Add a "Conventional Presentation" option to comparison reports

Bob_L

Comparison reports currently display like this :

Item	Prior Period	Current Period	difference
Income Item	200	500	300
Expense item	200	500	-300 in red

The method used treats all expenses as negative numbers (i.e. -500 -(-200)=-300). However, the resulting display makes no sense to me. If expenses increase by 300 relative to the prior period, then the difference column shoud show 300 (if you like in red), reflecting it was an increase in expenses.

An option could be provided on the display tab of the customize report dialog as a check box called "Conventional presentation" under the "Show" heading. Increases in expenses would be reported as positive red numbers.

NotACPA

In accounting, a Positive number is to your benefit, while a Negative number isn't.

What you're showing conforms to accounting standards. Your positive 300 in income is to your benefit while your negative 300 in expenses is to your detriment.

Bob_L

I understand that. My recollection, however, is that corporate budget Reports tend to do what I called the conventional method? Could be wrong but regardless I would prefer it as an option with the color indicating to your detriment.

NotACPA

So, post an IDEA

Bob_L

Isn't this an idea?