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reorganized the docs, switched to using some more appropriate @commands

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John Wiegley 2004-08-25 03:07:45 -04:00
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ledger.texi
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@ -174,9 +174,9 @@ cp ledger /usr/local/bin
@end example
Note that when building GNUmp, make sure to pass the
@samp{--enable-cxx} flag to configure, otherwise it will not build
@strong{libgmpxx.a}. And in case it is not already on your system,
@strong{xmlparse.h} is part of the libxmltok package, and not expat.
@option{--enable-cxx} flag to configure, otherwise it will not build
@file{libgmpxx.a}. And in case it is not already on your system,
@file{xmlparse.h} is part of the libxmltok package, and not expat.
@node Running Ledger, Keeping a ledger, Introduction, Top
@chapter Running Ledger
@ -190,7 +190,6 @@ Note that when building GNUmp, make sure to pass the
* Plotting register data::
* Typical queries::
* File format::
* Using command options::
@end menu
@node Commands, Options, Running Ledger, Running Ledger
@ -278,22 +277,40 @@ launches @command{vi} to let you confirm that the entry looks appropriate.
@node Options, Format strings, Commands, Running Ledger
@section Options
With all of the reports, command-line options are useful for modifying
the output generated. You will often find yourselves adding option
flags to the command-line to modify those commands.
Command-line options always occur before the command word. This is
done to distinguish them from exclusive matching expressions, which
also begin with a desh. The basic form for most commands is:
@example
ledger [OPTIONS] COMMAND [REGEXPS...] [-- [REGEXPS...]]
@end example
The @var{OPTIONS} and @var{REGEXPS} expressions are optional. You
could use just ``ledger balance'' without any options, which would
print the summarized total for all accounts. But for more specific
reporting, or to change the appearance of the output, options are
needed.
@subsection Basic options
@samp{--help} (@samp{-h}) prints a summary of all the options, and
@option{--help} (@option{-h}) prints a summary of all the options, and
what they are used for. This can be a handy way to remember which
options do what. This help screen is also printed if ledger is run
without a command.
@sp 1
@samp{--version} (@samp{-v}) prints the current version of ledger and
@option{--version} (@option{-v}) prints the current version of ledger and
exits. This is useful for sending bug reports, to let the author know
which version of ledger you are using.
@sp 1
@samp{--init FILE} (@samp{-i FILE}) causes FILE to be read by ledger before any
@option{--init FILE} (@option{-i FILE}) causes FILE to be read by ledger before any
other ledger file. This file may not contain any transactions, but it
may contain option settings. To specify options in the init file, use
the same syntax as the command-line. Here's an example init file:
@ -307,14 +324,14 @@ precedence over settings in the init file.
@sp 1
@samp{--file FILE} (@samp{-f FILE}) reads FILE as a ledger file. This command
@option{--file FILE} (@option{-f FILE}) reads FILE as a ledger file. This command
may be used multiple times. FILE may also be a list of file names
separated by colons. Typically, the environment variable
@var{LEDGER_FILE} is set, rather than using this command-line option.
@sp 1
@samp{--cache FILE} identifies FILE as the default binary cache file. That
@option{--cache FILE} identifies FILE as the default binary cache file. That
is, if the ledger files to be read are specified using the environment
variable @var{LEDGER_FILE}, then whenever a command is finished a binary
copy will be written to the specified cache, to speed up the loading
@ -324,52 +341,67 @@ your init file.
@sp 1
@samp{--output FILE} (@samp{-o FILE}) redirects output from any command to
@option{--output FILE} (@option{-o FILE}) redirects output from any command to
@var{FILE}. By default, all output goes to standard output.
@sp 1
@option{--set-price CONV} (@option{-z CONV}) specifies a forced
commodity conversion. If a setting like @samp{COMM=$1.20} is used,
the commodity @var{COMM} is reported in terms of the conversion
factor. This can be useful for performing arbitrary value
substitutions. For example, to report dollars in terms of the ounces
of gold they would buy, use: @samp{-z "$=0.00280112 AU"} (or whatever
the current exchange rate is).
