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dos 2004-07-29 12:43:57 -04:00
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README
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@ -9,9 +9,9 @@ Ledger is an accounting tool with the moxie to exist. It provides no
bells or whistles, and returns the user to the days before user bells or whistles, and returns the user to the days before user
interfaces were even a twinkling in their father's CRT. interfaces were even a twinkling in their father's CRT.
What it does do is to offer a double-entry accounting ledger with all What it does offer is a double-entry accounting ledger with all the
the flexibility and muscle of its modern day cousins, without any of flexibility and muscle of its modern day cousins, without any of the
the fat. Think of it as the Bran Muffin of accounting tools. fat. Think of it as the Bran Muffin of accounting tools.
To use it, you need to start keeping a ledger. This is the basis of To use it, you need to start keeping a ledger. This is the basis of
all accounting, and if you haven't started yet, now is the time to all accounting, and if you haven't started yet, now is the time to
@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ of all your accounts, not just checking. In such a ledger, you record
not only who gets paid -- in the case of a debit -- but where the not only who gets paid -- in the case of a debit -- but where the
money came from. In a checkbook ledger, its assumed that all the money came from. In a checkbook ledger, its assumed that all the
money comes from your checking account. But in a general ledger, you money comes from your checking account. But in a general ledger, you
write transaction two-lines: The source account and target account. write transaction two-lines: the source account and target account.
*There must always be a debit from at least one account for every *There must always be a debit from at least one account for every
credit made to another account*. This is what is meant by credit made to another account*. This is what is meant by
"double-entry" accounting: the ledger must always balance to zero, "double-entry" accounting: the ledger must always balance to zero,
@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ track of the balances for you. Your only job is to enter the
credit/debit transactions. If a transaction does not balance, Ledger credit/debit transactions. If a transaction does not balance, Ledger
will display an error and indicate which transaction is wrong.[1] will display an error and indicate which transaction is wrong.[1]
In summary, there are two aspects of Ledger use: Updating the ledger In summary, there are two aspects of Ledger use: updating the ledger
data file, and using the Ledger tool to view the summarized result of data file, and using the Ledger tool to view the summarized result of
your entries. your entries.
@ -158,12 +158,12 @@ you.
The Ledger program aims at making ledger entry as simple as possible. The Ledger program aims at making ledger entry as simple as possible.
Since it is a command-line tool, it does not provide a user interface Since it is a command-line tool, it does not provide a user interface
for keeping a ledger. If you like, you may use Gnucash to maintain for keeping a ledger. If you like, you may use GnuCash to maintain
your ledger, in which case the Ledger program will read Gnucash's data your ledger, in which case the Ledger program will read GnuCash's data
files directly. In that case, read the Gnucash manual now, and skip files directly. In that case, read the GnuCash manual now, and skip
to the next chapter. to the next chapter.
If you are not using Gnucash, but a text editor to maintain your If you are not using GnuCash, but a text editor to maintain your
ledger, read on. Ledger has been designed to make data entry as ledger, read on. Ledger has been designed to make data entry as
simple as possible, by keeping the ledger format easy, and also by simple as possible, by keeping the ledger format easy, and also by
automagically determining as much information as possible based on the automagically determining as much information as possible based on the
@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ leave. This is the beginning of economy, after which the explanation
gets terribly difficult. gets terribly difficult.
Based on that explanation, here's another way to look at your balance Based on that explanation, here's another way to look at your balance
report: Every negative figure means that that account or person or report: every negative figure means that that account or person or
place has less money now than when you started your ledger; and every place has less money now than when you started your ledger; and every
positive figure means that that account or person or place has more positive figure means that that account or person or place has more
money now that when you started your ledger. Make sense? money now that when you started your ledger. Make sense?
@ -612,7 +612,7 @@ P 2004/06/21 02:18:02 AAPL $32.91
By default, ledger will not consider commodity prices when generating By default, ledger will not consider commodity prices when generating
its various reports. It will always report balances in terms of the its various reports. It will always report balances in terms of the
commodity total, rather than the current value of those commodities. commodity total, rather than the current value of those commodities.
To enable pricing reports, three options are possible: To enable pricing reports, several options are possible:
**-P FILE** :: **-P FILE** ::
With this option, or if the environment variable =PRICE_HIST= is With this option, or if the environment variable =PRICE_HIST= is
@ -730,7 +730,7 @@ of your assets is greater than the absolute value of your starting
equity, it means you are making money. equity, it means you are making money.
Clear as mud? Keep thinking about it. Until you figure it out, put Clear as mud? Keep thinking about it. Until you figure it out, put
"-- -Equity" at the end of your balance command, to remove the "=-- -Equity=" at the end of your balance command, to remove the
confusing figure from the totals. confusing figure from the totals.
** Dealing with cash ** Dealing with cash