diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
--- a/CHANGES.md
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -1,6 +1,17 @@
 Internal/api/developer-ish changes in the hledger-lib (and hledger) packages.
 For user-visible changes, see the hledger package changelog.
 
+# 1.14 2019-03-01
+
+- added:  
+  transaction, [v]post*, balassert* constructors, for tests etc.  
+
+- renamed:  
+  porigin -> poriginal  
+
+- refactored:  
+  transaction balancing & balance assertion checking (#438)
+
 # 1.13.1 (2019/02/02)
 
 - stop depending on here to avoid haskell-src-meta/stackage blockage.
diff --git a/Hledger/Data/Account.hs b/Hledger/Data/Account.hs
--- a/Hledger/Data/Account.hs
+++ b/Hledger/Data/Account.hs
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@
 sortAccountTreeByDeclaration a
   | null $ asubs a = a
   | otherwise      = a{asubs=
-      sortBy (comparing accountDeclarationOrderAndName) $ 
+      sortOn accountDeclarationOrderAndName $ 
       map sortAccountTreeByDeclaration $ asubs a
       }
 
diff --git a/Hledger/Data/Amount.hs b/Hledger/Data/Amount.hs
--- a/Hledger/Data/Amount.hs
+++ b/Hledger/Data/Amount.hs
@@ -132,7 +132,6 @@
 import Data.Map (findWithDefault)
 import Data.Maybe
 import Data.Time.Calendar (Day)
-import Data.Ord (comparing)
 -- import Data.Text (Text)
 import qualified Data.Text as T
 import Safe (maximumDef)
@@ -469,7 +468,7 @@
   where
     dbg = dbg8 ("using market price for "++T.unpack c)
     applicableprices =
-      [p | p <- sortBy (comparing mpdate) $ jmarketprices j
+      [p | p <- sortOn mpdate $ jmarketprices j
       , mpcommodity p == c
       , mpdate p <= valuationdate
       ]
diff --git a/Hledger/Data/Commodity.hs b/Hledger/Data/Commodity.hs
--- a/Hledger/Data/Commodity.hs
+++ b/Hledger/Data/Commodity.hs
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 
 
 -- characters that may not be used in a non-quoted commodity symbol
-nonsimplecommoditychars = "0123456789-+.@*;\n \"{}=" :: [Char]
+nonsimplecommoditychars = "0123456789-+.@*;\n \"{}=" :: String
 
 isNonsimpleCommodityChar :: Char -> Bool
 isNonsimpleCommodityChar c = isDigit c || c `textElem` otherChars
diff --git a/Hledger/Data/Dates.hs b/Hledger/Data/Dates.hs
--- a/Hledger/Data/Dates.hs
+++ b/Hledger/Data/Dates.hs
@@ -126,21 +126,15 @@
 
 -- | Get the current local date.
 getCurrentDay :: IO Day
-getCurrentDay = do
-    t <- getZonedTime
-    return $ localDay (zonedTimeToLocalTime t)
+getCurrentDay = localDay . zonedTimeToLocalTime <$> getZonedTime
 
 -- | Get the current local month number.
 getCurrentMonth :: IO Int
-getCurrentMonth = do
-  (_,m,_) <- toGregorian `fmap` getCurrentDay
-  return m
+getCurrentMonth = second3 . toGregorian <$> getCurrentDay
 
 -- | Get the current local year.
 getCurrentYear :: IO Integer
-getCurrentYear = do
-  (y,_,_) <- toGregorian `fmap` getCurrentDay
-  return y
+getCurrentYear = first3 . toGregorian <$> getCurrentDay
 
 elapsedSeconds :: Fractional a => UTCTime -> UTCTime -> a
 elapsedSeconds t1 = realToFrac . diffUTCTime t1
@@ -380,14 +374,13 @@
 -- | Convert a smart date string to an explicit yyyy\/mm\/dd string using
 -- the provided reference date, or raise an error.
 fixSmartDateStr :: Day -> Text -> String
-fixSmartDateStr d s = either
-                       (\e->error' $ printf "could not parse date %s %s" (show s) (show e))
-                       id
-                       $ (fixSmartDateStrEither d s :: Either (ParseErrorBundle Text CustomErr) String)
+fixSmartDateStr d s =
+  either (error' . printf "could not parse date %s %s" (show s) . show) id $
+  (fixSmartDateStrEither d s :: Either (ParseErrorBundle Text CustomErr) String)
 
 -- | A safe version of fixSmartDateStr.
 fixSmartDateStrEither :: Day -> Text -> Either (ParseErrorBundle Text CustomErr) String
-fixSmartDateStrEither d = either Left (Right . showDate) . fixSmartDateStrEither' d
+fixSmartDateStrEither d = fmap showDate . fixSmartDateStrEither' d
 
 fixSmartDateStrEither'
   :: Day -> Text -> Either (ParseErrorBundle Text CustomErr) Day
@@ -469,34 +462,34 @@
 -- "2009/01/01"
 --
 fixSmartDate :: Day -> SmartDate -> Day
-fixSmartDate refdate sdate = fix sdate
-    where
-      fix :: SmartDate -> Day
-      fix ("","","today")       = fromGregorian ry rm rd
-      fix ("","this","day")     = fromGregorian ry rm rd
-      fix ("","","yesterday")   = prevday refdate
-      fix ("","last","day")     = prevday refdate
-      fix ("","","tomorrow")    = nextday refdate
-      fix ("","next","day")     = nextday refdate
-      fix ("","last","week")    = prevweek refdate
-      fix ("","this","week")    = thisweek refdate
-      fix ("","next","week")    = nextweek refdate
-      fix ("","last","month")   = prevmonth refdate
-      fix ("","this","month")   = thismonth refdate
-      fix ("","next","month")   = nextmonth refdate
-      fix ("","last","quarter") = prevquarter refdate
-      fix ("","this","quarter") = thisquarter refdate
-      fix ("","next","quarter") = nextquarter refdate
-      fix ("","last","year")    = prevyear refdate
-      fix ("","this","year")    = thisyear refdate
-      fix ("","next","year")    = nextyear refdate
-      fix ("","",d)             = fromGregorian ry rm (read d)
-      fix ("",m,"")             = fromGregorian ry (read m) 1
-      fix ("",m,d)              = fromGregorian ry (read m) (read d)
-      fix (y,"","")             = fromGregorian (read y) 1 1
-      fix (y,m,"")              = fromGregorian (read y) (read m) 1
-      fix (y,m,d)               = fromGregorian (read y) (read m) (read d)
-      (ry,rm,rd) = toGregorian refdate
+fixSmartDate refdate = fix
+  where
+    fix :: SmartDate -> Day
+    fix ("", "", "today") = fromGregorian ry rm rd
+    fix ("", "this", "day") = fromGregorian ry rm rd
+    fix ("", "", "yesterday") = prevday refdate
+    fix ("", "last", "day") = prevday refdate
+    fix ("", "", "tomorrow") = nextday refdate
+    fix ("", "next", "day") = nextday refdate
+    fix ("", "last", "week") = prevweek refdate
+    fix ("", "this", "week") = thisweek refdate
+    fix ("", "next", "week") = nextweek refdate
+    fix ("", "last", "month") = prevmonth refdate
+    fix ("", "this", "month") = thismonth refdate
+    fix ("", "next", "month") = nextmonth refdate
+    fix ("", "last", "quarter") = prevquarter refdate
+    fix ("", "this", "quarter") = thisquarter refdate
+    fix ("", "next", "quarter") = nextquarter refdate
+    fix ("", "last", "year") = prevyear refdate
+    fix ("", "this", "year") = thisyear refdate
+    fix ("", "next", "year") = nextyear refdate
+    fix ("", "", d) = fromGregorian ry rm (read d)
+    fix ("", m, "") = fromGregorian ry (read m) 1
+    fix ("", m, d) = fromGregorian ry (read m) (read d)
+    fix (y, "", "") = fromGregorian (read y) 1 1
+    fix (y, m, "") = fromGregorian (read y) (read m) 1
+    fix (y, m, d) = fromGregorian (read y) (read m) (read d)
+    (ry, rm, rd) = toGregorian refdate
 
 prevday :: Day -> Day
 prevday = addDays (-1)
@@ -764,7 +757,7 @@
   eof
   return d
 
-datesepchars :: [Char]
+datesepchars :: String
 datesepchars = "/-."
 
 datesepchar :: TextParser m Char
@@ -980,8 +973,7 @@
                           return $ DayOfWeek n,
                        do string' "every"
                           skipMany spacenonewline
-                          n <- weekday
-                          return $ DayOfWeek n,
+                          DayOfWeek <$> weekday,
                        do string' "every"
                           skipMany spacenonewline
                           n <- nth
@@ -1034,7 +1026,7 @@
              return $ intcons 1,
           do string' "every"
              skipMany spacenonewline
-             n <- fmap read $ some digitChar
+             n <- read <$> some digitChar
              skipMany spacenonewline
              string' plural'
              return $ intcons n
@@ -1061,8 +1053,7 @@
   b <- smartdate
   skipMany spacenonewline
   optional (choice [string' "to", string' "-"] >> skipMany spacenonewline)
-  e <- smartdate
-  return $ DateSpan (Just $ fixSmartDate rdate b) (Just $ fixSmartDate rdate e)
+  DateSpan (Just $ fixSmartDate rdate b) . Just . fixSmartDate rdate <$> smartdate
 
 fromdatespanp :: Day -> TextParser m DateSpan
 fromdatespanp rdate = do
@@ -1081,14 +1072,12 @@
 todatespanp :: Day -> TextParser m DateSpan
 todatespanp rdate = do
   choice [string' "to", string' "-"] >> skipMany spacenonewline
-  e <- smartdate
-  return $ DateSpan Nothing (Just $ fixSmartDate rdate e)
+  DateSpan Nothing . Just . fixSmartDate rdate <$> smartdate
 
 justdatespanp :: Day -> TextParser m DateSpan
 justdatespanp rdate = do
   optional (string' "in" >> skipMany spacenonewline)
-  d <- smartdate
-  return $ spanFromSmartDate rdate d
+  spanFromSmartDate rdate <$> smartdate
 
 -- | Make a datespan from two valid date strings parseable by parsedate
 -- (or raise an error). Eg: mkdatespan \"2011/1/1\" \"2011/12/31\".
diff --git a/Hledger/Data/Journal.hs b/Hledger/Data/Journal.hs
--- a/Hledger/Data/Journal.hs
+++ b/Hledger/Data/Journal.hs
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
-{-# LANGUAGE Rank2Types #-}
+{-# LANGUAGE CPP #-}
+{-# LANGUAGE LambdaCase #-}
 {-# LANGUAGE NamedFieldPuns #-}
-{-# LANGUAGE StandaloneDeriving #-}
 {-# LANGUAGE OverloadedStrings #-}
-{-# LANGUAGE CPP #-}
+{-# LANGUAGE Rank2Types #-}
+{-# LANGUAGE ScopedTypeVariables #-}
+{-# LANGUAGE StandaloneDeriving #-}
 
 {-|
 
@@ -76,22 +78,24 @@
 )
 where
 import Control.Applicative (Const(..))
-import Control.Arrow
 import Control.Monad
 import Control.Monad.Except
-import qualified Control.Monad.Reader as R
+import Control.Monad.Extra
+import Control.Monad.Reader as R
 import Control.Monad.ST
 import Data.Array.ST
+import Data.Function ((&))
 import Data.Functor.Identity (Identity(..))
-import qualified Data.HashTable.ST.Cuckoo as HT
+import qualified Data.HashTable.ST.Cuckoo as H
 import Data.List
 import Data.List.Extra (groupSort)
+import qualified Data.Map as M
 import Data.Maybe
 #if !(MIN_VERSION_base(4,11,0))
 import Data.Monoid
 #endif
-import Data.Ord
 import qualified Data.Semigroup as Sem
+import qualified Data.Set as S
 import Data.Text (Text)
 import qualified Data.Text as T
 import Safe (headMay, headDef)
@@ -99,8 +103,6 @@
 import Data.Tree
 import System.Time (ClockTime(TOD))
 import Text.Printf
-import qualified Data.Map as M
-import qualified Data.Set as S
 
 import Hledger.Utils 
 import Hledger.Data.Types
@@ -564,281 +566,324 @@
 journalModifyTransactions :: Journal -> Journal
 journalModifyTransactions j = j{ jtxns = modifyTransactions (jtxnmodifiers j) (jtxns j) }
 
--- | Check any balance assertions in the journal and return an error
--- message if any of them fail.
-journalCheckBalanceAssertions :: Journal -> Either String Journal
-journalCheckBalanceAssertions j =
-  runST $ journalBalanceTransactionsST 
-    True 
-    j 
-    (return ())
-    (\_ _ -> return ()) 
-    (const $ return j)
+-- | Check any balance assertions in the journal and return an error message
+-- if any of them fail (or if the transaction balancing they require fails).
+journalCheckBalanceAssertions :: Journal -> Maybe String
+journalCheckBalanceAssertions = either Just (const Nothing) . journalBalanceTransactions True
 
--- | Check a posting's balance assertion and return an error if it
--- fails.
-checkBalanceAssertion :: Posting -> MixedAmount -> Either String ()
-checkBalanceAssertion p@Posting{pbalanceassertion=Just (BalanceAssertion{baamount,baexact})} actualbal =
-  foldl' f (Right ()) assertedamts
-    where
-      f (Right _) assertedamt = checkBalanceAssertionCommodity p assertedamt actualbal
-      f err _                 = err
-      assertedamts = baamount : otheramts
-        where
-          assertedcomm = acommodity baamount
-          otheramts | baexact   = map (\a -> a{ aquantity = 0 }) $ amounts $ filterMixedAmount (\a -> acommodity a /= assertedcomm) actualbal
-                    | otherwise = []
-checkBalanceAssertion _ _ = Right ()
+-- "Transaction balancing" - inferring missing amounts and checking transaction balancedness and balance assertions
 
--- | Are the asserted balance and the actual balance
--- exactly equal (disregarding display precision) ?
--- The posting is used for creating an error message.
-checkBalanceAssertionCommodity :: Posting -> Amount -> MixedAmount -> Either String ()
-checkBalanceAssertionCommodity p assertedamt actualbal
-  | pass      = Right ()
-  | otherwise = Left err
-    where
-      assertedcomm = acommodity assertedamt
-      actualbalincommodity = fromMaybe nullamt $ find ((== assertedcomm) . acommodity) (amounts actualbal)
-      pass =
-        aquantity
-        -- traceWith (("asserted:"++).showAmountDebug)
-        assertedamt ==
-        aquantity
-        -- traceWith (("actual:"++).showAmountDebug)
-        actualbalincommodity
-      diff = aquantity assertedamt - aquantity actualbalincommodity
-      err = printf (unlines
-                    [ "balance assertion: %s",
-                      "\nassertion details:",
-                      "date:       %s",
-                      "account:    %s",
-                      "commodity:  %s",
-                      -- "display precision:  %d",
-                      "calculated: %s", -- (at display precision: %s)",
-                      "asserted:   %s", -- (at display precision: %s)",
-                      "difference: %s"
-                    ])
-        (case ptransaction p of
-           Nothing -> "?" -- shouldn't happen
-           Just t ->  printf "%s\ntransaction:\n%s"
-                        (showGenericSourcePos pos)
-                        (chomp $ showTransaction t)
-                        :: String
-                        where
-                          pos = baposition $ fromJust $ pbalanceassertion p
-        )
-        (showDate $ postingDate p)
-        (T.unpack $ paccount p) -- XXX pack
-        assertedcomm
-        -- (asprecision $ astyle actualbalincommodity)  -- should be the standard display precision I think
-        (show $ aquantity actualbalincommodity)
-        -- (showAmount actualbalincommodity)
-        (show $ aquantity assertedamt)
-        -- (showAmount assertedamt)
-        (show diff)
+-- | Monad used for statefully balancing/amount-inferring/assertion-checking 
+-- a sequence of transactions.
+-- Perhaps can be simplified, or would a different ordering of layers make sense ?
+-- If you see a way, let us know.
+type Balancing s = ReaderT (BalancingState s) (ExceptT String (ST s))
 
--- | Fill in any missing amounts and check that all journal transactions
--- balance and all balance assertions pass, or return an error message.
--- This is done after parsing all amounts and applying canonical
--- commodity styles, since balancing depends on display precision.
--- Reports only the first error encountered.
-journalBalanceTransactions :: Bool -> Journal -> Either String Journal
-journalBalanceTransactions assrt j =
-  runST $ journalBalanceTransactionsST 
-    assrt -- check balance assertions also ?
-    (journalNumberTransactions j) -- journal to process
-    (newArray_ (1, genericLength $ jtxns j) :: forall s. ST s (STArray s Integer Transaction)) -- initialise state
-    (\arr tx -> writeArray arr (tindex tx) tx)    -- update state
-    (fmap (\txns -> j{ jtxns = txns}) . getElems) -- summarise state
+-- | The state used while balancing a sequence of transactions.
+data BalancingState s = BalancingState {
+   -- read only
+   bsStyles       :: Maybe (M.Map CommoditySymbol AmountStyle)  -- ^ commodity display styles
+  ,bsUnassignable :: S.Set AccountName                          -- ^ accounts in which balance assignments may not be used
+  ,bsAssrt        :: Bool                                       -- ^ whether to check balance assertions
+   -- mutable
+  ,bsBalances     :: H.HashTable s AccountName MixedAmount      -- ^ running account balances, initially empty
+  ,bsTransactions :: STArray s Integer Transaction              -- ^ the transactions being balanced
+  }
 
--- | Helper used by 'journalBalanceTransactions' and 'journalCheckBalanceAssertions'.
--- Balances transactions, applies balance assignments, and checks balance assertions
--- at the same time.
-journalBalanceTransactionsST ::
-  Bool
-  -> Journal
-  -> ST s txns                        -- ^ initialise state
-  -> (txns -> Transaction -> ST s ()) -- ^ update state
-  -> (txns -> ST s a)                 -- ^ summarise state
-  -> ST s (Either String a)
-journalBalanceTransactionsST assrt j createStore storeIn extract =
-  runExceptT $ do
-    bals <- lift $ HT.newSized size
-    txStore <- lift $ createStore
-    let env = Env bals 
-                  (storeIn txStore) 
-                  assrt
-                  (Just $ journalCommodityStyles j)
-                  (getModifierAccountNames j)
-    flip R.runReaderT env $ do
-      dated <- fmap snd . sortBy (comparing fst) . concat
-                <$> mapM' discriminateByDate (jtxns j)
-      mapM' checkInferAndRegisterAmounts dated
-    lift $ extract txStore
-    where 
-      size = genericLength $ journalPostings j
+-- | Access the current balancing state, and possibly modify the mutable bits,
+-- lifting through the Except and Reader layers into the Balancing monad.
+withB :: (BalancingState s -> ST s a) -> Balancing s a
+withB f = ask >>= lift . lift . f
 
+-- | Get an account's running balance so far. 
+getAmountB :: AccountName -> Balancing s MixedAmount
+getAmountB acc = withB $ \BalancingState{bsBalances} -> do 
+  fromMaybe 0 <$> H.lookup bsBalances acc
 
--- | Collect account names in account modifiers into a set
-getModifierAccountNames :: Journal -> S.Set AccountName
-getModifierAccountNames j = S.fromList $
-                            map paccount $
-                            concatMap tmpostingrules $
-                            jtxnmodifiers j
+-- | Add an amount to an account's running balance, and return the new running balance.
+addAmountB :: AccountName -> MixedAmount -> Balancing s MixedAmount
+addAmountB acc amt = withB $ \BalancingState{bsBalances} -> do
+  old <- fromMaybe 0 <$> H.lookup bsBalances acc
+  let new = old + amt
+  H.insert bsBalances acc new
+  return new
 
--- | Monad transformer stack with a reference to a mutable hashtable
--- of current account balances and a mutable array of finished
--- transactions in original parsing order.
-type CurrentBalancesModifier s = R.ReaderT (Env s) (ExceptT String (ST s))
+-- | Set an account's running balance to this amount, and return the difference from the old. 
+setAmountB :: AccountName -> MixedAmount -> Balancing s MixedAmount
+setAmountB acc amt = withB $ \BalancingState{bsBalances} -> do
+  old <- fromMaybe 0 <$> H.lookup bsBalances acc
+  H.insert bsBalances acc amt
+  return $ amt - old
 
--- | Environment for 'CurrentBalancesModifier'
-data Env s = Env { eBalances     :: HT.HashTable s AccountName MixedAmount
-                 , eStoreTx      :: Transaction -> ST s ()
-                 , eAssrt        :: Bool
-                 , eStyles       :: Maybe (M.Map CommoditySymbol AmountStyle)
-                 , eUnassignable :: S.Set AccountName
-                 }
+-- | Update (overwrite) this transaction with a new one.
+storeTransactionB :: Transaction -> Balancing s ()
+storeTransactionB t = withB $ \BalancingState{bsTransactions}  ->
+  void $ writeArray bsTransactions (tindex t) t
 
