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Working with Accounts​

Everything on this page needs Edit Mode on, and the parent major must be unlocked. Accounts here means the sub-accounts at the Account level; each one carries its line items with it wherever it goes.

Creating a sub-account​

Three ways:

  • Right-click a row → Insert New Account
  • Edit menu → Insert New Account
  • Ctrl/⌘ + I

A row named "New Account" appears below the selected row with the next free sub-account number pre-selected for typing. If every number in your configured digit range is taken, you'll see "Account Number reached."

Sub-account numbers​

Numbers are validated as you type:

  • Must be unique within the budget — "Account number must be unique."
  • Can't be empty — "Account number field can't be empty." (Names can't be empty either.)
  • Typing is capped at your configured minor account digits (set in Budget Preferences); in concatenated mode the major's digits don't count against the cap.
  • Letters are upper-cased automatically, and if your numbering uses a separator (like -), it's added for you.
  • The number reserved for tax & fringe is refused: "Account number N is reserved and cannot be used."

When a duplicate or paste collides, the Duplicate Account Number dialog steps you through each clash — enter a New number for each Current one before it lands.

Renaming​

Click into the Name cell and type. Numbers and names are both required; clearing both shows "Minor account number and account name can't be empty."

Duplicating​

Right-click → Duplicate Account (or Edit → Duplicate Account). The copy includes every line item, along with their applied fringes, notes, and formulas. If its number clashes, the Duplicate Account Number dialog opens so you can renumber first.

Reordering​

Drag rows to rearrange the account. Rows can't be moved onto or below the Total row at the bottom.

Suppressing a sub-account (the Use checkbox)​

Untick Use (or right-click → Suppress Account(s)) to take a sub-account out of the budget without deleting it:

Suppress Sub-Account — "Are you sure you want to suppress this sub-account from the budget?" While suppressed, associated costs and credits for this sub-account are not included in budget totals.

The row grays out and every total updates — you'll see a brief "Saving Budget Data…" while things recalculate. Re-tick Use (or Enable Line(s)) to bring it back — nothing is lost. A partially filled Use box means some of the line items beneath are suppressed. Tick "Don't show this again" to skip the confirmation in future.

Locking a sub-account​

Right-click → Lock Account(s) (or Ctrl/⌘ + L). A blue padlock appears, and the sub-account's number, name, Use checkbox, and batch tools all lock down. Lock a multi-row selection to lock them all at once. One nice touch: when every sub-account in a major is locked, the major locks itself automatically on the Topsheet — and unlocking any one releases it. Unlock the same way (Unlock Account(s)).

Flagging​

Right-click → Flag Line and pick a color swatch (click the same color again to remove it). Flags show at the end of the row and in the Navigator, with descriptions set under Budget Preferences → Flag Definitions. In Compare Mode, flags are a separate compare-only set — handy for marking discrepancies.

Copy and paste​

Copy takes whole sub-account rows (with all their line items); Paste re-inserts them as new sub-accounts, renumbering through the duplicate dialog when needed. Cut is not available at this level. Copying also places tab-delimited text on the system clipboard for spreadsheets (in workspaces, only if Can paste budget data outside of Line Budgeter allows), and clears any Topsheet- or line-level clipboard, and vice versa. The Total row and dividers can't be copied or pasted onto.

Dividers​

Right-click → Insert Divider adds a gray spacer row below the selection for visual grouping. Delete one via right-click → Delete Divider.

Deleting​

Right-click → Delete Account(s) (or Ctrl/⌘ + D, or select the row and press Delete). Deleting a sub-account removes all of its line items — with their fringes, notes, tags, and references — and Ctrl/⌘ Z brings it all back. If any of its lines are referenced by formulas elsewhere, you'll be shown the references first and can cancel. An account always keeps at least one real sub-account, and the Total row can't be deleted.

Applying fringes and incentives​

With a single sub-account selected, right-click → Apply Batch Fringes or Apply Batch Incentives to open the batch tools scoped to it — the quickest way to fringe everything in one sub-account. (Unlike the Topsheet, the batch tools here need exactly one row selected, and they're unavailable while the row is locked.)

Drilling down​

Double-click a sub-account's row number, right-click → Down to Line Details, or press Ctrl/⌘ + ↓ to open its line items. Dividers and the Total row have nothing beneath them and can't be entered.