[GNC] Double Line View Possible Bug?

[John Ralls]

Paul,

It seems like you’ve decided to use GnuCash in a way that the GnuCash team doesn’t intend to support, and since you now have hundreds of clients your business has grown to a size that is beyond our abilities to support.  The fact that GnuCash is Free-as-in-liberty software provides a simple solution: Fork GnuCash and make it behave however you like. 

Regards,
John Ralls


> On Feb 19, 2026, at 07:11, Paul Feakins via gnucash-user <gnucash-user at gnucash.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi Derek,
> 
> I'm sure this won't change your mind, but logically if there is an option to default to "Single Line", a user would expect all accounts to follow this preference unless stated otherwise.
> 
> I am not using multiple currencies, and appreciate your work-around suggestions.
> 
> They are of type "Accounts Receivable" because in accounting terminology, that is what they are. I have multiple sub-accounts so that I can easily track which clients owe which money and keep track. I do not use Customers as they should be used, so I accept I'm not using the software how it should be used in some ways. It would be a huge job to correct this now.
> 
> I have implemented my own reports for those, however in my code when I parse the XML, I do look at the account type ...
> 
> I take the .gnucash file, unzip it, parse the XML in PHP and put it into the database of a CakePHP application called Webzash: https://webzash.org/
> 
> From that database I can get any reports/data I like to automatically chase customers or even submit our VAT return to HMRC via MTD which it does using some of the code I shared here: https://github.com/paulfeakins/hmrc-mtd-api-php
> 
> 
> 	
> 
> 	
> 
> Kind regards,
> 
> 
>   Paul Feakins
> 
> Managing Director
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 	Antropy.co.uk <https://antropy.co.uk>
> 
> 	Antropy Ltd, Crawley Business Centre, Stephenson Way, Crawley, RH10 1TN <https://maps.app.goo.gl/QQ2iBRDE5mHuHA7G6>
> 
> 	
> 
> Antropy Ltd | Reg No: 06468795 | Registered in England & Wales
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On 19/02/2026 14:56, Derek Atkins wrote:
>> Sorry, it's not a bug, and we're not adding another option for it.
>> If anything, the bug is allowing the user to turn off double-line-mode at
>> all!
>> But your objection is duly noted.  :)
>> 
>> Also, yes, if you actually have subaccounts (WHY?? There's no reason for
>> multiple A/R or A/P accounts unless you're using multiple currencies) then
>> yes, you would need to clear out the subaccounts first.
>> 
>> The only reports that expect the A/R or A/P account types are the business
>> reports (customer report, ageing report, etc), bills-due reminder, etc.
>> 
>> -derek
>> 
>> On Thu, February 19, 2026 9:49 am, Paul Feakins wrote:
>>> Hi Derek,
>>> 
>>> I still think it's a bug because there is clearly an option NOT to
>>> default to "Double Line", yet these accounts DO default to "Double Line".
>>> 
>>> If these accounts need to be treated differently, there should be
>>> another option for other account types if they are treated differently.
>>> 
>>> I probably want them to remain Account Receivable as I'm sure some
>>> reports would use the account type to give a report of how much money is
>>> due, for example.
>>> 
>>> The honest answer is I started using this software 18 years ago before I
>>> knew much about accounting, and I was an IT contractor sending 1 invoice
>>> per month.
>>> 
>>> Now though, I'm glad I did it that way because I have numerous web-based
>>> systems that use the data from GnuCash and send invoices and chaser
>>> emails automatically. GnuCash wouldn't be able to automate that
>>> considering we have hundreds of clients now.
>>> 
>>> I tried to delete the parent Accounts Receivable account and it said I
>>> must first delete or move the sub-accounts.
>>> 
>>> I think if this really is desired behaviour there should be options:
>>> Edit > Preferences > Register Defaults > Double line view
>>> (Asset/Liability accounts)
>>> Edit > Preferences > Register Defaults > Double line view (Accounts
>>> Receivable/Liability accounts)
>>> 
>>> It's a minor irritation, but most definitely a bug in my opinion.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Kind regards,
>>> 
>>> 
>>>     Paul Feakins
>>> 
>>> Managing Director
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 	Antropy.co.uk<https://antropy.co.uk>
>>> 
>>> 	Antropy Ltd, Crawley Business Centre, Stephenson Way, Crawley, RH10 1TN
>>> <https://maps.app.goo.gl/QQ2iBRDE5mHuHA7G6>
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Antropy Ltd | Reg No: 06468795 | Registered in England & Wales
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On 19/02/2026 14:23, Derek Atkins wrote:
>>>> Hi,
>>>> 
>>>> On Thu, February 19, 2026 9:17 am, Paul Feakins wrote:
>>>>> Hi Geert,
>>>>> 
>>>> [snip]
>>>>> I am starting to think this really is a genuine bug rather than desired
>>>>> behaviour.
>>>> Nope, this is specific, desired behavior of the business account types.
>>>> And you are correct, once you have data in the account, you are not
>>>> allowed to change the type by hand.  Again, not a bug -- it's designed
>>>> that way so as not to break the business features.
>>>> 
>>>> Something you can try... (MAKE A BACKUP FIRST IN CASE THIS DOESN'T
>>>> WORK)..
>>>> Try to delete the A/R account.  GnuCash /should/ ask you where to move
>>>> the
>>>> transactions, and you should be able to select an Asset account.
>>>> 
>>>> I say "should" because I don't remember if this action is blocked, too.
>>>> This is why I suggest making a backup, so if it doesn't work you can
>>>> exit
>>>> gnucash and restore the backup.
>>>> 
>>>>> I am pretty familiar with GnuCash having used it since 2008 when I
>>>>> started my business, it has been fantastic and I've integrated it with
>>>>> other open source systems to create a pretty good accounting system.
>>>> I'm just curious -- if you're using it for your business, why don't you
>>>> use the Invoice/Bill features?
>>>> 
>>>> -derek
>>>> 
>> 
> _______________________________________________
> gnucash-user mailing list
> gnucash-user at gnucash.org
> To update your subscription preferences or to unsubscribe:
> https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/gnucash-user
> -----
> Please remember to CC this list on all your replies.
> You can do this by using Reply-To-List or Reply-All.