--- | This converts a transaction into a list of transactions or
--- postings whose dates have to be considered when checking 
--- balance assertions and handled by 'checkInferAndRegisterAmounts'.
+-- | Infer any missing amounts (to satisfy balance assignments and
+-- to balance transactions) and check that all transactions balance 
+-- and (optional) all balance assertions pass. Or return an error message
+-- (just the first error encountered).
 --
--- Transaction without balance assignments can be balanced and stored
--- immediately and their (possibly) dated postings are returned.
+-- Assumes journalInferCommodityStyles has been called, since those affect transaction balancing.
 --
--- Transaction with balance assignments are only supported if no
--- posting has a 'pdate' value. Supported transactions will be
--- returned unchanged and balanced and stored later in 'checkInferAndRegisterAmounts'.
-discriminateByDate :: Transaction
-  -> CurrentBalancesModifier s [(Day, Either Posting Transaction)]
-discriminateByDate tx
-  | null (assignmentPostings tx) = do
-      styles <- R.reader $ eStyles
-      balanced <- lift $ ExceptT $ return $ balanceTransaction styles tx
-      storeTransaction balanced
-      return $ 
-        fmap (postingDate &&& (Left . removePrices)) $ tpostings $ balanced
-  | True                         = do
-      when (any (isJust . pdate) $ tpostings tx) $
-        throwError $ unlines $
-        ["postings may not have both a custom date and a balance assignment."
-        ,"Write the posting amount explicitly, or remove the posting date:\n"
-        , showTransaction tx]
-      return 
-        [(tdate tx, Right $ tx { tpostings = removePrices <$> tpostings tx })]
+-- This does multiple things because amount inferring, balance assignments, 
+-- balance assertions and posting dates are interdependent.
+-- 
+-- This can be simplified further. Overview as of 20190219:
+-- @
+-- ****** parseAndFinaliseJournal['] (Cli/Utils.hs), journalAddForecast (Common.hs), budgetJournal (BudgetReport.hs), tests (BalanceReport.hs)
+-- ******* journalBalanceTransactions
+-- ******** runST
+-- ********* runExceptT
+-- ********** balanceTransaction (Transaction.hs)
+-- *********** balanceTransactionHelper
+-- ********** runReaderT
+-- *********** balanceTransactionAndCheckAssertionsB
+-- ************ addAmountAndCheckAssertionB
+-- ************ addOrAssignAmountAndCheckAssertionB
+-- ************ balanceTransactionHelper (Transaction.hs)
+-- ****** uiCheckBalanceAssertions d ui@UIState{aopts=UIOpts{cliopts_=copts}, ajournal=j} (ErrorScreen.hs)
+-- ******* journalCheckBalanceAssertions
+-- ******** journalBalanceTransactions
+-- ****** transactionWizard, postingsBalanced (Add.hs), tests (Transaction.hs)
+-- ******* balanceTransaction (Transaction.hs)  XXX hledger add won't allow balance assignments + missing amount ?
+-- @
+journalBalanceTransactions :: Bool -> Journal -> Either String Journal
+journalBalanceTransactions assrt j' =
+  let
+    -- ensure transactions are numbered, so we can store them by number 
+    j@Journal{jtxns=ts} = journalNumberTransactions j'
+    -- display precisions used in balanced checking
+    styles = Just $ journalCommodityStyles j
+    -- balance assignments will not be allowed on these
+    txnmodifieraccts = S.fromList $ map paccount $ concatMap tmpostingrules $ jtxnmodifiers j 
+  in 
+    runST $ do 
+      -- We'll update a mutable array of transactions as we balance them,
+      -- not strictly necessary but avoids a sort at the end I think.
+      balancedtxns <- newListArray (1, genericLength ts) ts
 
--- | Throw an error if a posting is in the unassignable set.
-checkUnassignablePosting :: Posting -> CurrentBalancesModifier s ()
-checkUnassignablePosting p = do
-  unassignable <- R.asks eUnassignable
-  if (isAssignment p && paccount p `S.member` unassignable)
-    then throwError $ unlines $
-         [ "cannot assign amount to account "
-         , ""
-         , "    " ++ (T.unpack $ paccount p)
-         , ""
-         , "because it is also included in transaction modifiers."
-         ]
-    else return ()
+      -- Infer missing posting amounts, check transactions are balanced, 
+      -- and check balance assertions. This is done in two passes:
+      runExceptT $ do
 
+        -- 1. Step through the transactions, balancing the ones which don't have balance assignments
+        -- and leaving the others for later. The balanced ones are split into their postings.
+        -- The postings and not-yet-balanced transactions remain in the same relative order.
+        psandts :: [Either Posting Transaction] <- fmap concat $ forM ts $ \case
+          t | null $ assignmentPostings t -> case balanceTransaction styles t of
+              Left  e  -> throwError e 
+              Right t' -> do
+                lift $ writeArray balancedtxns (tindex t') t'
+                return $ map Left $ tpostings t'
+          t -> return [Right t]
 
--- | This function takes an object describing changes to
--- account balances on a single day - either a single posting 
--- (from an already balanced transaction without assignments)
--- or a whole transaction with assignments (which is required to 
--- have no posting with pdate set).
---
--- For a single posting, there is not much to do. Only add its amount
--- to its account and check the assertion, if there is one. This
--- functionality is provided by 'addAmountAndCheckBalance'.
---
--- For a whole transaction, it loops over all postings, and performs
--- 'addAmountAndCheckBalance', if there is an amount. If there is no
--- amount, the amount is inferred by the assertion or left empty if
--- there is no assertion. Then, the transaction is balanced, the
--- inferred amount added to the balance (all in 'balanceTransactionUpdate') 
--- and the resulting transaction with no missing amounts is stored 
--- in the array, for later retrieval.
---
--- Again in short:
---
--- 'Left Posting': Check the balance assertion and update the
---  account balance. If the amount is empty do nothing.  this can be
---  the case e.g. for virtual postings
---
--- 'Right Transaction': Loop over all postings, infer their amounts
--- and then balance and store the transaction.
-checkInferAndRegisterAmounts :: Either Posting Transaction
-                             -> CurrentBalancesModifier s ()
-checkInferAndRegisterAmounts (Left p) = do
-  checkUnassignablePosting p
-  void $ addAmountAndCheckBalance return p
-checkInferAndRegisterAmounts (Right oldTx) = do
-  let ps = tpostings oldTx
-  mapM_ checkUnassignablePosting ps
-  styles <- R.reader $ eStyles
-  newPostings <- forM ps $ addAmountAndCheckBalance inferFromAssignment
-  storeTransaction =<< balanceTransactionUpdate
-    (fmap void . addToBalance) styles oldTx { tpostings = newPostings }
-  where
-    inferFromAssignment :: Posting -> CurrentBalancesModifier s Posting
-    inferFromAssignment p = do
-      let acc = paccount p
-      case pbalanceassertion p of
-        Just ba | baexact ba -> do
-          diff <- setMixedBalance acc $ Mixed [baamount ba]
-          fullPosting diff p
-        Just ba | otherwise -> do
-          old <- liftModifier $ \Env{ eBalances = bals } -> HT.lookup bals acc
-          let amt = baamount ba
-              assertedcomm = acommodity amt
-          diff <- setMixedBalance acc $
-            Mixed [amt] + filterMixedAmount (\a -> acommodity a /= assertedcomm) (fromMaybe nullmixedamt old)
-          fullPosting diff p
-        Nothing -> return p
-    fullPosting amt p = return p
-      { pamount = amt
-      , porigin = Just $ originalPosting p
-      }
+        -- 2. Sort these items by date, preserving the order of same-day items,
+        -- and step through them while keeping running account balances, 
+        runningbals <- lift $ H.newSized (length $ journalAccountNamesUsed j)
+        flip runReaderT (BalancingState styles txnmodifieraccts assrt runningbals balancedtxns) $ do
+          -- performing balance assignments in, and balancing, the remaining transactions,
+          -- and checking balance assertions as each posting is processed.
+          void $ mapM' balanceTransactionAndCheckAssertionsB $ sortOn (either postingDate tdate) psandts
 
--- | Adds a posting's amount to the posting's account balance and
--- checks a possible balance assertion. Or if there is no amount,
--- runs the supplied fallback action.
-addAmountAndCheckBalance :: 
-     (Posting -> CurrentBalancesModifier s Posting) -- ^ action if posting has no amount
-  -> Posting
-  -> CurrentBalancesModifier s Posting
-addAmountAndCheckBalance _ p | hasAmount p = do
-  newAmt <- addToBalance (paccount p) $ pamount p
-  assrt <- R.reader eAssrt
-  lift $ when assrt $ ExceptT $ return $ checkBalanceAssertion p newAmt
+        ts' <- lift $ getElems balancedtxns
+        return j{jtxns=ts'} 
+
+-- | This function is called statefully on each of a date-ordered sequence of 
+-- 1. fully explicit postings from already-balanced transactions and 
+-- 2. not-yet-balanced transactions containing balance assignments.
+-- It executes balance assignments and finishes balancing the transactions, 
+-- and checks balance assertions on each posting as it goes.
+-- An error will be thrown if a transaction can't be balanced 
+-- or if an illegal balance assignment is found (cf checkIllegalBalanceAssignment).
+-- Transaction prices are removed, which helps eg balance-assertions.test: 15. Mix different commodities and assignments.
+-- This stores the balanced transactions in case 2 but not in case 1.  
+balanceTransactionAndCheckAssertionsB :: Either Posting Transaction -> Balancing s ()
+
+balanceTransactionAndCheckAssertionsB (Left p@Posting{}) =
+  -- update the account's running balance and check the balance assertion if any
+  void $ addAmountAndCheckAssertionB $ removePrices p
+
+balanceTransactionAndCheckAssertionsB (Right t@Transaction{tpostings=ps}) = do
+  -- make sure we can handle the balance assignments
+  mapM_ checkIllegalBalanceAssignmentB ps
+  -- for each posting, infer its amount from the balance assignment if applicable, 
+  -- update the account's running balance and check the balance assertion if any
+  ps' <- forM ps $ \p -> pure (removePrices p) >>= addOrAssignAmountAndCheckAssertionB
+  -- infer any remaining missing amounts, and make sure the transaction is now fully balanced 
+  styles <- R.reader bsStyles
+  case balanceTransactionHelper styles t{tpostings=ps'} of
+    Left err -> throwError err 
+    Right (t', inferredacctsandamts) -> do
+      -- for each amount just inferred, update the running balance 
+      mapM_ (uncurry addAmountB) inferredacctsandamts
+      -- and save the balanced transaction.
+      storeTransactionB t' 
+
+-- | If this posting has an explicit amount, add it to the account's running balance.
+-- If it has a missing amount and a balance assignment, infer the amount from, and 
+-- reset the running balance to, the assigned balance.
+-- If it has a missing amount and no balance assignment, leave it for later.
+-- Then test the balance assertion if any.
+addOrAssignAmountAndCheckAssertionB :: Posting -> Balancing s Posting
+addOrAssignAmountAndCheckAssertionB p@Posting{paccount=acc, pamount=amt, pbalanceassertion=mba}
+  | hasAmount p = do
+      newbal <- addAmountB acc amt 
+      whenM (R.reader bsAssrt) $ checkBalanceAssertionB p newbal
+      return p
+  | Just BalanceAssertion{baamount,batotal} <- mba = do
+      (diff,newbal) <- case batotal of
+        True  -> do
+          -- a total balance assignment
+          let newbal = Mixed [baamount]
+          diff <- setAmountB acc newbal
+          return (diff,newbal)
+        False -> do
+          -- a partial balance assignment
+          oldbalothercommodities <- filterMixedAmount ((acommodity baamount /=) . acommodity) <$> getAmountB acc
+          let assignedbalthiscommodity = Mixed [baamount] 
+              newbal = oldbalothercommodities + assignedbalthiscommodity   
+          diff <- setAmountB acc newbal
+          return (diff,newbal)
+      let p' = p{pamount=diff, poriginal=Just $ originalPosting p}
+      whenM (R.reader bsAssrt) $ checkBalanceAssertionB p' newbal
+      return p'
+  -- no amount, no balance assertion (GHC 7 doesn't like Nothing <- mba here)
+  | otherwise = return p
+
+-- | Add the posting's amount to its account's running balance, and
+-- optionally check the posting's balance assertion if any.
+-- The posting is expected to have an explicit amount (otherwise this does nothing).
+-- Adding and checking balance assertions are tightly paired because we
+-- need to see the balance as it stands after each individual posting. 
+addAmountAndCheckAssertionB :: Posting -> Balancing s Posting
+addAmountAndCheckAssertionB p | hasAmount p = do
+  newbal <- addAmountB (paccount p) (pamount p)
+  whenM (R.reader bsAssrt) $ checkBalanceAssertionB p newbal
   return p
-addAmountAndCheckBalance fallback p = fallback p
+addAmountAndCheckAssertionB p = return p
 
--- | Sets all commodities comprising an account's balance to the given
--- amounts and returns the difference from the previous balance.
-setMixedBalance :: AccountName -> MixedAmount -> CurrentBalancesModifier s MixedAmount
-setMixedBalance acc amt = liftModifier $ \Env{ eBalances = bals } -> do
-  old <- HT.lookup bals acc
-  HT.insert bals acc amt
-  return $ maybe amt (amt -) old
+-- | Check a posting's balance assertion against the given actual balance, and
+-- return an error if the assertion is not satisfied.
+-- If the assertion is partial, unasserted commodities in the actual balance
+-- are ignored; if it is total, they will cause the assertion to fail.
+checkBalanceAssertionB :: Posting -> MixedAmount -> Balancing s ()
+checkBalanceAssertionB p@Posting{pbalanceassertion=Just (BalanceAssertion{baamount,batotal})} actualbal =
+  forM_ assertedamts $ \amt -> checkBalanceAssertionOneCommodityB p amt actualbal
+  where
+    assertedamts = baamount : otheramts
+      where
+        assertedcomm = acommodity baamount
+        otheramts | batotal   = map (\a -> a{aquantity=0}) $ amounts $ filterMixedAmount ((/=assertedcomm).acommodity) actualbal
+                  | otherwise = []
+checkBalanceAssertionB _ _ = return ()
 
--- | Adds an amount to an account's balance and returns the resulting balance.
-addToBalance :: AccountName -> MixedAmount -> CurrentBalancesModifier s MixedAmount
-addToBalance acc amt = liftModifier $ \Env{ eBalances = bals } -> do
-  new <- maybe amt (+ amt) <$> HT.lookup bals acc
-  HT.insert bals acc new
-  return new
+-- | Does this (single commodity) expected balance match the amount of that
+-- commodity in the given (multicommodity) actual balance ? If not, returns a
+-- balance assertion failure message based on the provided posting.  To match,
+-- the amounts must be exactly equal (display precision is ignored here).
+-- If the assertion is inclusive, the expected amount is compared with the account's
+-- subaccount-inclusive balance; otherwise, with the subaccount-exclusive balance.
+checkBalanceAssertionOneCommodityB :: Posting -> Amount -> MixedAmount -> Balancing s ()
+checkBalanceAssertionOneCommodityB p@Posting{paccount=assertedacct} assertedamt actualbal = do
+  let isinclusive = maybe False bainclusive $ pbalanceassertion p
+  actualbal' <- 
+    if isinclusive 
+    then 
+      -- sum the running balances of this account and any of its subaccounts seen so far 
+      withB $ \BalancingState{bsBalances} -> 
+        H.foldM 
+          (\ibal (acc, amt) -> return $ ibal + 
+            if assertedacct==acc || assertedacct `isAccountNamePrefixOf` acc then amt else 0)
+          0 
+          bsBalances
+    else return actualbal  
+  let
+    assertedcomm    = acommodity assertedamt
+    actualbalincomm = headDef 0 $ amounts $ filterMixedAmountByCommodity assertedcomm $ actualbal'
+    pass =
+      aquantity
+        -- traceWith (("asserted:"++).showAmountDebug)
+        assertedamt ==
+      aquantity
+        -- traceWith (("actual:"++).showAmountDebug)
+        actualbalincomm
 
--- | Stores a transaction in the transaction array in original parsing order.
-storeTransaction :: Transaction -> CurrentBalancesModifier s ()
-storeTransaction tx = liftModifier $ ($tx) . eStoreTx
+    errmsg = printf (unlines
+                  [ "balance assertion: %s",
+                    "\nassertion details:",
+                    "date:       %s",
+                    "account:    %s%s",
+                    "commodity:  %s",
+                    -- "display precision:  %d",
+                    "calculated: %s", -- (at display precision: %s)",
+                    "asserted:   %s", -- (at display precision: %s)",
+                    "difference: %s"
+                  ])
+      (case ptransaction p of
+         Nothing -> "?" -- shouldn't happen
+         Just t ->  printf "%s\ntransaction:\n%s"
+                      (showGenericSourcePos pos)
+                      (chomp $ showTransaction t)
+                      :: String
+                      where
+                        pos = baposition $ fromJust $ pbalanceassertion p
+      )
+      (showDate $ postingDate p)
+      (T.unpack $ paccount p) -- XXX pack
+      (if isinclusive then " (and subs)" else "" :: String)
+      assertedcomm
+      -- (asprecision $ astyle actualbalincommodity)  -- should be the standard display precision I think
+      (show $ aquantity actualbalincomm)
+      -- (showAmount actualbalincommodity)
+      (show $ aquantity assertedamt)
+      -- (showAmount assertedamt)
+      (show $ aquantity assertedamt - aquantity actualbalincomm)
 
--- | Helper function.
-liftModifier :: (Env s -> ST s a) -> CurrentBalancesModifier s a
-liftModifier f = R.ask >>= lift . lift . f
+  when (not pass) $ throwError errmsg
 
+-- | Throw an error if this posting is trying to do an illegal balance assignment.
+checkIllegalBalanceAssignmentB :: Posting -> Balancing s ()
+checkIllegalBalanceAssignmentB p = do 
+  checkBalanceAssignmentPostingDateB p
+  checkBalanceAssignmentUnassignableAccountB p
+  
+-- XXX these should show position. annotateErrorWithTransaction t ?
+
+-- | Throw an error if this posting is trying to do a balance assignment and
+-- has a custom posting date (which makes amount inference too hard/impossible).
+checkBalanceAssignmentPostingDateB :: Posting -> Balancing s ()
+checkBalanceAssignmentPostingDateB p =
+  when (hasBalanceAssignment p && isJust (pdate p)) $ 
+    throwError $ unlines $
+      ["postings which are balance assignments may not have a custom date."
+      ,"Please write the posting amount explicitly, or remove the posting date:"
+      ,""
+      ,maybe (unlines $ showPostingLines p) showTransaction $ ptransaction p
+      ]
+
+-- | Throw an error if this posting is trying to do a balance assignment and
+-- the account does not allow balance assignments (eg because it is referenced
+-- by a transaction modifier, which might generate additional postings to it).
+checkBalanceAssignmentUnassignableAccountB :: Posting -> Balancing s ()
+checkBalanceAssignmentUnassignableAccountB p = do
+  unassignable <- R.asks bsUnassignable
+  when (hasBalanceAssignment p && paccount p `S.member` unassignable) $
+    throwError $ unlines $
+      ["balance assignments cannot be used with accounts which are"
+      ,"posted to by transaction modifier rules (auto postings)."
+      ,"Please write the posting amount explicitly, or remove the rule."
+      ,""
+      ,"account: "++T.unpack (paccount p)
+      ,""
+      ,"transaction:"
+      ,""
+      ,maybe (unlines $ showPostingLines p) showTransaction $ ptransaction p
+      ]
+
+--
+
 -- | Choose and apply a consistent display format to the posting
 -- amounts in each commodity. Each commodity's format is specified by
 -- a commodity format directive, or otherwise inferred from posting
@@ -884,13 +929,12 @@
 -- That is: the style of the first, and the maximum precision of all.
 canonicalStyleFrom :: [AmountStyle] -> AmountStyle
 canonicalStyleFrom [] = amountstyle
-canonicalStyleFrom ss@(first:_) =
-  first{asprecision=prec, asdecimalpoint=mdec, asdigitgroups=mgrps}
+canonicalStyleFrom ss@(first:_) = first {asprecision = prec, asdecimalpoint = mdec, asdigitgroups = mgrps}
   where
-    mgrps = maybe Nothing Just $ headMay $ catMaybes $ map asdigitgroups ss
+    mgrps = headMay $ mapMaybe asdigitgroups ss
     -- precision is maximum of all precisions
     prec = maximumStrict $ map asprecision ss
-    mdec  = Just $ headDef '.' $ catMaybes $ map asdecimalpoint ss
+    mdec = Just $ headDef '.' $ mapMaybe asdecimalpoint ss
     -- precision is that of first amount with a decimal point
     -- (mdec, prec) =
     --   case filter (isJust . asdecimalpoint) ss of
@@ -993,7 +1037,7 @@
       latest   = maximumStrict dates
       dates    = pdates ++ tdates
       tdates   = map (if secondary then transactionDate2 else tdate) ts
-      pdates   = concatMap (catMaybes . map (if secondary then (Just . postingDate2) else pdate) . tpostings) ts
+      pdates   = concatMap (mapMaybe (if secondary then (Just . postingDate2) else pdate) . tpostings) ts
       ts       = jtxns j
 
