gnucash/doc/sgml/C/xacc-regwin.sgml

<ARTICLE ID="XACC-REGWIN">
<ARTHEADER>
<TITLE>Register Window</TITLE>
</ARTHEADER>
<SECT1>
<TITLE> Register Window</TITLE>
<PARA>    <INLINEMEDIAOBJECT>
<IMAGEOBJECT>
<IMAGEDATA FILEREF="regwin-single.gif">
</IMAGEOBJECT>
</INLINEMEDIAOBJECT> 

    </PARA>
<PARA>This is the "Register" or the "Ledger" window. Transactions
    are entered here.

    </PARA>
<PARA>To enter a new transaction, just type into the last blank
    transaction. As well as just typing them in, ou can use can use
    the <LINK LINKEND="DATE">Date Accelerator keys</LINK> to
    quickly enter dates. Use the mouse or the <LINK LINKEND="XACC-REGWIN-KBD">Register Keyboard Shortcuts</LINK>to move
    between fields, and hit the Enter key or click record to record
    the transaction:
    <INLINEMEDIAOBJECT>
<IMAGEOBJECT>
<IMAGEDATA FILEREF="regwin-single2.gif">
</IMAGEOBJECT>
</INLINEMEDIAOBJECT> 

    </PARA>
<PARA>Notice how a the transaction has been recorded and a new,
    blank transaction has been created.

    </PARA>
<PARA>You can edit existing transactions in a similar manner.
    GnuCash will prompt you to confirm any changes you make.

    </PARA>
<PARA>After you have entered a few transactions, GnuCash will try
    to guess some or all of the remaining details of a transaction
    when you type into the "Description" field. If GnuCash has
    guessed wrong, simply type over or delete the incorrect
    information and replace it with the correct information.

    </PARA>
</SECT1>
<SECT1 ID="XACC-MANTXN">
<TITLE> Manipulating transactions</TITLE>
<PARA>You can manipulate transactions with the toolbar or the
    "Transaction" menu:

    <ITEMIZEDLIST>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA><EMPHASIS>Delete:</EMPHASIS> you can delete a transaction or an
      individual split.

      </PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA><EMPHASIS>Cancel:</EMPHASIS> this reverts any changes you have made to
      the transaction you are currently entering/changing

      </PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA><EMPHASIS>New:</EMPHASIS> this moves the cursor to the last line of the
      register where new transactions are entered

      </PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA><EMPHASIS>Jump:</EMPHASIS> When placed over an existing transaction, it
      takes you to the corresponding register entry in the other
      register entry that this transaction appears in

      </PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA><EMPHASIS>Transfer:</EMPHASIS>This is an alternative way to enter a
      transaction. You can do a transfer between any two accounts
      without opening up other registers.

      </PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA><EMPHASIS>Close:</EMPHASIS>Closes this register
    </PARA>
</LISTITEM>
</ITEMIZEDLIST>

    </PARA>
</SECT1>
<SECT1 ID="XACC-VIEWTXN">
<TITLE> Viewing Transactions</TITLE>
<PARA>The register can show transactions in a variety of different
    ways, controlled by entries on the "Register" menu.

    </PARA>
<PARA>The register can display transactions in several different
    styles:

    <ITEMIZEDLIST>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA><EMPHASIS>single-line mode:</EMPHASIS> transactions are displayed on a
      single line.

      </PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA><EMPHASIS>double-line mode:</EMPHASIS> transactions are displayed over
      two lines, with more information about each transaction
      shown.

      </PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA><EMPHASIS>multi-line mode:</EMPHASIS> transactions are displayed over
      multiple lines, allowing the display of multiple entries.
      This allows you to enter multi-split transactions (for
      instance, when you pay multiple bills with one check).

