using account numbers in gnucash

[Wm]

Thu, 18 Dec 2014 20:43:51 <549390E7.4040800 at gmail.com>  David Carlson 
<david.carlson.417 at gmail.com>

>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.

But that makes no sense to me or anyone else unless you are following a 
specific legislative guideline that connects account numbers to 
reporting accounts.  The OP and I are in the UK and I can assure you we 
don't have to use certain account numbers.

>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.

OK, I'm going to seriously question why memory is better than just using
Ex for expense
In for income
: to say next part
and (say)
F for food
B for beer
R for rent

>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.

I never enter a fully qualified account name, they just work because I 
use my head rather than someone else's accounting rules when I do stuff 
to my CoA.

If you are using a nationally imposed one you should know that is 
required for reporting rather than use.

-- 
Wm...