On Sun, Dec 22, 2024 at 11:09 AM Michael or Penny Novack via gnucash-user < [email protected]> 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 [email protected] Micah 6:8 _______________________________________________ gnucash-user mailing list [email protected] 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.
