journal, bal: document account codes

hledger-lib/hledger_journal.5

@@ -943,23 +943,55 @@ end\ aliases
 .fi
 .SS account directive
 .PP
-The \f[C]account\f[] directive predefines account names, as in Ledger
+The \f[C]account\f[] directive predeclares account names.
-and Beancount.
+The simplest form is \f[C]account\ ACCTNAME\f[], eg:
-This may be useful for your own documentation; hledger doesn't make use
-of it yet.
 .IP
 .nf
 \f[C]
-;\ account\ ACCT
-;\ \ \ OPTIONAL\ COMMENTS/TAGS...
-
 account\ assets:bank:checking
-\ a\ comment
+\f[]
-\ acct\-no:12345
+.fi
+.PP
+Currently this mainly helps with account name autocompletion in eg
+hledger add, hledger\-iadd, hledger\-web, and ledger\-mode.
+.PD 0
+.P
+.PD
+In future it will also help detect misspelled accounts.
+.PP
+Account names can be followed by a numeric account code:
+.IP
+.nf
+\f[C]
+account\ assets\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ 1000
+account\ assets:bank:checking\ \ \ \ 1110
+account\ liabilities\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ 2000
+account\ revenues\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ 4000
+account\ expenses\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ 6000
+\f[]
+.fi
+.PP
+This affects account display order in reports: accounts with codes are
+listed before accounts without codes, in increasing code order.
+(Otherwise, accounts are listed alphabetically.) Account codes should be
+all numeric digits, unique, and separated from the account name by at
+least two spaces (since account names may contain single spaces).
+By convention, often the first digit indicates the type of account, as
+in this numbering scheme and the example above.
+In future, we might use this to recognize account types.
+.PP
+An account directive can also have indented subdirectives following it,
+which are currently ignored.
+Here is the full syntax:
+.IP
+.nf
+\f[C]
+;\ account\ ACCTNAME\ \ [OPTIONALCODE]
+;\ \ \ [OPTIONALSUBDIRECTIVES]
 
-account\ expenses:food
+account\ assets:bank:checking\ \ \ 1110
-
+\ \ a\ comment
-;\ etc.
+\ \ some\-tag:12345
 \f[]
 .fi
 .SS apply account directive

hledger-lib/hledger_journal.info

@@ -903,20 +903,41 @@ File: hledger_journal.info,  Node: account directive,  Next: apply account direc
 1.14.2 account directive
 ------------------------
 
-The 'account' directive predefines account names, as in Ledger and
+The 'account' directive predeclares account names.  The simplest form is
-Beancount.  This may be useful for your own documentation; hledger
+'account ACCTNAME', eg:
-doesn't make use of it yet.
-
-; account ACCT
-;   OPTIONAL COMMENTS/TAGS...
 
 account assets:bank:checking
+
+   Currently this mainly helps with account name autocompletion in eg
+hledger add, hledger-iadd, hledger-web, and ledger-mode.
+In future it will also help detect misspelled accounts.
+
+   Account names can be followed by a numeric account code:
+
+account assets                  1000
+account assets:bank:checking    1110
+account liabilities             2000
+account revenues                4000
+account expenses                6000
+
+   This affects account display order in reports: accounts with codes
+are listed before accounts without codes, in increasing code order.
+(Otherwise, accounts are listed alphabetically.)  Account codes should
+be all numeric digits, unique, and separated from the account name by at
+least two spaces (since account names may contain single spaces).  By
+convention, often the first digit indicates the type of account, as in
+this numbering scheme and the example above.  In future, we might use
+this to recognize account types.
+
+   An account directive can also have indented subdirectives following
+it, which are currently ignored.  Here is the full syntax:
+
+; account ACCTNAME  [OPTIONALCODE]
+;   [OPTIONALSUBDIRECTIVES]
+
+account assets:bank:checking   1110
   a comment
- acct-no:12345
+  some-tag:12345
-
-account expenses:food
-
-; etc.
 
