Currency Designator/Reporting Issues

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Jasel17212

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Nov 6, 2021, 7:25:34 PM11/6/21

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When I started using ledger a few years ago, I defaulted to using the dollar symbol ($) in my journal files. This, of course, works just fine. If I want a balance sheet report, I run the following command:

ledger -f 1.ldg --price-db price_db.txt -V --strict –explicit ^Ass ^Lia --depth 2

This produces the following output:

$xxx.xx Assets

$xxx.xx yyyyy

$-xxx.xx Liabilities

$-xxx.xx yyyyy

--------------------

$xx,xxx.xx

I decided to switch to using USD instead of the dollar symbol. To do this I removed all of the dollar symbols from my journal files and price database and added USD. Following is the format I used:

xxx.xx USD

Now when I run the exact same balance sheet report, I see commodities that I didn’t see before I made my changes.

-5.37578 KO

xx,xxx.xx USD

-2,139.718 VTHRX Assets

xxx.xx USD yyyyy

-5.37578 KO

xxx.xx USD

-2,139.718 VTHRX yyyyy

xxx.xx USD yyyyy

-xxx.xx USD Liabilities

-xxx.xx USD yyyyy

--------------------

-5.37578 KO

xx,xxx.xx USD

-2,139.718 VTHRX

What’s interesting here is that the non-USD commodities appear to be commodities that I’ve previously sold. In other words, I no longer hold VTHRX, and while I do hold some KO, it’s a fraction of a share.

If I run the same command WITHOUT the -V option, I get a report that accurately reflects my current holdings:

ledger -f 1.ldg --price-db price_db.txt --strict –explicit ^Ass ^Lia --depth 2

0.00263224 ABC

0.04860 KO

xx,xxx.xx USD Assets

xxx.xx USD yyyyy

0.00263224 ABC yyyyy

xxx.xx USD yyyyy

0.04860 KO

xxx.xx USD yyyyy

-xxx.xx USD Liabilities

-xxx.xx USD yyyyy

--------------------

0.00263224 ABC

0.04860 KO

xx,xxx.xx USD

Running the original command with -X USD produces the output I expected to get in the first place. In other words, the same output I received before changing $ to USD, but with the new commodity designator.

ledger -f 1.ldg --price-db price_db.txt -V --strict –explicit ^Ass ^Lia --depth 2 -X USD

xx,xxx.xx USD Assets

xxx.xx USD yyyyy

-xxx.xx USD Liabilities

-xxx.xx USD yyyyy

--------------------

xx,xxx.xx USD

Any ideas on what’s happening here?

o1bigtenor

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Nov 7, 2021, 7:26:22 AM11/7/21

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On Sat, Nov 6, 2021 at 6:15 PM Jasel17212 <ja...@thelittonfamily.com> wrote:

When I started using ledger a few years ago, I defaulted to using the dollar symbol ($) in my journal files. This, of course, works just fine. If I want a balance sheet report, I run the following command:

ledger -f 1.ldg --price-db price_db.txt -V --strict –explicit ^Ass ^Lia --depth 2

This produces the following output:

$xxx.xx Assets
$xxx.xx yyyyy
$xxx.xx yyyyy
$xxx.xx yyyyy
$xxx.xx yyyyy
$xxx.xx yyyyy
$xxx.xx yyyyy
$xxx.xx yyyyy
$xxx.xx yyyyy
$xxx.xx yyyyy
$xxx.xx yyyyy
$xxx.xx yyyyy
$-xxx.xx Liabilities
$-xxx.xx yyyyy
$-xxx.xx yyyyy
$-xxx.xx yyyyy
--------------------

$xxx,xxx.xx

I decided to switch to using USD instead of the dollar symbol. To do this I removed all of the dollar symbols from my journal files and price database and added USD. Following is the format I used:

xxx.xx USD

Now when I run the exact same balance sheet report, I see commodities that I didn’t see before I made my changes.

-5.37578 KO

xxx.xx USD
-2,139.718 VTHRX Assets
xxx.xx USD yyyyy
xxx.xx USD yyyyy

xxx.xx USD Crypto

xxx.xx USD yyyyy
xxx.xx USD yyyyy
-5.37578 KO
xxx.xx USD
-2,139.718 VTHRX yyyyy
xxx.xx USD yyyyy
xxx.xx USD yyyyy
xxx.xx USD yyyyy
xxx.xx USD yyyyy
xxx.xx USD yyyyy
-xxx.xx USD Liabilities
-xxx.xx USD yyyyy
-xxx.xx USD yyyyy
-xxx.xx USD yyyyy
--------------------
-5.37578 KO

xxx,xxx.xx USD
-2,139.718 VTHRX

What’s interesting here is that the non-USD commodities appear to be commodities that I’ve previously sold. In other words, I no longer hold VTHRX, and while I do hold some KO, it’s a fraction of a share (see below).

