John Hasler wrote:
> With double entry total debits equal total credits. Neither word is a
> synonym for 'negative'. Gnucash uses negative numbers for debits
> internally (apparently this is about to reverse), but it does so only for
> computational convenience. IMHO the only reason negative numbers should
> ever appear on the screen is to indicate that something is "backwards", as
> when you overpay a bill and consequently have a debit balance in an account
> payable. Even this could be avoided by use of the parenthesis favored by
> bookkeepers or the canonical debit-credit T account notation.
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As I said I am not an accountant or bookkeeper, I am just an engeneer.
In src/engine/design.txt it is stated, that the sum of all splits in a
transaction is zero. You say, that the sum of all credit splits
equals all debit splits.
So, GnuCash (so far):
c + d = 0
Traditional accounting:
c = d.
Now this is exact the sign reversal we are talking about.
My argumentation was based on c + d = 0, which is very reasonable
to me, as an engeneer.
But if all accountants do it c = d, then we should do it
the same way. (Although I think, the 12th century monks didn't
master the concept of negative numbers and accounting apparently
hasn't improved since those times.)
OK, now let's do it the "right way" and stop this discussion.
Herbert.
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