How do I set up a Dynamic Account Structure?

This article covers building a Dynamic Account Structure (DAS), used to create customised layouts for how account balances display in enquiries such as the Balance Sheet or Profit & Loss. A structure is made up of groups and sub-groups, and you assign accounts to each one to control how they're presented.

Creating a new Dynamic Account Structure

1. Navigate to 'Dynamic Account Structures'
2. Select 'New'
3. Enter a 'Description' and 'Code' for the structure – for example, 'Test'
4. Select 'Create'.

Adding a group to a Dynamic Account Structure

1. Open your new structure
2. Select 'Edit'
3. On the 'Structure' tab, select 'Add' – this creates a new grouping within the structure.

Two groups exist by default on every structure – 'Profit & Loss' and 'Balance Sheet' – and any group you add sits within one of these.

Defining a group and building a hierarchy in a Dynamic Account Structure

For each group in the structure:

1. Enter a 'Code'
2. Enter a 'Description' – this is what displays on the Balance Sheet or other enquiries, for example 'Income'
3. Set 'Account type' to 'Balance Sheet' or 'Profit & Loss', matching where the group sits
4. Leave 'Parent' blank if this is a top-level group

To build a sub-group, repeat the same process and set 'Parent' to the group it should sit under – for example, a 'Donations income' group with 'Parent' set to 'Income'. This lets you build a hierarchy that reflects how you want accounts displayed.

Adding accounts to groups in a Dynamic Account Structure

1. Select the 'Accounts' tab.

You can add accounts to a group in one of two ways:

• Drag and drop – drag accounts from the right-hand list into the relevant group on the left
• Selection wizard – hover over a group, select the three-line menu, select 'Selection wizard', then select the accounts you want to include

The selection wizard is the quicker option when assigning several accounts to one group at once.

Saving and using a Dynamic Account Structure in an enquiry

1. Select 'Save' on the structure
2. Open the relevant enquiry – for example, 'Balance sheet'
3. Depending on your version, this is either selecting the settings (gear) icon, or selecting the 'Configure' button
4. Under 'Rows', select your new Dynamic Account Structure – for example, 'Test Example' – in place of the default option, such as 'Balance Sheet (Standard)'.

Your customised layout now applies to the enquiry.