@sp 1
@option{--account NAME} (@option{-a NAME}) specifies the default
account which QIF file transactions are assumed to relate to.
@subsection Report filtering
@samp{--begin-date DATE} (@samp{-b DATE}) constrains the report to
@option{--begin-date DATE} (@option{-b DATE}) constrains the report to
entries on or after @var{DATE}. Only entries after that date will be
calculated, which means that the running total in the balance report
will always start at zero with the first matching entry. (Note: This
is different from using @samp{--display} to constrain what is
is different from using @option{--display} to constrain what is
displayed).
@sp 1
@samp{--end-date DATE} (@samp{-e DATE}) contrains the report so that
@option{--end-date DATE} (@option{-e DATE}) contrains the report so that
entries on or after @var{DATE} are not considered. This ending date
is not inclusive, therefore always use a date that is later than the
last entry you want to see.
@sp 1
@samp{--current}(@samp{-c}) displays only entries occurring on or
@option{--current}(@option{-c}) displays only entries occurring on or
before the current date.
@sp 1
@samp{--cleared} (@samp{-C}) displays only transactions whose entry
@option{--cleared} (@option{-C}) displays only transactions whose entry
has been marked ``cleared'' (by placing an asterix to the right of the
date).
@sp 1
@samp{--uncleared} (@samp{-U}) displays only transactions whose entry
@option{--uncleared} (@option{-U}) displays only transactions whose entry
has not been marked ``cleared'' (i.e., if there is no asterix to the
right of the date).
@sp 1
@samp{--real} (@samp{-R}) displays only real transactions, not
@option{--real} (@option{-R}) displays only real transactions, not
virtual. (A virtual transaction is indicated by surrounding the
account name with parentheses or brackets; see the section on using
virtual transactions for more information).
@sp 1
@samp{--related} (@samp{-r}) displays transactions that are related to
@option{--related} (@option{-r}) displays transactions that are related to
whichever transactions would otherwise have matched the filtering
criteria. In the register report, this shows where money went to, or
the account it came from. In the balance report, it shows all the
@ -399,23 +431,23 @@ transaction that matched.
@subsection Output customization
@samp{--date-format STR} (@samp{-y STR}) changes the basic date format
@option{--date-format STR} (@option{-y STR}) changes the basic date format
used by reports. The default uses a date like 2004/08/01, which
represents the default date format of @samp{%Y/%m/%d}. To change the
way dates are printed in general, the easiest way is to
@samp{--date-format FORMAT} to the initialize file @file{~/.ledgerc}
@option{--date-format FORMAT} to the initialize file @file{~/.ledgerc}
(or the file referred to by @var{LEDGER_INIT}).
@sp 1
@samp{--format STR} (@samp{-F STR}) sets the reporting format for
@option{--format STR} (@option{-F STR}) sets the reporting format for
whatever report ledger is about to make. @xref{Format strings}.
You can also set the default format for a given report type, usually
in the initialization file @file{~/.ledgerrc}, by using one of the
following options:
@table @samp
@table @code
@item --balance-format STR
Sets the default format for the @command{balance} report.
@ -429,40 +461,40 @@ Sets the default format for the @command{register} report.
Sets the default format for the @command{print} report.
@item --plot-value-format STR
Sets the default format for the @command{register} report, when @samp{-j}
Sets the default format for the @command{register} report, when @option{-j}
is being used.
@item --plot-total-format STR
Sets the default format for the @command{register} report, when @samp{-J}
Sets the default format for the @command{register} report, when @option{-J}
is being used.
@end table
@sp 1
@samp{--empty} (@samp{-E}) includes even empty accounts in the
@option{--empty} (@option{-E}) includes even empty accounts in the
@command{balance} report.
@sp 1
@samp{--collapse} (@samp{-n}) causes entries in a @command{register}
@option{--collapse} (@option{-n}) causes entries in a @command{register}
report with multiple transactions to be collapsed into a single,
subtotaled entry.
