[GNC] Buying with PayPal - how do I split the transaction?

[David Cousens]

Michael,
I agree that rather than trying to include Accounting 101 in the GnuCash
documentation is likely inapprpriate. It may be appropriate however to provide a
list of basic accounting textbooks that new users can refer to including books
from a number of the different jurisdictions and in the different languages that
Gnucash encompasses. AFAIK most of the English language books I am familiar with
are available in US, Australian and UK editions with the same basic common 
format from the major publishers. I think there is enough in the guide  at the
moment to make new users aware that GnuCash has an inbuilt double entry approach
and that they need to understand that to utilize GnuCash effectively.

David Cousens

On Wed, 2022-12-14 at 09:23 -0500, Michael or Penny Novack wrote:
> 
> > > Given the length of this thread and the apparent confusion documenting
> > > PayPal in GnuCash, it might be helpful for someone to add a section to the
> > > wiki page at "Using GnuCash" on the different methods people have
> > > outlined.
> > > IMHO, the Guide and Help cover the overall concepts well enough.
> > > 
> I think it would perhaps be better if instead the Guide and Help 
> provided some suggested, readily available Accounting 101 (or even more 
> basic Bookkeeping 101) texts.
> 
> The gnucash guide should be more focused on "Keeping double entry books 
> using gnucash" (what in gnucash might be different). An introduction to 
> the concept of double entry bookkeeping, yes, but not details like what 
> is being discussed here and certainly not "all the different ways people 
> have chosen to do this, whether right or wrong in the accounting sense".
> 
> The guide to a word processor, for example, should be about using the 
> tool, but not trying to include things like "how to write a god essay".
> 
> But IF it was wanted (to include a more comprehensive guide) the 
> qualifications to write such a thing NOT "experienced using gnucash" (an 
> experienced user) or "experienced designing/writing gnucash" (a 
> developer) but "an experienced teacher of accounting". Sorry, I am 
> experienced doing double entry bookkeeping and in my day have taught 
> many subjects, but not accounting. Note that I am not saying enough to 
> be an accountant, because being able to do something well does not mean 
> that one can teach it well.
> 
> Michael D Novack
> 
> 
> 
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