How do I add, edit, and delete transactions?

Add a transaction

Select an account in the sidebar and click the plus (+) button at the top of the account register (or choose Transaction > Add Transaction). The transaction editor will appear in the register so that you can enter the details of the new transaction:

Different fields are shown in the editor depending on whether the selected account is used for banking or investments and what transaction type is selected.

The editor can be used to record basic transaction properties such as the type, number, date, payee, note, and withdrawal or deposit amount (for a descriptive list of all properties, see Transaction Properties). It can also be used to categorize, tag, and split transactions, record account transfers, enter investment details, track cleared/reconciled status, attach files, and record currency information (refer to the articles about these topics for more information).

To make changes, click the field you want to edit or use the Tab key to cycle through the available fields. Make any adjustments that are necessary, then click "Save" to keep the changes or "Cancel" to discard them. You can also press Enter on your keyboard to save or Escape to cancel. If you try to navigate away from the register while unsaved changes are present, Banktivity will pop up an alert to ask you whether to save or discard the changes.

To enter transactions as efficiently as possible, use keyboard shortcuts. You can add new transactions by typing Command-N on your keyboard, then use the Tab key to quickly cycle through each field and enter the transaction details. Press Enter to save the new transaction, type Command-N for another new transaction, and continue on in this manner.

Autofilling transaction details:

When you begin typing a payee, Banktivity will automatically suggest names that you have entered previously, based on its list of memorized payees. As you are typing, a drop-down list will appear showing the payees that match what you are typing:

In this example, only the letter 'B' was typed. Use the mouse to click one of the names, or use the arrow keys to select one and then press the Tab or Enter key. Banktivity will fill in several of the transaction details (type, category/splits, and amount) based on the associated payee. If you don't want to accept a suggestion, simply ignore it and continue typing.

In the same manner, Banktivity also suggests categories and tags as you type. If you do not want to use one of the existing categories or tags, ignore the suggestions that appear and type in a new category or tag name. When you highlight a different field or save the transaction, Banktivity will prompt you to create a new category or tag based on what you typed in.

To quickly enter a sub-category, type the first few letters of the parent category (so that the category name is highlighted for autofill), then type a colon (:). Type the first few letters of the sub-category, and when the correct sub-category name is suggested, press the Tab or Enter key to accept it.

If you can't recall the name of the payee or category you want to enter, simply press the down arrow key on your keyboard before beginning to type. A menu will drop down to show you all the available options.

Splitting a transaction:

To split a transaction so that you can assign multiple categories to it, click "Split This Transaction" in the editor:

Here you can add, remove, and modify items that are part of split transactions. For more information about splits, see Split Transactions.

Edit a transaction

Select a transaction in the account register, then press Enter on your keyboard to show the transaction editor. If the transaction is marked "cleared" or "reconciled," Banktivity will ask for confirmation before allowing you to modify any of the transaction details. When you are done making changes, click "Save" or press Enter on your keyboard to record the changes in the register.

To edit multiple transactions at once (sometimes called "batch editing"), Command-click transactions in the register to select them, then use the commands available under the "Transaction" menu to make changes. Status, tags, categories, transaction types, securities, and payees may be changed in this manner.

Delete a transaction

Click to select a transaction in the register (or Command-click to select multiple transactions), then press Delete on your keyboard or choose Edit > Delete. Banktivity will ask you to confirm that you want to delete the transaction before removing it. If the transaction is a transfer, Banktivity will let you choose whether to delete the transaction from one or both accounts.