[GNC] Modifying the Register

[R Losey]

On Sun, Dec 22, 2024 at 11:09 AM Michael or Penny Novack via gnucash-user <
gnucash-user at gnucash.org> wrote:

> >
> > If you wanted to reorder the splits, it appears that GnuCash always sorts
> > them so that the debits are first and the credits afterwards. When there
> > are multiple debits or credits, I cannot tell how or why GnuCash sorts
> them
> > as it does.
>
> The HOW gnucash sorts transactions (entered in "journal form") so that
> all the debits appear before any credits a technical detail I would
> think beyond end user interest. But the WHY not hard to explain. That's
> how journal entries have appeared in double entry bookkeeping for say
> the last 800 tears.. Back when on paper, indention from the left
> indicated debit or credit. So looked like this:
>
> Date  account1 amount1
>
>            account 1 amount 2
>
>                            account 3 amount3
>
>                                     Record a transaction with two debits
> and one credit
>
> You want some different order? Reason? Like I said, for a LONG time been
> agreed, debits to the left, credits to the right. Sort of like is all
> agreeing to drive on the right side of the road or the left. It doesn't
> matter which side of the road as long as we all agree. Note that back
> then, the ledger pages looked different, each with a left page and a
> right. So when POSTING this transaction (in the days when on paper)
> amount1 would go on the left facing page of account1, same for amount2,
> left page of account2, but amount3 on the right facing page of account3.
> There were no balance columns. If not done sooner, balancing done at the
> bottom of those pages, the balance (the amount required to make the  two
> sides equal) ending up on the next page opposite side from where needed
> << an amount entered on BOTH sides changes nothing >>
>
> Michael D Novack
>
> PS: Isn't it great gnucash automates all that for us, balancing after
> each transaction. And allows us to enter transaction with only one debit
> and one credit without bothering entering in "journal form" (cash book
> style accounting for the entire ledger)
>

That's not what I meant -- I know that debits come before credits.

What I was not sure of is if there are, say, two or three debits in a
single transaction, how does GnuCash decide which debit is listed first? It
doesn't appear to be sorting, so maybe it is just in the order they are
entered?

-- 
_________________________________
Richard Losey
rlosey at gmail.com
Micah 6:8