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

[David T.]

David, 

I'm not sure what you mean when you say "documentation," but I don't think the Guide or the Help would be appropriate places to make such references. Section 2.1 of the Guide gives a few basic explanations on underlying accounting concepts. This section, in fact, states that "you do not need to have a complete understanding of accounting principles to find it useful." This contradicts what you and Michael want to say. Perhaps a balance in the advice in the Guide could be found, one that reassures the new user that they can effectively use GnuCash, and suggests consulting additional resources on double entry accounting. 

As for including actual references, I have misgivings. Two huge issues:

1. Who would decide on the titles that would be sanctioned for inclusion? 
2. Who would monitor the literature to ensure that the list was kept up to date? 

Once you get into these issues, the idea becomes much more challenging, and I'm not sure it would change anything in the long run. People would just not read those books.

Adding a brief summary about PayPal/Venmo to the Using GnuCash wiki page would at least give people who use these a source they could consult to help set them up. It does seem to come up on the lists somewhat frequently. 

⁣David T. ​

On Dec 15, 2022, 12:41 AM, at 12:41 AM, David Cousens <davidcousens49 at gmail.com> wrote:
>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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