slaesvuo/hledger
1
0
Fork 0
Code Issues Pull Requests Actions Packages Projects Releases Wiki Activity

;doc: virtual postings: improve wording

Browse Source 
per Robert Nielsen
This commit is contained in:
Simon Michael 2022-12-09 09:14:05 -10:00
parent c4165c9a73
commit 016b7759f4
1 changed files with 18 additions and 21 deletions
Show Stats Download Patch File Download Diff File Expand all files Collapse all files

39
hledger/hledger.m4.md
View File

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