 -- | Apply the pivot transformation to all postings in a journal,
@@ -1009,7 +1053,7 @@
 -- | Replace this posting's account name with the value
 -- of the given field or tag, if any, otherwise the empty string.
 postingPivot :: Text -> Posting -> Posting         
-postingPivot fieldortagname p = p{paccount = pivotedacct, porigin = Just $ originalPosting p}
+postingPivot fieldortagname p = p{paccount = pivotedacct, poriginal = Just $ originalPosting p}
   where
     pivotedacct
       | Just t <- ptransaction p, fieldortagname == "code"        = tcode t  
@@ -1205,6 +1249,61 @@
       ,test "equity"      $ expectEq (namesfrom journalEquityAccountQuery)    []
       ,test "income"      $ expectEq (namesfrom journalRevenueAccountQuery)    ["income","income:gifts","income:salary"]
       ,test "expenses"    $ expectEq (namesfrom journalExpenseAccountQuery)   ["expenses","expenses:food","expenses:supplies"]
+    ]
+
+  ,tests "journalBalanceTransactions" [
+
+     test "balance-assignment" $ do
+      let ej = journalBalanceTransactions True $
+            --2019/01/01
+            --  (a)            = 1
+            nulljournal{ jtxns = [
+              transaction "2019/01/01" [ vpost' "a" missingamt (balassert (num 1)) ]
+            ]}
+      expectRight ej
+      let Right j = ej
+      (jtxns j & head & tpostings & head & pamount) `is` Mixed [num 1]
+
+    ,test "same-day-1" $ do
+      expectRight $ journalBalanceTransactions True $
+            --2019/01/01
+            --  (a)            = 1
+            --2019/01/01
+            --  (a)          1 = 2
+            nulljournal{ jtxns = [
+               transaction "2019/01/01" [ vpost' "a" missingamt (balassert (num 1)) ]
+              ,transaction "2019/01/01" [ vpost' "a" (num 1)    (balassert (num 2)) ]
+            ]}
+
+    ,test "same-day-2" $ do
+      expectRight $ journalBalanceTransactions True $
+            --2019/01/01
+            --    (a)                  2 = 2
+            --2019/01/01
+            --    b                    1
+            --    a
+            --2019/01/01
+            --    a                    0 = 1
+            nulljournal{ jtxns = [
+               transaction "2019/01/01" [ vpost' "a" (num 2)    (balassert (num 2)) ]
+              ,transaction "2019/01/01" [
+                 post' "b" (num 1)     Nothing  
+                ,post' "a"  missingamt Nothing  
+              ]
+              ,transaction "2019/01/01" [ post' "a" (num 0)     (balassert (num 1)) ]
+            ]}
+
+    ,test "out-of-order" $ do
+      expectRight $ journalBalanceTransactions True $
+            --2019/1/2
+            --  (a)    1 = 2
+            --2019/1/1
+            --  (a)    1 = 1
+            nulljournal{ jtxns = [
+               transaction "2019/01/02" [ vpost' "a" (num 1)    (balassert (num 2)) ]
+              ,transaction "2019/01/01" [ vpost' "a" (num 1)    (balassert (num 1)) ]
+            ]}
+
     ]
 
   ]
diff --git a/Hledger/Data/Ledger.hs b/Hledger/Data/Ledger.hs
--- a/Hledger/Data/Ledger.hs
+++ b/Hledger/Data/Ledger.hs
@@ -107,12 +107,13 @@
 
 -- tests
 
-tests_Ledger = tests "Ledger" [
-
-  tests "ledgerFromJournal" [
-     (length $ ledgerPostings $ ledgerFromJournal Any nulljournal) `is` 0
-    ,(length $ ledgerPostings $ ledgerFromJournal Any samplejournal) `is` 13
-    ,(length $ ledgerPostings $ ledgerFromJournal (Depth 2) samplejournal) `is` 7
-  ]
-
- ]
+tests_Ledger =
+  tests
+    "Ledger"
+    [ tests
+        "ledgerFromJournal"
+        [ length (ledgerPostings $ ledgerFromJournal Any nulljournal) `is` 0
+        , length (ledgerPostings $ ledgerFromJournal Any samplejournal) `is` 13
+        , length (ledgerPostings $ ledgerFromJournal (Depth 2) samplejournal) `is` 7
+        ]
+    ]
diff --git a/Hledger/Data/MarketPrice.hs b/Hledger/Data/MarketPrice.hs
--- a/Hledger/Data/MarketPrice.hs
+++ b/Hledger/Data/MarketPrice.hs
@@ -8,8 +8,6 @@
 
 -}
 
-{-# LANGUAGE OverloadedStrings, LambdaCase #-}
-
 module Hledger.Data.MarketPrice
 where
 import qualified Data.Text as T
diff --git a/Hledger/Data/PeriodicTransaction.hs b/Hledger/Data/PeriodicTransaction.hs
--- a/Hledger/Data/PeriodicTransaction.hs
+++ b/Hledger/Data/PeriodicTransaction.hs
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 {-# LANGUAGE CPP #-}
 {-# LANGUAGE OverloadedStrings #-}
 {-# LANGUAGE RecordWildCards #-}
-{-# LANGUAGE StandaloneDeriving #-}
 {-|
 
 A 'PeriodicTransaction' is a rule describing recurring transactions.
diff --git a/Hledger/Data/Posting.hs b/Hledger/Data/Posting.hs
--- a/Hledger/Data/Posting.hs
+++ b/Hledger/Data/Posting.hs
@@ -15,9 +15,16 @@
   nullposting,
   posting,
   post,
+  vpost,
+  post',
+  vpost',
   nullsourcepos,
   nullassertion,
   assertion,
+  balassert,
+  balassertTot,
+  balassertParInc,
+  balassertTotInc,
   -- * operations
   originalPosting,
   postingStatus,
@@ -25,7 +32,7 @@
   isVirtual,
   isBalancedVirtual,
   isEmptyPosting,
-  isAssignment,
+  hasBalanceAssignment,
   hasAmount,
   postingAllTags,
   transactionAllTags,
@@ -66,7 +73,6 @@
 #if !(MIN_VERSION_base(4,11,0))
 import Data.Monoid
 #endif
-import Data.Ord
 import Data.Text (Text)
 import qualified Data.Text as T
 import Data.Time.Calendar
@@ -92,27 +98,59 @@
                 ,ptags=[]
                 ,pbalanceassertion=Nothing
                 ,ptransaction=Nothing
-                ,porigin=Nothing
+                ,poriginal=Nothing
                 }
 posting = nullposting
 
+-- constructors
+
+-- | Make a posting to an account.
 post :: AccountName -> Amount -> Posting
-post acct amt = posting {paccount=acct, pamount=Mixed [amt]}
+post acc amt = posting {paccount=acc, pamount=Mixed [amt]}
 
+-- | Make a virtual (unbalanced) posting to an account.
+vpost :: AccountName -> Amount -> Posting
+vpost acc amt = (post acc amt){ptype=VirtualPosting}
+
+-- | Make a posting to an account, maybe with a balance assertion.
+post' :: AccountName -> Amount -> Maybe BalanceAssertion -> Posting
+post' acc amt ass = posting {paccount=acc, pamount=Mixed [amt], pbalanceassertion=ass}
+
+-- | Make a virtual (unbalanced) posting to an account, maybe with a balance assertion.
+vpost' :: AccountName -> Amount -> Maybe BalanceAssertion -> Posting
+vpost' acc amt ass = (post' acc amt ass){ptype=VirtualPosting, pbalanceassertion=ass}
+
 nullsourcepos :: GenericSourcePos
 nullsourcepos = JournalSourcePos "" (1,1)
 
 nullassertion, assertion :: BalanceAssertion
 nullassertion = BalanceAssertion
                   {baamount=nullamt
-                  ,baexact=False
+                  ,batotal=False
+                  ,bainclusive=False
                   ,baposition=nullsourcepos
                   }
 assertion = nullassertion
 
+-- | Make a partial, exclusive balance assertion.
+balassert :: Amount -> Maybe BalanceAssertion
+balassert amt = Just $ nullassertion{baamount=amt}
+
+-- | Make a total, exclusive balance assertion.
+balassertTot :: Amount -> Maybe BalanceAssertion
+balassertTot amt = Just $ nullassertion{baamount=amt, batotal=True}
+
+-- | Make a partial, inclusive balance assertion.
+balassertParInc :: Amount -> Maybe BalanceAssertion
+balassertParInc amt = Just $ nullassertion{baamount=amt, bainclusive=True}
+
+-- | Make a total, inclusive balance assertion.
+balassertTotInc :: Amount -> Maybe BalanceAssertion
+balassertTotInc amt = Just $ nullassertion{baamount=amt, batotal=True, bainclusive=True}
+
 -- Get the original posting, if any.
 originalPosting :: Posting -> Posting
-originalPosting p = fromMaybe p $ porigin p
+originalPosting p = fromMaybe p $ poriginal p
 
 -- XXX once rendered user output, but just for debugging now; clean up
 showPosting :: Posting -> String
@@ -144,8 +182,8 @@
 hasAmount :: Posting -> Bool
 hasAmount = (/= missingmixedamt) . pamount
 
-isAssignment :: Posting -> Bool
-isAssignment p = not (hasAmount p) && isJust (pbalanceassertion p)
+hasBalanceAssignment :: Posting -> Bool
+hasBalanceAssignment p = not (hasAmount p) && isJust (pbalanceassertion p)
 
 -- | Sorted unique account names referenced by these postings.
 accountNamesFromPostings :: [Posting] -> [AccountName]
@@ -176,7 +214,7 @@
   where dates = [pdate2 p
                 ,maybe Nothing tdate2 $ ptransaction p
                 ,pdate p
-                ,maybe Nothing (Just . tdate) $ ptransaction p
+                ,fmap tdate (ptransaction p)
                 ]
 
 -- | Get a posting's status. This is cleared or pending if those are
@@ -237,14 +275,14 @@
 postingsDateSpan :: [Posting] -> DateSpan
 postingsDateSpan [] = DateSpan Nothing Nothing
 postingsDateSpan ps = DateSpan (Just $ postingDate $ head ps') (Just $ addDays 1 $ postingDate $ last ps')
-    where ps' = sortBy (comparing postingDate) ps
+    where ps' = sortOn postingDate ps
 
 -- --date2-sensitive version, as above.
 postingsDateSpan' :: WhichDate -> [Posting] -> DateSpan
 postingsDateSpan' _  [] = DateSpan Nothing Nothing
 postingsDateSpan' wd ps = DateSpan (Just $ postingdate $ head ps') (Just $ addDays 1 $ postingdate $ last ps')
     where
-      ps' = sortBy (comparing postingdate) ps
+      ps' = sortOn postingdate ps
       postingdate = if wd == PrimaryDate then postingDate else postingDate2
 
 -- AccountName stuff that depends on PostingType
diff --git a/Hledger/Data/RawOptions.hs b/Hledger/Data/RawOptions.hs
--- a/Hledger/Data/RawOptions.hs
+++ b/Hledger/Data/RawOptions.hs
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
 boolopt = inRawOpts
 
 maybestringopt :: String -> RawOpts -> Maybe String
-maybestringopt name = maybe Nothing (Just . T.unpack . stripquotes . T.pack) . lookup name . reverse
+maybestringopt name = fmap (T.unpack . stripquotes . T.pack) . lookup name . reverse
 
 stringopt :: String -> RawOpts -> String
 stringopt name = fromMaybe "" . maybestringopt name
diff --git a/Hledger/Data/StringFormat.hs b/Hledger/Data/StringFormat.hs
--- a/Hledger/Data/StringFormat.hs
+++ b/Hledger/Data/StringFormat.hs
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@
     s <- some c
     return $ FormatLiteral s
     where
-      isPrintableButNotPercentage x = isPrint x && (not $ x == '%')
+      isPrintableButNotPercentage x = isPrint x && x /= '%'
       c =     (satisfy isPrintableButNotPercentage <?> "printable character")
           <|> try (string "%%" >> return '%')
 
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@
     <|> try (string "date" >> return DescriptionField)
     <|> try (string "description" >> return DescriptionField)
     <|> try (string "total" >> return TotalField)
-    <|> try (some digitChar >>= (\s -> return $ FieldNo $ read s))
+    <|> try ((FieldNo . read) <$> some digitChar)
 
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/Hledger/Data/Timeclock.hs b/Hledger/Data/Timeclock.hs
--- a/Hledger/Data/Timeclock.hs
+++ b/Hledger/Data/Timeclock.hs
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@
       (idate,odate) = (localDay itime,localDay otime)
       o' = o{tldatetime=itime{localDay=idate, localTimeOfDay=TimeOfDay 23 59 59}}
       i' = i{tldatetime=itime{localDay=addDays 1 idate, localTimeOfDay=midnight}}
+{- HLINT ignore timeclockEntriesToTransactions -}
 
 -- | Convert a timeclock clockin and clockout entry to an equivalent journal
 -- transaction, representing the time expenditure. Note this entry is  not balanced,
diff --git a/Hledger/Data/Transaction.hs b/Hledger/Data/Transaction.hs
--- a/Hledger/Data/Transaction.hs
+++ b/Hledger/Data/Transaction.hs
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-{-# LANGUAGE FlexibleContexts #-}
 {-|
 
 A 'Transaction' represents a movement of some commodity(ies) between two
@@ -8,11 +7,16 @@
 
 -}
 
-{-# LANGUAGE OverloadedStrings, LambdaCase #-}
+{-# LANGUAGE FlexibleContexts #-}
+{-# LANGUAGE LambdaCase #-}
+{-# LANGUAGE OverloadedStrings #-}
+{-# LANGUAGE Rank2Types #-}
+{-# LANGUAGE RecordWildCards #-}
 
 module Hledger.Data.Transaction (
   -- * Transaction
   nulltransaction,
+  transaction,
   txnTieKnot,
   txnUntieKnot,
   -- * operations
@@ -24,13 +28,13 @@
   balancedVirtualPostings,
   transactionsPostings,
   isTransactionBalanced,
+  balanceTransaction,
+  balanceTransactionHelper,
   -- nonzerobalanceerror,
   -- * date operations
   transactionDate2,
   -- * arithmetic
   transactionPostingBalances,
-  balanceTransaction,
-  balanceTransactionUpdate,
   -- * rendering
   showTransaction,
   showTransactionUnelided,
@@ -41,13 +45,12 @@
   sourceFilePath,
   sourceFirstLine,
   showGenericSourcePos,
+  annotateErrorWithTransaction,
   -- * tests
   tests_Transaction
 )
 where
 import Data.List
-import Control.Monad.Except
-import Control.Monad.Identity
 import Data.Maybe
 import Data.Text (Text)
 import qualified Data.Text as T
@@ -93,6 +96,10 @@
                     tprecedingcomment=""
                   }
 
+-- | Make a simple transaction with the given date and postings.
+transaction :: String -> [Posting] -> Transaction 
+transaction datestr ps = txnTieKnot $ nulltransaction{tdate=parsedate datestr, tpostings=ps}
+
 {-|
 Render a journal transaction as text in the style of Ledger's print command. 
 
@@ -192,9 +199,9 @@
 -- 
 postingsAsLines :: Bool -> Bool -> Transaction -> [Posting] -> [String]
 postingsAsLines elide onelineamounts t ps
-    | elide && length ps > 1 && all hasAmount ps && isTransactionBalanced Nothing t -- imprecise balanced check
-       = (concatMap (postingAsLines False onelineamounts ps) $ init ps) ++ postingAsLines True onelineamounts ps (last ps)
-    | otherwise = concatMap (postingAsLines False onelineamounts ps) ps
+  | elide && length ps > 1 && all hasAmount ps && isTransactionBalanced Nothing t -- imprecise balanced check
+   = concatMap (postingAsLines False onelineamounts ps) (init ps) ++ postingAsLines True onelineamounts ps (last ps)
+  | otherwise = concatMap (postingAsLines False onelineamounts ps) ps
 
 -- | Render one posting, on one or more lines, suitable for `print` output.  
 -- There will be an indented account name, plus one or more of status flag,
@@ -222,7 +229,7 @@
     | postingblock <- postingblocks]
   where
     postingblocks = [map rstrip $ lines $ concatTopPadded [statusandaccount, "  ", amount, assertion, samelinecomment] | amount <- shownAmounts]
-    assertion = maybe "" ((" = " ++) . showAmountWithZeroCommodity . baamount) $ pbalanceassertion p
+    assertion = maybe "" ((' ':).showBalanceAssertion) $ pbalanceassertion p 
     statusandaccount = indent $ fitString (Just $ minwidth) Nothing False True $ pstatusandacct p
         where
           -- pad to the maximum account name width, plus 2 to leave room for status flags, to keep amounts aligned  
@@ -246,6 +253,10 @@
       case renderCommentLines (pcomment p) of []   -> ("",[])
                                               c:cs -> (c,cs)
 
+-- | Render a balance assertion, as the =[=][*] symbol and expected amount. 
+showBalanceAssertion BalanceAssertion{..} = 
+  "=" ++ ['=' | batotal] ++ ['*' | bainclusive] ++ " " ++ showAmountWithZeroCommodity baamount
+
 -- | Render a posting, simply. Used in balance assertion errors.
 -- showPostingLine p =
 --   indent $
@@ -291,7 +302,7 @@
 realPostings = filter isReal . tpostings
 
 assignmentPostings :: Transaction -> [Posting]
-assignmentPostings = filter isAssignment . tpostings
+assignmentPostings = filter hasBalanceAssignment . tpostings
 
 virtualPostings :: Transaction -> [Posting]
 virtualPostings = filter isVirtual . tpostings
@@ -300,7 +311,7 @@
 balancedVirtualPostings = filter isBalancedVirtual . tpostings
 
 transactionsPostings :: [Transaction] -> [Posting]
-transactionsPostings = concat . map tpostings
+transactionsPostings = concatMap tpostings
 
 -- | Get the sums of a transaction's real, virtual, and balanced virtual postings.
 transactionPostingBalances :: Transaction -> (MixedAmount,MixedAmount,MixedAmount)
@@ -324,34 +335,40 @@
       bvsum' = canonicalise $ costOfMixedAmount bvsum
       canonicalise = maybe id canonicaliseMixedAmount styles
 
--- | Ensure this transaction is balanced, possibly inferring a missing
--- amount or conversion price(s), or return an error message.
--- Balancing is affected by commodity display precisions, so those can
--- (optionally) be provided.
--- 
--- this fails for example, if there are several missing amounts
--- (possibly with balance assignments)
-balanceTransaction :: Maybe (Map.Map CommoditySymbol AmountStyle)
-                   -> Transaction -> Either String Transaction
-balanceTransaction stylemap = runIdentity . runExceptT
-  . balanceTransactionUpdate (\_ _ -> return ()) stylemap
+-- | Balance this transaction, ensuring that its postings 
+-- (and its balanced virtual postings) sum to 0,
+-- by inferring a missing amount or conversion price(s) if needed. 
+-- Or if balancing is not possible, because the amounts don't sum to 0 or
+-- because there's more than one missing amount, return an error message.
+--
+-- Transactions with balance assignments can have more than one
+-- missing amount; to balance those you should use the more powerful  
+-- journalBalanceTransactions.
+--
+-- The "sum to 0" test is done using commodity display precisions,
+-- if provided, so that the result agrees with the numbers users can see.
+--
+balanceTransaction ::
+     Maybe (Map.Map CommoditySymbol AmountStyle)  -- ^ commodity display styles
+  -> Transaction
+  -> Either String Transaction
+balanceTransaction mstyles = fmap fst . balanceTransactionHelper mstyles 
 
+-- | Helper used by balanceTransaction and balanceTransactionWithBalanceAssignmentAndCheckAssertionsB;
+-- use one of those instead. It also returns a list of accounts 
+-- and amounts that were inferred.
+balanceTransactionHelper ::
+     Maybe (Map.Map CommoditySymbol AmountStyle)  -- ^ commodity display styles
+  -> Transaction
+  -> Either String (Transaction, [(AccountName, MixedAmount)])
+balanceTransactionHelper mstyles t = do
+  (t', inferredamtsandaccts) <- 
+    inferBalancingAmount (fromMaybe Map.empty mstyles) $ inferBalancingPrices t 
+  if isTransactionBalanced mstyles t'
+  then Right (txnTieKnot t', inferredamtsandaccts)
+  else Left $ annotateErrorWithTransaction t' $ nonzerobalanceerror t'
 
--- | More general version of 'balanceTransaction' that takes an update
--- function
-balanceTransactionUpdate :: MonadError String m
-  => (AccountName -> MixedAmount -> m ())
-     -- ^ update function
-  -> Maybe (Map.Map CommoditySymbol AmountStyle)
-  -> Transaction -> m Transaction
-balanceTransactionUpdate update mstyles t =
-  (finalize =<< inferBalancingAmount update (fromMaybe Map.empty mstyles) t)
-    `catchError` (throwError . annotateErrorWithTxn t)
   where
-    finalize t' = let t'' = inferBalancingPrices t'
-                  in if isTransactionBalanced mstyles t''
-                     then return $ txnTieKnot t''
-                     else throwError $ nonzerobalanceerror t''
     nonzerobalanceerror :: Transaction -> String
     nonzerobalanceerror t = printf "could not balance this transaction (%s%s%s)" rmsg sep bvmsg
         where
@@ -364,46 +381,53 @@
                   ++ showMixedAmount (costOfMixedAmount bvsum)
           sep = if not (null rmsg) && not (null bvmsg) then "; " else "" :: String
 
-    annotateErrorWithTxn t e = intercalate "\n" [showGenericSourcePos $ tsourcepos t, e, showTransactionUnelided t]
+annotateErrorWithTransaction :: Transaction -> String -> String
+annotateErrorWithTransaction t s = intercalate "\n" [showGenericSourcePos $ tsourcepos t, s, showTransactionUnelided t]    
 