 
 File: hledger_journal.info,  Node: apply account directive,  Next: Multi-line comments,  Prev: account directive,  Up: Directives
@@ -1218,23 +1239,23 @@ Node: end aliases32215
 Ref: #end-aliases32355
 Node: account directive32456
 Ref: #account-directive32636
-Node: apply account directive32932
+Node: apply account directive33983
-Ref: #apply-account-directive33128
+Ref: #apply-account-directive34179
-Node: Multi-line comments33787
+Node: Multi-line comments34838
-Ref: #multi-line-comments33977
+Ref: #multi-line-comments35028
-Node: commodity directive34105
+Node: commodity directive35156
-Ref: #commodity-directive34289
+Ref: #commodity-directive35340
-Node: Default commodity35161
+Node: Default commodity36212
-Ref: #default-commodity35334
+Ref: #default-commodity36385
-Node: Default year35871
+Node: Default year36922
-Ref: #default-year36036
+Ref: #default-year37087
-Node: Including other files36459
+Node: Including other files37510
-Ref: #including-other-files36616
+Ref: #including-other-files37667
-Node: Periodic transactions37013
+Node: Periodic transactions38064
-Ref: #periodic-transactions37184
+Ref: #periodic-transactions38235
-Node: Automated posting rules37927
+Node: Automated posting rules38978
-Ref: #automated-posting-rules38105
+Ref: #automated-posting-rules39156
-Node: EDITOR SUPPORT39214
+Node: EDITOR SUPPORT40265
-Ref: #editor-support39344
+Ref: #editor-support40395
 
 End Tag Table

hledger-lib/hledger_journal.m4.md

@@ -716,20 +716,39 @@ end aliases
 
 ### account directive
 
-The `account` directive predefines account names, as in Ledger and Beancount.
+The `account` directive predeclares account names. The simplest form is `account ACCTNAME`, eg:
-This may be useful for your own documentation; hledger doesn't make use of it yet.
-
 ```journal
-; account ACCT
-;   OPTIONAL COMMENTS/TAGS...
-
 account assets:bank:checking
+```
+Currently this mainly helps with account name autocompletion in eg 
+hledger add, hledger-iadd, hledger-web, and ledger-mode.  
+In future it will also help detect misspelled accounts.
+
+Account names can be followed by a numeric account code:
+```journal
+account assets                  1000
+account assets:bank:checking    1110
+account liabilities             2000
+account revenues                4000
+account expenses                6000
+```
+This affects account display order in reports: accounts with codes are listed before accounts without codes, in increasing code order.
+(Otherwise, accounts are listed alphabetically.) 
+Account codes should be all numeric digits, unique, and separated from the account name by at least two spaces (since account names may contain single spaces). 
+By convention, often the first digit indicates the type of account, 
+as in 
+[this numbering scheme](http://www.dwmbeancounter.com/BCTutorSite/Courses/ChartAccounts/lesson02-6.html) 
+and the example above.
+In future, we might use this to recognize account types.
+
+An account directive can also have indented subdirectives following it, which are currently ignored. Here is the full syntax:
+```journal
+; account ACCTNAME  [OPTIONALCODE]
+;   [OPTIONALSUBDIRECTIVES]
+
+account assets:bank:checking   1110
   a comment
- acct-no:12345
+  some-tag:12345
-
-account expenses:food
-
-; etc.
 ```
 
 ### apply account directive

hledger-lib/hledger_journal.txt

@@ -690,20 +690,41 @@ FILE FORMAT
               end aliases
 
    account directive
-       The account directive predefines account names, as in Ledger and  Bean-
+       The account directive predeclares account names.  The simplest form  is
-       count.   This may be useful for your own documentation; hledger doesn't
+       account ACCTNAME, eg:
-       make use of it yet.
-
-              ; account ACCT
-              ;   OPTIONAL COMMENTS/TAGS...
 
               account assets:bank:checking
+
+       Currently  this  mainly  helps  with  account name autocompletion in eg
+       hledger add, hledger-iadd, hledger-web, and ledger-mode.
+       In future it will also help detect misspelled accounts.
+
+       Account names can be followed by a numeric account code:
+
+              account assets                  1000
+              account assets:bank:checking    1110
+              account liabilities             2000
+              account revenues                4000
+              account expenses                6000
+
+       This affects account display order in reports: accounts with codes  are
+       listed  before accounts without codes, in increasing code order.  (Oth-
+       erwise, accounts are listed alphabetically.) Account  codes  should  be
+       all  numeric  digits, unique, and separated from the account name by at
+       least two spaces (since account names may contain single  spaces).   By
+       convention,  often the first digit indicates the type of account, as in
+       this numbering scheme and the example above.  In future, we  might  use
+       this to recognize account types.
+
+       An account directive can also have indented subdirectives following it,
+       which are currently ignored.  Here is the full syntax:
+
+              ; account ACCTNAME  [OPTIONALCODE]
+              ;   [OPTIONALSUBDIRECTIVES]
+
+              account assets:bank:checking   1110
                 a comment
-               acct-no:12345
+                some-tag:12345
-
-              account expenses:food
-
-              ; etc.
 
