From 6716e3a5030e05f797312730cf30a96189058189 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Simon Michael Date: Sat, 1 Jun 2024 09:46:14 -1000 Subject: [PATCH] ;doc: edit --- hledger/hledger.m4.md | 18 +++++++++--------- 1 file changed, 9 insertions(+), 9 deletions(-) diff --git a/hledger/hledger.m4.md b/hledger/hledger.m4.md index 9cdfebcac..651b4cf41 100644 --- a/hledger/hledger.m4.md +++ b/hledger/hledger.m4.md @@ -2728,16 +2728,16 @@ A missing Y directive makes reports dependent on today's date. ### Secondary dates -A secondary date is written after the primary date, following an -equals sign. If the year is omitted, the primary date's year is -assumed. When running reports, the primary (left) date is used by -default, but with the `--date2` flag (`--aux-date` or`--effective` also work, for Ledger users), -the secondary (right) date will be used instead. +A secondary date is written after the primary date, following an equals sign: `DATE1=DATE2`. +If the year is omitted, the primary date's year is assumed. +When running reports, the primary (left side) date is used by default, +but with the `--date2` flag (`--aux-date` or`--effective` also work, for Ledger users), +the secondary (right side) date will be used instead. -The meaning of secondary dates is up to you. -Eg it could be "primary = the bank's clearing date, secondary = date the transaction was initiated, if different". +The meaning of secondary dates is up to you. Eg it could be +"primary is the bank's clearing date, secondary is the date the transaction was initiated, if different". -In fact this feature usually adds confusion: +In practice, this feature usually adds confusion: - You have to remember the primary and secondary dates' meaning, and follow that consistently. - It splits your bookkeeping into two modes, and you have to remember which mode is appropriate for a given report. @@ -2748,7 +2748,7 @@ In fact this feature usually adds confusion: - [Posting dates](#posting-dates) are simpler and work better. So secondary dates are officially deprecated in hledger, -remaining only as a Ledger compatibility feature; +remaining only as a Ledger compatibility aid; we recommend using posting dates instead. ### Star comments