 -- | Infer up to one missing amount for this transactions's real postings, and
 -- likewise for its balanced virtual postings, if needed; or return an error
--- message if we can't.
+-- message if we can't. Returns the updated transaction and any inferred posting amounts,
+-- with the corresponding accounts, in order).
 --
 -- We can infer a missing amount when there are multiple postings and exactly
 -- one of them is amountless. If the amounts had price(s) the inferred amount
 -- have the same price(s), and will be converted to the price commodity.
-inferBalancingAmount :: MonadError String m =>
-                        (AccountName -> MixedAmount -> m ()) -- ^ update function
-                     -> Map.Map CommoditySymbol AmountStyle  -- ^ standard amount styles
-                     -> Transaction
-                     -> m Transaction
-inferBalancingAmount update styles t@Transaction{tpostings=ps}
+inferBalancingAmount :: 
+     Map.Map CommoditySymbol AmountStyle -- ^ commodity display styles
+  -> Transaction
+  -> Either String (Transaction, [(AccountName, MixedAmount)])
+inferBalancingAmount styles t@Transaction{tpostings=ps}
   | length amountlessrealps > 1
-      = throwError "could not balance this transaction - can't have more than one real posting with no amount (remember to put 2 or more spaces before amounts)"
+      = Left $ annotateErrorWithTransaction t "could not balance this transaction - can't have more than one real posting with no amount (remember to put 2 or more spaces before amounts)"
   | length amountlessbvps > 1
-      = throwError "could not balance this transaction - can't have more than one balanced virtual posting with no amount (remember to put 2 or more spaces before amounts)"
+      = Left $ annotateErrorWithTransaction t "could not balance this transaction - can't have more than one balanced virtual posting with no amount (remember to put 2 or more spaces before amounts)"
   | otherwise
-      = do postings <- mapM inferamount ps
-           return t{tpostings=postings}
+      = let psandinferredamts = map inferamount ps
+            inferredacctsandamts = [(paccount p, amt) | (p, Just amt) <- psandinferredamts]
+        in Right (t{tpostings=map fst psandinferredamts}, inferredacctsandamts)
   where
     (amountfulrealps, amountlessrealps) = partition hasAmount (realPostings t)
     realsum = sumStrict $ map pamount amountfulrealps
     (amountfulbvps, amountlessbvps) = partition hasAmount (balancedVirtualPostings t)
     bvsum = sumStrict $ map pamount amountfulbvps
-    inferamount p@Posting{ptype=RegularPosting}
-     | not (hasAmount p) = updateAmount p realsum
-    inferamount p@Posting{ptype=BalancedVirtualPosting}
-     | not (hasAmount p) = updateAmount p bvsum
-    inferamount p = return p
-    updateAmount p amt = 
-      update (paccount p) amt' >> return p { pamount=amt', porigin=Just $ originalPosting p }
-      where
-        -- Inferred amounts are converted to cost.
-        -- Also, ensure the new amount has the standard style for its commodity  
-        -- (the main amount styling pass happened before this balancing pass).   
-        amt' = styleMixedAmount styles $ normaliseMixedAmount $ costOfMixedAmount (-amt)
 
+    inferamount :: Posting -> (Posting, Maybe MixedAmount)
+    inferamount p =
+      let
+        minferredamt = case ptype p of
+          RegularPosting         | not (hasAmount p) -> Just realsum 
+          BalancedVirtualPosting | not (hasAmount p) -> Just bvsum 
+          _                                          -> Nothing 
+      in
+        case minferredamt of
+          Nothing -> (p, Nothing)
+          Just a  -> (p{pamount=a', poriginal=Just $ originalPosting p}, Just a') 
+            where
+              -- Inferred amounts are converted to cost.
+              -- Also ensure the new amount has the standard style for its commodity  
+              -- (since the main amount styling pass happened before this balancing pass);
+              a' = styleMixedAmount styles $ normaliseMixedAmount $ costOfMixedAmount (-a)
+
 -- | Infer prices for this transaction's posting amounts, if needed to make
 -- the postings balance, and if possible. This is done once for the real
 -- postings and again (separately) for the balanced virtual postings. When
@@ -445,9 +469,7 @@
 inferBalancingPrices :: Transaction -> Transaction
 inferBalancingPrices t@Transaction{tpostings=ps} = t{tpostings=ps'}
   where
-    ps' = map (priceInferrerFor t BalancedVirtualPosting) $
-          map (priceInferrerFor t RegularPosting) $
-          ps
+    ps' = map (priceInferrerFor t BalancedVirtualPosting . priceInferrerFor t RegularPosting) ps
 
 -- | Generate a posting update function which assigns a suitable balancing
 -- price to the posting, if and as appropriate for the given transaction and
@@ -466,7 +488,7 @@
 
     inferprice p@Posting{pamount=Mixed [a]}
       | caninferprices && ptype p == pt && acommodity a == fromcommodity
-        = p{pamount=Mixed [a{aprice=conversionprice}], porigin=Just $ originalPosting p}
+        = p{pamount=Mixed [a{aprice=conversionprice}], poriginal=Just $ originalPosting p}
       where
         fromcommodity = head $ filter (`elem` sumcommodities) pcommodities -- these heads are ugly but should be safe
         conversionprice
@@ -478,7 +500,7 @@
             tocommodity   = head $ filter (/=fromcommodity) sumcommodities
             toamount      = head $ filter ((==tocommodity).acommodity) sumamounts
             unitprice     = (aquantity fromamount) `divideAmount` toamount
-            unitprecision = max 2 ((asprecision $ astyle $ toamount) + (asprecision $ astyle $ fromamount))
+            unitprecision = max 2 (asprecision (astyle toamount) + asprecision (astyle fromamount))
     inferprice p = p
 
 -- Get a transaction's secondary date, defaulting to the primary date.
@@ -502,371 +524,492 @@
 