    apply account directive
        You can specify a  parent  account  which  will  be  prepended  to  all
@@ -880,7 +901,6 @@ EDITOR SUPPORT
        Editor
        --------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Emacs          http://www.ledger-cli.org/3.0/doc/ledger-mode.html
-
        Vim            https://github.com/ledger/ledger/wiki/Getting-started
        Sublime Text   https://github.com/ledger/ledger/wiki/Edit-
                       ing-Ledger-files-with-Sublime-Text-or-RubyMine

hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Balance.hs

@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ balancemode = (defCommandMode $ ["balance"] ++ aliases) { -- also accept but don
      ,flagNone ["no-elide"] (\opts -> setboolopt "no-elide" opts) "don't squash boring parent accounts (in tree mode)"
      ,flagReq  ["format"] (\s opts -> Right $ setopt "format" s opts) "FORMATSTR" "use this custom line format (in simple reports)"
      ,flagNone ["pretty-tables"] (\opts -> setboolopt "pretty-tables" opts) "use unicode to display prettier tables"
-     ,flagNone ["sort-amount","S"] (\opts -> setboolopt "sort-amount" opts) "sort by amount instead of account name (in flat mode). With multiple columns, sorts by the row total, or by row average if that is displayed."
+     ,flagNone ["sort-amount","S"] (\opts -> setboolopt "sort-amount" opts) "sort by amount instead of account code/name (in flat mode). With multiple columns, sorts by the row total, or by row average if that is displayed."
      ,flagNone ["budget"] (setboolopt "budget") "show performance compared to budget goals defined by periodic transactions"
      ,flagNone ["show-unbudgeted"] (setboolopt "show-unbudgeted") "with --budget, show unbudgeted accounts also"
      ]

hledger/Hledger/Cli/CompoundBalanceCommand.hs

@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ compoundBalanceCommandMode CompoundBalanceCommandSpec{..} = (defCommandMode $ cb
      ,flagNone ["no-elide"] (\opts -> setboolopt "no-elide" opts) "don't squash boring parent accounts (in tree mode)"
      ,flagReq  ["format"] (\s opts -> Right $ setopt "format" s opts) "FORMATSTR" "use this custom line format (in simple reports)"
      ,flagNone ["pretty-tables"] (\opts -> setboolopt "pretty-tables" opts) "use unicode when displaying tables"
-     ,flagNone ["sort-amount","S"] (\opts -> setboolopt "sort-amount" opts) "sort by amount instead of account name"
+     ,flagNone ["sort-amount","S"] (\opts -> setboolopt "sort-amount" opts) "sort by amount instead of account code/name"
      ,outputFormatFlag
      ,outputFileFlag
      ]

hledger/hledger.1

@@ -1464,7 +1464,7 @@ use unicode to display prettier tables.
 .RE
 .TP
 .B \f[C]\-\-sort\-amount\f[]
-sort by amount instead of account name (in flat mode).
+sort by amount instead of account code/name (in flat mode).
 With multiple columns, sorts by the row total, or by row average if that
 is displayed.
 .RS
@@ -1510,14 +1510,18 @@ balance.
 .PP
 By default, accounts are displayed hierarchically, with subaccounts
 indented below their parent.
+At each level of the tree, accounts are sorted by account code if any,
+then by account name.
+Or with \f[C]\-S/\-\-sort\-amount\f[], by their balance amount.
+.PP
 \[lq]Boring\[rq] accounts, which contain a single interesting subaccount
 and no balance of their own, are elided into the following line for more
 compact output.
-(Use \f[C]\-\-no\-elide\f[] to prevent this.
+(Not yet supported in tabular reports.) Use \f[C]\-\-no\-elide\f[] to
-Eliding of boring accounts is not yet supported in multicolumn reports.)
+prevent this.
 .PP
-Each account's balance is the \[lq]inclusive\[rq] balance \- it includes
+Account balances are \[lq]inclusive\[rq] \- they include the balances of
-the balances of any subaccounts.
+any subaccounts.
 .PP
 Accounts which have zero balance (and no non\-zero subaccounts) are
 omitted.
@@ -1971,7 +1975,7 @@ in single\-column balance reports: use this custom line format
 .RE
 .TP
 .B \f[C]\-\-sort\-amount\f[]
-sort by amount instead of account name
+sort by amount instead of account code/name
 .RS
 .RE
 .PP
@@ -2113,7 +2117,7 @@ in single\-column balance reports: use this custom line format
 .RE
 .TP
 .B \f[C]\-\-sort\-amount\f[]
-sort by amount instead of account name
+sort by amount instead of account code/name
 .RS
 .RE
 .PP
@@ -2300,7 +2304,7 @@ in single\-column balance reports: use this custom line format
 .RE
 .TP
 .B \f[C]\-\-sort\-amount\f[]
-sort by amount instead of account name
+sort by amount instead of account code/name
 .RS
 .RE
 .PP

