New file/Book Options

[Alex Aycinena]

On Mon, Dec 29, 2014 at 10:03 PM, <gnucash-user-request at gnucash.org> wrote:

>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: David Carlson <david.carlson.417 at gmail.com>
> To: gnucash-user at gnucash.org
> Cc:
> Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 21:10:59 -0600
> Subject: Re: New file/Book Options
> On 12/29/2014 3:23 PM, m shires wrote:
> > I am trying to set up as a new user.  I was doing pretty well until I got
> > to the setup (Accounts) NEW BOOK OPTIONS, Accounts --- Use Split Action
> > Field for Number.
> >
> > I read the information both in the manual and instructions in the
> > download.  The manual section reference is 10.3 Book Options;
> > 10.3.1.3. Use Split Action Field for Number
> >
> > I vaguely understood what the discussion in this section was talking
> about,
> > but not really.  Is there someplace that shows examples comparing the
> > difference between the two settings?  A picture would really help!
> >
> > Mill
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>
> That is a new feature in the release 2.5.x series and following.
> Historically, the left-most field in split lines would get automatically
> filled with an action description in certain cases, such as Buy or Sell
> when the split line account was a security account, for example.
> Usually, that field is left blank.  I think that option tells GnuCash
> that you want to put numbers in the left-most field.  Reading the new
> help section about this setting is really scary, and I see why you are
> worried.
>
> I am not sure what difference it really makes, as I have been putting
> numbers in that field all along, long before that option appeared, and
> GnuCash always accepted them without complaint.  In any case, I do not
> think that option is very important to many users.  If other users
> disagree, please tell us why.
>
> David C
>

The importance of the setting depends on how you have used (or plan to use)
the number field. Some people use it intermittently and it doesn't really
matter. Other people use it in very specific ways. I don't know about your
case.

If you are coming from a Quicken environment, setting the option to 'use
split action field for number' will be more like what you are used to. If
you are bringing over historical data via import, you should set the option
to 'use split action field for number'.

Alex