Options Configuration

Core Configuration Options

Basic Settings

option "title" "Personal Ledger"
option "render_commas" "TRUE"
option "plugin_processing_mode" "raw"

Account Name Customization

option "name_assets" "Assets"
option "name_liabilities" "Liabilities"
option "name_equity" "Equity"
option "name_income" "Income"
option "name_expenses" "Expenses"

Equity Account Configuration

option "account_previous_balances" "Opening-Balances"
option "account_previous_earnings" "Earnings:Previous"
option "account_current_earnings" "Earnings:Current"
option "account_previous_conversions" "Conversions:Previous"
option "account_current_conversions" "Conversions:Current"
option "account_rounding" "Rounding"

Precision and Tolerance Settings

Default Tolerance Configuration

option "inferred_tolerance_default" "USD:0.01"
option "inferred_tolerance_multiplier" "1.1"
option "infer_tolerance_from_cost" "True"

Special cases:

• Use *:0.5 to set default for all currencies
• Per-currency specification: <currency>:<tolerance>

Booking Method

option "booking_method" "SIMPLE"  # or "FULL"

Currency Management

Operating Currency

option "operating_currency" "USD"
option "operating_currency" "EUR"
option "conversion_currency" "NOTHING"

Purpose:

• Defines main currencies for reporting
• Creates dedicated columns in reports
• Enables spreadsheet-compatible output

Document Management

option "documents" "/path/to/documents/archive"

Requirements:

• Files must follow format: YYYY-MM-DD.(*)
• Multiple document roots supported
• Paths can be absolute or relative

Plugin System

Plugin Configuration

option "plugin" "beancount.plugins.module_name"

Processing modes:

• raw: Only user-specified plugins
• default: Includes preset plugins

Technical Limits and Constraints

String Handling

option "long_string_maxlines" "64"

Experimental Features

option "experiment_explicit_tolerances" "True"

Enables:

• Explicit tolerance syntax: <number> ~ <tolerance> <currency>
• Example: 532.23 ~ 0.001 USD

System Behavior Controls

Legacy Support

option "use_legacy_fixed_tolerances" "True"

Fixed tolerances:

• Balance/Pad directives: 0.015 units
• Transactions: 0.005 units

Recommended Configuration

Basic Setup

option "title" "Personal Ledger"
option "operating_currency" "USD"
option "documents" "/path/to/docs"
option "render_commas" "TRUE"

Precision Control

option "inferred_tolerance_default" "USD:0.01"
option "inferred_tolerance_multiplier" "1.1"
option "infer_tolerance_from_cost" "True"

Account Structure

option "account_previous_balances" "Opening-Balances"
option "account_current_earnings" "Earnings:Current"
option "account_rounding" "Rounding"

This configuration provides a robust foundation for a production Beancount system while maintaining precise control over currency handling and reporting behavior.