Nominal account maintenance

The nominal code is the account number used to reference the nominal account, during either posting or enquiries. The account code consists of four digits and can be any number ranging from 0001 to 9999. This is the title used to identify the account during postings and enquiries. This code is also displayed when printing a trial balance and final accounts.

The indicators:

Nine sub-total accounts are available. As Curtains processes the nominal file, the balance of each account is added to each of the sub-totals. There are therefore nine levels of sub-total available for printing at predetermined positions in the accounts.

In most cases it is easy to predict whether the balance on an account will be debit or credit, and the status indicator is used to inform Curtains of what is expected. It will also indicate whether currency symbol is required in front of the balance.

Nine sub-total account are available. As the system processes the nominal file, the balance of each account is added to each of the sub-totals. There are therefore nine levels of sub-total available for printing at predetermined positions in the accounts. The total indicator setting clears the contents of all sub-total accounts up to and including the one specified. For instance, if the total indicator is set to 3, the contents of sub-totals 1,2 and 3 are cleared; if the indicator is set to 9, all the sub-totals are cleared. The default value is 0 indicating that no totals will be cleared.

The account layouts provide two columns for current year balances, and two for previous years balances (comparatives). The column used for the current year determines the column to be used for the comparative balances. These are referred to as column 1 (left) and column 2 (right).

If it is required that the heading or balance is highlighted, it can be printed in bold type.

It is usual to underline a column of figures before printing a sub-total, and to double underline a full total.

The default value is set to 0, which specifies no underline; a single underline is represented by 1 whilst a double underline is represented by a 2.

To make the accounts more readable it is useful to be able to leave a space between groups of accounts. It can also be helpful to print sub-totals alongside the columns to which they refer.

This is achieved by specifying the number of line feeds to be printed after the account.

Alternative code

It is normally possible to predict whether a nominal account will have a debit or credit balance. in most cases, when a balance is the opposite of that expected, it is printed within brackets; this indicates that amount will be subtracted from rather than being added to the following sub-total.

Some nominal account balances are normally either credit or debit, and it is their sign (i.e. + or -) which determines their significance and position within a set of accounts.

For example, a bank account containing funds has a debit balance and is shown as a current asset. If the same bank account is overdrawn it has a credit balance and is shown as a current liability; that is, it is not merely shown within parentheses in the current asset section.

A further example arises with the sale of a fixed asset, which may result in a profit (shown as an expense).

In order that the accounts appear in the correct place, the alternative code is used. This cross-references pairs of nominal codes. Any amount posted to one account updates the balance on both accounts. Only the account with the expected sign is printed on the trial balance, draft or final accounts, and the other account is ignored.

It is imperative that both accounts are cross-referenced to each other. Thus if the alternative code for the bank account is bank overdraft, the alternative code on the bank overdraft must be the bank account.

Period c/fwd code

This is the nominal account into which the period total for this code should be carried forward, once a period end procedure is carried out.

( More than one nominal account total may be carried forward into a single c/fwd (carried forward) account. )

Year c/fwd code

This is the nominal account into which the year's total for this code should be carried forward, once a year end procedure is carried out.

( More than one nominal account total may be carried forward into a single c/fwd (carried forward) account. )

  • You can create/amend a nominal code simply by entering a number in the "nominal code" box.

  • You can also scroll through the existing nominal codes by clicking the and buttons.