Can I change the behavior of automatically creating an Imbalance-USD account?

[Phil Longstaff]

I agree with the original poster. I'd like the option, because usually when
the imbalance account is created, it is an error. Again, I'd like the
*option* of creating the imbalance account or preventing the transaction
from being saved. If I do, in fact, need a new account, then I can just
rename and reposition the imbalance account. If it is an error or a typo,
the transaction hasn't been saved and I can fix the problem.

On Sun, Jan 4, 2015 at 10:06 AM, Mike or Penny Novack <
stepbystepfarm at mtdata.com> wrote:

> On 1/4/2015 9:34 AM, Patrick Doyle wrote:
>
>> I would much rather have gnc pop up an error message saying "You can't
>> enter this transaction" than to have it silently create an account for
>> me.
>>
>> Obviously, I've checked the preferences menus and don't see an option
>> for that.  I wonder if there is a way to configure this
>> under-the-hood.
>>
>> An alternative, and less preferred solution, would be for me to
>> designate to which account imbalance transactions should be recorded.
>>
> I really think you need to read and reread the basics of double entry
> bookkeeping. Yes what you suggest first (don't allow) is ONE option for not
> being in balance (not specifying an account for some portion of the
> transaction). But most of us would strongly dislike that way of handling
> the problem. What problem? In the middle of entering a transaction we
> realize that we will have to make some change to the chart of accounts to
> finish this transaction correctly. NOW which do you prefer? Aborting the
> transaction so you can go off the make the change, or temporarily putting
> that part into "Imbalance" (letting you get the transaction entered),
> making the change to the account tree, and then transferring the item from
> Imbalance to the correct account**.
>
> You want a to designate a different NAME for the account. You don't like
> the name "Imbalance" for "the account where portions of transactions go for
> which we can't yet (or didn't yet) specify the correct account?
>
> One of your tasks, when using gnucash, is to make sure you don't end up
> leaving stuff in Imbalance or Orphan.
>
> BTW, in a real business setting, there would be an account called
> "Suspense". Say an envelope arrives with a check in it, wrong amount, or no
> explanation what it was for (wrong or missing paperwork). The office
> practice wouldn't be to sit on the check until the problem was resolved,
> could take many days and the loose check got lost. Instead it would be
> deposited (debit) with the "suspense" account credited. Then it would be
> somebody's job to one by one solve all the mysterious suspense items.
>
> Michael D Novack
>
> ** Remember, in a business setting especially, authorizations to do these
> tasks might be on different people. Not up to the clerk entering the
> transactions to decide how to modify the chart of accounts!(just to be
> smart enough to realize "no proper place to put this") While I'm the sole
> person entering for the organizations for which I m treasurer I still might
> want to consult the rest of the directors, the executive committee, or the
> accountant before actually making the change. But most often I have to
> consult the person who actually did the transaction (the receipt you sent
> me for reimbursement indicated the vendor, but what was the item so I know
> what category of expense). I don't want to stop in the middle of entering
> transactions when I realize my email question hadn't been entered yet.
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