Re: no change capabilty for a transaction

[Herb R. <he...@bu...>]

On Sat, 3 Nov 2001, Keld J=F8rn Simonsen wrote:

> Hi !
>
> I talked with Dieter about a need for not being
> able to change a transaction, once it has been entered.
> This is a requirement by Danish law, so it is important
> for Danes sql-ledger users to have that capability.
>
> I wonder if this is a requirement on other countries.
> Does anyone out there have information on this?
>
> Kind regards
> Keld Simonsen
>

	I too have talked to Dieter about something like this; ie to be
able to "close the books" at some point in time as after the fiscal year
end.
	My interest is actually to contribute to sql-ledger by adding
this function (along with some multi-currency function) but being new
to SL, this list and to SL's coding style I thought it better to start
with something easy like a phonebook (and now contact "manager").

	AW, my initial look at SL's structure suggests to me that closing
out a period could be done by providing an input for a "closed-as-at" dat=
e
that then is checked before any transactions are edited, deleted or added.
This closing date would require admin or superuser privileges.  If monthl=
y
closings are necessary then that would work also.  In my mind this would
preserve SL's fluid approach to accounting periods (which I like a lot)
while still giving some comfort to the auditors and protecting against
routine errors that could affect entries that are reconciled and
considered final.

	If some extraordinary situation arose where a closed period's
transactions do need to be changed, the admin / superuser could roll back
the closed-as-at date.  I doubt if there is any prohibition to reopening =
a
closed set of books in Canada's Income Tax Act, but I'm sure Revenue
Canada (now Canada Customs and Revenue ...) would take a very long look a=
t
a companies activities if this was done without a *very* good reason and
without refilling amended statements and tax returns.


--=20

Herb Richter,
Toronto, Ontario
http://www.partsandservice.com