@samp{--subtotal} (@samp{-s}) causes all entries in a
@option{--subtotal} (@option{-s}) causes all entries in a
@command{register} report to be collapsed into a single, subtotaled
entry.
@sp 1
@samp{--sort EXPR} (@samp{-S EXPR}) sorts a report by comparing the
@option{--sort EXPR} (@option{-S EXPR}) sorts a report by comparing the
values determined using the value expression @var{EXPR}. For example,
using @samp{-S -AT} in the balance report will sort account balances
using @option{-S -AT} in the balance report will sort account balances
from greatest to least, using the absolute value of the total. For
more on how to use value expressions, see @ref{Value expressions}.
@sp 1
@samp{--interval STR} (@samp{-z STR}) sets the reporting interval to
@option{--interval STR} (@option{-p STR}) sets the reporting interval to
@var{STR}. This will subtotal all matching entries within each
interval separately, making it easy to see weekly, monthly, quarterly,
etc., transaction totals. An interval string can even specify the
@ -470,24 +502,24 @@ beginning and end of the report range, using simple terms like ``last
june'' or ``next month''. For more using interval expressions, see
@ref{Interval expressions}.
@samp{--dow} reports transactions totals for each day of the week.
@option{--dow} reports transactions totals for each day of the week.
This is an easy way to see if weekend spending is more than on
weekdays.
@samp{--weekly} (@samp{-W}) reports transaction totals by the week.
@option{--weekly} (@option{-W}) reports transaction totals by the week.
The week begins on whichever day a transaction is first found, so to
start each week on a Sunday, specifying a beginning date for the
report that falls on a Sunday. @samp{--monthly} (@samp{-M}) reports
transaction totals by month; @samp{--yearly} (@samp{-Y}) reports
report that falls on a Sunday. @option{--monthly} (@option{-M}) reports
transaction totals by month; @option{--yearly} (@option{-Y}) reports
transaction totals by year. For more complex interval, using the
@samp{--interval} option described above.
@option{--interval} option described above.
@sp 1
@samp{--limit EXPR} (@samp{-l EXPR}) limits which transactions take
@option{--limit EXPR} (@option{-l EXPR}) limits which transactions take
part in the calculations of a report.
@samp{--display EXPR} (@samp{-d EXPR}) limits which transactions or
@option{--display EXPR} (@option{-d EXPR}) limits which transactions or
accounts or actually displayed in a report. They might still be
calculated, and be part of the running total of a register report, for
example, but they will not be displayed. This is useful for seeing
@ -503,39 +535,39 @@ whose running total includes only transactions from the last month
onward:
@example
ledger -z "last month" reg checking
ledger -p "last month" reg checking
@end example
Which is more useful depends on what you're looking to know: the total
amount for the reporting range (@samp{-z}), or simply a display
restricted to the reporting range (using @samp{-d}).
amount for the reporting range (@option{-p}), or simply a display
restricted to the reporting range (using @option{-d}).
@sp 1
@samp{--value EXPR} (@samp{-t EXPR}) changes the value expression used
@option{--value EXPR} (@option{-t EXPR}) changes the value expression used
to calculate the ``value'' column in the @command{register} report,
and the totals in the @command{equity} report. @xref{Value
expressions}.
@samp{--total EXPR} (@samp{-T EXPR}) sets the value expression used by
@option{--total EXPR} (@option{-T EXPR}) sets the value expression used by
the ``total'' column in the @command{register} report, and also the
@command{balance} report.
@sp 1
@samp{--value-data} (@samp{-j}) changes the @command{register} report
@option{--value-data} (@option{-j}) changes the @command{register} report
so that it output nothing but the date and the value column, and the
latter without commodities. This is only meaningful if the report
uses a single commodity. This data can then be fed to other programs,
which could plot the date, analyze it, etc.
@samp{--total-data} (@samp{-J}) changes the @command{register} report
@option{--total-data} (@option{-J}) changes the @command{register} report
so that it output nothing but the date and totals column, without
commodities.
