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Working with Accounts​

Everything on this page needs Edit Mode on (the switch at the top right of the budget). Accounts here means the majors on the Topsheet; each one carries its sub-accounts and line items with it wherever it goes.

Creating an 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 account number pre-selected for typing. New accounts automatically receive the default set of sub-accounts (except in Goalpost budgets).

Account numbers​

Numbers are validated as you type:

  • Must be alphanumeric and unique — "Major account number must be unique."
  • Can't be empty — "Account number field can't be empty." (Names can't be empty either.)
  • In concatenated numbering mode, numeric majors must end in zeros (e.g. 1000); in single-character mode, exactly one letter or digit.
  • Letters are upper-cased automatically, and length is capped at your configured digit count (set in Budget Preferences).

When a duplicate or paste collides, the Duplicate Account Number dialog steps you through each clash: "An account with the same number already exist. Please renumber them to continue." — enter a New number for each Current one. Reserved numbers are refused ("Account number N is reserved and cannot be used.").

Renaming​

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

Duplicating​

Right-click → Duplicate Account (or Edit → Duplicate). The copy includes the account's sub-accounts and every line item. If its number clashes, the Duplicate Account Number dialog opens so you can renumber before it lands.

Reordering​

Drag rows to rearrange the Topsheet. Production Totals subtotal whatever sits above them, so moving accounts across a Production Total changes what it totals. Rows can't be dragged into the summary stack at the bottom.

Suppressing an account (the Use checkbox)​

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

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

The row grays out and every total updates. Re-tick Use (or Enable Line(s)) to bring it back — nothing is lost. A partially filled Use box means some, but not all, of the lines beneath are suppressed. Tick "Don't show this again" in the dialog to skip the confirmation in future.

Locking an account​

Right-click → Lock Account(s) (or Ctrl/⌘ + L). Locking a major locks all of its sub-accounts; a blue padlock appears in the Lock column and in the Navigator. Anyone drilling in sees "This Account is Locked — Changes can not be made until the account is unlocked. Account can be unlocked from the Topsheet or Navigation Sidebar." Unlock the same way. In a workspace this needs the Can lock/unlock budget departments permission — otherwise "Your current workspace access does not allow changes to budget department locks."

Flagging an account​

Right-click → Flag Line and pick a color swatch (click the same color again to remove it). The flag shows as a color chip at the end of the row, in the Navigator, and its tooltip comes from Budget Preferences → Flag Definitions, where each color gets a User Description. Flags are purely visual — great for "needs review" or ownership marks — and sync live on shared budgets.

Copy and paste​

Copy takes whole account rows (with everything beneath them); Paste re-inserts them as new accounts, renumbering through the duplicate dialog when needed. Cut is not available at the Topsheet 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). Copying at Topsheet level clears any account- or line-level clipboard, and vice versa.

Deleting​

Right-click → Delete Account(s) (or Ctrl/⌘ + D, or select the row and press Delete). Deleting an account removes all of its sub-accounts and line items — there's no confirmation, but Ctrl/⌘ Z undoes it. The summary rows can't be deleted, and a budget always keeps at least one real account. On a divider row the item reads Delete Divider.

Applying fringes and incentives from the Topsheet​

With a single account selected, right-click → Apply Batch Fringes or Apply Batch Incentives to open the batch tools scoped to that account — the fastest way to fringe an entire department at once. (At Topsheet level the Sidebar displays what's applied; the batch tools are what apply changes in bulk.)

Drilling down​

Double-click an account's row number, right-click → Down to Account, press Ctrl/⌘ + ↓, or use View → Drill Down. Dividers, totals, production totals and adjustment rows have nothing beneath them and can't be entered.