[GNC] Default to Plain English instead of Debit and Credit

[Adrien Monteleone]

flywire,

That looks like a bunch of documentation bug candidates.

Though I'm pretty certain, the non-formal labels are default on new 
installations.

And with regards to explaining Accounts or Transactions first, I think 
it would be awkward to explain entering a transaction without first 
explaining that you are doing so by affecting Accounts and what GnuCash 
means by 'accounts'. (The user also has to set up 'accounts' before 
entering transactions, so I would think explaining 'accounts' first, 
makes more sense)

Regards,
Adrien

On 5/8/23 7:08 PM, flywire wrote:
> GnuCash is presented as a double entry accounting system using debits and
> credits, but it's not special, it just lacks a good explanation. The Guide
> starts with a quick overview followed by The Basics describing Accounting
> Concepts. The guide even warns that accounting debits and credits are used
> contrary to the way most people understand them, and furthermore, GnuCash
> can be configured to use deposit and withdrawal, yet new users must
> understand the terms to use GnuCash.
> 
> Other financial software for non-accountants explains how it works in plain
> English without confusing accounting concepts. GnuCash can work like that
> too, but it's not the default and the formal terms need to be understood to
> interpret the documentation. Let's heed the warning and remove the debits
> and credits terms from the default software and documentation. It would be
> easy enough or those familiar with the formal terms to change the settings
> and they would still understand documentation written in simple terms.
> 
> In my view, the concept of a transaction also needs to be explained before
> accounts. Accounting is a record of transactions that record how money
> moves from one place to another. Understandably, accounting calls those
> places accounts and arranges them in standard types. Everyone is familiar
> with withdrawing cash from a savings account. Those are two accounts,
> savings, and cash. You could spend that cash on groceries or clothing, two
> more accounts.
> 
> The Basic Account types and The Accounting Equation are explained in the
> Guide.
> 
> Table 2.1 shows the effect of an increase or decrease in each account type
> and that important concept that does not need the debit and credit line.
> The note and warning could be reworked to refer to debit and credit as an
> option in preferences.
> 
> The Double Entry section is really an explanation of how transactions work
> in accounting so rename it. Double entry and T-Account are useful concepts
> to mention in the explanation. Unfortunately, double entry is confusing
> with a default basic ledger view, and double line view in the interface.
> 
> Finally, a mention of reports. The accounting equation lists all the
> accounts as positive numbers and every report I have ever seen uses
> positive numbers in the report account types then follows the equation to
> calculate the grand total. There is no benefit in producing reports
> only understood by the GnuCash community.
> 
> Regards
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