Decimal-Mark Directive¶

The decimal-mark directive specifies the character used as the decimal separator.

Syntax¶

decimal-mark CHAR

Where CHAR is . (period) or , (comma).

Basic Usage¶

Period Decimal (US/UK Style)¶

decimal-mark .

2024-01-15 Transaction
    Expenses:Food    $1,234.56
    Assets:Checking

Comma Decimal (European Style)¶

decimal-mark ,

2024-01-15 Transaction
    Expenses:Food    1.234,56 EUR
    Assets:Checking

Purpose¶

The directive clarifies ambiguous number formats:

; Without directive, "1,234" could mean:
; - 1234 (thousand separator)
; - 1.234 (decimal 1 point 234)

decimal-mark ,
; Now "1,234" means 1.234 (decimal)

Separator Interpretation¶

With `decimal-mark .`¶

Input	Interpreted As
`1.50`	1.50
`1,000`	1000
`1,234.56`	1234.56
`1.234`	1.234

With `decimal-mark ,`¶

Input	Interpreted As
`1,50`	1.50
`1.000`	1000
`1.234,56`	1234.56
`1,234`	1.234

Scope¶

The directive affects all entries after it:

; Default: period is decimal mark

2024-01-01 US format
    Expenses:A    $1,234.56    ; 1234.56 USD
    Assets:Bank

decimal-mark ,

2024-01-02 European format
    Expenses:B    1.234,56 EUR ; 1234.56 EUR
    Assets:Bank

Multiple Directives¶

Can switch within file (use carefully):

; US section
decimal-mark .

2024-01-15 US Transaction
    Assets:USD    $1,234.56
    Equity:Opening

; European section
decimal-mark ,

2024-01-15 EU Transaction
    Assets:EUR    1.234,56 EUR
    Equity:Opening

Interaction with Commodity¶

Works together with commodity directive:

decimal-mark ,

commodity 1.000,00 EUR

2024-01-15 European purchase
    Expenses:Food    50,00 EUR
    Assets:Bank     -50,00 EUR

Regional Examples¶

United States¶

decimal-mark .
commodity $1,000.00

2024-01-15 Groceries
    Expenses:Food    $1,234.56
    Assets:Checking

Germany¶

decimal-mark ,
commodity 1.000,00 EUR

2024-01-15 Lebensmittel
    Ausgaben:Essen    1.234,56 EUR
    Vermögen:Girokonto

France¶

decimal-mark ,
commodity 1 000,00 EUR

2024-01-15 Épicerie
    Dépenses:Alimentation    1 234,56 EUR
    Actifs:Compte

Switzerland¶

decimal-mark .
commodity CHF 1'000.00

2024-01-15 Einkauf
    Ausgaben:Essen    CHF 1'234.56
    Vermögen:Konto

Best Practices¶

Set once at file start for consistency
Match local conventions of your region
Be consistent across all files
Document the choice for other users

Common Pitfalls¶

Ambiguous Amounts¶

; Without decimal-mark, this is ambiguous:
    Expenses:A    1,234

; Is it 1234 or 1.234?
; Set decimal-mark to clarify

Mixing Conventions¶

; DON'T mix within related files
decimal-mark .
    Expenses:A    1,234.56    ; US style

decimal-mark ,
    Expenses:B    1.234,56    ; European style

Include Files¶

; main.journal
decimal-mark ,
include transactions.journal

; transactions.journal
; Inherits decimal-mark , from including file
2024-01-15 Transaction
    Expenses:A    1.234,56 EUR
    Assets:Bank

Complete Example¶

; ===== European Finance Setup =====

; Set decimal mark first
decimal-mark ,

; Commodity declarations
commodity 1.000,00 EUR
commodity 1.000,00 CHF
commodity $1.000,00

; Account declarations
account Aktiva:Bank:Girokonto
account Aktiva:Bank:Sparkonto
account Ausgaben:Lebensmittel
account Ausgaben:Wohnung
account Einnahmen:Gehalt

; ===== Transactions =====

2024-01-01 Eröffnungsbilanz
    Aktiva:Bank:Girokonto    5.000,00 EUR
    Eigenkapital:Eröffnung

2024-01-15 Gehalt
    Aktiva:Bank:Girokonto    3.500,00 EUR
    Einnahmen:Gehalt

2024-01-16 Supermarkt
    Ausgaben:Lebensmittel    125,50 EUR
    Aktiva:Bank:Girokonto

2024-01-20 Miete
    Ausgaben:Wohnung    850,00 EUR
    Aktiva:Bank:Girokonto

Command Line¶

The decimal mark can also be set via command line:

hledger -f journal.hledger --decimal-mark=, bal