      </PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA><EMPHASIS>auto-single and auto-double modes</EMPHASIS> are like single
      and double-line modes, except that the currently-edited
      transaction is displayed in multi-line form. This is a very
      convenient way of entering multi-account transactions.
    </PARA>
</LISTITEM>
</ITEMIZEDLIST>

    </PARA>
<PARA>To change the display style, to go the "Register" menu and
    select "style".

    </PARA>
<PARA>Existing transactions are normally displayed in date order,
    but this can also be changed with "Sort Order". You can also
    select a date rate from which transactions will be displayed
    with "Date Range".

    </PARA>
</SECT1>
<SECT1 ID="XACC-RECONCILIATION">
<TITLE> Reconciliation</TITLE>
<PARA>Transactions are typically checked against bank statements -
    a process known as "reconciliation". GnuCash keeps track of the
    reconciliation status of each transaction.

    </PARA>
<PARA>The reconciliation status of a transaction is shown by the
    reconciliation (R) field. 'c' indicates that a transaction has
    been reconciled, 'n' indicates that it has not. You can change
    the reconciliation status by clicking on a the 'r' field of the
    transaction.

    </PARA>
<PARA>At the bottom of the account window, there are two running
    balances, the "cleared and reconciled" balance, and the "total"
    balance... the "cleared and reconciled" balance should
    correspond to how much money the bank thinks you have in your
    account, and the "total" balance includes outstanding
    transactions.

    </PARA>
<PARA>Reconciliation can be done in the <LINK LINKEND="XACC-RECNWIN">Reconcile Window</LINK>

    </PARA>
</SECT1>
<SECT1 ID="XACC-STKPTLO">
<TITLE> Stock Portfolios</TITLE>
<PARA>You can do stock transactions either from a single-stock
    window, or from a portfolio-view window, shown below.

    </PARA>
<PARA><INLINEMEDIAOBJECT>
<IMAGEOBJECT>
<IMAGEDATA FILEREF="foliowin.gif">
</IMAGEOBJECT>
</INLINEMEDIAOBJECT>
     <INLINEMEDIAOBJECT>
<IMAGEOBJECT>
<IMAGEDATA FILEREF="foliowin-single.gif">
</IMAGEOBJECT>
</INLINEMEDIAOBJECT>

    </PARA>
<PARA>The portfolio ledger can seem a bit daunting at first
    sight.

    </PARA>
<PARA>If you have trouble understanding it, then you may wish to
    create an account for each stock you wish to track.

    </PARA>
<PARA>Some important points to remember about the portfolio
    window:

    <ITEMIZEDLIST>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>        It shows <EMPHASIS>all</EMPHASIS> stocks in your portfolio, not just
        one. 

        </PARA>
<PARA>The share amounts shown are for each particular
        stock.
      

      </PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>        Note that it uses a two line display. 

        </PARA>
<PARA>Debited accounts and debited amounts are on the upper
        line, and credited amounts and accounts are on the lower
        line.
      

      </PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>If you buy or sell a stock with money from the brokerage
      account, the total balance will not change, since the value
      of the stock equals the amount of money exchanged.

      </PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>If you buy or sell a stock with money from the brokerage
      account, the value of the transaction will appear twice, once
      in red, and once in black. If shares are purchased, the
      amount of money debited from the brokerage account will be in
      red, and the value of the shares in black. If shares are
      sold, then value of the shares is in red, and the money
      credited to the brokerage account in black.

      </PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>If you are having trouble indicating a share
      purchase/sale in the portfolio ledger, then make sure that
      <EMPHASIS>Transfer From</EMPHASIS> and <EMPHASIS>Transfer To</EMPHASIS> accounts are in
      the right order. A transfer from a stock account is always
      interpreted as a sale, even if you entered the data as a
      purchase. The vice-versa is also true.

      </PARA>
</LISTITEM>
<LISTITEM>
<PARA>Eventually, an alternative simpler portfolio ledger
      window may be provided.
    </PARA>
</LISTITEM>
</ITEMIZEDLIST>

</PARA>
</SECT1>
</ARTICLE>