 -- tests
 
-tests_Transaction = tests "Transaction" [
-
-  tests "showTransactionUnelided" [
-     showTransactionUnelided nulltransaction `is` "0000/01/01\n\n"
-    ,showTransactionUnelided nulltransaction{
-      tdate=parsedate "2012/05/14",
-      tdate2=Just $ parsedate "2012/05/15",
-      tstatus=Unmarked,
-      tcode="code",
-      tdescription="desc",
-      tcomment="tcomment1\ntcomment2\n",
-      ttags=[("ttag1","val1")],
-      tpostings=[
-        nullposting{
-          pstatus=Cleared,
-          paccount="a",
-          pamount=Mixed [usd 1, hrs 2],
-          pcomment="\npcomment2\n",
-          ptype=RegularPosting,
-          ptags=[("ptag1","val1"),("ptag2","val2")]
-          }
-       ]
-      }
-      `is` unlines [
-      "2012/05/14=2012/05/15 (code) desc    ; tcomment1",
-      "    ; tcomment2",
-      "    * a         $1.00",
-      "    ; pcomment2",
-      "    * a         2.00h",
-      "    ; pcomment2",
-      ""
-      ]
-    ]
-
-  ,tests "postingAsLines" [
-    postingAsLines False False [posting] posting `is` [""]
-    ,let p = posting{
-      pstatus=Cleared,
-      paccount="a",
-      pamount=Mixed [usd 1, hrs 2],
-      pcomment="pcomment1\npcomment2\n  tag3: val3  \n",
-      ptype=RegularPosting,
-      ptags=[("ptag1","val1"),("ptag2","val2")]
-      }
-     in postingAsLines False False [p] p `is`
-      [
-      "    * a         $1.00    ; pcomment1",
-      "    ; pcomment2",
-      "    ;   tag3: val3  ",
-      "    * a         2.00h    ; pcomment1",
-      "    ; pcomment2",
-      "    ;   tag3: val3  "
-      ]
-    ]
-
+tests_Transaction =
+  tests
+    "Transaction"
+    [ tests
+        "showTransactionUnelided"
+        [ showTransactionUnelided nulltransaction `is` "0000/01/01\n\n"
+        , showTransactionUnelided
+            nulltransaction
+              { tdate = parsedate "2012/05/14"
+              , tdate2 = Just $ parsedate "2012/05/15"
+              , tstatus = Unmarked
+              , tcode = "code"
+              , tdescription = "desc"
+              , tcomment = "tcomment1\ntcomment2\n"
+              , ttags = [("ttag1", "val1")]
+              , tpostings =
+                  [ nullposting
+                      { pstatus = Cleared
+                      , paccount = "a"
+                      , pamount = Mixed [usd 1, hrs 2]
+                      , pcomment = "\npcomment2\n"
+                      , ptype = RegularPosting
+                      , ptags = [("ptag1", "val1"), ("ptag2", "val2")]
+                      }
+                  ]
+              } `is`
+          unlines
+            [ "2012/05/14=2012/05/15 (code) desc    ; tcomment1"
+            , "    ; tcomment2"
+            , "    * a         $1.00"
+            , "    ; pcomment2"
+            , "    * a         2.00h"
+            , "    ; pcomment2"
+            , ""
+            ]
+        ]
+    , tests
+        "postingAsLines"
+        [ postingAsLines False False [posting] posting `is` [""]
+        , let p =
+                posting
+                  { pstatus = Cleared
+                  , paccount = "a"
+                  , pamount = Mixed [usd 1, hrs 2]
+                  , pcomment = "pcomment1\npcomment2\n  tag3: val3  \n"
+                  , ptype = RegularPosting
+                  , ptags = [("ptag1", "val1"), ("ptag2", "val2")]
+                  }
+           in postingAsLines False False [p] p `is`
+              [ "    * a         $1.00    ; pcomment1"
+              , "    ; pcomment2"
+              , "    ;   tag3: val3  "
+              , "    * a         2.00h    ; pcomment1"
+              , "    ; pcomment2"
+              , "    ;   tag3: val3  "
+              ]
+        ]
    -- postingsAsLines
-  ,let
     -- one implicit amount 
-    timp = nulltransaction{tpostings=[
-            "a" `post` usd 1,
-            "b" `post` missingamt
-            ]}
+    , let timp = nulltransaction {tpostings = ["a" `post` usd 1, "b" `post` missingamt]}
     -- explicit amounts, balanced
-    texp = nulltransaction{tpostings=[
-            "a" `post` usd 1,
-            "b" `post` usd (-1)
-            ]} 
+          texp = nulltransaction {tpostings = ["a" `post` usd 1, "b" `post` usd (-1)]}
     -- explicit amount, only one posting
-    texp1 = nulltransaction{tpostings=[
-            "(a)" `post` usd 1
-            ]}
+          texp1 = nulltransaction {tpostings = ["(a)" `post` usd 1]}
     -- explicit amounts, two commodities, explicit balancing price
-    texp2 = nulltransaction{tpostings=[
-            "a" `post` usd 1,
-            "b" `post` (hrs (-1) `at` usd 1)
-            ]} 
+          texp2 = nulltransaction {tpostings = ["a" `post` usd 1, "b" `post` (hrs (-1) `at` usd 1)]}
     -- explicit amounts, two commodities, implicit balancing price
-    texp2b = nulltransaction{tpostings=[
-            "a" `post` usd 1,
-            "b" `post` hrs (-1)
-            ]}
+          texp2b = nulltransaction {tpostings = ["a" `post` usd 1, "b" `post` hrs (-1)]}
     -- one missing amount, not the last one
-    t3 = nulltransaction{tpostings=[
-         "a" `post` usd 1
-        ,"b" `post` missingamt
-        ,"c" `post` usd (-1)
-        ]}
+          t3 = nulltransaction {tpostings = ["a" `post` usd 1, "b" `post` missingamt, "c" `post` usd (-1)]}
     -- unbalanced amounts when precision is limited (#931)
-    t4 = nulltransaction{tpostings=[
-         "a" `post` usd (-0.01)
-        ,"b" `post` usd (0.005)
-        ,"c" `post` usd (0.005)
-        ]}
-  in
-    tests "postingsAsLines" [
-
-     test "null-transaction" $
-      let t = nulltransaction
-      in postingsAsLines True False t (tpostings t) `is` []
-
-    ,test "implicit-amount-elide-false" $
-      let t = timp in postingsAsLines False False t (tpostings t) `is` [
-           "    a           $1.00" 
-          ,"    b"                  -- implicit amount remains implicit
-          ]
-
-    ,test "implicit-amount-elide-true" $
-      let t = timp in postingsAsLines True False t (tpostings t) `is` [
-           "    a           $1.00" 
-          ,"    b"                  -- implicit amount remains implicit
-          ]
-
-    ,test "explicit-amounts-elide-false" $
-      let t = texp in postingsAsLines False False t (tpostings t) `is` [
-           "    a           $1.00" 
-          ,"    b          $-1.00"  -- both amounts remain explicit
-          ]
-
-    ,test "explicit-amounts-elide-true" $
-      let t = texp in postingsAsLines True False t (tpostings t) `is` [
-           "    a           $1.00" 
-          ,"    b"                  -- explicit amount is made implicit
-          ]
-
-    ,test "one-explicit-amount-elide-true" $
-      let t = texp1 in postingsAsLines True False t (tpostings t) `is` [
-           "    (a)           $1.00"  -- explicit amount remains explicit since only one posting 
-          ]
-
-    ,test "explicit-amounts-two-commodities-elide-true" $
-      let t = texp2 in postingsAsLines True False t (tpostings t) `is` [
-           "    a             $1.00" 
-          ,"    b"                    -- explicit amount is made implicit since txn is explicitly balanced
-          ]
-
-    ,test "explicit-amounts-not-explicitly-balanced-elide-true" $
-      let t = texp2b in postingsAsLines True False t (tpostings t) `is` [
-           "    a           $1.00" 
-          ,"    b          -1.00h"    -- explicit amount remains explicit since a conversion price would have be inferred to balance
-          ]
-
-    ,test "implicit-amount-not-last" $
-      let t = t3 in postingsAsLines True False t (tpostings t) `is` [
-           "    a           $1.00" 
-          ,"    b"
-          ,"    c          $-1.00"
-          ]
-
-    ,_test "ensure-visibly-balanced" $
-      let t = t4 in postingsAsLines False False t (tpostings t) `is` [
-           "    a          $-0.01"
-          ,"    b           $0.005"
-          ,"    c           $0.005"
-          ]
-
-   ]
-
-  ,do
-    let inferTransaction :: Transaction -> Either String Transaction
-        inferTransaction = runIdentity . runExceptT . inferBalancingAmount (\_ _ -> return ()) Map.empty
-    tests "inferBalancingAmount" [ 
-       inferTransaction nulltransaction `is` Right nulltransaction
-      ,inferTransaction nulltransaction{
-        tpostings=[
-          "a" `post` usd (-5),
-          "b" `post` missingamt
-        ]}
-      `is` Right
-        nulltransaction{
-          tpostings=[
-            "a" `post` usd (-5),
-            "b" `post` usd 5
-          ]}
-      ,inferTransaction nulltransaction{
-        tpostings=[
-          "a" `post` usd (-5),
-          "b" `post` (eur 3 @@ usd 4),
-          "c" `post` missingamt
-        ]}
-      `is` Right
-        nulltransaction{
-          tpostings=[
-            "a" `post` usd (-5),
-            "b" `post` (eur 3 @@ usd 4),
-            "c" `post` usd 1
-          ]}
-      ]
-
-  ,tests "showTransaction" [
-     test "show a balanced transaction, eliding last amount" $
-       let t = Transaction 0 "" nullsourcepos (parsedate "2007/01/28") Nothing Unmarked "" "coopportunity" "" []
-                [posting{paccount="expenses:food:groceries", pamount=Mixed [usd 47.18], ptransaction=Just t}
-                ,posting{paccount="assets:checking", pamount=Mixed [usd (-47.18)], ptransaction=Just t}
-                ]
-       in 
-        showTransaction t
-         `is`
-         unlines
-          ["2007/01/28 coopportunity"
-          ,"    expenses:food:groceries          $47.18"
-          ,"    assets:checking"
-          ,""
-          ]
-
-    ,test "show a balanced transaction, no eliding" $
-       (let t = Transaction 0 "" nullsourcepos (parsedate "2007/01/28") Nothing Unmarked "" "coopportunity" "" []
-                [posting{paccount="expenses:food:groceries", pamount=Mixed [usd 47.18], ptransaction=Just t}
-                ,posting{paccount="assets:checking", pamount=Mixed [usd (-47.18)], ptransaction=Just t}
-                ]
-        in showTransactionUnelided t)
-       `is`
-       (unlines
-        ["2007/01/28 coopportunity"
-        ,"    expenses:food:groceries          $47.18"
-        ,"    assets:checking                 $-47.18"
-        ,""
-        ])
-
+          t4 = nulltransaction {tpostings = ["a" `post` usd (-0.01), "b" `post` usd (0.005), "c" `post` usd (0.005)]}
+       in tests
+            "postingsAsLines"
+            [ test "null-transaction" $
+              let t = nulltransaction
+               in postingsAsLines True False t (tpostings t) `is` []
+            , test "implicit-amount-elide-false" $
+              let t = timp
+               in postingsAsLines False False t (tpostings t) `is`
+                  [ "    a           $1.00"
+                  , "    b" -- implicit amount remains implicit
+                  ]
+            , test "implicit-amount-elide-true" $
+              let t = timp
+               in postingsAsLines True False t (tpostings t) `is`
+                  [ "    a           $1.00"
+                  , "    b" -- implicit amount remains implicit
+                  ]
+            , test "explicit-amounts-elide-false" $
+              let t = texp
+               in postingsAsLines False False t (tpostings t) `is`
+                  [ "    a           $1.00"
+                  , "    b          $-1.00" -- both amounts remain explicit
+                  ]
+            , test "explicit-amounts-elide-true" $
+              let t = texp
+               in postingsAsLines True False t (tpostings t) `is`
+                  [ "    a           $1.00"
+                  , "    b" -- explicit amount is made implicit
+                  ]
+            , test "one-explicit-amount-elide-true" $
+              let t = texp1
+               in postingsAsLines True False t (tpostings t) `is`
+                  [ "    (a)           $1.00" -- explicit amount remains explicit since only one posting 
+                  ]
+            , test "explicit-amounts-two-commodities-elide-true" $
+              let t = texp2
+               in postingsAsLines True False t (tpostings t) `is`
+                  [ "    a             $1.00"
+                  , "    b" -- explicit amount is made implicit since txn is explicitly balanced
+                  ]
+            , test "explicit-amounts-not-explicitly-balanced-elide-true" $
+              let t = texp2b
+               in postingsAsLines True False t (tpostings t) `is`
+                  [ "    a           $1.00"
+                  , "    b          -1.00h" -- explicit amount remains explicit since a conversion price would have be inferred to balance
+                  ]
+            , test "implicit-amount-not-last" $
+              let t = t3
+               in postingsAsLines True False t (tpostings t) `is`
+                  ["    a           $1.00", "    b", "    c          $-1.00"]
+            , _test "ensure-visibly-balanced" $
+              let t = t4
+               in postingsAsLines False False t (tpostings t) `is`
+                  ["    a          $-0.01", "    b           $0.005", "    c           $0.005"]
+            ]
+    , tests
+         "inferBalancingAmount"
+         [ (fst <$> inferBalancingAmount Map.empty nulltransaction) `is` Right nulltransaction
+         , (fst <$> inferBalancingAmount Map.empty nulltransaction{tpostings = ["a" `post` usd (-5), "b" `post` missingamt]}) `is`
+           Right nulltransaction{tpostings = ["a" `post` usd (-5), "b" `post` usd 5]}
+         , (fst <$> inferBalancingAmount Map.empty nulltransaction{tpostings = ["a" `post` usd (-5), "b" `post` (eur 3 @@ usd 4), "c" `post` missingamt]}) `is`
+           Right nulltransaction{tpostings = ["a" `post` usd (-5), "b" `post` (eur 3 @@ usd 4), "c" `post` usd 1]}
+         ]
+    , tests
+        "showTransaction"
+        [ test "show a balanced transaction, eliding last amount" $
+          let t =
+                Transaction
+                  0
+                  ""
+                  nullsourcepos
+                  (parsedate "2007/01/28")
+                  Nothing
+                  Unmarked
+                  ""
+                  "coopportunity"
+                  ""
+                  []
+                  [ posting {paccount = "expenses:food:groceries", pamount = Mixed [usd 47.18], ptransaction = Just t}
+                  , posting {paccount = "assets:checking", pamount = Mixed [usd (-47.18)], ptransaction = Just t}
+                  ]
+           in showTransaction t `is`
+              unlines
+                ["2007/01/28 coopportunity", "    expenses:food:groceries          $47.18", "    assets:checking", ""]
+        , test "show a balanced transaction, no eliding" $
+          (let t =
+                 Transaction
+                   0
+                   ""
+                   nullsourcepos
+                   (parsedate "2007/01/28")
+                   Nothing
+                   Unmarked
+                   ""
+                   "coopportunity"
+                   ""
+                   []
+                   [ posting {paccount = "expenses:food:groceries", pamount = Mixed [usd 47.18], ptransaction = Just t}
+                   , posting {paccount = "assets:checking", pamount = Mixed [usd (-47.18)], ptransaction = Just t}
+                   ]
+            in showTransactionUnelided t) `is`
+          (unlines
+             [ "2007/01/28 coopportunity"
+             , "    expenses:food:groceries          $47.18"
+             , "    assets:checking                 $-47.18"
+             , ""
+             ])
      -- document some cases that arise in debug/testing:
-    ,test "show an unbalanced transaction, should not elide" $
-       (showTransaction
-        (txnTieKnot $ Transaction 0 "" nullsourcepos (parsedate "2007/01/28") Nothing Unmarked "" "coopportunity" "" []
-         [posting{paccount="expenses:food:groceries", pamount=Mixed [usd 47.18]}
-         ,posting{paccount="assets:checking", pamount=Mixed [usd (-47.19)]}
-         ]))
-       `is`
-       (unlines
-        ["2007/01/28 coopportunity"
-        ,"    expenses:food:groceries          $47.18"
-        ,"    assets:checking                 $-47.19"
-        ,""
-        ])
-
-    ,test "show an unbalanced transaction with one posting, should not elide" $
-       (showTransaction
-        (txnTieKnot $ Transaction 0 "" nullsourcepos (parsedate "2007/01/28") Nothing Unmarked "" "coopportunity" "" []
-         [posting{paccount="expenses:food:groceries", pamount=Mixed [usd 47.18]}
-         ]))
-       `is`
-       (unlines
-        ["2007/01/28 coopportunity"
-        ,"    expenses:food:groceries          $47.18"
-        ,""
-        ])
-
-    ,test "show a transaction with one posting and a missing amount" $
-       (showTransaction
-        (txnTieKnot $ Transaction 0 "" nullsourcepos (parsedate "2007/01/28") Nothing Unmarked "" "coopportunity" "" []
-         [posting{paccount="expenses:food:groceries", pamount=missingmixedamt}
-         ]))
-       `is`
-       (unlines
-        ["2007/01/28 coopportunity"
-        ,"    expenses:food:groceries"
-        ,""
-        ])
-
-    ,test "show a transaction with a priced commodityless amount" $
-       (showTransaction
-        (txnTieKnot $ Transaction 0 "" nullsourcepos (parsedate "2010/01/01") Nothing Unmarked "" "x" "" []
-         [posting{paccount="a", pamount=Mixed [num 1 `at` (usd 2 `withPrecision` 0)]}
-         ,posting{paccount="b", pamount= missingmixedamt}
-         ]))
-       `is`
-       (unlines
-        ["2010/01/01 x"
-        ,"    a          1 @ $2"
-        ,"    b"
-        ,""
-        ])
+        , test "show an unbalanced transaction, should not elide" $
+          (showTransaction
+             (txnTieKnot $
+              Transaction
+                0
+                ""
+                nullsourcepos
+                (parsedate "2007/01/28")
+                Nothing
+                Unmarked
+                ""
+                "coopportunity"
+                ""
+                []
+                [ posting {paccount = "expenses:food:groceries", pamount = Mixed [usd 47.18]}
+                , posting {paccount = "assets:checking", pamount = Mixed [usd (-47.19)]}
+                ])) `is`
+          (unlines
+             [ "2007/01/28 coopportunity"
+             , "    expenses:food:groceries          $47.18"
+             , "    assets:checking                 $-47.19"
+             , ""
+             ])
+        , test "show an unbalanced transaction with one posting, should not elide" $
+          (showTransaction
+             (txnTieKnot $
+              Transaction
+                0
+                ""
+                nullsourcepos
+                (parsedate "2007/01/28")
+                Nothing
+                Unmarked
+                ""
+                "coopportunity"
+                ""
+                []
+                [posting {paccount = "expenses:food:groceries", pamount = Mixed [usd 47.18]}])) `is`
+          (unlines ["2007/01/28 coopportunity", "    expenses:food:groceries          $47.18", ""])
+        , test "show a transaction with one posting and a missing amount" $
+          (showTransaction
+             (txnTieKnot $
+              Transaction
+                0
+                ""
+                nullsourcepos
+                (parsedate "2007/01/28")
+                Nothing
+                Unmarked
+                ""
+                "coopportunity"
+                ""
+                []
+                [posting {paccount = "expenses:food:groceries", pamount = missingmixedamt}])) `is`
+          (unlines ["2007/01/28 coopportunity", "    expenses:food:groceries", ""])
+        , test "show a transaction with a priced commodityless amount" $
+          (showTransaction
+             (txnTieKnot $
+              Transaction
+                0
+                ""
+                nullsourcepos
+                (parsedate "2010/01/01")
+                Nothing
+                Unmarked
+                ""
+                "x"
+                ""
+                []
+                [ posting {paccount = "a", pamount = Mixed [num 1 `at` (usd 2 `withPrecision` 0)]}
+                , posting {paccount = "b", pamount = missingmixedamt}
+                ])) `is`
+          (unlines ["2010/01/01 x", "    a          1 @ $2", "    b", ""])
+        ]
+    , tests
+        "balanceTransaction"
+        [ test "detect unbalanced entry, sign error" $
+          expectLeft
+            (balanceTransaction
+               Nothing
+               (Transaction
+                  0
+                  ""
+                  nullsourcepos
+                  (parsedate "2007/01/28")
+                  Nothing
+                  Unmarked
+                  ""
+                  "test"
+                  ""
+                  []
+                  [posting {paccount = "a", pamount = Mixed [usd 1]}, posting {paccount = "b", pamount = Mixed [usd 1]}]))
+        , test "detect unbalanced entry, multiple missing amounts" $
+          expectLeft $
+             balanceTransaction
+               Nothing
+               (Transaction
+                  0
+                  ""
+                  nullsourcepos
+                  (parsedate "2007/01/28")
+                  Nothing
+                  Unmarked
+                  ""
+                  "test"
+                  ""
+                  []
+                  [ posting {paccount = "a", pamount = missingmixedamt}
+                  , posting {paccount = "b", pamount = missingmixedamt}
+                  ])
+        , test "one missing amount is inferred" $
+          (pamount . last . tpostings <$>
+           balanceTransaction
+             Nothing
+             (Transaction
+                0
+                ""
+                nullsourcepos
+                (parsedate "2007/01/28")
+                Nothing
+                Unmarked
+                ""
+                ""
+                ""
+                []
+                [posting {paccount = "a", pamount = Mixed [usd 1]}, posting {paccount = "b", pamount = missingmixedamt}])) `is`
+          Right (Mixed [usd (-1)])
+        , test "conversion price is inferred" $
+          (pamount . head . tpostings <$>
+           balanceTransaction
+             Nothing
+             (Transaction
+                0
+                ""
+                nullsourcepos
+                (parsedate "2007/01/28")
+                Nothing
+                Unmarked
+                ""
+                ""
+                ""
+                []
+                [ posting {paccount = "a", pamount = Mixed [usd 1.35]}
+                , posting {paccount = "b", pamount = Mixed [eur (-1)]}
+                ])) `is`
+          Right (Mixed [usd 1.35 @@ (eur 1 `withPrecision` maxprecision)])
+        , test "balanceTransaction balances based on cost if there are unit prices" $
+          expectRight $
+          balanceTransaction
+            Nothing
+            (Transaction
+               0
+               ""
+               nullsourcepos
+               (parsedate "2011/01/01")
+               Nothing
+               Unmarked
+               ""
+               ""
+               ""
+               []
+               [ posting {paccount = "a", pamount = Mixed [usd 1 `at` eur 2]}
+               , posting {paccount = "a", pamount = Mixed [usd (-2) `at` eur 1]}
+               ])
+        , test "balanceTransaction balances based on cost if there are total prices" $
+          expectRight $
+          balanceTransaction
+            Nothing
+            (Transaction
+               0
+               ""
+               nullsourcepos
+               (parsedate "2011/01/01")
+               Nothing
+               Unmarked
+               ""
+               ""
+               ""
+               []
+               [ posting {paccount = "a", pamount = Mixed [usd 1 @@ eur 1]}
+               , posting {paccount = "a", pamount = Mixed [usd (-2) @@ eur 1]}
+               ])
+        ]
+    , tests
+        "isTransactionBalanced"
+        [ test "detect balanced" $
+          expect $
+          isTransactionBalanced Nothing $
+          Transaction
+            0
+            ""
+            nullsourcepos
+            (parsedate "2009/01/01")
+            Nothing
+            Unmarked
+            ""
+            "a"
+            ""
+            []
+            [ posting {paccount = "b", pamount = Mixed [usd 1.00]}
+            , posting {paccount = "c", pamount = Mixed [usd (-1.00)]}
+            ]
+        , test "detect unbalanced" $
+          expect $
+          not $
+          isTransactionBalanced Nothing $
+          Transaction
+            0
+            ""
+            nullsourcepos
+            (parsedate "2009/01/01")
+            Nothing
+            Unmarked
+            ""
+            "a"
+            ""
+            []
+            [ posting {paccount = "b", pamount = Mixed [usd 1.00]}
+            , posting {paccount = "c", pamount = Mixed [usd (-1.01)]}
+            ]
+        , test "detect unbalanced, one posting" $
+          expect $
+          not $
+          isTransactionBalanced Nothing $
+          Transaction
+            0
+            ""
+            nullsourcepos
+            (parsedate "2009/01/01")
+            Nothing
+            Unmarked
+            ""
+            "a"
+            ""
+            []
+            [posting {paccount = "b", pamount = Mixed [usd 1.00]}]
+        , test "one zero posting is considered balanced for now" $
+          expect $
+          isTransactionBalanced Nothing $
+          Transaction
+            0
+            ""
+            nullsourcepos
+            (parsedate "2009/01/01")
+            Nothing
+            Unmarked
+            ""
+            "a"
+            ""
+            []
+            [posting {paccount = "b", pamount = Mixed [usd 0]}]
+        , test "virtual postings don't need to balance" $
+          expect $
+          isTransactionBalanced Nothing $
+          Transaction
+            0
+            ""
+            nullsourcepos
+            (parsedate "2009/01/01")
+            Nothing
+            Unmarked
+            ""
+            "a"
+            ""
+            []
+            [ posting {paccount = "b", pamount = Mixed [usd 1.00]}
+            , posting {paccount = "c", pamount = Mixed [usd (-1.00)]}
+            , posting {paccount = "d", pamount = Mixed [usd 100], ptype = VirtualPosting}
+            ]
+        , test "balanced virtual postings need to balance among themselves" $
+          expect $
+          not $
+          isTransactionBalanced Nothing $
+          Transaction
+            0
+            ""
+            nullsourcepos
+            (parsedate "2009/01/01")
+            Nothing
+            Unmarked
+            ""
+            "a"
+            ""
+            []
+            [ posting {paccount = "b", pamount = Mixed [usd 1.00]}
+            , posting {paccount = "c", pamount = Mixed [usd (-1.00)]}
+            , posting {paccount = "d", pamount = Mixed [usd 100], ptype = BalancedVirtualPosting}
+            ]
+        , test "balanced virtual postings need to balance among themselves (2)" $
+          expect $
+          isTransactionBalanced Nothing $
+          Transaction
+            0
+            ""
+            nullsourcepos
+            (parsedate "2009/01/01")
+            Nothing
+            Unmarked
+            ""
+            "a"
+            ""
+            []
+            [ posting {paccount = "b", pamount = Mixed [usd 1.00]}
+            , posting {paccount = "c", pamount = Mixed [usd (-1.00)]}
+            , posting {paccount = "d", pamount = Mixed [usd 100], ptype = BalancedVirtualPosting}
+            , posting {paccount = "3", pamount = Mixed [usd (-100)], ptype = BalancedVirtualPosting}
+            ]
+        ]
     ]
-
-  ,tests "balanceTransaction" [
-     test "detect unbalanced entry, sign error" $
-                    (expectLeft $ balanceTransaction Nothing
-                           (Transaction 0 "" nullsourcepos (parsedate "2007/01/28") Nothing Unmarked "" "test" "" []
-                            [posting{paccount="a", pamount=Mixed [usd 1]}
-                            ,posting{paccount="b", pamount=Mixed [usd 1]}
-                            ]))
-
-    ,test "detect unbalanced entry, multiple missing amounts" $
-                    (expectLeft $ balanceTransaction Nothing
-                           (Transaction 0 "" nullsourcepos (parsedate "2007/01/28") Nothing Unmarked "" "test" "" []
-                            [posting{paccount="a", pamount=missingmixedamt}
-                            ,posting{paccount="b", pamount=missingmixedamt}
-                            ]))
-
-    ,test "one missing amount is inferred" $
-         (pamount . last . tpostings <$> balanceTransaction
-           Nothing
-           (Transaction 0 "" nullsourcepos (parsedate "2007/01/28") Nothing Unmarked "" "" "" []
-             [posting{paccount="a", pamount=Mixed [usd 1]}
-             ,posting{paccount="b", pamount=missingmixedamt}
-             ]))
-         `is` Right (Mixed [usd (-1)])
-
-    ,test "conversion price is inferred" $
-         (pamount . head . tpostings <$> balanceTransaction
-           Nothing
-           (Transaction 0 "" nullsourcepos (parsedate "2007/01/28") Nothing Unmarked "" "" "" []
-             [posting{paccount="a", pamount=Mixed [usd 1.35]}
-             ,posting{paccount="b", pamount=Mixed [eur (-1)]}
-             ]))
-         `is` Right (Mixed [usd 1.35 @@ (eur 1 `withPrecision` maxprecision)])
-
-    ,test "balanceTransaction balances based on cost if there are unit prices" $
-       expectRight $
-       balanceTransaction Nothing (Transaction 0 "" nullsourcepos (parsedate "2011/01/01") Nothing Unmarked "" "" "" []
-                           [posting{paccount="a", pamount=Mixed [usd 1 `at` eur 2]}
-                           ,posting{paccount="a", pamount=Mixed [usd (-2) `at` eur 1]}
-                           ])
-
-    ,test "balanceTransaction balances based on cost if there are total prices" $
-       expectRight $
-       balanceTransaction Nothing (Transaction 0 "" nullsourcepos (parsedate "2011/01/01") Nothing Unmarked "" "" "" []
-                           [posting{paccount="a", pamount=Mixed [usd 1    @@ eur 1]}
-                           ,posting{paccount="a", pamount=Mixed [usd (-2) @@ eur 1]}
-                           ])
-  ]
-
-  ,tests "isTransactionBalanced" [
-     test "detect balanced" $ expect $
-       isTransactionBalanced Nothing $ Transaction 0 "" nullsourcepos (parsedate "2009/01/01") Nothing Unmarked "" "a" "" []
-             [posting{paccount="b", pamount=Mixed [usd 1.00]}
-             ,posting{paccount="c", pamount=Mixed [usd (-1.00)]}
-             ]
-     
-    ,test "detect unbalanced" $ expect $
-       not $ isTransactionBalanced Nothing $ Transaction 0 "" nullsourcepos (parsedate "2009/01/01") Nothing Unmarked "" "a" "" []
-             [posting{paccount="b", pamount=Mixed [usd 1.00]}
-             ,posting{paccount="c", pamount=Mixed [usd (-1.01)]}
-             ]
-     
-    ,test "detect unbalanced, one posting" $ expect $
-       not $ isTransactionBalanced Nothing $ Transaction 0 "" nullsourcepos (parsedate "2009/01/01") Nothing Unmarked "" "a" "" []
-             [posting{paccount="b", pamount=Mixed [usd 1.00]}
-             ]
-     
-    ,test "one zero posting is considered balanced for now" $ expect $
-       isTransactionBalanced Nothing $ Transaction 0 "" nullsourcepos (parsedate "2009/01/01") Nothing Unmarked "" "a" "" []
-             [posting{paccount="b", pamount=Mixed [usd 0]}
-             ]
-     
-    ,test "virtual postings don't need to balance" $ expect $
-       isTransactionBalanced Nothing $ Transaction 0 "" nullsourcepos (parsedate "2009/01/01") Nothing Unmarked "" "a" "" []
-             [posting{paccount="b", pamount=Mixed [usd 1.00]}
-             ,posting{paccount="c", pamount=Mixed [usd (-1.00)]}
-             ,posting{paccount="d", pamount=Mixed [usd 100], ptype=VirtualPosting}
-             ]
-     
-    ,test "balanced virtual postings need to balance among themselves" $ expect $
-       not $ isTransactionBalanced Nothing $ Transaction 0 "" nullsourcepos (parsedate "2009/01/01") Nothing Unmarked "" "a" "" []
-             [posting{paccount="b", pamount=Mixed [usd 1.00]}
-             ,posting{paccount="c", pamount=Mixed [usd (-1.00)]}
-             ,posting{paccount="d", pamount=Mixed [usd 100], ptype=BalancedVirtualPosting}
-             ]
-     
-    ,test "balanced virtual postings need to balance among themselves (2)" $ expect $
-       isTransactionBalanced Nothing $ Transaction 0 "" nullsourcepos (parsedate "2009/01/01") Nothing Unmarked "" "a" "" []
-             [posting{paccount="b", pamount=Mixed [usd 1.00]}
-             ,posting{paccount="c", pamount=Mixed [usd (-1.00)]}
-             ,posting{paccount="d", pamount=Mixed [usd 100], ptype=BalancedVirtualPosting}
-             ,posting{paccount="3", pamount=Mixed [usd (-100)], ptype=BalancedVirtualPosting}
-             ]
-     
-  ]
-
- ]
diff --git a/Hledger/Data/TransactionModifier.hs b/Hledger/Data/TransactionModifier.hs
--- a/Hledger/Data/TransactionModifier.hs
+++ b/Hledger/Data/TransactionModifier.hs
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
 
 -- | Apply all the given transaction modifiers, in turn, to each transaction.
 modifyTransactions :: [TransactionModifier] -> [Transaction] -> [Transaction]
-modifyTransactions tmods ts = map applymods ts
+modifyTransactions tmods = map applymods
   where
     applymods = foldr (flip (.) . transactionModifierToFunction) id tmods
 
diff --git a/Hledger/Data/Types.hs b/Hledger/Data/Types.hs
--- a/Hledger/Data/Types.hs
+++ b/Hledger/Data/Types.hs
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 import Data.Data
 import Data.Decimal
 import Data.Default
+import Data.Functor (($>))
 import Data.List (intercalate)
 import Text.Blaze (ToMarkup(..))
 --XXX https://hackage.haskell.org/package/containers/docs/Data-Map.html 
@@ -237,12 +238,48 @@
   show Pending   = "!"
   show Cleared   = "*"
 
--- | The amount to compare an account's balance to, to verify that the history
--- leading to a given point is correct or to set the account to a known value.
+-- | A balance assertion is a declaration about an account's expected balance
+-- at a certain point (posting date and parse order). They provide additional
+-- error checking and readability to a journal file.
+--
+-- The 'BalanceAssertion' type is also used to represent balance assignments,
+-- which instruct hledger what an account's balance should become at a certain
+-- point.
+--
+-- Different kinds of balance assertions are discussed eg on #290.
+-- Variables include:
+--
+-- - which postings are to be summed (real/virtual; unmarked/pending/cleared; this account/this account including subs)
+--
+-- - which commodities within the balance are to be checked
+--
+-- - whether to do a partial or a total check (disallowing other commodities)
+--
+-- I suspect we want:
+--
+-- 1. partial, subaccount-exclusive, Ledger-compatible assertions. Because
+--    they're what we've always had, and removing them would break some
+--    journals unnecessarily.  Implemented with = syntax.
+--
+-- 2. total assertions. Because otherwise assertions are a bit leaky.
+--    Implemented with == syntax.
+--
+-- 3. subaccount-inclusive assertions. Because that's something folks need.
+--    Not implemented.
+--
+-- 4. flexible assertions allowing custom criteria (perhaps arbitrary
+--    queries). Because power users have diverse needs and want to try out
+--    different schemes (assert cleared balances, assert balance from real or
+--    virtual postings, etc.). Not implemented.
+--
+-- 5. multicommodity assertions, asserting the balance of multiple commodities
+--    at once. Not implemented, requires #934.
+--
 data BalanceAssertion = BalanceAssertion {
-      baamount   :: Amount,             -- ^ the expected value of a particular commodity
-      baexact    :: Bool,               -- ^ whether the assertion is exclusive, and doesn't allow other commodities alongside 'baamount'
-      baposition :: GenericSourcePos
+      baamount    :: Amount,             -- ^ the expected balance in a particular commodity
+      batotal     :: Bool,               -- ^ disallow additional non-asserted commodities ?
+      bainclusive :: Bool,               -- ^ include subaccounts when calculating the actual balance ?
+      baposition  :: GenericSourcePos    -- ^ the assertion's file position, for error reporting
     } deriving (Eq,Typeable,Data,Generic,Show)
 
 instance NFData BalanceAssertion
@@ -256,10 +293,11 @@
       pcomment          :: Text,              -- ^ this posting's comment lines, as a single non-indented multi-line string
       ptype             :: PostingType,
       ptags             :: [Tag],                   -- ^ tag names and values, extracted from the comment
-      pbalanceassertion :: Maybe BalanceAssertion,  -- ^ optional: the expected balance in this commodity in the account after this posting
+      pbalanceassertion :: Maybe BalanceAssertion,  -- ^ an expected balance in the account after this posting,
+                                                    --   in a single commodity, excluding subaccounts.
       ptransaction      :: Maybe Transaction,       -- ^ this posting's parent transaction (co-recursive types).
                                                     --   Tying this knot gets tedious, Maybe makes it easier/optional.
-      porigin           :: Maybe Posting            -- ^ When this posting has been transformed in some way
+      poriginal         :: Maybe Posting            -- ^ When this posting has been transformed in some way
                                                     --   (eg its amount or price was inferred, or the account name was
                                                     --   changed by a pivot or budget report), this references the original 
                                                     --   untransformed posting (which will have Nothing in this field).
@@ -268,7 +306,7 @@
 instance NFData Posting
 