hledger/hledger.info

@@ -1094,7 +1094,7 @@ Show accounts and their balances.  Aliases: b, bal.
      use unicode to display prettier tables.
 '--sort-amount'
 
-     sort by amount instead of account name (in flat mode).  With
+     sort by amount instead of account code/name (in flat mode).  With
      multiple columns, sorts by the row total, or by row average if that
      is displayed.
 '--budget'
@@ -1128,14 +1128,17 @@ where you do not filter by date and your journal sets the correct
 opening balances, this is the same as the account's ending balance.
 
    By default, accounts are displayed hierarchically, with subaccounts
-indented below their parent.  "Boring" accounts, which contain a single
+indented below their parent.  At each level of the tree, accounts are
-interesting subaccount and no balance of their own, are elided into the
+sorted by account code if any, then by account name.  Or with
-following line for more compact output.  (Use '--no-elide' to prevent
+'-S/--sort-amount', by their balance amount.
-this.  Eliding of boring accounts is not yet supported in multicolumn
-reports.)
 
-   Each account's balance is the "inclusive" balance - it includes the
+   "Boring" accounts, which contain a single interesting subaccount and
-balances of any subaccounts.
+no balance of their own, are elided into the following line for more
+compact output.  (Not yet supported in tabular reports.)  Use
+'--no-elide' to prevent this.
+
+   Account balances are "inclusive" - they include the balances of any
+subaccounts.
 
    Accounts which have zero balance (and no non-zero subaccounts) are
 omitted.  Use '-E/--empty' to show them.
@@ -1537,7 +1540,7 @@ conventional financial statements, unlike balance/print/register)
      in single-column balance reports: use this custom line format
 '--sort-amount'
 
-     sort by amount instead of account name
+     sort by amount instead of account code/name
 
    Example:
 
@@ -1653,7 +1656,7 @@ statements, unlike balance/print/register) (experimental).  (cf)
      in single-column balance reports: use this custom line format
 '--sort-amount'
 
-     sort by amount instead of account name
+     sort by amount instead of account code/name
 
    Example:
 
@@ -1821,7 +1824,7 @@ unlike balance/print/register) (experimental).  (is)
      in single-column balance reports: use this custom line format
 '--sort-amount'
 
-     sort by amount instead of account name
+     sort by amount instead of account code/name
 
