;doc: improve --value-at docs

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Simon Michael 2019-05-09 08:49:51 -07:00
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@ -487,11 +487,11 @@ A note for Ledger users: Ledger's -V also infers market prices from journal entr
but we don't do that. hledger's -V uses only market prices declared explicitly, with P directives.
(Mnemonic: -B/--cost uses transaction prices, -V/--value uses market prices.)
### Value at another date
### Valuation date
*(experimental, added 201904)*
You can select other valuation dates with the `--value-at` option. (This implies `-V`):
You can select valuation dates other than today, with the `--value-at` option. (This implies `-V`):
--value-at=VALUEDATE as of which date should market values be calculated ?
transaction|period|now|YYYY-MM-DD (default: now)
@ -500,20 +500,24 @@ The argument must be one of the keywords shown, or their first letter, or a cust
The precise effect of the keywords is command-specific, but here is their general meaning:
`--value-at=transaction` (or `t`)
: Use the prices as of each transaction date (more precisely, each [posting date](/journal.html#posting-dates)).
: Use the prices as of each transaction date (more precisely, each [posting's date](/journal.html#posting-dates)).
Balance reports will show the sum of amount values.
`--value-at=period` (or `p`)
: Use the prices as of the last day of the report period (or each subperiod).
: When no report period is specified, this will be the journal's last transaction date.
: Use the prices as of the last day of the report period (or each subperiod in a multiperiod report).
When no report period is specified, uses the journal's last transaction date.
Balance reports will show the period-end value of summed amounts.
`--value-at=now` (or `n`)
: Use the prices as of today's date when the report is generated. This is the default.
Balance reports will show the current value of summed amounts.
`--value-at=YYYY-MM-DD`
: Use the prices as of the given date (8 digits with `-` or `/` or `.` separators).
: Eg `--value-at=2019-04-25`.
Eg `--value-at=2019-04-25`.
Balance reports will show the value on the given date of summed amounts.
Here are some examples to show its effect:
Here are the effects of `--value-at` as seen with `print`:
```journal
P 2000-01-01 A 1 B
@ -556,7 +560,7 @@ $ hledger -f- print --value-at=period date:2000/01-2000/03
```
Or with no report period specified, show the value as of the last day of the journal (2000-03-01):
With no report period specified, that shows the value as of the last day of the journal (2000-03-01):
```shell
$ hledger -f- print --value-at=period
2000/01/01
@ -570,7 +574,7 @@ $ hledger -f- print --value-at=period
```
Show the current value (the last declared price is still in effect today):
Show the current value (the 2000-04-01 price is still in effect today):
```shell
$ hledger -f- print --value-at=now
2000-01-01
@ -600,36 +604,43 @@ $ hledger -f- print --value-at=2000-01-15
### Effect of --value-at on reports
There are many possible combinations of --value-at and hledger's various reports.
Below is what we currently (aim to) do in each case.
You're not expected to remember all this - probably only a few of these will be useful in practice -
but when troubleshooting a report, look here.
Below is how `--value-at` affects each of hledger's reports, currently.
You're not expected to remember all this, but when troubleshooting a report, look here.
If you find problems - useless reports, misbehaving reports, or error
messages being printed - please report them (with reproducible examples) eg at
[#329](https://github.com/simonmichael/hledger/issues/329).
| Report type | `--value-at` `transaction`  | `--value-at` `period`  | `--value-at` `DATE`/`now`  |
|------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
| <br>**print** | | | |
| posting amounts | value at posting date | value at report end | value at DATE |
| balance assertions/assignments | show unvalued | show unvalued | show unvalued |
| <br>**register** | | | |
| starting balance with -H | value at day before report start | value at day before report start | value at DATE |
| posting amounts | value at posting date | value at report end | value at DATE |
| posting amounts, multiperiod | value each posting at posting date then summarise | value each summary posting at period end | value each summary posting at DATE |
| <br>**balance (bs, cf, is..)** | | | |
| starting balances with -H | sum of values of previous postings at their posting dates | value at day before report start of sum of previous postings | value at DATE of sum of previous postings |
| balances, simple balance report | sum of values of each posting at posting date | value at period end of sum of postings | value at DATE of sum of postings |
| balances, multiperiod report | sum of values of each posting at posting date | value at period end of sum of postings | value at DATE of sum of postings |
| column totals | sum/average of the displayed balances | value at period end of sum of postings | value at DATE of sum of postings |
| row totals/averages, grand total/average | sum/average of the displayed balances | value at period end of sum/average of postings | value at DATE of sum/average of postings |
| budget amounts in --budget reports | ? | ? | ? |
| Report type | `--value-at` `transaction`&nbsp; | `--value-at` `period`&nbsp; | `--value-at` `DATE`/`now`&nbsp; |
|------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
| <br>**print** | | | |
| posting amounts | value at posting date | value at report end | value at DATE |
| balance assertions/assignments | show unvalued | show unvalued | show unvalued |
| <br>**register** | | | |
| starting balance with -H | value at day before report start | value at day before report start | value at DATE |
| posting amounts | value at posting date | value at report end | value at DATE |
| posting amounts, multiperiod | value each posting at posting date then summarise | value each summary posting at period end | value each summary posting at DATE |
| running total/average | sum/average of the displayed values | sum/average of the displayed values | sum/average of the displayed values |
| <br>**balance (bs, cf, is..)** | | | |
| starting balances with -H | sum of values of previous postings at their posting dates | value at day before report start of sum of previous postings | value at DATE of sum of previous postings |
| balances, simple balance report | sum of values of each posting at posting date | value at period end of sum of postings | value at DATE of sum of postings |
| balances, multiperiod report | sum of values of each posting at posting date | value at period end of sum of postings | value at DATE of sum of postings |
| column/row/grand totals/averages | sum/average of the displayed values | value at period end of sum/average of postings | value at DATE of sum/average of postings |
| budget amounts in --budget reports | ? | ? | ? |
### Some useful value reports
Here are some probably useful reports - please send suggestions if you find out more:
| Command: | Description of report: | Could answer: |
|------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
| `hledger bs -M --value-at=p` | Monthly historical value of assets/liabilities | How are my investments performing ? |
| `hledger is -M --value-at=t` | Monthly contemporaneous value of revenues/expenses | How much foreign currency have I been spending ? |
## Combining -B and -V
Using -B/--cost and -V/--value together is currently allowed, but the
results are probably not meaningful. Let us know if you find a use for this.
Using -B/--cost together with -V/--value or --value-at is allowed.
Let us know if you find a use for this.
## Output destination