 -- The equality test for postings ignores the parent transaction's
--- identity, to avoid recuring ad infinitum.
+-- identity, to avoid recurring ad infinitum.
 -- XXX could check that it's Just or Nothing.
 instance Eq Posting where
     (==) (Posting a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1 i1 _ _) (Posting a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2 i2 _ _) =  a1==a2 && b1==b2 && c1==c2 && d1==d2 && e1==e2 && f1==f2 && g1==g2 && h1==h2 && i1==i2
@@ -276,17 +314,17 @@
 -- | Posting's show instance elides the parent transaction so as not to recurse forever.
 instance Show Posting where
   show Posting{..} = "PostingPP {" ++ intercalate ", " [
-     ("pdate="             ++ show (show pdate))
-    ,("pdate2="            ++ show (show pdate2))
-    ,("pstatus="           ++ show (show pstatus))
-    ,("paccount="          ++ show paccount)
-    ,("pamount="           ++ show pamount)
-    ,("pcomment="          ++ show pcomment)
-    ,("ptype="             ++ show ptype)
-    ,("ptags="             ++ show ptags)
-    ,("pbalanceassertion=" ++ show pbalanceassertion)
-    ,("ptransaction="      ++ show (const "<txn>" <$> ptransaction))
-    ,("porigin="           ++ show porigin)
+     "pdate="             ++ show (show pdate)
+    ,"pdate2="            ++ show (show pdate2)
+    ,"pstatus="           ++ show (show pstatus)
+    ,"paccount="          ++ show paccount
+    ,"pamount="           ++ show pamount
+    ,"pcomment="          ++ show pcomment
+    ,"ptype="             ++ show ptype
+    ,"ptags="             ++ show ptags
+    ,"pbalanceassertion=" ++ show pbalanceassertion
+    ,"ptransaction="      ++ show (ptransaction $> "txn")
+    ,"poriginal="         ++ show poriginal
     ] ++ "}"
 
 -- TODO: needs renaming, or removal if no longer needed. See also TextPosition in Hledger.UI.Editor
diff --git a/Hledger/Read/Common.hs b/Hledger/Read/Common.hs
--- a/Hledger/Read/Common.hs
+++ b/Hledger/Read/Common.hs
@@ -728,15 +728,17 @@
 balanceassertionp = do
   sourcepos <- genericSourcePos <$> lift getSourcePos
   char '='
-  exact <- optional $ try $ char '='
+  istotal <- fmap isJust $ optional $ try $ char '='
+  isinclusive <- fmap isJust $ optional $ try $ char '*'
   lift (skipMany spacenonewline)
   -- this amount can have a price; balance assertions ignore it,
   -- but balance assignments will use it
   a <- amountp <?> "amount (for a balance assertion or assignment)"
   return BalanceAssertion
-    { baamount = a
-    , baexact = isJust exact
-    , baposition = sourcepos
+    { baamount    = a
+    , batotal     = istotal
+    , bainclusive = isinclusive
+    , baposition  = sourcepos
     }
 
 -- Parse a Ledger-style fixed lot price: {=PRICE}
diff --git a/Hledger/Reports/BudgetReport.hs b/Hledger/Reports/BudgetReport.hs
--- a/Hledger/Reports/BudgetReport.hs
+++ b/Hledger/Reports/BudgetReport.hs
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@
     remapTxn = mapPostings (map remapPosting)
       where
         mapPostings f t = txnTieKnot $ t { tpostings = f $ tpostings t }
-        remapPosting p = p { paccount = remapAccount $ paccount p, porigin = Just . fromMaybe p $ porigin p }
+        remapPosting p = p { paccount = remapAccount $ paccount p, poriginal = Just . fromMaybe p $ poriginal p }
           where
             remapAccount a
               | hasbudget         = a
diff --git a/Hledger/Reports/PostingsReport.hs b/Hledger/Reports/PostingsReport.hs
--- a/Hledger/Reports/PostingsReport.hs
+++ b/Hledger/Reports/PostingsReport.hs
@@ -116,7 +116,8 @@
   where
     beforestartq = dbg1 "beforestartq" $ dateqtype $ DateSpan Nothing mstart
     beforeandduringps =
-      dbg1 "ps4" $ sortBy (comparing sortdate) $                               -- sort postings by date or date2
+      dbg1 "ps5" $ sortBy (comparing sortdate) $                               -- sort postings by date or date2
+      dbg1 "ps4" $ (if invert_ opts then map negatePostingAmount else id) $    -- with --invert, invert amounts
       dbg1 "ps3" $ map (filterPostingAmount symq) $                            -- remove amount parts which the query's cur: terms would exclude
       dbg1 "ps2" $ (if related_ opts then concatMap relatedPostings else id) $ -- with -r, replace each with its sibling postings
       dbg1 "ps1" $ filter (beforeandduringq `matchesPosting`) $                -- filter postings by the query, with no start date or depth limit
@@ -134,6 +135,9 @@
       | otherwise = Date
       where
         dateq = dbg1 "dateq" $ filterQuery queryIsDateOrDate2 $ dbg1 "q" q  -- XXX confused by multiple date:/date2: ?
+
+negatePostingAmount :: Posting -> Posting
+negatePostingAmount p = p { pamount = negate $ pamount p }
 
 -- | Generate postings report line items from a list of postings or (with
 -- non-Nothing dates attached) summary postings.
diff --git a/Hledger/Utils.hs b/Hledger/Utils.hs
--- a/Hledger/Utils.hs
+++ b/Hledger/Utils.hs
@@ -220,6 +220,7 @@
       x <- m
       go (h . (x :)) ms
 
+-- | Like mapM but uses sequence'.
 {-# INLINABLE mapM' #-}
 mapM' :: Monad f => (a -> f b) -> [a] -> f [b]
 mapM' f = sequence' . map f
diff --git a/hledger-lib.cabal b/hledger-lib.cabal
--- a/hledger-lib.cabal
+++ b/hledger-lib.cabal
@@ -4,10 +4,10 @@
 --
 -- see: https://github.com/sol/hpack
 --
--- hash: 37a0c290958e641dd8779201025f1614b90535b0922970496375bb95d60024bf
+-- hash: e2c444e055dd9ef61f9cbddeeddf69ce3274e6c2eef4b64301b7107144d7d84b
 
 name:           hledger-lib
-version:        1.13.1
+version:        1.14
 synopsis:       Core data types, parsers and functionality for the hledger accounting tools
 description:    This is a reusable library containing hledger's core functionality.
                 .
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 maintainer:     Simon Michael <simon@joyful.com>
 license:        GPL-3
 license-file:   LICENSE
-tested-with:    GHC==7.10.3, GHC==8.0.2, GHC==8.2.2, GHC==8.4.3
+tested-with:    GHC==7.10.3, GHC==8.0.2, GHC==8.2.2, GHC==8.4.3, GHC==8.6.3
 build-type:     Simple
 extra-source-files:
     CHANGES.md
diff --git a/hledger_csv.5 b/hledger_csv.5
--- a/hledger_csv.5
+++ b/hledger_csv.5
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 
-.TH "hledger_csv" "5" "February 2019" "hledger 1.13" "hledger User Manuals"
+.TH "hledger_csv" "5" "March 2019" "hledger 1.14" "hledger User Manuals"
 
 
 
diff --git a/hledger_csv.info b/hledger_csv.info
--- a/hledger_csv.info
+++ b/hledger_csv.info
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 
 File: hledger_csv.info,  Node: Top,  Next: CSV RULES,  Up: (dir)
 
-hledger_csv(5) hledger 1.13
+hledger_csv(5) hledger 1.14
 ***************************
 
 hledger can read CSV (comma-separated value) files as if they were
diff --git a/hledger_csv.txt b/hledger_csv.txt
--- a/hledger_csv.txt
+++ b/hledger_csv.txt
@@ -249,4 +249,4 @@
 
 
 
-hledger 1.13                     February 2019                  hledger_csv(5)
+hledger 1.14                      March 2019                    hledger_csv(5)
diff --git a/hledger_journal.5 b/hledger_journal.5
--- a/hledger_journal.5
+++ b/hledger_journal.5
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 .\"t
 
-.TH "hledger_journal" "5" "February 2019" "hledger 1.13" "hledger User Manuals"
+.TH "hledger_journal" "5" "March 2019" "hledger 1.14" "hledger User Manuals"
 
 
 
@@ -491,10 +491,10 @@
 .SS Balance Assertions
 .PP
 hledger supports Ledger\-style balance assertions in journal files.
-These look like \f[C]=EXPECTEDBALANCE\f[] following a posting\[aq]s
-amount.
-Eg in this example we assert the expected dollar balance in accounts a
-and b after each posting:
+These look like, for example, \f[C]=\ EXPECTEDBALANCE\f[] following a
+posting\[aq]s amount.
+Eg here we assert the expected dollar balance in accounts a and b after
+each posting:
 .IP
 .nf
 \f[C]
@@ -513,7 +513,7 @@
 Balance assertions can protect you from, eg, inadvertently disrupting
 reconciled balances while cleaning up old entries.
 You can disable them temporarily with the
-\f[C]\-\-ignore\-assertions\f[] flag, which can be useful for
+\f[C]\-I/\-\-ignore\-assertions\f[] flag, which can be useful for
 troubleshooting or for reading Ledger files.
 .SS Assertions and ordering
 .PP
@@ -558,11 +558,10 @@
 To assert the balance of more than one commodity in an account, you can
 write multiple postings, each asserting one commodity\[aq]s balance.
 .PP
-You can make a stronger kind of balance assertion, by writing a double
-equals sign (\f[C]==EXPECTEDBALANCE\f[]).
-This "complete" balance assertion asserts the absence of other
-commodities (or, that their balance is 0, which to hledger is
-equivalent.)
+You can make a stronger "total" balance assertion by writing a double
+equals sign (\f[C]==\ EXPECTEDBALANCE\f[]).
+This asserts that there are no other unasserted commodities in the
+account (or, that their balance is 0).
 .IP
 .nf
 \f[C]
@@ -619,29 +618,19 @@
 \f[I]assignments\f[] do use them (see below).
 .SS Assertions and subaccounts
 .PP
-Balance assertions do not count the balance from subaccounts; they check
-the posted account\[aq]s exclusive balance.
-For example:
-.IP
-.nf
-\f[C]
-1/1
-\ \ checking:fund\ \ \ 1\ =\ 1\ \ ;\ post\ to\ this\ subaccount,\ its\ balance\ is\ now\ 1
-\ \ checking\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ 1\ =\ 1\ \ ;\ post\ to\ the\ parent\ account,\ its\ exclusive\ balance\ is\ now\ 1
-\ \ equity
-\f[]
-.fi
-.PP
-The balance report\[aq]s flat mode shows these exclusive balances more
-clearly:
+The balance assertions above (\f[C]=\f[] and \f[C]==\f[]) do not count
+the balance from subaccounts; they check the account\[aq]s exclusive
+balance only.
+You can assert the balance including subaccounts by writing \f[C]=*\f[]
+or \f[C]==*\f[], eg:
 .IP
 .nf
 \f[C]
-$\ hledger\ bal\ checking\ \-\-flat
-\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ 1\ \ checking
-\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ 1\ \ checking:fund
-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-
-\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ 2
+2019/1/1
+\ \ equity:opening\ balances
+\ \ checking:a\ \ \ \ \ \ \ 5
+\ \ checking:b\ \ \ \ \ \ \ 5
+\ \ checking\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ 1\ \ ==*\ 11
 \f[]
 .fi
 .SS Assertions and virtual postings
@@ -1753,54 +1742,13 @@
 This changed in hledger 1.12+; see #893 for background.
 .SH EDITOR SUPPORT
 .PP
-Add\-on modes exist for various text editors, to make working with
+Helper modes exist for popular text editors, which make working with
 journal files easier.
-They add colour, navigation aids and helpful commands.
-For hledger users who edit the journal file directly (the majority),
-using one of these modes is quite recommended.
-.PP
-These were written with Ledger in mind, but also work with hledger
-files:
-.PP
-.TS
-tab(@);
-lw(12.2n) lw(57.8n).
-T{
-Editor
-T}@T{
-T}
-_
-T{
-Emacs
-T}@T{
-http://www.ledger\-cli.org/3.0/doc/ledger\-mode.html
-T}
-T{
-Vim
-T}@T{
-https://github.com/ledger/vim\-ledger
-T}
-T{
-Sublime Text
-T}@T{
-https://github.com/ledger/ledger/wiki/Editing\-Ledger\-files\-with\-Sublime\-Text\-or\-RubyMine
-T}
-T{
-Textmate
-T}@T{
-https://github.com/ledger/ledger/wiki/Using\-TextMate\-2
-T}
-T{
-Text Wrangler \ 
-T}@T{
-https://github.com/ledger/ledger/wiki/Editing\-Ledger\-files\-with\-TextWrangler
-T}
-T{
-Visual Studio Code
-T}@T{
-https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=mark\-hansen.hledger\-vscode
-T}
-.TE
+They add colour, formatting, tab completion, and helpful commands, and
+are quite recommended if you edit your journal with a text editor.
+They include ledger\-mode or hledger\-mode for Emacs, vim\-ledger for
+Vim, hledger\-vscode for Visual Studio Code, and others.
+See the [[Cookbook]] at hledger.org for the latest information.
 
 
 .SH "REPORTING BUGS"
diff --git a/hledger_journal.info b/hledger_journal.info
--- a/hledger_journal.info
+++ b/hledger_journal.info
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 File: hledger_journal.info,  Node: Top,  Next: FILE FORMAT,  Up: (dir)
 
-hledger_journal(5) hledger 1.13
+hledger_journal(5) hledger 1.14
 *******************************
 
 hledger's usual data source is a plain text file containing journal
@@ -449,9 +449,9 @@
 ======================
 
 hledger supports Ledger-style balance assertions in journal files.
-These look like '=EXPECTEDBALANCE' following a posting's amount.  Eg in
-this example we assert the expected dollar balance in accounts a and b
-after each posting:
+These look like, for example, '= EXPECTEDBALANCE' following a posting's
+amount.  Eg here we assert the expected dollar balance in accounts a and
+b after each posting:
 
 2013/1/1
   a   $1  =$1
@@ -465,8 +465,8 @@
 assertions and report an error if any of them fail.  Balance assertions
 can protect you from, eg, inadvertently disrupting reconciled balances
 while cleaning up old entries.  You can disable them temporarily with
-the '--ignore-assertions' flag, which can be useful for troubleshooting
-or for reading Ledger files.
+the '-I/--ignore-assertions' flag, which can be useful for
+troubleshooting or for reading Ledger files.
 * Menu:
 
 * Assertions and ordering::
@@ -533,10 +533,10 @@
    To assert the balance of more than one commodity in an account, you
 can write multiple postings, each asserting one commodity's balance.
 
-   You can make a stronger kind of balance assertion, by writing a
-double equals sign ('==EXPECTEDBALANCE').  This "complete" balance
-assertion asserts the absence of other commodities (or, that their
-balance is 0, which to hledger is equivalent.)
+   You can make a stronger "total" balance assertion by writing a double
+equals sign ('== EXPECTEDBALANCE').  This asserts that there are no
+other unasserted commodities in the account (or, that their balance is
+0).
 
 2013/1/1
   a   $1
@@ -591,22 +591,16 @@
 1.9.6 Assertions and subaccounts
 --------------------------------
 
-Balance assertions do not count the balance from subaccounts; they check
-the posted account's exclusive balance.  For example:
-
-1/1
-  checking:fund   1 = 1  ; post to this subaccount, its balance is now 1
-  checking        1 = 1  ; post to the parent account, its exclusive balance is now 1
-  equity
-
-   The balance report's flat mode shows these exclusive balances more
-clearly:
+The balance assertions above ('=' and '==') do not count the balance
+from subaccounts; they check the account's exclusive balance only.  You
+can assert the balance including subaccounts by writing '=*' or '==*',
+eg:
 
-$ hledger bal checking --flat
-                   1  checking
-                   1  checking:fund
---------------------
-                   2
+2019/1/1
+  equity:opening balances
+  checking:a       5
+  checking:b       5
+  checking         1  ==* 11
 
 
 File: hledger_journal.info,  Node: Assertions and virtual postings,  Next: Assertions and precision,  Prev: Assertions and subaccounts,  Up: Balance Assertions
@@ -1581,26 +1575,12 @@
 2 EDITOR SUPPORT
 ****************
 
-Add-on modes exist for various text editors, to make working with
-journal files easier.  They add colour, navigation aids and helpful
-commands.  For hledger users who edit the journal file directly (the
-majority), using one of these modes is quite recommended.
-
-   These were written with Ledger in mind, but also work with hledger
-files:
-
-Editor
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Emacs        http://www.ledger-cli.org/3.0/doc/ledger-mode.html
-Vim          https://github.com/ledger/vim-ledger
-Sublime      https://github.com/ledger/ledger/wiki/Editing-Ledger-files-with-Sublime-Text-or-RubyMine
-Text
-Textmate     https://github.com/ledger/ledger/wiki/Using-TextMate-2
-Text         https://github.com/ledger/ledger/wiki/Editing-Ledger-files-with-TextWrangler
-Wrangler  
-Visual       https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=mark-hansen.hledger-vscode
-Studio
-Code
+Helper modes exist for popular text editors, which make working with
+journal files easier.  They add colour, formatting, tab completion, and
+helpful commands, and are quite recommended if you edit your journal
+with a text editor.  They include ledger-mode or hledger-mode for Emacs,
+vim-ledger for Vim, hledger-vscode for Visual Studio Code, and others.
+See the [[Cookbook]] at hledger.org for the latest information.
 
 
 Tag Table:
@@ -1633,81 +1613,81 @@
 Ref: #virtual-postings15185
 Node: Balance Assertions16405
 Ref: #balance-assertions16580
-Node: Assertions and ordering17531
-Ref: #assertions-and-ordering17717
-Node: Assertions and included files18417
-Ref: #assertions-and-included-files18658
-Node: Assertions and multiple -f options18991
-Ref: #assertions-and-multiple--f-options19245
-Node: Assertions and commodities19377
-Ref: #assertions-and-commodities19607
-Node: Assertions and prices20795
-Ref: #assertions-and-prices21007
-Node: Assertions and subaccounts21447
-Ref: #assertions-and-subaccounts21674
-Node: Assertions and virtual postings22195
-Ref: #assertions-and-virtual-postings22435
-Node: Assertions and precision22577
-Ref: #assertions-and-precision22768
-Node: Balance Assignments23035
-Ref: #balance-assignments23216
-Node: Balance assignments and prices24380
-Ref: #balance-assignments-and-prices24552
-Node: Transaction prices24776
-Ref: #transaction-prices24945
-Node: Comments27213
-Ref: #comments27347
-Node: Tags28517
-Ref: #tags28635
-Node: Directives30037
-Ref: #directives30180
-Node: Comment blocks35787
-Ref: #comment-blocks35932
-Node: Including other files36108
-Ref: #including-other-files36288
-Node: Default year36696
-Ref: #default-year36865
-Node: Declaring commodities37288
-Ref: #declaring-commodities37471
-Node: Default commodity38698
-Ref: #default-commodity38874
-Node: Market prices39510
-Ref: #market-prices39675
-Node: Declaring accounts40516
-Ref: #declaring-accounts40692
-Node: Account comments41617
-Ref: #account-comments41780
-Node: Account subdirectives42175
-Ref: #account-subdirectives42370
-Node: Account types42683
-Ref: #account-types42867
-Node: Account display order44511
-Ref: #account-display-order44681
-Node: Rewriting accounts45810
-Ref: #rewriting-accounts45995
-Node: Basic aliases46729
-Ref: #basic-aliases46875
-Node: Regex aliases47579
-Ref: #regex-aliases47750
-Node: Multiple aliases48468
-Ref: #multiple-aliases48643
-Node: end aliases49141
-Ref: #end-aliases49288
-Node: Default parent account49389
-Ref: #default-parent-account49555
-Node: Periodic transactions50439
-Ref: #periodic-transactions50621
-Node: Two spaces after the period expression51746
-Ref: #two-spaces-after-the-period-expression51991
-Node: Forecasting with periodic transactions52476
-Ref: #forecasting-with-periodic-transactions52766
-Node: Budgeting with periodic transactions54453
-Ref: #budgeting-with-periodic-transactions54692
-Node: Transaction modifiers55151
-Ref: #transaction-modifiers55314
-Node: Auto postings and transaction balancing / inferred amounts / balance assertions57298
-Ref: #auto-postings-and-transaction-balancing-inferred-amounts-balance-assertions57599
-Node: EDITOR SUPPORT57977
-Ref: #editor-support58095
+Node: Assertions and ordering17538
+Ref: #assertions-and-ordering17724
+Node: Assertions and included files18424
+Ref: #assertions-and-included-files18665
+Node: Assertions and multiple -f options18998
+Ref: #assertions-and-multiple--f-options19252
+Node: Assertions and commodities19384
+Ref: #assertions-and-commodities19614
+Node: Assertions and prices20770
+Ref: #assertions-and-prices20982
+Node: Assertions and subaccounts21422
+Ref: #assertions-and-subaccounts21649
+Node: Assertions and virtual postings21973
+Ref: #assertions-and-virtual-postings22213
+Node: Assertions and precision22355
+Ref: #assertions-and-precision22546
+Node: Balance Assignments22813
+Ref: #balance-assignments22994
+Node: Balance assignments and prices24158
+Ref: #balance-assignments-and-prices24330
+Node: Transaction prices24554
+Ref: #transaction-prices24723
+Node: Comments26991
+Ref: #comments27125
+Node: Tags28295
+Ref: #tags28413
+Node: Directives29815
+Ref: #directives29958
+Node: Comment blocks35565
+Ref: #comment-blocks35710
+Node: Including other files35886
+Ref: #including-other-files36066
+Node: Default year36474
+Ref: #default-year36643
+Node: Declaring commodities37066
+Ref: #declaring-commodities37249
+Node: Default commodity38476
+Ref: #default-commodity38652
+Node: Market prices39288
+Ref: #market-prices39453
+Node: Declaring accounts40294
+Ref: #declaring-accounts40470
+Node: Account comments41395
+Ref: #account-comments41558
+Node: Account subdirectives41953
+Ref: #account-subdirectives42148
+Node: Account types42461
+Ref: #account-types42645
+Node: Account display order44289
+Ref: #account-display-order44459
+Node: Rewriting accounts45588
+Ref: #rewriting-accounts45773
+Node: Basic aliases46507
+Ref: #basic-aliases46653
+Node: Regex aliases47357
+Ref: #regex-aliases47528
+Node: Multiple aliases48246
+Ref: #multiple-aliases48421
+Node: end aliases48919
+Ref: #end-aliases49066
+Node: Default parent account49167
+Ref: #default-parent-account49333
+Node: Periodic transactions50217
+Ref: #periodic-transactions50399
+Node: Two spaces after the period expression51524
+Ref: #two-spaces-after-the-period-expression51769
+Node: Forecasting with periodic transactions52254
+Ref: #forecasting-with-periodic-transactions52544
+Node: Budgeting with periodic transactions54231
+Ref: #budgeting-with-periodic-transactions54470
+Node: Transaction modifiers54929
+Ref: #transaction-modifiers55092
+Node: Auto postings and transaction balancing / inferred amounts / balance assertions57076
+Ref: #auto-postings-and-transaction-balancing-inferred-amounts-balance-assertions57377
+Node: EDITOR SUPPORT57755
+Ref: #editor-support57873
 
 End Tag Table
diff --git a/hledger_journal.txt b/hledger_journal.txt
--- a/hledger_journal.txt
+++ b/hledger_journal.txt
@@ -358,9 +358,9 @@
 
    Balance Assertions
        hledger  supports  Ledger-style  balance  assertions  in journal files.
-       These look like =EXPECTEDBALANCE following a posting's amount.   Eg  in
-       this  example we assert the expected dollar balance in accounts a and b
-       after each posting:
+       These look like, for example, = EXPECTEDBALANCE following  a  posting's
+       amount.   Eg  here  we assert the expected dollar balance in accounts a
+       and b after each posting:
 
               2013/1/1
                 a   $1  =$1
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@
        and  report  an error if any of them fail.  Balance assertions can pro-
        tect you from, eg, inadvertently disrupting reconciled  balances  while
        cleaning  up  old  entries.   You can disable them temporarily with the
-       --ignore-assertions flag, which can be useful  for  troubleshooting  or
+       -I/--ignore-assertions flag, which can be useful for troubleshooting or
        for reading Ledger files.
 
