[GNC] Confusing and inconsistent headers in transaction entry and report forms

[Peter S. Shenkin]

Thank you. That is helpful!

-P.


On Wed, Aug 17, 2022 at 1:47 AM Adrien Monteleone <
adrien.monteleone at lusfiber.net> wrote:

> Peter,
>
> I think the problem stems from your choice of report options.
>
> Namely, by default, 'Account Name' under the Display tab is *not*
> selected, while the 'other account' is.
>
> This is because by default the Sort options are:
>
> Primary: account
> Secondary: register order
>
> So by default, the transactions for each chosen account are grouped
> together, and then those are listed by date. Subtotals are for the
> account. Since the primary sorting key is the account, it is shown like
> in my screenshot on 8/3 circled in yellow. (and also what you indicated
> in your 'I wish it has said' example.) Thus, there is no need to check
> off the option to show 'Account Name' in the Display tab as that would
> be superfluous.
>
> But,
>
> Changing the primary sort to Date (or other similar option) now sets
> that grouping label to an accounting period rather than the account
> name. The account name is no longer visible, but you can of course, turn
> it on in the Display tab.
>
> I've managed to craft a report similar to the desired (3rd) example you
> gave and have attached it.
>
> I've also attached the Options used to achieve it.
>
> It might not be the only or best way to see the info, but it closely
> matches what you indicated you were looking for. Note, I only selected
> the Checking account, there is little need by your example to select
> both it and the Income account as those splits will be represented
> already since the other important preference change was switching the
> Detail Level to 'One Split Per Line' in the Display tab. You can of
> course turn on other info labels in Display, but I turned them off to
> match your example.
>
> Note, the attached example uses Date, rather than the default Account
> Name, as the primary sort key.
>
> Regards,
> Adrien
>
> On 8/16/22 10:44 PM, Peter S. Shenkin wrote:
> > I think at last I see what you all are saying.
> >
> > When I have not displayed account totals, the only account shown on a
> debit
> > or credit line is the *counterpart* of the current leg of the
> transaction;
> > so the line in the last of my four attachments that says "Checking
> Account"
> > and lists $100 as a Credit is actually showing that "Other income"
> received
> > a credit and received it from the Checking Account. The problem is that
> the
> > partner in the account is not named in the display.
> >
> > I find this very confusing, but I do understand it now. I think it would
> > have helped if, without turning on Account totals, the label of each leg
> of
> > the transaction could have maintained the name of the parent account for
> > each line.
> >
> > For instance, instead of just :
> >
> > *Date       Num Description Memo/Notes Transfer from/to          Debit
> > (USD) Credit*
> > 08/16/2022     sale                            Checking Account
> >   $100.00
> >
> >   I wish it had said:
> >
> > *Date       Num Description Memo/Notes Transfer from/to       Debit (USD)
> > Credit*
> > Other Income:
> > 08/16/2022     sale                            Checking Account
> > $100.00
> >
> > Still, what I would really like to see is something compact that shows,
> for
> > each transaction, in date order, the date and description of the
> > transaction and then a single line for each leg, the amount involved and
> > whether it is a debit or a credit. For instance:
> >
> > 08/16/2022 sale
> >      *Account             Debit     Credit*
> >      Checking Account:   $100
> >      Other Income:                 $100
> >
> > It's the compactness and clarity of the representation, not the exact
> > format, that I'm concerned with.
> >
> > Thanks for all your help. I'll play with the options to see how close I
> can
> > get._______________________________________________
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