In working recently with some reports, I've found behavior regarding
memos which I did not expect, and find a bit odd.
To test, I created a new transaction, in the ledger for a cash
account. The memo I entered ended up only in that split, not in the
transaction itself. However, I know I have many transactions where
there is definitely a memo in the transaction, with the same or
different memos in one or more of the splits for that transaction.
1) since I can't seem to do it now, under what conditions is a memo
entered for a transaction?
2) In the ledger, it seems that the memo displayed is the memo for the
split for the ledger's account. Other than seeing it in the "Show
transactions detail" pop-up, is there any way to see a transaction's
memo? Am I correct that it is not currently possible to edit the
transaction's memo?
3) In reports, it seems the memo displayed (if configured) is the one
for the account of the split for the account used to include the
transacation in the report. (I'm not absolutely sure about this.)
4) I have a vague memory about needing to inform the user if editing a
memo will affect one split and not the other (if they were the same in
both prior to the edit.) I do not remember whether that discussion
resulted in any action, although I did find that I created
https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=416438 also commented on
https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=341552.
https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=467891 is also related.
I am uncomfortable with there being fields which can get crated, but
not edited, unless there is a good, intentional reason for it to be
read-only.
This is clearly not a new, or particularly high-priority issue, but I'm
probably going to open a wishlist bug (or modify one of the above)
with the following proposals:
1) anywhere a memo is displayed, it will be include both the
transaction's memo, and the relevant split's memo (with some
distinction, such as one being in parentheses or square brackets.) One
exception would (for example) be in the split editor, where only the
split's memo is shown. I'm not sure if there are other exceptions, but
I don't rule them out.
2) create a way to edit the transaction's memo.
3) Do something (I'm open to suggesetions on exactly what to do) if a
split's memo is the same as the transaction's memo. I would say in
that case the split's memo should be blank, but I'm not sure if there
is any use case for one split's memo to match the transaction's memo
and the other split's memo to be blank. Unless someone can suggest a
reason, I'll propose that the split's memo should be blank instead of
being the same as the transaction's memo.
I'm posting all of this here for any initial discussion, although it
might be reasonable to create an Issue on Invent for that.
Thoughts?
Jack
