How do I use split transactions?

iBank allows you to categorize transactions for charts and budgets, but what happens when a single transaction needs to be broken down and assigned to multiple categories? For example, let's say that you go to the grocery store and spent $50, but you only spent $30 on groceries - the other $20 was spent on pet supplies. How do you enter this into iBank without creating two separate transactions?

Split transactions allow you to itemize your transactions so that categories can be assigned to smaller parts of those transactions. You can schedule split transactions, but iBank cannot memorize them like other transactions.

To create a split transaction:

Select one of your accounts and create a new transaction. In the transaction editor, enter a date, transaction type, payee, and memo as desired. Enter the total amount of the transaction in the amount field, then click the split button to reveal more options in the transaction editor. Click the show splits button if the split information is not already showing:

example split 1

You must always enter an amount into the main transaction before specifying amounts for split items. iBank cannot calculate the amount of the main transaction based on split amounts.

The split information table is currently empty, because you have not yet added any splits. Click the plus button to split the transaction; its category will change to "detailed", and two blank split items will appear in the splits table (unless you had a category assigned to the transaction before splitting it, in which case one of the splits will be given that category automatically):

example split 2

For each split item, double-click the various fields to enter a category, memo, and amount for that item (you can also click the double-arrows in the category field to select one from a drop-down list). When you change the amount of one split item, iBank will automatically adjust the amount of the other split item to compensate; the total of the split items must always be equal to the amount of the main transaction. Note that iBank will not adjust amounts for splits that you have already assigned categories to - if necessary, iBank may create an additional split item to balance the total.

It is important that you assign a category to a split item before changing its amount. Having a category specified lets iBank know that it should not automatically adjust that split item to balance the transaction.

Following our above example, let's split this transaction into two parts: $30 for groceries and $20 for pet supplies. We already split the transaction, so next we assign the category "Groceries" to one split item. Its amount started at -50.00, so we change it to -30.00. Notice that the other split item automatically changes to -20.00 to balance the transaction:

example split 3

Now the only thing that remains is to assign a category to the second split. Since no category for "Pet Supplies" currently exists, we'll double-click the category field for that split item and type in "Pet Supplies" followed by the Return key:

example split 4

That's it! Now we click the "Commit" button to save our changes, and the split transaction is complete. Each split item has been assigned its own category, so the spending can be tracked more accurately with charts and budgets.

As an alternative method of entry, you can select a transaction in list view and click the split transaction button at the bottom of the main window to split the transaction. The split items will appear and can be edited directly in the transaction list.

To add additional split items:

Click the plus button for each item you want to add to the table.

To delete a split item:

Select the item you wan to remove, then click the minus button at the bottom of the table to remove it. iBank will automatically adjust one of your uncategorized split items to balance the transaction, or add a new split item if necessary.

To view your split transactions:

Split transactions appear differently depending on which transaction view you are using.

List view

In list view, a small disclosure triangle appears to the left of the transaction, which you can click to reveal the split items:

split transaction in list view

Note that any memos entered for the split items are displayed under the "Payee/Split Info" column in list view.

Thumbnail view

In thumbnail view, the splits appear in gray underneath the main transaction information:

example split 6

Cover flow view

In cover flow view, the splits are not shown. The category "detailed" is displayed to indicate that there are split items associated with the transaction:

example split 7