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;doc: virtual postings: improve wording

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per Robert Nielsen
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Simon Michael 2022-12-09 09:14:05 -10:00
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@ -2309,38 +2309,35 @@ But if you accidentally leave only one space (or tab) before the amount, the amo
### Virtual postings ### Virtual postings
A posting with a parenthesised account name is called a *virtual posting* A posting with parentheses around the account name is called a *virtual posting* or *unbalanced posting*,
or *unbalanced posting*, which means it is exempt from the usual rule which means it is exempt from the usual rule that a transaction's postings must balance add up to zero.
that a transaction's postings must balance add up to zero.
This is not part of double entry accounting, so you might choose to This is not part of double entry bookkeeping, so you might choose to avoid this feature.
avoid this feature. Or you can use it sparingly for certain special Or you can use it sparingly for certain special cases where it can be convenient.
cases where it can be convenient. Eg, you could set opening balances Eg, you could set opening balances without using a balancing equity account:
without using a balancing equity account:
```journal ```journal
1/1 opening balances 2022-01-01 opening balances
(assets:checking) $1000 (assets:checking) $1000
(assets:savings) $2000 (assets:savings) $2000
``` ```
A posting with a bracketed account name is called a *balanced virtual A posting with brackets around the account name is called a *balanced virtual posting*.
posting*. The balanced virtual postings in a transaction must add up The balanced virtual postings in a transaction must add up to zero (separately from other postings).
to zero (separately from other postings). Eg: Eg:
```journal ```journal
1/1 buy food with cash, update budget envelope subaccounts, & something else 2022-01-01 buy food with cash, update budget envelope subaccounts, & something else
assets:cash $-10 ; <- these balance assets:cash $-10 ; <- these balance each other
expenses:food $7 ; <- expenses:food $7 ; <-
expenses:food $3 ; <- expenses:food $3 ; <-
[assets:checking:budget:food] $-10 ; <- and these balance [assets:checking:budget:food] $-10 ; <- and these balance each other
[assets:checking:available] $10 ; <- [assets:checking:available] $10 ; <-
(something:else) $5 ; <- not required to balance (something:else) $5 ; <- this is not required to balance
``` ```
Ordinary non-parenthesised, non-bracketed postings are called *real postings*. Postings whose account names are neither parenthesised nor bracketed are called *real postings*.
You can exclude virtual postings from reports with the `-R/--real` You can exclude virtual postings from reports with the `-R/--real` flag or a `real:1` query.
flag or `real:1` query.
## Account names ## Account names