Michael
T.
Edwardes

    mte@users.sourceforge.net

Roger
Lum

    rogerlum@gmail.com

2005-06-01
0.7

# Accounts

The Accounts screen provides a summary of all the accounts. There are four different account categories: Asset, Liability, Income and Expense. Typical asset accounts include bank accounts, cash, and investments, while typical liability accounts include credit cards and loans.

There are two ways to view the accounts: List or Icon view. In Icon view, the different Asset and Liability accounts are shown with icons indicating the account type. List view shows the name, number of transactions, and balance or value of each account.

Income and Expense lists the categories that each transaction is filed under and provides similar functionality as the Categories screen. The options and features involving Income and Expense accounts are described in detail in the upcoming Categories chapter. The rest of this chapter will focus on Asset and Liability account functionality.

## Creating an Account

To create an account using the accounts view click on the Accounts icon in the view selector and then right click on the Asset tree icon in the right hand view and select New account from the popup menu. The Asset tree holds all of your accounts that are an asset. Assets, and all the other account types, are discussed in more detail later in this manual.

### The institution (Bank) name

Account Wizard

The first step involves setting an institution for the account. If this is not a bank account then the step can be skipped by pressing the Next button. If this account is a bank account or you wish to create a 'dummy' institution then click on the New Institution button.

Account Wizard

Only the name is required in the New Institution dialog, all other fields are optional.

As with the personal information dialog, this data is not currently used by &kappname; but will be required by future releases for certain features. Once you have entered the name click on OK to select the institution or click on Cancel to not use an institution for this account. To select an existing institution simply click on the institution drop down list.

Enter an institution if needed and click on Next.

### Account type

Schedule View Account Wizard

From the next page you can select an account type. Seven choices are displayed:

Current

  A normal current account, the type you get with any high street bank.

Savings

  A normal savings account, the type you get with any high street bank.

Credit Card

  An account to represent your credit card.

Cash

  A general purpose account typically used for accounts not held at a bank.

Loan

  An account to manage a loan.

Asset

  An account to manage assets.

Liability

  An account to manage a liability such as money you borrowed.

Select the account type and click on Next.

Note, if you have selected a Loan account type please see the loans section for information on how to proceed. Any other account type please read on.

### The account name and preference

You can set the account name in the next step.

Account Wizard

Enter the account name, usually your title, initials and surname if it is a bank account, into the required fields.

To make this account your primary account check the tickbox labelled Preferred account This account will then be used by default within &kappname; for your convenience.

To proceed to the next step click on Next.

### Account number

The next step prompts for the account number.

Account Wizard

If this is a bank account then enter the the account number in the required field. If this not a bank account or you do not know the account number the field can be left blank.

To proceed to the next step click on Next.

### Opening date and balance

The final step, (except for Credit Card account types), is to set the opening date and balance for the account.

Account Wizard

If this is an existing bank account this information can be found on your statement otherwise the opening balance can be left at zero if it is a new account.

If this is not a Credit Card account then all required information has been gathered and you can add the account to &kappname; by clicking on the Finish button. If you do not wish to add the account click on Cancel.

#### Credit card schedule

When creating a Credit Card account one more step is required; creating a scheduled transaction.

Account Wizard

A transaction can be setup to automatically pay the balance for you. To create the transaction make sure the tick box is checked and enter the required information. Click on Finish to add the account and create the scheduled transaction if one was specified.

Click on Finish to create the account.

## Opening / viewing accounts

To open an account in the Ledgers view you can either click on the link to the account from the Home view, or click on the Ledgers icon in the view selector and select the account in the drop down list at the top of the view.

## Editing Account Information

To edit a particular account, right-click that account and choose Edit. A details window will pop-up. This window allows you to change the name and start date of the account, associated banking institution, and the parent account. Changing the parent account is also possible in the main Accounts screen, by dragging the account and dropping it on a different parent account. In this window, you can also create a new banking institution and associate the account with that institution.

Edit an account Edit account information

Alternatively the account details can be changed through the Ledgers view via the Account Details button in the command frame.

## Deleting accounts

To delete an account find the account you wish to delete in the accounts view and after right clicking on the entry to show the popup menu select Delete from the popup menu.