[GNC] Example of multi-split feature of CSV importer?

[Michael Hendry]

> On 19 Mar 2019, at 01:19, D via gnucash-user <gnucash-user at gnucash.org> wrote:
> 
> Michael, Adrien, 
> 
> Section 4.3 in the Guide is titled "Simple vs. Split Transactions" and explains in some detail what is meant. Perhaps the language there is not clear enough (improvements always welcome!), but it's not true that this isn't defined or explained.
> 
> David

David,

The guide says:

"Every transaction in GnuCash has at least two splits, but a transaction can have more than two splits. A transaction with only two splits is called a simple transaction, since it only involves the current account and a single remote account. A transaction with three or more accounts is called a split transaction.”

A recurrent observation on this list is that GnuCash is based on the traditional paper-and-pen double-entry bookkeeping system, often linked with the comment that many of the queries that come up are not problems with GnuCash but with the poster’s lack of understanding of the manual system.

There seems to be no good reason for introducing the term “split”, and wielding  Occam’s Razor I suggest:

"Every transaction in GnuCash has at least two Ledger Entries, but a transaction can have more than two Ledger Entries.”

“A transaction with two Ledger Entries is called a simple transaction.”

“A transaction with more than two Ledger Entries is called a compound transaction.”

These three statements are entirely in keeping with bookkeeping usage, whereas saying that a transaction with three “splits” is a split transaction and then that one with two “splits” is something else is muddling.

I would omit “since it only involves the current account and a single remote account”, because neither of these terms is defined in the guide. “Current” has a special meaning in bookkeeping relating to Current Assets, but it is also used throughout the guide to refer to “the current month”, “the current transaction” etc. Further confusion might arise because, in UK usage, a current account is what Americans call a checking account. “Remote” implies to me something far away - on another computer, for example, as in this quotation from the guide:

"Q: Can I run GnuCash on Windows?
A: Yes. Starting with release 2.2.0, GnuCash is also available on Windows. Other related options would be colinux, VMWare and a windows-based X-server hosting a remote Gnu-Cash session.”

I would like “split” to be free for use in its normal non-specialist use as a verb - describing the division of a single-line entry in an Account Register into its component Ledger Entries.

I appreciate that changing the nomenclature would be non-trivial, but believe that the benefit (especially to new users) would be worthwhile.

Michael