I want to batch recode a number of transactions, in this case payments. At the bottom of that screen there is a button Find & Recode. It lets me do a simple query and then I can select some entries and associate them with some other account, which I can choose from the pick list. I press Bulk Recode and am done. Fine.
But when I try the same through the button labeled Batch Operations/Batch Recode, there seems to be an error. The pick list now does not show accounts, but rather properties such as “Amounts are tax exclusive” or “Column - Discount”. These are the exact same entries as shown after Batch Operations/Batch Update. Incidentally, the blue button to push in that latter scenario also reads “Batch Recode”, same as in Batch Operations/Batch Recode, and not “Batch Update”, as I would expect.
This seems a bug to me.
I really would like to be able to use the option, because Find & Recode will not allow me to use an Advanced Query, which is important in my case.
At this moment, it’s limited to fields that are checkboxes only. But eventually I will add support for every type of field so So whenever you need to set some specific value across multiple forms, you do not need to go to each form individually but you will be able to use Batch Recode to do it across many forms at once.
Forgive me, but the terminology I find confusing. I interpreted “recode” as changing the account, and “update” as changing other things, with makes sense to me.
In Find & Recode the “recode” action changes the account. In Batch Update/Batch Recode the recode action is used to to all kinds of things, except changing the account. Which (i.e., the other things) I am used to doing via the spreadsheet, easy enough.
Also, I still don’t see where the difference is between Batch Operations/Batch Update and Batch Operations/Batch Recode. Both seem to offer the same choices. Are they really different?
The following still seems a bug to me.
If go to Payments and choose Batch Update, the blue button is labeled “Batch Update”. If I then go to Batch Recode, the button changes to Batch Recode. Makes sense. But if I then go back to Batch Update, the button remains Batch Recode. The reverse is not true: If I start with Batch Recode, it always stays Batch Recode, and will never become Batch Update.
This at least seems a bug to me, or at the very least an unexpected feature.
Let this not be viewed as any criticism on the splendid work you all are doing with this program. I find it a joy to use. Thanks for that!
Please note that, Batch Recode and Batch Update are separate options under Batch Operations. As explained by @LubosBatch Recode is quicker for simple changes while Batch Update requires copying to clipboard and changing in a spreadsheet and posting back.
So they are different and operate different as explained by @Lubos and again by me here. There is no bug as the behaviour is consistent within the Batch Operations option that you choose.
That may be on purpose because it may be that you want to recode more than 1 option and as it does not cater for multiple options it stays there until you finished the job. So ideally one should be able to add more than 1 option at a time and then it should close back to the Tab as Batch Update does.
Sorry, but this makes no sense, because the other way around it does not work that way, as I also explained. Once you are in Recode you never get to Update, but you can go from Update to Recode. Where is the logic in that? In my book, this is a (UI-)bug. Not too limiting once you have learned what to do, but very confusing if you are still learning.
Batch recode should not be sub-grouped with batch create or batch update as these require external spreadsheet manipulation so are inherently more complex to use.
Batch recode could perhaps be sub-grouped with batch delete and batch view as these are all in Manager functions.