    This command displays a simple income statement.  It currently
 assumes that you have top-level accounts named 'income' (or 'revenue')
@@ -2429,89 +2432,89 @@ Node: add31307
 Ref: #add31406
 Node: balance34067
 Ref: #balance34178
-Node: Flat mode37552
+Node: Flat mode37658
-Ref: #flat-mode37677
+Ref: #flat-mode37783
-Node: Depth limited balance reports38097
+Node: Depth limited balance reports38203
-Ref: #depth-limited-balance-reports38298
+Ref: #depth-limited-balance-reports38404
-Node: Multicolumn balance reports38718
+Node: Multicolumn balance reports38824
-Ref: #multicolumn-balance-reports38913
+Ref: #multicolumn-balance-reports39019
-Node: Budgets43602
+Node: Budgets43708
-Ref: #budgets43749
+Ref: #budgets43855
-Node: Custom balance output47580
+Node: Custom balance output47686
-Ref: #custom-balance-output47742
+Ref: #custom-balance-output47848
-Node: Colour support49835
+Node: Colour support49941
-Ref: #colour-support49994
+Ref: #colour-support50100
-Node: Output destination50167
+Node: Output destination50273
-Ref: #output-destination50323
+Ref: #output-destination50429
-Node: CSV output50593
+Node: CSV output50699
-Ref: #csv-output50710
+Ref: #csv-output50816
-Node: balancesheet51107
+Node: balancesheet51213
-Ref: #balancesheet51243
+Ref: #balancesheet51349
-Node: balancesheetequity53470
+Node: balancesheetequity53581
-Ref: #balancesheetequity53619
+Ref: #balancesheetequity53730
-Node: cashflow54156
+Node: cashflow54267
-Ref: #cashflow54284
+Ref: #cashflow54395
-Node: check-dates56323
+Node: check-dates56439
-Ref: #check-dates56450
+Ref: #check-dates56566
-Node: check-dupes56567
+Node: check-dupes56683
-Ref: #check-dupes56691
+Ref: #check-dupes56807
-Node: close56828
+Node: close56944
-Ref: #close56935
+Ref: #close57051
-Node: help57265
+Node: help57381
-Ref: #help57365
+Ref: #help57481
-Node: import58439
+Node: import58555
-Ref: #import58553
+Ref: #import58669
-Node: incomestatement59283
+Node: incomestatement59399
-Ref: #incomestatement59417
+Ref: #incomestatement59533
-Node: prices61737
+Node: prices61858
-Ref: #prices61852
+Ref: #prices61973
-Node: print61895
+Node: print62016
-Ref: #print62005
+Ref: #print62126
-Node: print-unique66890
+Node: print-unique67011
-Ref: #print-unique67016
+Ref: #print-unique67137
-Node: register67084
+Node: register67205
-Ref: #register67211
+Ref: #register67332
-Node: Custom register output71712
+Node: Custom register output71833
-Ref: #custom-register-output71841
+Ref: #custom-register-output71962
-Node: register-match73138
+Node: register-match73259
-Ref: #register-match73272
+Ref: #register-match73393
-Node: rewrite73455
+Node: rewrite73576
-Ref: #rewrite73572
+Ref: #rewrite73693
-Node: stats73641
+Node: stats73762
-Ref: #stats73744
+Ref: #stats73865
-Node: tags74626
+Node: tags74747
-Ref: #tags74724
+Ref: #tags74845
-Node: test74960
+Node: test75081
-Ref: #test75044
+Ref: #test75165
-Node: ADD-ON COMMANDS75412
+Node: ADD-ON COMMANDS75533
-Ref: #add-on-commands75522
+Ref: #add-on-commands75643
-Node: Official add-ons76809
+Node: Official add-ons76930
-Ref: #official-add-ons76949
+Ref: #official-add-ons77070
-Node: api77036
+Node: api77157
-Ref: #api77125
+Ref: #api77246
-Node: ui77177
+Node: ui77298
-Ref: #ui77276
+Ref: #ui77397
-Node: web77334
+Node: web77455
-Ref: #web77423
+Ref: #web77544
-Node: Third party add-ons77469
+Node: Third party add-ons77590
-Ref: #third-party-add-ons77644
+Ref: #third-party-add-ons77765
-Node: diff77779
+Node: diff77900
-Ref: #diff77876
+Ref: #diff77997
-Node: iadd77975
+Node: iadd78096
-Ref: #iadd78089
+Ref: #iadd78210
-Node: interest78172
+Node: interest78293
-Ref: #interest78293
+Ref: #interest78414
-Node: irr78388
+Node: irr78509
-Ref: #irr78486
+Ref: #irr78607
-Node: Experimental add-ons78564
+Node: Experimental add-ons78685
-Ref: #experimental-add-ons78716
+Ref: #experimental-add-ons78837
-Node: autosync79007
+Node: autosync79128
-Ref: #autosync79119
+Ref: #autosync79240
-Node: budget79358
+Node: budget79479
-Ref: #budget79480
+Ref: #budget79601
-Node: chart79546
+Node: chart79667
-Ref: #chart79663
+Ref: #chart79784
-Node: check79734
+Node: check79855
-Ref: #check79836
+Ref: #check79957
 
 End Tag Table

hledger/hledger.txt

@@ -997,9 +997,9 @@ COMMANDS
               use unicode to display prettier tables.
 
        --sort-amount
-              sort by amount instead of account name  (in  flat  mode).   With
+              sort by amount instead of  account  code/name  (in  flat  mode).
-              multiple  columns,  sorts by the row total, or by row average if
+              With multiple columns, sorts by the row total, or by row average
-              that is displayed.
+              if that is displayed.
 
        --budget
               show performance compared to budget goals  defined  by  periodic
@@ -1031,14 +1031,17 @@ COMMANDS
        ances, this is the same as the account's ending balance.
 
