;bal: doc: more updates & cleanups (#1496)
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Simon Michael
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@ -3,12 +3,10 @@ Show accounts and their balances.
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_FLAGS
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`balance` is a flexible command for listing account balances, balance
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changes, values, value changes, and more.
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Generally it shows a table, with rows representing accounts, and
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columns representing time periods.
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Compared to Ledger's balance command, hledger's `balance` adds the
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significant feature of multi-period reports.
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`balance` is one of hledger's oldest and most versatile commands,
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for listing account balances, balance changes, values, value changes and more,
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during one time period or many.
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Generally it shows a table, with rows representing accounts, and columns representing periods.
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Note there are some higher-level variants of the `balance` command
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with convenient defaults, which can be simpler to use:
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@ -18,9 +16,11 @@ with convenient defaults, which can be simpler to use:
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[`incomestatement`](#incomestatement).
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When you need more control, then use `balance`.
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Here's a quick overview of `balance` features
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(many of these work with the higher-level commands as well),
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followed by more detailed descriptions and examples.
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### balance features
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Here's a quick overview of the `balance` command's features,
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followed by more detailed descriptions and examples.
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Many of these work with the higher-level commands as well.
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`balance` can show..
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- accounts as a [list (`-l`) or a tree (`-t`)](#list-or-tree-mode)
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@ -30,10 +30,10 @@ followed by more detailed descriptions and examples.
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..and their..
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- balance changes ([`--change`](#simple-balance-report), the default report type)
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- balance changes (the default)
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- or actual and planned balance changes ([`--budget`](#budget-report))
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- or value of balance changes ([`--change -V`](#valuation-type))
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- or change of balance value ([`--valuechange`](#report-type))
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- or value of balance changes ([`-V`](#valuation-type))
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- or change of balance values ([`--valuechange`](#report-type))
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..in..
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@ -42,13 +42,13 @@ followed by more detailed descriptions and examples.
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..either..
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- per period ([`--change`](#accumulation-type), the default accumulation type)
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- per period (the default)
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- or accumulated since report start date ([`--cumulative`](#accumulation-type))
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- or accumulated since account creation ([`--historical/-H`](#accumulation-type))
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..possibly converted to..
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- cost ([`--value=cost[,COMM]/--cost/-B`](#valuation-type))
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- cost ([`--value=cost[,COMM]`/`--cost`/`-B`](#valuation-type))
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- or market value, as of transaction dates ([`--value=then[,COMM]`](#valuation-type))
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- or at period ends ([`--value=end[,COMM]`](#valuation-type))
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- or now ([`--value=now`](#valuation-type))
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@ -70,8 +70,6 @@ This command supports the
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with output formats `txt`, `csv`, `json`, and (multi-period reports only:) `html`.
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In `txt` output in a colour-supporting terminal, negative amounts are shown in red.
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<a name="classic-balance-report"></a>
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### Simple balance report
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With no arguments, `balance` shows a list of all accounts and their
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@ -198,6 +196,8 @@ $ hledger bal expenses --drop 1
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$2
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```
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<a name="multicolumn-balance-report"></a>
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### Multi-period balance report
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With a [report interval](#report-intervals) (set by the `-D/--daily`,
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@ -300,9 +300,7 @@ $ hledger bal -% cur:\\$
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$ hledger bal -% cur:€
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```
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<a name="multicolumn-balance-report"></a>
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### Balance change, end balance, historical end balance
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### Balance change, end balance
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It's important to be clear on the meaning of the numbers shown in
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balance reports. Here is some terminology we use:
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@ -310,7 +308,7 @@ balance reports. Here is some terminology we use:
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A ***balance change*** is the net amount added to, or removed from, an account during some period.
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An ***end balance*** is the amount accumulated in an account as of some date
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(and some time, but hledger doesn't model that; assume end of day in your timezone).
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(and some time, but hledger doesn't store that; assume end of day in your timezone).
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It is the sum of previous balance changes.
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We call it a ***historical end balance*** if it includes all balance changes since the account was created.
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@ -321,68 +319,63 @@ In general, balance changes are what you want to see when reviewing
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revenues and expenses, and historical end balances are what you want
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to see when reviewing or reconciling asset, liability and equity accounts.
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As mentioned above, the default `balance` report shows balance changes.
