I don't understand, my code is the same as line 207 as I want the value in numbers not text as line 206 gives. Am I missing something here?

Sorry about the confusion. Not seeing the full context of the function here in the patch, I thought convert() does currency conversion but it rather converts a number into text. Nevertheless, we need to take into account here that a split can be denominated in a different currency than the original one (multi-currency). The shares() method of a split always returns the amount in the currency of the account/category of the split. The value() method of the split returns the value in the common currency of the transaction, hence shares()/value() is the exchange rate used when entering the transaction. Using shares() with the currency of the transaction might therefore not be correct and you get false results. Of course, you won't notice any of the above if you only have one currency on file.

I have replaced shares with value due to the potential currency problems. This should give the proper amount.

This might bite you. currency currently represents the currency in which the selected split's account/category is denominated. Depending on the circumstances, this may not be the currency in which the value is represented. The split's value is always given in the currency provided as (*it).transaction().commodity(). But this may be different from the currency of your split.

I know this will never happen in a single currency dataset, but it can if you manage your finances in multiple currencies and we shoud be prepared, since I know of users who do that.

Thomas, Thanks for all of your advice, it has been helpful. I haven't written C++ in over 15 years so I am very rusty.

With that said I am somewhat confused. I thought that by changing to value() is would show in the amount of the currency for the split but I don't understand wat else I should do here? Should I be showing the exchange rate? or something else? any advice will be appreciated.

Phil

This is not C++ related but how the application manages the data. Each split has two attributes: shares and value. Each transaction is denominated in a currency (transaction.currency()). The sum of the value attributes over all splits of a transaction must be zero for the transaction to be balanced (that is what double entry accounting is all about), where it does not matter in which currency that happens. The shares attribute represents the units in the currency of the account that the split references. So the sum of all shares over all splits of a specific account provides the balance of the account.

In the end, it depends on how you want the different currencies printed on the check. All this is only important in case one has multiple currencies. I just want to avoid that we add some code that works in single currency environments but gives the user a headache when using it with multiple currencies.

My initial code suggestion was to use the share value and print the respective currency symbol. This is correct and easy to accomplish. Everything else is much more complex as there are more corner cases.

Hope that makes it a bit more meaningful. If not, please let me know.

Thanks, I agree I want this to be a generalized solution, not one that just works for me. I will add a variable to allow the curriency for the transaction to be printed. I am not sure if that is enough, though. Is there anything ese that I should include? Any I do realize that this is not a C++ issue but one of properly offering clear data to the user. Thanks again for your help.

Phil

I do notice that for the transaction this seems to be transaction().commodity().

Phil