[GNC] Pending Edit Behavior in GnuCash

[David Carlson]

I might as well get this debate started now.  Another thread has started a
discussion about unsplitting transactions, pointing out that there is an
inconsistency between using the various  Transaction > [edit] Split keys
and the conventional keystroke editing method using the Tab key to navigate
around a transaction.
I think there should be a warning for any editing action that deletes a
split line, including tabbing off the anchor line.  Obviously, edits to
correct account assignment errors must be allowed and not be overly
encumbered by unnecessary warnings.

GnuCash, at least in the 2.6.xx series usually prohibits leaving a
transaction that contains pending edits without using the Enter key to
commit the edits, but it has some exceptions which set up some difficult
situations when finally trying to do a manual File > Save.  At that point
it asks if you want to save edits in some register view which may even be
accidental edits or keystrokes that would delete desired data.

The most common action (for me) that sets this up is to start an edit in
some register then navigate to another register without first saving the
pending edit.  This easily happens if the user is reviewing results from
the Since Last Run assistant especially if a cat crosses the keyboard.

I can see the reasoning that often users may need to view other registers
to compare the transaction currently being edited to something else, so I
do not want to prevent that.  I would propose that the tabs containing
pending edits flash in some way to catch the user's attention so he can
find his way back to see if it was cat-tracks or a real pending edit.

There are also a couple of cases where attempting to cancel a pending edit
does not correctly restore the transaction to the previous state which
could be fixed at the same time other pending edit behavior is addressed.

Another situation where pending edit behavior is inconsistent is when
editing scheduled transactions, the Enter key may or may not save the edit,
depending on which field the focus happens to be in.  I think that the
enter key should always save pending edits.

Finally, I will throw out a radical suggestion that all edits get their own
new window instead of happening within a certain register view with a
certain "anchor" account which has special behavior compared to other split
lines.  This Edit window would not be tied to any account and would be
obviously not saved as long as it exists.



-- 
David Carlson