    Assertions and ordering
@@ -412,10 +412,9 @@
        To assert the balance of more than one commodity in an account, you can
        write multiple postings, each asserting one commodity's balance.
 
-       You  can make a stronger kind of balance assertion, by writing a double
-       equals sign (==EXPECTEDBALANCE).   This  "complete"  balance  assertion
-       asserts  the absence of other commodities (or, that their balance is 0,
-       which to hledger is equivalent.)
+       You  can  make a stronger "total" balance assertion by writing a double
+       equals sign (== EXPECTEDBALANCE).  This asserts that there are no other
+       unasserted commodities in the account (or, that their balance is 0).
 
               2013/1/1
                 a   $1
@@ -433,7 +432,7 @@
                 a    0 ==  $1
 
        It's not yet possible to make a complete assertion about a balance that
-       has  multiple commodities.  One workaround is to isolate each commodity
+       has multiple commodities.  One workaround is to isolate each  commodity
        into its own subaccount:
 
               2013/1/1
@@ -447,51 +446,44 @@
                 a:euro   0 ==  1
 
    Assertions and prices
-       Balance assertions ignore transaction prices, and  should  normally  be
+       Balance  assertions  ignore  transaction prices, and should normally be
        written without one:
 
               2019/1/1
                 (a)     $1 @ 1 = $1
 
-       We  do allow prices to be written there, however, and print shows them,
-       even though they don't affect whether the assertion  passes  or  fails.
-       This  is  for  backward  compatibility (hledger's close command used to
-       generate balance assertions with prices), and because  balance  assign-
+       We do allow prices to be written there, however, and print shows  them,
+       even  though  they  don't affect whether the assertion passes or fails.
+       This is for backward compatibility (hledger's  close  command  used  to
+       generate  balance  assertions with prices), and because balance assign-
        ments do use them (see below).
 
    Assertions and subaccounts
-       Balance  assertions  do  not  count  the balance from subaccounts; they
-       check the posted account's exclusive balance.  For example:
-
-              1/1
-                checking:fund   1 = 1  ; post to this subaccount, its balance is now 1
-                checking        1 = 1  ; post to the parent account, its exclusive balance is now 1
-                equity
-
-       The balance report's flat mode  shows  these  exclusive  balances  more
-       clearly:
+       The balance assertions above (= and ==) do not count the  balance  from
+       subaccounts;  they check the account's exclusive balance only.  You can
+       assert the balance including subaccounts by writing =* or ==*, eg:
 
-              $ hledger bal checking --flat
-                                 1  checking
-                                 1  checking:fund
-              --------------------
-                                 2
+              2019/1/1
+                equity:opening balances
+                checking:a       5
+                checking:b       5
+                checking         1  ==* 11
 
    Assertions and virtual postings
        Balance assertions are checked against all postings, both real and vir-
        tual.  They are not affected by the --real/-R flag or real: query.
 
    Assertions and precision
-       Balance assertions compare the exactly calculated  amounts,  which  are
-       not  always  what  is  shown  by reports.  Eg a commodity directive may
-       limit the display precision, but this will not  affect  balance  asser-
+       Balance  assertions  compare  the exactly calculated amounts, which are
+       not always what is shown by reports.   Eg  a  commodity  directive  may
+       limit  the  display  precision, but this will not affect balance asser-
        tions.  Balance assertion failure messages show exact amounts.
 
    Balance Assignments
-       Ledger-style  balance  assignments  are also supported.  These are like
-       balance assertions, but with no posting amount on the left side of  the
-       equals  sign;  instead  it is calculated automatically so as to satisfy
-       the assertion.  This can be a convenience during data  entry,  eg  when
+       Ledger-style balance assignments are also supported.   These  are  like
+       balance  assertions, but with no posting amount on the left side of the
+       equals sign; instead it is calculated automatically so  as  to  satisfy
+       the  assertion.   This  can be a convenience during data entry, eg when
        setting opening balances:
 
               ; starting a new journal, set asset account balances
@@ -509,14 +501,14 @@
                 expenses:misc
 
        The calculated amount depends on the account's balance in the commodity
-       at that point (which depends on the previously-dated  postings  of  the
-       commodity  to  that account since the last balance assertion or assign-
+       at  that  point  (which depends on the previously-dated postings of the
+       commodity to that account since the last balance assertion  or  assign-
        ment).  Note that using balance assignments makes your journal a little
        less explicit; to know the exact amount posted, you have to run hledger
        or do the calculations yourself, instead of just reading it.
 
    Balance assignments and prices
-       A transaction price in a balance assignment will cause  the  calculated
+       A  transaction  price in a balance assignment will cause the calculated
        amount to have that price attached:
 
               2019/1/1
@@ -528,9 +520,9 @@
 
    Transaction prices
        Within a transaction, you can note an amount's price in another commod-
-       ity.  This can be used to document the cost (in a purchase) or  selling
-       price  (in  a  sale).   For  example,  transaction prices are useful to
-       record purchases of a foreign currency.  Note  transaction  prices  are
+       ity.   This can be used to document the cost (in a purchase) or selling
+       price (in a sale).  For  example,  transaction  prices  are  useful  to
+       record  purchases  of  a foreign currency.  Note transaction prices are
        fixed at the time of the transaction, and do not change over time.  See
        also market prices, which represent prevailing exchange rates on a cer-
        tain date.
@@ -559,7 +551,7 @@
        (Ledger users: Ledger uses a different syntax for fixed prices, {=UNIT-
        PRICE}, which hledger currently ignores).
 
-       Use  the -B/--cost flag to convert amounts to their transaction price's
+       Use the -B/--cost flag to convert amounts to their transaction  price's
        commodity, if any.  (mnemonic: "B" is from "cost Basis", as in Ledger).
        Eg here is how -B affects the balance report for the example above:
 
@@ -570,8 +562,8 @@
                              $-135  assets:dollars
                               $135  assets:euros    # <- the euros' cost
 
-       Note  -B is sensitive to the order of postings when a transaction price
-       is inferred: the inferred price will be in the commodity  of  the  last
+       Note -B is sensitive to the order of postings when a transaction  price
+       is  inferred:  the  inferred price will be in the commodity of the last
        amount.  So if example 3's postings are reversed, while the transaction
        is equivalent, -B shows something different:
 
@@ -585,14 +577,14 @@
 
    Comments
        Lines in the journal beginning with a semicolon (;) or hash (#) or star
-       (*)  are  comments, and will be ignored.  (Star comments cause org-mode
-       nodes to be ignored, allowing emacs users to fold  and  navigate  their
+       (*) are comments, and will be ignored.  (Star comments  cause  org-mode
+       nodes  to  be  ignored, allowing emacs users to fold and navigate their
        journals with org-mode or orgstruct-mode.)
 
-       You  can  attach  comments  to  a transaction by writing them after the
-       description and/or indented on the following lines  (before  the  post-
-       ings).   Similarly, you can attach comments to an individual posting by
-       writing them after the amount and/or indented on the  following  lines.
+       You can attach comments to a transaction  by  writing  them  after  the
+       description  and/or  indented  on the following lines (before the post-
+       ings).  Similarly, you can attach comments to an individual posting  by
+       writing  them  after the amount and/or indented on the following lines.
        Transaction and posting comments must begin with a semicolon (;).
 
        Some examples:
@@ -616,24 +608,24 @@
                   ; another comment line for posting 2
               ; a file comment (because not indented)
 
-       You  can  also  comment  larger  regions  of  a  file using comment and
+       You can also comment  larger  regions  of  a  file  using  comment  and
        end comment directives.
 
    Tags
-       Tags are a way to add extra labels or labelled  data  to  postings  and
+       Tags  are  a  way  to add extra labels or labelled data to postings and
        transactions, which you can then search or pivot on.
 
-       A  simple  tag is a word (which may contain hyphens) followed by a full
+       A simple tag is a word (which may contain hyphens) followed by  a  full
        colon, written inside a transaction or posting comment line:
 
               2017/1/16 bought groceries    ; sometag:
 
-       Tags can have a value, which is the text after the  colon,  up  to  the
+       Tags  can  have  a  value, which is the text after the colon, up to the
        next comma or end of line, with leading/trailing whitespace removed:
 
                   expenses:food    $10   ; a-posting-tag: the tag value
 
-       Note  this  means  hledger's  tag values can not contain commas or new-
+       Note this means hledger's tag values can not  contain  commas  or  new-
        lines.  Ending at commas means you can write multiple short tags on one
        line, comma separated:
 
@@ -647,69 +639,70 @@
 
        o "tag2" is another tag, whose value is "some value ..."
 
-       Tags  in  a  transaction  comment affect the transaction and all of its
-       postings, while tags in a posting comment  affect  only  that  posting.
-       For  example,  the  following  transaction  has  three  tags  (A, TAG2,
+       Tags in a transaction comment affect the transaction  and  all  of  its
+       postings,  while  tags  in  a posting comment affect only that posting.
+       For example,  the  following  transaction  has  three  tags  (A,  TAG2,
        third-tag) and the posting has four (those plus posting-tag):
 
               1/1 a transaction  ; A:, TAG2:
                   ; third-tag: a third transaction tag, <- with a value
                   (a)  $1  ; posting-tag:
 
-       Tags are like Ledger's metadata feature, except  hledger's  tag  values
+       Tags  are  like  Ledger's metadata feature, except hledger's tag values
        are simple strings.
 
    Directives
-       A  directive is a line in the journal beginning with a special keyword,
+       A directive is a line in the journal beginning with a special  keyword,
        that influences how the journal is processed.  hledger's directives are
        based on a subset of Ledger's, but there are many differences (and also
        some differences between hledger versions).
 
        Directives' behaviour and interactions can get a little bit complex, so
-       here  is  a  table  summarising  the directives and their effects, with
+       here is a table summarising the  directives  and  their  effects,  with
        links to more detailed docs.
 
 
-
-
-
-       direc-          end                 subdi-    purpose                        can  affect  (as of
+       direc-          end                 subdi-    purpose                        can affect  (as  of
        tive            directive           rec-                                     2018/06)
                                            tives
        -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-       account                             any       document    account   names,   all  entries in all
-                                           text      declare account types & dis-   files,  before   or
+       account                             any       document   account    names,   all entries in  all
+                                           text      declare account types & dis-   files,   before  or
                                                      play order                     after
+
+
+
+
        alias           end aliases                   rewrite account names          following
                                                                                     inline/included
                                                                                     entries  until  end
-                                                                                    of  current file or
+                                                                                    of current file  or
                                                                                     end directive
-       apply account   end apply account             prepend a common  parent  to   following
+       apply account   end apply account             prepend  a  common parent to   following
                                                      account names                  inline/included
                                                                                     entries  until  end
-                                                                                    of current file  or
+                                                                                    of  current file or
                                                                                     end directive
        comment         end comment                   ignore part of journal         following
                                                                                     inline/included
                                                                                     entries  until  end
-                                                                                    of current file  or
+                                                                                    of  current file or
                                                                                     end directive
-       commodity                           format    declare  a commodity and its   number    notation:
+       commodity                           format    declare a commodity and  its   number    notation:
                                                      number  notation  &  display   following   entries
                                                      style                          in  that  commodity
-                                                                                    in all files;  dis-
+                                                                                    in  all files; dis-
                                                                                     play style: amounts
                                                                                     of  that  commodity
                                                                                     in reports
-       D                                             declare  a commodity, number   commodity: all com-
+       D                                             declare a commodity,  number   commodity: all com-
                                                      notation & display style for   modityless  entries
-                                                     commodityless amounts          in  all files; num-
-                                                                                    ber notation:  fol-
+                                                     commodityless amounts          in all files;  num-
+                                                                                    ber  notation: fol-
                                                                                     lowing   commodity-
-                                                                                    less  entries   and
+                                                                                    less   entries  and
                                                                                     entries   in   that
-                                                                                    commodity  in   all
+                                                                                    commodity   in  all
                                                                                     files;      display
                                                                                     style:  amounts  of
                                                                                     that  commodity  in
@@ -720,7 +713,7 @@
                                                      commodity                      commodity        in
                                                                                     reports, when -V is
                                                                                     used
-       Y                                             declare a year for  yearless   following
+       Y                                             declare  a year for yearless   following
                                                      dates                          inline/included
                                                                                     entries  until  end
                                                                                     of current file
@@ -730,9 +723,9 @@
 
        subdirec-   optional indented directive line immediately following a par-
        tive        ent directive
-       number      how  to  interpret  numbers when parsing journal entries (the
-       notation    identity of the  decimal  separator  character).   (Currently
-                   each  commodity  can  have its own notation, even in the same
+       number      how to interpret numbers when parsing  journal  entries  (the
+       notation    identity  of  the  decimal  separator character).  (Currently
+                   each commodity can have its own notation, even  in  the  same
                    file.)
        display     how to display amounts of a commodity in reports (symbol side
        style       and spacing, digit groups, decimal separator, decimal places)
@@ -740,37 +733,37 @@
        scope       are affected by a directive
 
        As you can see, directives vary in which journal entries and files they
-       affect, and whether they are focussed  on  input  (parsing)  or  output
+       affect,  and  whether  they  are  focussed on input (parsing) or output
        (reports).  Some directives have multiple effects.
 
-       If  you  have  a journal made up of multiple files, or pass multiple -f
-       options on the command line, note that directives  which  affect  input
-       typically  last  only  until the end of their defining file.  This pro-
+       If you have a journal made up of multiple files, or  pass  multiple  -f
+       options  on  the  command line, note that directives which affect input
+       typically last only until the end of their defining  file.   This  pro-
        vides more simplicity and predictability, eg reports are not changed by
-       writing  file  options  in  a different order.  It can be surprising at
+       writing file options in a different order.  It  can  be  surprising  at
        times though.
 
    Comment blocks
-       A line containing just comment starts a commented region of  the  file,
+       A  line  containing just comment starts a commented region of the file,
        and a line containing just end comment (or the end of the current file)
        ends it.  See also comments.
 
    Including other files
-       You can pull in the content of additional files by writing  an  include
+       You  can  pull in the content of additional files by writing an include
        directive, like this:
 
               include path/to/file.journal
 
-       If  the path does not begin with a slash, it is relative to the current
-       file.  The include file path may contain  common  glob  patterns  (e.g.
+       If the path does not begin with a slash, it is relative to the  current
+       file.   The  include  file  path may contain common glob patterns (e.g.
        *).
 
-       The  include  directive  can  only  be  used  in journal files.  It can
+       The include directive can only  be  used  in  journal  files.   It  can
        include journal, timeclock or timedot files, but not CSV files.
 
    Default year
-       You can set a default year to be used for subsequent dates which  don't
-       specify  a year.  This is a line beginning with Y followed by the year.
+       You  can set a default year to be used for subsequent dates which don't
+       specify a year.  This is a line beginning with Y followed by the  year.
        Eg:
 
               Y2009      ; set default year to 2009
@@ -790,8 +783,8 @@
                 assets
 
    Declaring commodities
-       The commodity directive declares commodities which may be used  in  the
-       journal  (though  currently we do not enforce this).  It may be written
+       The  commodity  directive declares commodities which may be used in the
+       journal (though currently we do not enforce this).  It may  be  written
        on a single line, like this:
 
               ; commodity EXAMPLEAMOUNT
@@ -801,8 +794,8 @@
               ; separating thousands with comma.
               commodity 1,000.0000 AAAA
 
-       or on multiple lines, using the "format" subdirective.   In  this  case
-       the  commodity  symbol  appears  twice  and  should be the same in both
+       or  on  multiple  lines, using the "format" subdirective.  In this case
+       the commodity symbol appears twice and  should  be  the  same  in  both
        places:
 
               ; commodity SYMBOL
@@ -814,19 +807,19 @@
               commodity INR
                 format INR 9,99,99,999.00
 
-       Commodity directives have a second purpose: they  define  the  standard
+       Commodity  directives  have  a second purpose: they define the standard
        display format for amounts in the commodity.  Normally the display for-
-       mat is inferred from journal entries, but this  can  be  unpredictable;
-       declaring  it  with  a  commodity  directive overrides this and removes
-       ambiguity.  Towards this end,  amounts  in  commodity  directives  must
-       always  be written with a decimal point (a period or comma, followed by
+       mat  is  inferred  from journal entries, but this can be unpredictable;
+       declaring it with a commodity  directive  overrides  this  and  removes
+       ambiguity.   Towards  this  end,  amounts  in commodity directives must
+       always be written with a decimal point (a period or comma, followed  by
        0 or more decimal digits).
 
    Default commodity
-       The D directive sets a default commodity (and display  format),  to  be
+       The  D  directive  sets a default commodity (and display format), to be
        used for amounts without a commodity symbol (ie, plain numbers).  (Note
-       this differs from Ledger's default commodity directive.) The  commodity
-       and  display  format  will  be applied to all subsequent commodity-less
+       this  differs from Ledger's default commodity directive.) The commodity
+       and display format will be applied  to  all  subsequent  commodity-less
        amounts, or until the next D directive.
 
               # commodity-less amounts should be treated as dollars
@@ -841,9 +834,9 @@
        a decimal point.
 
    Market prices
-       The  P  directive  declares  a  market price, which is an exchange rate
+       The P directive declares a market price,  which  is  an  exchange  rate
        between two commodities on a certain date.  (In Ledger, they are called
-       "historical  prices".)  These are often obtained from a stock exchange,
+       "historical prices".) These are often obtained from a  stock  exchange,
        cryptocurrency exchange, or the foreign exchange market.
 
        Here is the format:
@@ -854,39 +847,39 @@
 
        o COMMODITYA is the symbol of the commodity being priced
 
-       o COMMODITYBAMOUNT is an amount (symbol and quantity) in a second  com-
+       o COMMODITYBAMOUNT  is an amount (symbol and quantity) in a second com-
          modity, giving the price in commodity B of one unit of commodity A.
 
-       These  two  market price directives say that one euro was worth 1.35 US
+       These two market price directives say that one euro was worth  1.35  US
        dollars during 2009, and $1.40 from 2010 onward:
 
               P 2009/1/1  $1.35
               P 2010/1/1  $1.40
 
-       The -V/--value flag can be used to convert reported amounts to  another
+       The  -V/--value flag can be used to convert reported amounts to another
        commodity using these prices.
 
    Declaring accounts
-       account  directives  can  be  used to pre-declare accounts.  Though not
+       account directives can be used to  pre-declare  accounts.   Though  not
        required, they can provide several benefits:
 
        o They can document your intended chart of accounts, providing a refer-
          ence.
 
