Transfer window appears when it should not - further information

[Ken Heard]

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On 2015-02-20 00:31, Derek Atkins wrote:

<snip>

>> Furthermore, it has always been my understanding that in a
>> transaction involving two currencies, no splits are allowed.
>> Only the two accounts involved are allowed.  Does this rule not
>> apply to imbalances where at least one split is necessary?  In
>> the transaction which prompted my original query to the list
>> there are eleven lines (or splits?) in it.
> 
> You understand wrong; you can absolutely have split transactions
> in multiple currencies.
> 
>>> Your ONLY option is to delete the transaction completely and 
>>> re-enter it after you fix your locale default currency.

It seems that the source of my confusion rests with the fact that
there are two windows labelled "Transfer Funds".  One is opened by
Ctrl-T -- or by selecting the "Transfer" item when in an account tab.
 This option allows entry of a transaction involving only two
accounts, i.e., no splits.

If a transaction -- any transaction -- involves accounts with
different currencies, then another window also called "Transfer Funds"
opens.  This one is however quite different; it allows manipulation of
the exchange rate either by entering the rate itself or by specifying
the equivalent amount in the other currency.

Because these two windows serving quite different purposes have the
same name I was left with the impression they could only be used
together. From that impression was derived my belief that transactions
involving different currencies could only involve two accounts -- not
splits.

It was only when I inadvertently changed the default currency in my
book that I discovered that the exchange rate manipulation window will
appear on *any* occasion where a transaction uses accounts in
different currencies.  Until I made that discovery *all* my
transactions involving different currencies were made with the
"Transfer"or ctrl-T option.  When I wanted to use splits for such
transactions I would put in a control account for one of the two
entries, and then create another transaction to distribute the amount
in the control account to the split accounts.

In view of the foregoing I would recommend that the name of the
"Transfer Funds" window for manipulating exchange rates be changed to
something more appropriate such as "Exchange Rate Selection".  I would
also recommend changing the name of the other "Transfer Funds" window
to something like "Single transaction".  To many people including me
the expression "transfer funds" means transferring funds between fund
repositories such as bank accounts and equity accounts, but not to or
from income or expense accounts.

With these changes the help manual would be clarified because both the
"Transfer Funds" windows would have names more descriptive of their
uses, and the text in the help manual would reflect the uses of these
windows better than it does now.  Thus people like me would or should
not make incorrect assumptions.

The situation I describe is reflective of the perennial problem of
those who write manuals.  Usually they are people who know very well
the program they are describing, rather that those who do not know the
program but want to use it with the minimum possible effort on their
part.  The result is that the knowledgeable people make assumptions
about the program which are obvious to them but not to the users.

For example, I first started to use computers back in the days when
floppy disks really were floppy -- remember those? -- but were
enclosed in a sleeve.  When I first tried to install one in it slot in
the computer, naturally enough I removed it from the sleeve -- with
considerable trouble I may add -- only discover that the I should have
installed the whole thing -- disk, sleeve and all -- into the slot.

Up to that point any vinyl I wanted to use had to be withdrawn from
its sleeve before use.  This is a perfect example of an unconscious
assumption made by the person with the requisite knowledge but
frequently not shared by the end user.  It did not occur to the person
writing the instruction to explain that these disks worked differently.

Regards, Ken



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