@subsection Commodity reporting
@samp{--price-db FILE} (@samp{-P FILE}) sets the file that is used for
@option{--price-db FILE} (@option{-P FILE}) sets the file that is used for
recording downloaded commodity prices. It is always read on startup,
to determine historical prices. Other settings can be placed in this
file manually, to prevent downloading quotes for a specific, for
@ -549,7 +581,7 @@ N h
@sp 1
@samp{--download} (@samp{-Q}) causes quotes to be automagically
@option{--download} (@option{-Q}) causes quotes to be automagically
downloaded, as needed, by running a script named @command{getquote}
and expecting that script to return a value understood by ledger. A
sample implementation of a @command{getquote} script, implemented in
@ -559,45 +591,45 @@ environment variable @var{LEDGER_PRICE_DB}.
@sp 1
@samp{--price-exp MINS} (@samp{-L MINS}) sets the expected freshness
@option{--price-exp MINS} (@option{-L MINS}) sets the expected freshness
of price quotes, in minutes. That is, if the last known quote for any
commodity is older than this value---and if @samp{--download} is being
commodity is older than this value---and if @option{--download} is being
used---then the Internet will be consulted again for a newer price.
Otherwise, the old price is still considered to be fresh enough.
@sp 1
There are several different ways that ledger can report the totals it displays. The most flexible way to adjust them is by using value expressions, and the @samp{-t} and @samp{-T} options. However, there are also several ``default'' reports, which will satisfy most users basic reporting needs:
There are several different ways that ledger can report the totals it displays. The most flexible way to adjust them is by using value expressions, and the @option{-t} and @option{-T} options. However, there are also several ``default'' reports, which will satisfy most users basic reporting needs:
@table @samp
@table @code
@item --quantity
(@samp{-O}) reports commodity totals (this is the default)
(@option{-O}) reports commodity totals (this is the default)
@item --basis
(@samp{-B}) reports the cost basis for all transactions.
(@option{-B}) reports the cost basis for all transactions.
@item --market
(@samp{-V}) reports the last known market value for all commodities.
(@option{-V}) reports the last known market value for all commodities.
@item --gain
(@samp{-G}) reports the net gain/loss for all commodity with a price
(@option{-G}) reports the net gain/loss for all commodity with a price
history.
@item --average
(@samp{-A}) reports the average transaction value.
(@option{-A}) reports the average transaction value.
@item --deviation
(@samp{-D}) reports each transaction's deviation from the average.
(@option{-D}) reports each transaction's deviation from the average.
This is only meaningful in the @command{register} report.
@item --trend
(@samp{-X}) reports the basic trend of all transaction values. This
(@option{-X}) reports the basic trend of all transaction values. This
can indicate whether spending is on the increase, or decrease, based
on the way the trend values change in the totals column of the
@command{register} report.
@item --weighted-trend
(@samp{-Z}) reports the trend, like @samp{--trend}, but factors in the
(@option{-Z}) reports the trend, like @option{--trend}, but factors in the
passage of time. Older transactions do not swing the trend numbers as
much as recent and future transactions. Thus, recent heavy spending
will indicate a higher trend, than if time were not considered.
@ -606,8 +638,8 @@ will indicate a higher trend, than if time were not considered.
@subsection Environment variables
Every option to ledger may be set using an environment variable. If
the option has a long option named @samp{--this-option}, then setting
the environment variable @samp{LEDGER_THIS_OPTION} will have the same
the option has a long option named @option{--this-option}, then setting
the environment variable @var{LEDGER_THIS_OPTION} will have the same
affect. Options on the command-line always take precedence over
environment variable settings.
@ -616,7 +648,7 @@ environment variable settings.
Format strings can be used to change the output format of reports.
They are specified by passing a formatting string to the
@samp{--format} (@samp{-F}) option. Within that string, constructs
@option{--format} (@option{-F}) option. Within that string, constructs
are allowed which make it possible to display the various parts of an
account or transaction in custom ways.