-       o They  can  store  extra  information about accounts (account numbers,
+       o They can store extra information  about  accounts  (account  numbers,
          notes, etc.)
 
-       o They can help hledger know your accounts'  types  (asset,  liability,
-         equity,  revenue,  expense), useful for reports like balancesheet and
+       o They  can  help  hledger know your accounts' types (asset, liability,
+         equity, revenue, expense), useful for reports like  balancesheet  and
          incomestatement.
 
-       o They control account display order in  reports,  allowing  non-alpha-
+       o They  control  account  display order in reports, allowing non-alpha-
          betic sorting (eg Revenues to appear above Expenses).
 
-       o They   help   with  account  name  completion  in  the  add  command,
+       o They  help  with  account  name  completion  in  the   add   command,
          hledger-iadd, hledger-web, ledger-mode etc.
 
-       The simplest form is just the word account followed by a  hledger-style
+       The  simplest form is just the word account followed by a hledger-style
        account name, eg:
 
               account assets:bank:checking
@@ -904,7 +897,7 @@
        the next line instead.
 
    Account subdirectives
-       We also allow (and ignore) Ledger-style  indented  subdirectives,  just
+       We  also  allow  (and ignore) Ledger-style indented subdirectives, just
        for compatibility.:
 
               account assets:bank:checking
@@ -917,18 +910,18 @@
                 [LEDGER-STYLE SUBDIRECTIVES, IGNORED]
 
    Account types
-       hledger  recognises  five types (or classes) of account: Asset, Liabil-
-       ity, Equity, Revenue, Expense.  This is used by a few  accounting-aware
+       hledger recognises five types (or classes) of account:  Asset,  Liabil-
+       ity,  Equity, Revenue, Expense.  This is used by a few accounting-aware
        reports such as balancesheet, incomestatement and cashflow.
 
    Auto-detected account types
        If you name your top-level accounts with some variation of assets, lia-
-       bilities/debts, equity, revenues/income, or expenses, their  types  are
+       bilities/debts,  equity,  revenues/income, or expenses, their types are
        detected automatically.
 
    Account types declared with tags
-       More  generally,  you  can  declare  an  account's type with an account
-       directive, by writing a type: tag in a comment, followed by one of  the
+       More generally, you can declare  an  account's  type  with  an  account
+       directive,  by writing a type: tag in a comment, followed by one of the
        words Asset, Liability, Equity, Revenue, Expense, or one of the letters
        ALERX (case insensitive):
 
@@ -939,8 +932,8 @@
               account expenses     ; type:Expenses
 
    Account types declared with account type codes
-       Or, you can write one of those letters separated from the account  name
-       by  two  or  more spaces, but this should probably be considered depre-
+       Or,  you can write one of those letters separated from the account name
+       by two or more spaces, but this should probably  be  considered  depre-
        cated as of hledger 1.13:
 
               account assets       A
@@ -950,7 +943,7 @@
               account expenses     X
 
    Overriding auto-detected types
-       If you ever override the types of those auto-detected  english  account
+       If  you  ever override the types of those auto-detected english account
        names mentioned above, you might need to help the reports a bit.  Eg:
 
               ; make "liabilities" not have the liability type - who knows why
@@ -961,8 +954,8 @@
               account -             ; type:L
 
    Account display order
-       Account  directives also set the order in which accounts are displayed,
-       eg in reports, the hledger-ui  accounts  screen,  and  the  hledger-web
+       Account directives also set the order in which accounts are  displayed,
+       eg  in  reports,  the  hledger-ui  accounts screen, and the hledger-web
        sidebar.  By default accounts are listed in alphabetical order.  But if
        you have these account directives in the journal:
 
@@ -984,16 +977,16 @@
 
        Undeclared accounts, if any, are displayed last, in alphabetical order.
 
-       Note that sorting is done at each level of  the  account  tree  (within
-       each  group of sibling accounts under the same parent).  And currently,
+       Note  that  sorting  is  done at each level of the account tree (within
+       each group of sibling accounts under the same parent).  And  currently,
        this directive:
 
               account other:zoo
 
-       would influence the position of zoo among other's subaccounts, but  not
-       the  position of other among the top-level accounts.  This means: - you
-       will sometimes declare parent accounts (eg  account other  above)  that
-       you  don't  intend  to post to, just to customize their display order -
+       would  influence the position of zoo among other's subaccounts, but not
+       the position of other among the top-level accounts.  This means: -  you
+       will  sometimes  declare  parent accounts (eg account other above) that
+       you don't intend to post to, just to customize their  display  order  -
        sibling accounts stay together (you couldn't display x:y in between a:b
        and a:c).
 
@@ -1012,14 +1005,14 @@
        o customising reports
 
        Account aliases also rewrite account names in account directives.  They
-       do   not  affect  account  names  being  entered  via  hledger  add  or
+       do  not  affect  account  names  being  entered  via  hledger  add   or
        hledger-web.
 
        See also Cookbook: Rewrite account names.
 
    Basic aliases
-       To set an account alias, use the alias directive in your journal  file.
-       This  affects all subsequent journal entries in the current file or its
+       To  set an account alias, use the alias directive in your journal file.
+       This affects all subsequent journal entries in the current file or  its
        included files.  The spaces around the = are optional:
 
               alias OLD = NEW
@@ -1027,54 +1020,54 @@
        Or, you can use the --alias 'OLD=NEW' option on the command line.  This
        affects all entries.  It's useful for trying out aliases interactively.
 
-       OLD and NEW are  case  sensitive  full  account  names.   hledger  will
-       replace  any occurrence of the old account name with the new one.  Sub-
+       OLD  and  NEW  are  case  sensitive  full  account names.  hledger will
+       replace any occurrence of the old account name with the new one.   Sub-
        accounts are also affected.  Eg:
 
               alias checking = assets:bank:wells fargo:checking
               # rewrites "checking" to "assets:bank:wells fargo:checking", or "checking:a" to "assets:bank:wells fargo:checking:a"
 
    Regex aliases
-       There is also a more powerful variant that uses a  regular  expression,
+       There  is  also a more powerful variant that uses a regular expression,
        indicated by the forward slashes:
 
               alias /REGEX/ = REPLACEMENT
 
        or --alias '/REGEX/=REPLACEMENT'.
 
-       REGEX  is  a  case-insensitive regular expression.  Anywhere it matches
-       inside an account name, the matched part will be replaced  by  REPLACE-
-       MENT.   If REGEX contains parenthesised match groups, these can be ref-
+       REGEX is a case-insensitive regular expression.   Anywhere  it  matches
+       inside  an  account name, the matched part will be replaced by REPLACE-
+       MENT.  If REGEX contains parenthesised match groups, these can be  ref-
        erenced by the usual numeric backreferences in REPLACEMENT.  Eg:
 
               alias /^(.+):bank:([^:]+)(.*)/ = \1:\2 \3
               # rewrites "assets:bank:wells fargo:checking" to  "assets:wells fargo checking"
 
-       Also note that REPLACEMENT continues to the end of line (or on  command
-       line,  to  end  of  option argument), so it can contain trailing white-
+       Also  note that REPLACEMENT continues to the end of line (or on command
+       line, to end of option argument), so it  can  contain  trailing  white-
        space.
 
    Multiple aliases
-       You can define as many aliases as you like  using  directives  or  com-
-       mand-line  options.  Aliases are recursive - each alias sees the result
-       of applying previous ones.   (This  is  different  from  Ledger,  where
+       You  can  define  as  many aliases as you like using directives or com-
+       mand-line options.  Aliases are recursive - each alias sees the  result
+       of  applying  previous  ones.   (This  is  different from Ledger, where
        aliases are non-recursive by default).  Aliases are applied in the fol-
        lowing order:
 
-       1. alias directives, most recently seen first (recent  directives  take
+       1. alias  directives,  most recently seen first (recent directives take
           precedence over earlier ones; directives not yet seen are ignored)
 
        2. alias options, in the order they appear on the command line
 
    end aliases
-       You   can  clear  (forget)  all  currently  defined  aliases  with  the
+       You  can  clear  (forget)  all  currently  defined  aliases  with   the
        end aliases directive:
 
               end aliases
 
    Default parent account
-       You can specify a  parent  account  which  will  be  prepended  to  all
-       accounts  within  a  section of the journal.  Use the apply account and
+       You  can  specify  a  parent  account  which  will  be prepended to all
+       accounts within a section of the journal.  Use  the  apply account  and
        end apply account directives like so:
 
               apply account home
@@ -1091,7 +1084,7 @@
                   home:food           $10
                   home:cash          $-10
 
-       If end apply account is omitted, the effect lasts to  the  end  of  the
+       If  end apply account  is  omitted,  the effect lasts to the end of the
        file.  Included files are also affected, eg:
 
               apply account business
@@ -1100,18 +1093,18 @@
               apply account personal
               include personal.journal
 
-       Prior  to  hledger 1.0, legacy account and end spellings were also sup-
+       Prior to hledger 1.0, legacy account and end spellings were  also  sup-
        ported.
 
-       A default parent account also affects account directives.  It does  not
-       affect  account names being entered via hledger add or hledger-web.  If
-       account aliases are present, they are applied after the default  parent
+       A  default parent account also affects account directives.  It does not
+       affect account names being entered via hledger add or hledger-web.   If
+       account  aliases are present, they are applied after the default parent
        account.
 
    Periodic transactions
-       Periodic  transaction  rules  describe  transactions  that recur.  They
+       Periodic transaction rules  describe  transactions  that  recur.   They
        allow you to generate future transactions for forecasting, without hav-
-       ing  to  write  them  out  explicitly in the journal (with --forecast).
+       ing to write them out explicitly  in  the  journal  (with  --forecast).
        Secondly, they also can be used to define budget goals (with --budget).
 
        A periodic transaction rule looks like a normal journal entry, with the
@@ -1122,17 +1115,17 @@
                   expenses:rent          $2000
                   assets:bank:checking
 
-       There  is  an additional constraint on the period expression: the start
-       date  must  fall  on  a  natural  boundary   of   the   interval.    Eg
+       There is an additional constraint on the period expression:  the  start
+       date   must   fall   on   a  natural  boundary  of  the  interval.   Eg
        monthly from 2018/1/1 is valid, but monthly from 2018/1/15 is not.
 
-       Partial  or  relative dates (M/D, D, tomorrow, last week) in the period
-       expression can work (useful or not).  They will be relative to  today's
-       date,  unless  a  Y  default year directive is in effect, in which case
+       Partial or relative dates (M/D, D, tomorrow, last week) in  the  period
+       expression  can work (useful or not).  They will be relative to today's
+       date, unless a Y default year directive is in  effect,  in  which  case
        they will be relative to Y/1/1.
 
    Two spaces after the period expression
-       If the period expression is  followed  by  a  transaction  description,
+       If  the  period  expression  is  followed by a transaction description,
        these must be separated by two or more spaces.  This helps hledger know
        where the period expression ends, so that descriptions can not acciden-
        tally alter their meaning, as in this example:
@@ -1145,66 +1138,66 @@
                   income:acme inc
 
    Forecasting with periodic transactions
-       With  the  --forecast  flag,  each  periodic transaction rule generates
+       With the --forecast flag,  each  periodic  transaction  rule  generates
        future transactions recurring at the specified interval.  These are not
-       saved  in  the journal, but appear in all reports.  They will look like
-       normal transactions, but with an extra tag named recur, whose value  is
+       saved in the journal, but appear in all reports.  They will  look  like
+       normal  transactions, but with an extra tag named recur, whose value is
        the generating period expression.
 
-       Forecast  transactions  start  on  the first occurrence, and end on the
-       last occurrence, of their interval within  the  forecast  period.   The
+       Forecast transactions start on the first occurrence,  and  end  on  the
+       last  occurrence,  of  their  interval within the forecast period.  The
        forecast period:
 
        o begins on the later of
 
          o the report start date if specified with -b/-p/date:
 
-         o the  day  after the latest normal (non-periodic) transaction in the
+         o the day after the latest normal (non-periodic) transaction  in  the
            journal, or today if there are no normal transactions.
 
-       o ends on the report end date if specified  with  -e/-p/date:,  or  180
+       o ends  on  the  report  end date if specified with -e/-p/date:, or 180
          days from today.
 
-       where  "today"  means  the current date at report time.  The "later of"
-       rule ensures that forecast transactions do not overlap normal  transac-
+       where "today" means the current date at report time.   The  "later  of"
+       rule  ensures that forecast transactions do not overlap normal transac-
        tions in time; they will begin only after normal transactions end.
 
-       Forecasting  can be useful for estimating balances into the future, and
-       experimenting with different scenarios.   Note  the  start  date  logic
+       Forecasting can be useful for estimating balances into the future,  and
+       experimenting  with  different  scenarios.   Note  the start date logic
        means that forecasted transactions are automatically replaced by normal
        transactions as you add those.
 
        Forecasting can also help with data entry: describe most of your trans-
-       actions  with  periodic  rules,  and  every so often copy the output of
+       actions with periodic rules, and every so  often  copy  the  output  of
        print --forecast to the journal.
 
        You can generate one-time transactions too: just write a period expres-
-       sion  specifying a date with no report interval.  (You could also write
-       a normal transaction with a future date,  but  remember  this  disables
+       sion specifying a date with no report interval.  (You could also  write
+       a  normal  transaction  with  a future date, but remember this disables
        forecast transactions on previous dates.)
 
    Budgeting with periodic transactions
-       With  the  --budget  flag,  currently supported by the balance command,
-       each periodic transaction rule declares recurring budget goals for  the
-       specified  accounts.   Eg  the  first  example above declares a goal of
-       spending $2000 on rent (and also,  a  goal  of  depositing  $2000  into
-       checking)  every  month.  Goals and actual performance can then be com-
+       With the --budget flag, currently supported  by  the  balance  command,
+       each  periodic transaction rule declares recurring budget goals for the
+       specified accounts.  Eg the first example  above  declares  a  goal  of
+       spending  $2000  on  rent  (and  also,  a goal of depositing $2000 into
+       checking) every month.  Goals and actual performance can then  be  com-
        pared in budget reports.
 
-       For more details, see: balance: Budget report and  Cookbook:  Budgeting
+       For  more  details, see: balance: Budget report and Cookbook: Budgeting
        and Forecasting.
 
 
    Transaction modifiers
-       Transaction  modifier  rules  describe  changes  that should be applied
-       automatically to certain transactions.  They can be  enabled  by  using
-       the  --auto  flag.   Currently,  just  one  kind of change is possible:
-       adding extra postings.  These  rule-generated  postings  are  known  as
+       Transaction modifier rules describe  changes  that  should  be  applied
+       automatically  to  certain  transactions.  They can be enabled by using
+       the --auto flag.  Currently, just  one  kind  of  change  is  possible:
+       adding  extra  postings.   These  rule-generated  postings are known as
        "automated postings" or "auto postings".
 
-       A  transaction  modifier  rule  looks  quite like a normal transaction,
-       except the first line is an  equals  sign  followed  by  a  query  that
-       matches  certain  postings  (mnemonic:  = suggests matching).  And each
+       A transaction modifier rule looks  quite  like  a  normal  transaction,
+       except  the  first  line  is  an  equals  sign followed by a query that
+       matches certain postings (mnemonic: =  suggests  matching).   And  each
        "posting" is actually a posting-generating rule:
 
               = QUERY
@@ -1212,20 +1205,20 @@
                   ACCT  [AMT]
                   ...
 
-       These posting rules look like normal postings, except  the  amount  can
+       These  posting  rules  look like normal postings, except the amount can
        be:
 
-       o a  normal  amount  with a commodity symbol, eg $2.  This will be used
+       o a normal amount with a commodity symbol, eg $2.  This  will  be  used
          as-is.
 
        o a number, eg 2.  The commodity symbol (if any) from the matched post-
          ing will be added to this.
 
-       o a  numeric  multiplier,  eg  *2 (a star followed by a number N).  The
+       o a numeric multiplier, eg *2 (a star followed by  a  number  N).   The
          matched posting's amount (and total price, if any) will be multiplied
          by N.
 
-       o a  multiplier  with a commodity symbol, eg *$2 (a star, number N, and
+       o a multiplier with a commodity symbol, eg *$2 (a star, number  N,  and
          symbol S).  The matched posting's amount will be multiplied by N, and
          its commodity symbol will be replaced with S.
 
@@ -1265,42 +1258,28 @@
 
        Currently, transaction modifiers are applied / auto postings are added:
 
-       o after missing amounts are inferred, and transactions are checked  for
+       o after  missing amounts are inferred, and transactions are checked for
          balancedness,
 
        o but before balance assertions are checked.
 
-       Note  this  means that journal entries must be balanced both before and
+       Note this means that journal entries must be balanced both  before  and
        after auto postings are added.  This changed in hledger 1.12+; see #893
        for background.
 
 EDITOR SUPPORT
-       Add-on modes exist for various text editors, to make working with jour-
-       nal files easier.  They add colour, navigation aids  and  helpful  com-
-       mands.   For  hledger  users  who  edit  the journal file directly (the
-       majority), using one of these modes is quite recommended.
-
-       These were written with Ledger in mind,  but  also  work  with  hledger
-       files:
-
-
-       Editor
-       --------------------------------------------------------------------------
-       Emacs          http://www.ledger-cli.org/3.0/doc/ledger-mode.html
-       Vim            https://github.com/ledger/vim-ledger
-       Sublime Text   https://github.com/ledger/ledger/wiki/Edit-
-                      ing-Ledger-files-with-Sublime-Text-or-RubyMine
-       Textmate       https://github.com/ledger/ledger/wiki/Using-TextMate-2
-
-       Text   Wran-   https://github.com/ledger/ledger/wiki/Edit-
-       gler           ing-Ledger-files-with-TextWrangler
-       Visual  Stu-   https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?item-
-       dio Code       Name=mark-hansen.hledger-vscode
+       Helper modes exist for popular text editors, which  make  working  with
+       journal files easier.  They add colour, formatting, tab completion, and
+       helpful commands, and are quite recommended if you  edit  your  journal
+       with  a  text  editor.   They  include  ledger-mode or hledger-mode for
+       Emacs, vim-ledger for Vim, hledger-vscode for Visual Studio  Code,  and
+       others.   See  the  [[Cookbook]] at hledger.org for the latest informa-
+       tion.
 
 
 
 REPORTING BUGS
-       Report  bugs at http://bugs.hledger.org (or on the #hledger IRC channel
+       Report bugs at http://bugs.hledger.org (or on the #hledger IRC  channel
        or hledger mail list)
 
 
@@ -1314,7 +1293,7 @@
 
 
 SEE ALSO
-       hledger(1),     hledger-ui(1),     hledger-web(1),      hledger-api(1),
+       hledger(1),      hledger-ui(1),     hledger-web(1),     hledger-api(1),
        hledger_csv(5), hledger_journal(5), hledger_timeclock(5), hledger_time-
        dot(5), ledger(1)
 
@@ -1322,4 +1301,4 @@
 
 
 
-hledger 1.13                     February 2019              hledger_journal(5)
+hledger 1.14                      March 2019                hledger_journal(5)
diff --git a/hledger_timeclock.5 b/hledger_timeclock.5
--- a/hledger_timeclock.5
+++ b/hledger_timeclock.5
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 
-.TH "hledger_timeclock" "5" "February 2019" "hledger 1.13" "hledger User Manuals"
+.TH "hledger_timeclock" "5" "March 2019" "hledger 1.14" "hledger User Manuals"
 
 
 
diff --git a/hledger_timeclock.info b/hledger_timeclock.info
--- a/hledger_timeclock.info
+++ b/hledger_timeclock.info
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 File: hledger_timeclock.info,  Node: Top,  Up: (dir)
 
-hledger_timeclock(5) hledger 1.13
+hledger_timeclock(5) hledger 1.14
 *********************************
 
 hledger can read timeclock files.  As with Ledger, these are (a subset
diff --git a/hledger_timeclock.txt b/hledger_timeclock.txt
--- a/hledger_timeclock.txt
+++ b/hledger_timeclock.txt
@@ -77,4 +77,4 @@
 
 
 
-hledger 1.13                     February 2019            hledger_timeclock(5)
+hledger 1.14                      March 2019              hledger_timeclock(5)
diff --git a/hledger_timedot.5 b/hledger_timedot.5
--- a/hledger_timedot.5
+++ b/hledger_timedot.5
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 
-.TH "hledger_timedot" "5" "February 2019" "hledger 1.13" "hledger User Manuals"
+.TH "hledger_timedot" "5" "March 2019" "hledger 1.14" "hledger User Manuals"
 
 
 
diff --git a/hledger_timedot.info b/hledger_timedot.info
--- a/hledger_timedot.info
+++ b/hledger_timedot.info
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 File: hledger_timedot.info,  Node: Top,  Next: FILE FORMAT,  Up: (dir)
 
-hledger_timedot(5) hledger 1.13
+hledger_timedot(5) hledger 1.14
 *******************************
 
 Timedot is a plain text format for logging dated, categorised quantities
diff --git a/hledger_timedot.txt b/hledger_timedot.txt
--- a/hledger_timedot.txt
+++ b/hledger_timedot.txt
@@ -124,4 +124,4 @@
 
 
 
-hledger 1.13                     February 2019              hledger_timedot(5)
+hledger 1.14                      March 2019                hledger_timedot(5)