If I run the same command WITHOUT the -V option, I get a report that accurately reflects my current holdings:

ledger -f 1.ldg --price-db price_db.txt --strict –explicit ^Ass ^Lia --depth 2

x.xxxxxxxx ABC
0.04860 KO

xxx.xx USD Assets
xxx.xx USD yyyyy
xxx.xx USD yyyyy

x.xxxxxxxx ABC yyyyy

xxx.xx USD yyyyy
xxx.xx USD yyyyy
0.04860 KO
xxx.xx USD yyyyy
xxx.xx USD yyyyy
xxx.xx USD yyyyy
xxx.xx USD yyyyy
xxx.xx USD yyyyy
xxx.xx USD yyyyy
-xxx.xx USD Liabilities
-xxx.xx USD yyyyy
-xxx.xx USD yyyyy
-xxx.xx USD yyyyy
--------------------

x.xxxxxxxx ABC
0.04860 KO
xxx,xxx.xx USD

Running the original command with -X USD produces the output I expected to get in the first place. In other words, the same output I received before changing $ to USD, but with the new commodity designator.

ledger -f 1.ldg --price-db price_db.txt -V --strict –explicit ^Ass ^Lia --depth 2 -X USD

xxx,xxx.xx USD Assets

xxx.xx USD yyyyy
xxx.xx USD yyyyy
xxx.xx USD yyyyy
xxx.xx USD yyyyy
xxx.xx USD yyyyy
xxx.xx USD yyyyy
xxx.xx USD yyyyy
xxx.xx USD yyyyy
xxx.xx USD yyyyy
xxx.xx USD yyyyy
xxx.xx USD yyyyy
-xxx.xx USD Liabilities
-xxx.xx USD yyyyy
-xxx.xx USD yyyyy
-xxx.xx USD yyyyy
--------------------

xxx,xxx.xx USD

Any ideas on what’s happening here?

Totally can't speak to what's happening in 'ledger' - - - but - - - I'm wondering why

you would want the change?

For business - - - - one is expected to run the journal in one's main currency.

Other currencies are all handled in the main currency.

I think that if there is enough usage of any other currency one could use a

sub-journal for any such but imo that would be a fairly high volume of activity

and also involve the use of other currency accounts.

Regards

Jasel17212

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Nov 7, 2021, 6:51:47 PM11/7/21

to Ledger

Ajoeibin - I want to make the change for consistency. Running a report that shows commodities and currencies using the same format just looks better to my eye.

John / Martin - either of you have any ideas as to what might be causing this issue?

Thanks!

John Wiegley

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Nov 8, 2021, 2:02:54 AM11/8/21

to o1bigtenor, Ledger

>>>>> "o" == o1bigtenor <o1big...@gmail.com> writes:

o> Any ideas on what’s happening here?

I'm not sure what's going on, but -V tries to be smart and maybe it's failing
in your case. What happens if you use "-X USD" instead?

John

Jasel17212

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Nov 8, 2021, 8:04:39 AM11/8/21

to Ledger

John,

As mentioned in my original post, running the report with -X USD produces the expected output. It sounds like I've stumbled upon a bug related to the -V option.

BTW, I've been meaning to ask, are you still personally using PTA? If so, are you still using Ledger, or are you using Hledger?

Thanks!

John Wiegley

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Nov 8, 2021, 2:33:46 PM11/8/21

to Jasel17212, Ledger

>>>>> "J" == Jasel17212 <ja...@thelittonfamily.com> writes:

J> As mentioned in my original post, running the report with -X USD produces
J> the expected output. It sounds like I've stumbled upon a bug related to the
J> -V option.

Yes, could very well be. Really the -V should be removed, I think, but it's
been relatively harmless until now.

J> BTW, I've been meaning to ask, are you still personally using PTA? If so,
J> are you still using Ledger, or are you using Hledger?

I use Ledger every week, lately to track crypto transactions. I also use it
for time reporting when applicable, and for tracking investments, progress on
loans, and a "yearly income report" where I basically enter in the data from
my tax return every year.

John

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