I thought I would add my two cents to the ongoing (never-ending ? :-))
discussion of debits/credits and field names. First, let me say that
some kind of user configurable mechanism is probably the only hope of
satisfying all users. For most users of the average Joe varity like
myself - I find the present names (version 1.3.7) quite acceptable.
Secondly, I think the banks are getting a bad rap in the ongoing
discussion of credits/debits. I got curious and so dug out my records
from the past 30+ years (I'm a pack rat for such things given the power
of the IRS). I examined my bank statements for that time period. This
covers banks from four different states on both coasts of the US and
some in the very middle. I had a sampling from a total of 15+ different
banks. Not a really, really large sample, but also not intentionally
choosen based on their statements, but on their location and services
and so probably representative of the industry.
In looking over the monthly statements, there is absolutely no mention
of the 'debit' word. All of the banks were quite uniform in referring to
deposits as 'deposits' and withdrawls as 'withdrawls'. The only other
references that seemed to be used in all were 'opening balance', 'ending
balance', 'transaction', 'balance, 'ave balance, 'interest rate', 'total
checks and deductions', 'total deposits and credits' and 'interest
credit'. Thus, they are using 'credit' from my viewpoint and not from
theirs. The use of 'debit', they avoided altogether.
Next I went looking for those check book register books sent out with
every box of checks ever received. I haven't used one of those registers
for over forty years and so my sample for those is much smaller - only
two register books from the last two boxes of checks from my current
checking accounts. Here I did finally find the use of the word 'debit' .
Each register has the following column titles: (columns listed from left
to right)
NUMBER
DATE
Description of Transaction
Payment/Debit(-)
Code
Fee(-)
Deposit/Credit(+)
Balance
Note that payment and debit are paired and in the left hand column.
Deposit and credit are paired and in the right hand column. Thus, both
accountants and the average Joe should be satisfied. The addition of the
'+' and '-' signs to the column titles makes it quite clear which type
of amount should be entered in which column and how to use that amount
to arrive at the new balance. Again, the terms are used from my
viewpoint and not that of the bank.
In viewing these statements and register books, I must say that if most
people have the wrong perception of 'debit' and 'credit', it most likely
is not from their bank statements. Maybe it could be that accountants
'assume' that people have the wrong perception and in trying to correct
their perception of the terms, over compensate and just confuse the
issue. At least all of the banks I have used over the past 30 years have
not added to the supposed confusion.
All of the monthly statements, without exception, were printed
representing my viewpoint and not that of the bank.
I guess that if banks at one time did send out monthly statements
representing their viewpoint, they learned more than 30 years ago that
that was a bad idea and changed their ways - at least all of the banks
that I have dealt with for the past 30 years have.
Just thought I would add fuel to to the flames. :-)
A second topic I would wish to discuss is one column/field title that I
do think you might wish to change in some manner, I'm not sure how yet.
The column/field titled "Transfer From" in the account register window.
To be more accurate it should be "Transfer From/To". Not all transfers
are "From" an account. When writing a check in the register window for
the checking account, I am actually "Transfering To" another account. It
took me a couple of hours to finally realize what you were doing in this
field. Once I did, it became quite simple really. Now I just totally
ignore the title for that column/field and think of it simply as the
"Transfer" field.
Changing the title at this point makes no difference to me - I know what
it is used for and just use it. For the 'new' user, especially one
trying to get used to 'double entry', seeing just transfers 'from'
becomes disorienting. I want to transfer the money for this check 'to'
my credit card account to pay that bill - I surely do not want to
transfer money 'from' my credit card account with this check. At first I
thought you were trying to force me to open my credit card account,
'write' the check against my checking account in that register window
and transfer the money 'from' my checking account. I thought if I had to
do that for every check written to pay my bills, I would be opening and
closing account register windows like crazy. That would surely slow the
process down. I almost dumped gnucash at that point. But, I'm glad I
tried some more. I figured that surely double entry and the developers
wouldn't be that mean or make it that hard to simply write checks to pay
bills. After some experimenting it becomes obvious. But many users
simply will not read manuals, hard copy or online, and if they can't
figure it out in the first five seconds/minutes, they go on to something
else that is more intuitive. These are not dumb people - usually the
smarter ones are those that dump a software product quicker if they
think it is not an easy to use tool. They have demanding enough lives as
it is.