@ -645,18 +677,18 @@ The expression following the format constraints can be a single
letter, or an expression enclosed in parentheses or brackets. The
allowable expressions are:
@table @asis
@table @code
@item %
Inserts a percent sign.
@item t
Inserts the results of the value expression specified by @samp{-t}.
If @samp{-t} was not specified, the current report style's value
Inserts the results of the value expression specified by @option{-t}.
If @option{-t} was not specified, the current report style's value
expression is used.
@item T
Inserts the results of the value expression specified by @samp{-T}.
If @samp{-T} was not specified, the current report style's value
Inserts the results of the value expression specified by @option{-T}.
If @option{-T} was not specified, the current report style's value
expression is used.
@item |
@ -684,7 +716,7 @@ example: @samp{%[%Y/%m/%d %H:%M:%S]}.
@item D
By default, this is the same as @samp{%[%Y/%m%/d]}. The date format
used can be changed at any time with the @samp{-y} flag, however.
used can be changed at any time with the @option{-y} flag, however.
Using @samp{%D} gives the user more control over the way dates are
output.
@ -754,17 +786,17 @@ transaction. For the balance command, these variables relate to
accounts -- often with a subtle difference in meaning. The use of
each variable for both is specified.
@table @asis
@table @code
@item t
This maps to whatever the user specified with @samp{-t}. In a
register report, @samp{-t} changes the value column; in a balance
report, it has no meaning by default. If @samp{-t} was not specified,
This maps to whatever the user specified with @option{-t}. In a
register report, @option{-t} changes the value column; in a balance
report, it has no meaning by default. If @option{-t} was not specified,
the current report style's value expression is used.
@item T
This maps to whatever the user specified with @samp{-T}. In a
register report, @samp{-T} changes the totals column; in a balance
report, this is the value given for each account. If @samp{-T} was
This maps to whatever the user specified with @option{-T}. In a
register report, @option{-T} changes the totals column; in a balance
report, this is the value given for each account. If @option{-T} was
not specified, the current report style's value expression is used.
@item m
@ -773,7 +805,7 @@ This is always the present moment/date.
@subsubsection Transaction/account details
@table @asis
@table @code
@item d
A transaction's date, as the number of seconds past the epoch. This
is always ``today'' for an account.
@ -810,7 +842,7 @@ account.
@subsubsection Calculated totals
@table @asis
@table @code
@item O
The total of all transactions seen so far, or the total of an account
and all its children.
@ -837,7 +869,7 @@ transactions, or an account and its children. It is the same as
The available one letter functions are:
@table @asis
@table @code
@item -
Negates the argument.
@ -873,7 +905,7 @@ The binary and ternary operators, in order of precedence, are:
More complicated expressions are possible using:
@table @asis
@table @code
@item NUM
A plain integer represents a commodity-less amount.
@ -969,7 +1001,7 @@ If you want to show all accounts but for one account, remember to use
ledger balance -- -equity
@end example
@node File format, Using command options, Typical queries, Running Ledger
@node File format, , Typical queries, Running Ledger
@section File format
The ledger file format is quite simple, but supports many options.
@ -978,7 +1010,7 @@ These are summarized here.
The initial character of each line determines what that line means,
and how it should be parsed. The possibilities are:
@table @strong
@table @code
@item NUMBER
A line starting with a number denotes a regular ledger entry. It
may be followed by any number of lines that beginning whitespace, to
@ -992,12 +1024,12 @@ If a line begins with plus, it denotes an inclusion regexp that
will always be considered, as if it had been specified by the user
at the end of their command-line.
@item @strong{-}
@item -
If a line begins with minus, it denotes an exclusion regexp that
will always be considered, as if it had been specified by the user
at the end of their command-line.
@item @strong{=}
@item =
If a line begins with equals, it denotes an automated transaction.
The next item on the line must be a regular expression. Any number
of such lines may appear, with no intervening whitespace.
@ -1021,7 +1053,7 @@ If a line begins with semicolon it is ignored. This is the
preferred method of entering comments.
@end quotation
@table @strong
@table @code
@item Y NUM
If a line begins with a capital Y, it denotes the year to be used
for all subsequent entries that specify a date, whatever their type.
