sparingly for certain asset and liability accounts
especially for things that might be paid out of different accounts from
time to time.  I followed the general guidelines that are easily found
on the internet or even in the Gnucash help such as asset accounts start
with 1, liability accounts begin with 2, etc.  For example my primary
checking account happens to be 10090, Cash is 12120, one of my credit
cards is 20010, from a rather long list that I set up several years ago.

There is no trick to using the numbers other than you need a paper list
to use until you memorize the numbers because there is no drop down list
to help with entering the account numbers into the account boxes. 
Initially, you need to show the account number column in the account
list window while you are assigning the numbers.  Then, when you enter
valid account number into the account box, Gnucash automatically changes
the account to the correct name.  This is actually a lot faster than
entering a fully qualified account name.

David C