Stumped by journals on VTT Universal Input Sheet

How to enter journals using the VT Universal Input sheet.

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Try as I might and, even though I thought I knew VT reasonably well, I cannot work out how to enter a journal using the VT Universal Input Sheet. I just get error messages such as "A journal should consist of two or more rows" and not completing certain columns. Please can someone give me an idiot's guide or a screenshot.

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By Matrix
16th Jun 2018 08:21

Why do you want to do this instead of just posting as a journal?

I assume if the data you import has all the fields completed you can import anything but you will need to choose the account where the transactions are being booked as one side of the entry and the other side to the analysis account.

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Replying to Matrix:
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By paulwakefield1
16th Jun 2018 10:37

Partly because I would like to know how to do it! But mainly because I have a very long TB from another system that I would rather not type in.

I may of course be missing a trick. I keep finding facilities that VT has. I've only started using Custom transactions in the relatively recent past.

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Replying to paulwakefield1:
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By BigBadWolf
16th Jun 2018 23:58

The easiest way to enter a TB is using the Trial Balance Style Journal function

There is also an import Journal dialog which I have not used

I am not sure how o insert a screen shot here - but To display the trial balance style journal dialog, choose the Transaction>Journal>Trial Balance Style command, or
click on the down arrow to the right of the JRN button on the main toolbar.

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Replying to paulwakefield1:
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By chatman
21st Jun 2018 11:57

paulwakefield1 wrote:
mainly because I have a very long TB from another system that I would rather not type in.

You don't have to type journals into VTT+. You can paste them from the clipboard by selecting: Transaction>Journal>Import and then select "Clipboard (eg copied from a spreadsheet)" in the "Import via:" box.

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Replying to chatman:
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By paulwakefield1
21st Jun 2018 13:13

Many thanks -I have now cottoned onto that! See the posts below. I was trying to do it via the UIS. It then became a challenge not to let the UIS defeat me. :-)

Anyway, mission accomplished. I can now do it via the UIS or the Journal-Import. I accept the latter is definitely simpler.

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Replying to paulwakefield1:
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By Wanderer
21st Jun 2018 13:21

Similar to you I have been using VTT+ for years. Just recently I 'discovered' and actually started using the Journal import feature (to do a weekly import from a spreadsheet in my case).
Once you have got your mind around how it works and set it up it is yet another case of how amazingly powerful VTT+ is.

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RLI
By lionofludesch
16th Jun 2018 10:10

I agree. Universal the Input Sheet may be, but it's a lot easier to enter it as a journal.

I don't like the UIS - I'd rather enter all the receipts together, then all the payments. But that's just my preference.

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By Matrix
16th Jun 2018 11:09

I am sure it can be done. Choose Opening Balances Contra as the account where you want to post it all.

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By Jo Nokes
16th Jun 2018 21:13

I've had a lot of trouble with this, I needed it to post a long set of data that i had on an excel sheet. The error message doesn't seem to explain, however plausible it seems.

Try this:
On the first line, in the first column under type, put JRN, then enter the date under the date column. Leave primary account, details, total, and vat columns all blank.

Still on line 1, enter an amount in the analysis column, put an account in the analysis account column (eg Sales : sales) and enter relevant details in the last column.

Then on line 2 onwards, fill in just the analysis amount, analysis account, and details columns . This should work provided your amounts column sums to zero!

Good luck

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By BigBadWolf
17th Jun 2018 00:04

The easiest way to enter a TB is using the Trial Balance Style Journal function

There is also an import Journal dialog which I have not used

I am not sure how to insert a screen shot here - but To display the trial balance style journal dialog, choose the Transaction>Journal>Trial Balance Style command, or
click on the down arrow to the right of the JRN button on the main toolbar.

A peruse of the user manual page 11 may also be of some help http://www.vtsoftware.co.uk/support/tranplusguide.pdf

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By paulwakefield1
17th Jun 2018 10:18

Thanks to all for comments and particularly Jo Nokes and BigBadWolf. I will experiment with those 3 suggestions.

I still want to get the UIS to work simply because it is a challenge! But I accept the other methods suggested may be better. I will experiment.

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By daniel_
18th Jun 2018 11:55

I've tried to create a journal with the UIS but encountered the same problem.

I find if there's a long journal like a full TB to input, it's easiest to use the Journal Import function (drop down arrow next to JRN button).

In excel, copy to clipboard an area of exactly 4 columns ABCD where A is the source nominal code, B is the account narrative, C debit amount, D credit amount.

Then set 'import via' to clipboard, 'data format' to Journal and 'conversion table' to custom names.

Then click the converter button on the right. This window allows you to map the each of your lines to a VT account.

The mapping will be saved for future use, and if you name the codes (col A) the same as the VT account names e.g. "Creditors: Corporation tax", it'll automatically map.

Once all the lines are mapped, 'OK' the converter window and save the journal.

It sounds like a lengthy process but if it's a whole TB to copy over it's definitely quicker.

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By paulwakefield1
18th Jun 2018 13:47

Update for anybody visiting this thread in the future:

All 3 methods suggested by bigbadwolf, Jo Nokes and expanded by daniel_ work.

Jo Nokes has nailed how to enter a Journal via the UIS and, in fact, it is probably the simplest once you understand how to get it to work.

The Trial Balance journal style works well but (as far as I can tell) does not allow use of Paste.

The Journal import option is probably the most self explanatory and sophisticated option. daniel_ describes it very well.

So, for me, I will use either the UIS or Journal import options. In practice I will probably use the UIS largely because I can rather than it being necessarily the best option. :-)

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By MrsG
26th Jun 2018 14:23

Thanks for this - I too have been trying to work out how to use the UIS for journals for years (on & off obviously). Now I know

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