@ -1032,7 +1064,7 @@ to specify the file's year.
@item P DATE SYMBOL PRICE
Capital P specifies a historical price for a commodity. Any such
number of entries are allowed. These are usually found in a pricing
history file (see the @samp{-Q} option).
history file (see the @option{-Q} option).
@item C SYMBOL PRICE
Capital C specifies a conversion price for a commodity. This has
@ -1068,188 +1100,6 @@ special entries used by timeclock, but ignored by ledger.
@end table
@node Using command options, , File format, Running Ledger
@section Using command options
With all of the commands, various command-line options are allowed
that will modify the behavior of the command in some way. And while
the basic commands themselves are useful, you will often find
yourselves adding option flags to the command-line to modify those
commands.
The command-line options always occur before the command word. This
is done to distinguish them from the matching expressions that always
occur after the command word. The basic form of any command is:
@example
ledger [OPTIONS] COMMAND [MATCH]
@end example
Both the OPTIONS and MATCH expressions are optional. You could, for
example, just use ``ledger balance'' without any modification. This
would print the summarized total of all account types. But to get
more specific reporting, or to change the way the output looks, you
must use the options.
@menu
* Filtering options::
* Output formatting options::
* Commodity reporting options::
@end menu
@node Filtering options, Output formatting options, Using command options, Using command options
@subsection Filtering options
@table @strong
@item @strong{-b DATE}
Only consider entries occuring on or after the given date.
@item @strong{-e DATE}
Only consider entries occuring before the given date. The date is
not inclusive, so any entries occurring on that date will not be
used.
@item @strong{-c}
Only consider entries occurring on or before the current date.
@item @strong{-d DATE}
Only consider entries fitting the given date mask. DATE in this
case may be the name of a month, or a year, or a year and month,
such as ``2004/05''. It's a shorthand for having to specify -b and -e
together.
@item @strong{-C}
Only consider entries whose cleared flag has been set. The default
is to consider both.
@item @strong{-U}
Show only uncleared transactions. The default is to consider both.
@item @strong{-l AMT}
Limit balance reports to those which are greater than AMT.
@item @strong{-N REGEXP}
If an account matches REGEXP, only display it in the balance report
if its total is negative. Useful to avoid seeing credit in accounts
where one cannot spend that credit, and it will soon become negative
anyway (such as credit cards).
@item @strong{-R}
Ignore all virtual transactions, and report only the real balance
for each account.
@end table
@node Output formatting options, Commodity reporting options, Filtering options, Using command options
@subsection Output formatting options
@table @strong
@item @strong{-n}
Do not show subtotals in the balance report, or split transactions
in the register report.
@item @strong{-s}
If an account has children, show them in the balance report.
@item @strong{-S}
Sort the ledger after reading it. This may affect ``register'' and
``print'' output.
@item @strong{-E}
Also show empty accounts in the balance totals report.
@item @strong{-F}
Print full account names in all cases, such as ``Assets:Checking''
instead of just ``Checking''. Only used current by the ``balance''
command.
@item @strong{-M}
When used with the ``register'' command, causes only monthly subtotals
to appear. This can be useful for looking at spending patterns.
TODO: Accept an argument specifying the period to use.
@item @strong{-A}
Report totals in terms of the arithmetic mean (sum of all items
divided by the count). This does not work when multiple commodities
are used in the same account, in which case this option is ignored.
This option works both for balance reports, and for register reports
(where it displays the running total average). Be aware that in the
balance report, parent account totals reflect the arithmetic mean of
all the transactions---not the mean average of the subaccount
totals.
@item @strong{-T}
Report totals in terms of the average deviation from the average
value (i.e., the trend). The final total will indicate the amount
over or above the average value which it is expected you will next
spend/earn. When spending is regular, the trend will very slowly
move to zero.
@item @strong{-X}
Report totals in terms of the expected value of the next
transaction. This is determined by adding the average deviation to
the average value.