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To ensure that you see accurate historical end balances:
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`balance` shows balance changes by default.
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To see accurate historical end balances:
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1. If the account's full lifetime is not recorded in the journal,
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there should be an "opening balances" transaction (a transfer from
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equity to the account) that initialises its balance on some date
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(often the first day of a year).
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1. Initialise account starting balances with an "opening balances"
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transaction (a transfer from equity to the account),
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unless the journal covers the account's full lifetime.
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2. The report should include all of the account's prior postings, eg
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by leaving the [report start date](#report-start-end-date)
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unspecified, or by using the `-H/--historical` flag, described
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below.
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2. Include all of of the account's prior postings in the report,
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eg by leaving the [report start date](#report-start-end-date) unspecified,
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or by using the `-H/--historical` flag.
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### Balance report types
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Fair warning: balance report modes can get confusing, so feel free to
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just mimic the examples below, or just use the higher-level
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bs/bse/cf/is commands.
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For more flexible reporting, there are three important option groups:
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`hledger balance [REPORTTYPE] [ACCUMULATIONTYPE] [VALUATIONTYPE] ...`
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`hledger balance [CALCULATIONTYPE] [ACCUMULATIONTYPE] [VALUATIONTYPE] ...`
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#### Report type
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The general thing that is calculated/shown in each cell.
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The first two are the most important:
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calculation type selects the basic calculation to perform for each table cell, while
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accumulation type says which postings should be included in each cell's calculation.
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Typically one or both of these are selected by default, so you don't need to write them explicitly.
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A valuation type can be added if you want to convert the basic report to value or cost.
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**Calculation type:**\
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The basic calculation to perform for each table cell.
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It is one of:
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- `--sum` : show a sum of posting amounts (**default**)
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- `--budget` : like --sum but also show a budget goal amount
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- `--valuechange` : show change of value of period-end historical balances
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<!-- - `--gain` : show change of value of period-end historical balances caused by market price fluctuations -->
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- `--sum` : sum the posting amounts (**default**)
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- `--budget` : like --sum but also show a goal amount
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- `--valuechange` : show the change in period-end historical balance values
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<!-- - `--gain` : show the change in period-end historical balances values caused by market price fluctuations -->
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#### Accumulation type
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Which previous periods' postings should be included in calculations
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(especially in multiperiod reports).
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**Accumulation type:**\
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Which postings should be included in each cell's calculation.
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It is one of:
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- `--change` : postings from column start to column end. Ie, show
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[changes] in each period. Typically used when reviewing
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revenues/expenses. (**default for balance, incomestatement**)
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- `--change` : postings from column start to column end, ie within the cell's period.
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Typically used with `--sum` to see revenues/expenses.
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(**default for balance, incomestatement**)
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<!-- /--periodic -->
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- `--cumulative` : postings from report start (specified by
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-b/--begin, eg) to column end. Ie, show [accumulated changes] since
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start of report. Rarely used.
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- `--cumulative` : postings from report start to column end, eg to show
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changes accumulated since the report's start date. Rarely used.
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- `--historical/-H` : postings from journal start to column end. Ie,
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show [historical balance] at end of each period. Typically used when
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reviewing assets/liabilities/equity. (**default for balancesheet,
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balancesheetequity, cashflow**)
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- `--historical/-H` : postings from journal start to column end, ie
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all postings from account creation to the end of the cell's period.
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Typically used to see historical end balances of assets/liabilities/equity.
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(**default for balancesheet, balancesheetequity, cashflow**)
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[changes]: #balance-change-end-balance-historical-end-balance
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[accumulated changes]: #balance-change-end-balance-historical-end-balance
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[historical balance]: #balance-change-end-balance-historical-end-balance
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#### Valuation type
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**Valuation type:**\
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Which kind of [valuation], [valuation date(s)] and optionally a target [valuation commodity] to use.
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It is one of:
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- no valuation, show amounts in their original commodities (**default**)
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- `--value=cost[,COMM]` : no valuation, show amounts converted to cost
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- `--value=then[,COMM]` : show value at transaction dates
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- `--value=end[,COMM]` : show value at period end date(s)
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- `--value=end[,COMM]` : show value at period end date(s) (**default with `--valuechange`**)
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- `--value=now[,COMM]` : show value at today's date
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- `--value=YYYY-MM-DD[,COMM]` : show value at another date
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@ -392,39 +385,57 @@ or one of their aliases: [`--cost/-B`], [`--market/-V`] or [`--exchange/-X`].
