[GNC] Split Transactions: "wrong" Num fields show in reports

[Alex Aycinena]

>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Paul Kroitor <paul at kroitor.ca>
> To: "gnucash-user at gnucash.org" <gnucash-user at gnucash.org>
> Cc:
> Bcc:
> Date: Sat, 23 Nov 2019 15:49:26 +0000
> Subject: [GNC] Split Transactions: "wrong" Num fields show in reports
> Hi, I've looked for this in the archives but nothing pops up. I have years
> of experience with GnuCash cannot seem to resolve this.
>
> Simplified, we have a regular bank account which is used to reimburse
> construction worker's out-of-pocket purchases. They provide a store
> receipt, which gets a NUMber, and an e-transfer is made to their bank
> account. Then we create a weekly transaction list, showing the all the
> expenses. It (of course) needs to show the receipt number.
>
> This works fine for individual payments (each expense is listed with the
> Num correctly shown). But if we repay the worker for two items, we enter it
> as a split: a credit to the bank, and two debits, one for each receipt
> (e.g. #27 Nails $5, #28 Paint $10).
>
> The problem is that the transaction report always shows the Num from the
> main entry in the bank ledger, not the individual Nums for the split lines.
> It does this even though the transaction report is selecting from the
> Expense ledgers, not the bank.
>
> ==== Entry into Bank shows as follows in Autosplit mode ====
> Jan 1  #xxx  John Smith                    <acct is blank>   C   $15
>            #27   ABC Hardware              Nails                     D
>  $5
>            #28   DEF Paints                      Paint
> D   $10
>                      (bank tracking code)    Bank Account    C    $15
>
> ==== But the transaction report for expenses shows ====
> Jan 1  #xxx  ABC Hardware             Nails        $5
> Jan 1  #xxx  DEF Paints                    Paint        $10
>
> Note the Num shown is from the top line of the entry, but the description
> is from each split line. We need the Num from the split line to be shown.
>
> Is this a bug, or is it designed to work this way? And if so, why, and is
> there a work-around?
>
> Thanks for any advice, info, pointers, etc
> Paul Kroitor
>
>
Paul,

There is an option (File->Properties->Accounts Tab->Use Split Action Field
for Number) that should do what you want; that is, if this option is
selected, the 'num' field on registers and reports can vary by split within
a transaction. If the report you are using doesn't respect your selection
for this option, that would be a bug on the report. Also, please note that
changing this option will not change historical data. It will change the
behaviour going forward for new transactions entered. But, if there are
only a few, you could go back and modify individual transactions through
the register window after making the option change and rerun the report.

Regards,

Alex