@item @strong{-W}
Report totals in terms of a time-weighted trend. Whereas @samp{-T}
reports the exact value trend irrespective of when the transactions
occurred, @samp{-W} takes into account the time between entries. If a
transaction occurs shortly after another, it will not affect the
running trend as much as if it occurs very much later. This style
of reports always adds a null transaction for the current date, so
that a current lack of spending is taken into account.
@end table
@node Commodity reporting options, , Output formatting options, Using command options
@subsection Commodity reporting options
@table @strong
@item @strong{-P FILE}
With this option, or if the environment variable @var{PRICE_HIST} is
set, pricing information obtained from the Internet will be kept
in this file. Also, this file will be read after all other ledger
files are read, so that full history information is available for
reports.
@item @strong{-O}
Report commodity totals only, not their market value or basis cost.
@item @strong{-V}
Report commodity values in terms of their last known market price.
@item @strong{-B}
Report commodities in terms of their ``basis cost'', or what they cost
at time of purchase. Thus, totals in the register and balance
report reflect the total amount spent.
@item @strong{-G}
Report commodities in terms of their net gain, which is: the market
value minus the cost basis. A balance report using this option
shows very quickly the performance of investments.
@item @strong{-Q}
When needed (see the @samp{-L} option) pricing quotes are obtained by
calling the script @command{getquote} (a sample Perl script is
provided, but the interface is kept simple so replacements may be
made).
@item @strong{-L MINS}
When using the @samp{-Q} flag, new quotes are obtained only if current
pricing data is older than MINS minutes. The default is one day,
or 1440 minutes.
@item @strong{-p ARG}
If a string, such as ``COMM=$1.20'', the commodity COMM will be
reported only in terms of the conversion factor, which supersedes
all other pricing histories for that commodity. This can be used to
perform arbitrary value substitutions. For example, to report the
value of your dollars in terms of the ounces of gold they would buy,
use: -p ``$=0.00280112 AU'' (or whatever the current exchange rate
is).
@end table
@node Keeping a ledger, , Running Ledger, Top
@chapter Keeping a ledger
@ -1666,7 +1516,7 @@ BORL=$19
FEQTX=$32
@end example
Specify the prices file using the @samp{-p} option:
Specify the prices file using the @option{-p} option:
@example
ledger -p prices.db balance brokerage
@ -1735,13 +1585,12 @@ its various reports. It will always report balances in terms of the
commodity total, rather than the current value of those commodities.
To enable pricing reports, several options are possible:
@table @strong
@table @code
@item @strong{-P FILE}
With this option, or if the environment variable @samp{PRICE_HIST} is
set, pricing information obtained from the Internet will be kept
in this file. Also, this file will be read after all other ledger
files are read, so that full history information is available for
reports.
With this option, or if the environment variable @var{PRICE_HIST} is
set, pricing information obtained from the Internet will be kept in
this file. Also, this file will be read after all other ledger files
are read, so that full history information is available for reports.
@item @strong{-O}
Report commodity totals only, not their market value or basis cost.
@ -1760,13 +1609,13 @@ value minus the cost basis. A balance report using this option
shows very quickly the performance of investments.
@item @strong{-Q}
When needed (see the @samp{-L} option) pricing quotes are obtained by
When needed (see the @option{-L} option) pricing quotes are obtained by
calling the script @command{getquote} (a sample Perl script is
provided, but the interface is kept simple so replacements may be
made).
@item @strong{-L MINS}
When using the @samp{-Q} flag, new quotes are obtained only if current
When using the @option{-Q} flag, new quotes are obtained only if current
pricing data is older than MINS minutes. The default is one day,
or 1440 minutes.
@ -1781,7 +1630,7 @@ is).
@end table
Note that the @samp{-B}, @samp{-O}, @samp{-V}, and @samp{-G} are mutually exclusive.
Note that the @option{-B}, @option{-O}, @option{-V}, and @option{-G} are mutually exclusive.
@node Accounts and Inventories, Understanding Equity, Commodities and Currencies, Keeping a ledger
@section Accounts and Inventories