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[`--market/-V`]: #-v-value
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[`--exchange/-X`]: #-x-value-in-specified-commodity
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### Combining balance report options
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<!-- ### Combining balance report types -->
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Many but not all combinations of balance report options are useful.
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Eg, `--row-total/-T` is disabled by `--cumulative` or `--historical`,
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since summing already-summed end balances usually does not make sense.
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Most combinations of these options should produce reasonable reports,
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but if you find any that seem wrong or misleading, let us know.
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The following restrictions are applied:
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Some important reports are:
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- `--valuechange` implies `--value=end`
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- `--cumulative` or `--historical` disables `--row-total/-T`
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- `bal revenues expenses` (`bal --change --sum revenues expenses`)\
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revenues/expenses in each period, an income statement / profit & loss report
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For reference, here is what the combinations of accumulation and valuation show:
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| Valuation: ><br>Accumulation: v | no valuation | `--value= then` | `--value= end` | `--value= YYYY-MM-DD /now` |
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|---------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|
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| `--periodic` | change in period | sum of posting-date market values in period | period-end value of change in period | DATE-value of change in period |
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| `--cumulative` | change from report start to period end | sum of posting-date market values from report start to period end | period-end value of change from report start to period end | DATE-value of change from report start to period end |
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| `--historical /-H` | change from journal start to period end (historical end balance) | sum of posting-date market values from journal start to period end | period-end value of change from journal start to period end | DATE-value of change from journal start to period end |
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### Frequently used balance reports
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Some frequently used `balance` options/reports are:
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- `bal -M revenues expenses`\
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Show revenues/expenses in each month.
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Also available as the [`incomestatement`](#incomestatement) command.
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<!-- (= `bal --monthly --sum --change revenues expenses`)\ -->
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- `bal -H assets liabilities` (`bal --historical --sum assets liabilities`)\
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historical asset/liability balances at end of each period, a simplified balance sheet
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- `bal -M -H assets liabilities`\
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Show historical asset/liability balances at each month end.
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Also available as the [`balancesheet`](#balancesheet) command.
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<!-- (= `bal --monthly --sum --historical assets liabilities`)\ -->
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- `bal -H assets liabilities equity` (`bal --historical --change assets liabilities equity`)\
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historical asset/liability/equity balances at end of each period, a full balance sheet
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- `bal -M -H assets liabilities equity`\
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Show historical asset/liability/equity balances at each month end.
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Also available as the [`balancesheetequity`](#balancesheetequity) command.
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<!-- (= `bal --monthly --sum --historical assets liabilities equity`)\ -->
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- `bal assets not:receivable` (`bal --change --sum assets not:receivable`)\
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liquid asset changes in each period, a cashflow report
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- `bal -M assets not:receivable`\
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Show changes to liquid assets in each month.
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Also available as the [`cashflow`](#cashflow) command.
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<!-- (= `bal --monthly --sum --change assets not:receivable`)\ -->
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Since these are so often used, they are also available as (enhanced) separate commands:\
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Also:
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- [`is`] (`incomestatement`)
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- [`bs`] (`balancesheet`)
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- [`bse`] (`balancesheetequity`)
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- [`cf`] (`cashflow`)
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- `bal -M expenses -2 -SA`\
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Show monthly expenses summarised to depth 2 and sorted by average amount.
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[`is`]: #incomestatement
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[`bs`]: #balancesheet
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[`bse`]: #balancesheetequity
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[`cf`]: #cashflow
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- `bal -M --budget expenses`\
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Show monthly expenses and budget goals.
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Here is what the accumulation / valuation type combinations show:
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- `bal -M --valuechange investments`\
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Show monthly change in market value of investment assets.
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| Valuation: ><br>Accumulation: v | no valuation | `--value= then` | `--value= end` | `--value= YYYY-MM-DD /now` |
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|---------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|
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@ -433,6 +444,7 @@ Here is what the accumulation / valuation type combinations show:
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| `--historical /-H` | change from journal start to period end (historical end balance) | sum of posting-date market values from journal start to period end | period-end value of change from journal start to period end | DATE-value of change from journal start to period end |
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<!--
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### Balance report examples
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```shell
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