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Entering journal entries non-stop

This screen allows you to enter accounting entries very quickly using the keyboard, without touching the mouse: each Enter key press opens a new line pre-filled with the amount that balances the entry, and Ctrl/Cmd+Enter posts the entry and moves straight on to the next one. You can also start from a pre-prepared entry template.

What it is for

In accounting, ‘keying by the kilometre’ refers to a rapid data-entry method designed for accountants who process numerous transactions throughout the day: rather than clicking field by field, one stays at the keyboard from start to finish. You select a journal and a date, then type in the account (with auto-complete from the chart of accounts), the description and the amount for each line; the screen continuously calculates the difference between debits and credits, and a dedicated button can automatically fill in the amount needed to balance the entry. Once the balance is zero, you post the entry and move straight on to the next one (the journal and date remain selected to speed things up). For entries that recur frequently (rent, subscriptions), a ready-to-use template can be inserted, with only the amounts to be filled in. This is a complement to automatic entry (sales, purchases): it is used for miscellaneous transactions and anything not generated by a sales or purchase document.