        By  default,  accounts  are  displayed hierarchically, with subaccounts
-       indented below their parent.  "Boring" accounts, which contain a single
+       indented below their parent.  At each level of the tree,  accounts  are
-       interesting subaccount and no balance of their own, are elided into the
+       sorted  by  account  code  if  any,  then  by  account  name.   Or with
-       following line for more compact output.   (Use  --no-elide  to  prevent
+       -S/--sort-amount, by their balance amount.
-       this.   Eliding  of boring accounts is not yet supported in multicolumn
-       reports.)
 
-       Each account's balance is the "inclusive" balance  -  it  includes  the
+       "Boring" accounts, which contain a single interesting subaccount and no
-       balances of any subaccounts.
+       balance  of their own, are elided into the following line for more com-
+       pact output.  (Not yet supported in tabular reports.) Use --no-elide to
+       prevent this.
+
+       Account  balances  are  "inclusive"  - they include the balances of any
+       subaccounts.
 
        Accounts which have zero balance  (and  no  non-zero  subaccounts)  are
        omitted.  Use -E/--empty to show them.
@@ -1390,7 +1393,7 @@ COMMANDS
               in single-column balance reports: use this custom line format
 
        --sort-amount
-              sort by amount instead of account name
+              sort by amount instead of account code/name
 
        Example:
 
@@ -1493,7 +1496,7 @@ COMMANDS
               in single-column balance reports: use this custom line format
 
        --sort-amount
-              sort by amount instead of account name
+              sort by amount instead of account code/name
 
        Example:
 
@@ -1627,7 +1630,7 @@ COMMANDS
               in single-column balance reports: use this custom line format
 
        --sort-amount
-              sort by amount instead of account name
+              sort by amount instead of account code/name
 
        This command displays a simple income statement.  It currently  assumes
        that  you have top-level accounts named income (or revenue) and expense

hledger/hledger_balance.m4.md

@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ txt, csv.
 : use unicode to display prettier tables.
 
 `--sort-amount`
-: sort by amount instead of account name (in flat mode). With multiple columns, sorts by the row total, or by row average if that is displayed. 
+: sort by amount instead of account code/name (in flat mode). With multiple columns, sorts by the row total, or by row average if that is displayed. 
 
 `--budget`
 : show performance compared to budget goals defined by [periodic transactions](journal.html#periodic-transactions)
@@ -75,15 +75,15 @@ $ hledger balance
 More precisely, the balance command shows the *change* to each account's balance caused by all (matched) postings.
 In the common case where you do not filter by date and your journal sets the correct opening balances, this is the same as the account's ending balance.
 
-By default, accounts are displayed hierarchically, with subaccounts
+By default, accounts are displayed hierarchically, with subaccounts indented below their parent.
-indented below their parent.
+At each level of the tree, accounts are sorted by [account code](/manual.html#account-directive) if any, then by account name.
-"Boring" accounts, which contain a single interesting
+Or with `-S/--sort-amount`, by their balance amount.
-subaccount and no balance of their own, are elided into the following
-line for more compact output. (Use `--no-elide` to prevent this. 
-Eliding of boring accounts is not yet supported in multicolumn reports.)
 
-Each account's balance is the "inclusive" balance - it includes the
+"Boring" accounts, which contain a single interesting subaccount and 
-balances of any subaccounts.
+no balance of their own, are elided into the following line for more compact output.
+(Not yet supported in tabular reports.) Use `--no-elide` to prevent this. 
+
+Account balances are "inclusive" - they include the balances of any subaccounts.
 
 Accounts which have zero balance (and no non-zero subaccounts) are
 omitted. Use `-E/--empty` to show them.

hledger/hledger_commands.m4.md

@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ _include_({{hledger_balance.m4.md}})
 : in single-column balance reports: use this custom line format
 
 `--sort-amount`
-: sort by amount instead of account name
+: sort by amount instead of account code/name
 
 Example:
 ```shell
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ Total:
 : in single-column balance reports: use this custom line format
 
 `--sort-amount`
-: sort by amount instead of account name
+: sort by amount instead of account code/name
 
 Example:
 ```shell
@@ -463,7 +463,7 @@ $ hledger import --dry ... | hledger -f- print unknown --ignore-assertions
 : in single-column balance reports: use this custom line format
 
 `--sort-amount`
-: sort by amount instead of account name
+: sort by amount instead of account code/name
 
 This command displays a simple
 [income statement](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Income_statement).  It