Signed Amount vs Debit and Credit Columns
These two source layouts express transaction direction differently. Choose the workflow that matches your export instead of converting a column simply because its name looks familiar.
Signed amount: direction in one value
A signed amount stores money out and money in in one column. For example, -42.18 may represent a purchase and 480.00 may represent a deposit. That sign convention belongs to the source export; confirm it against a statement row before mapping it.
Debit and credit: direction in two fields
A separate-column export might use Debit for one side and Credit for the other. In a common layout, a debit cell contains 42.18 while Credit is blank, or Credit contains 480.00 while Debit is blank. LedgerHarbor Plus provides controls for this layout.
What blank cells mean
An empty debit or credit cell often means that the row has only one populated side. Do not replace a blank with zero until you understand how the source represents missing values; preserve the original file and check the preview.
Ambiguous rows
If both Debit and Credit contain values, the row could be a correction, transfer, fee allocation, or another source-specific event. A calculated net value cannot identify that meaning on its own. Set the row aside for manual review rather than assuming the accounting direction.
Example comparison
| Source layout | Example row | Initial review question |
|---|---|---|
| Signed amount | 07/08/2026,Software renewal,-18.00 | Does negative mean money left this account? |
| Debit/credit | 07/08/2026,Software renewal,18.00, | Is the populated Debit field an outflow in this export? |
| Both populated | 07/09/2026,Correction,12.00,12.00 | What source event does the pair represent? |
Troubleshooting checklist
- Inspect two known inflows.
- Inspect two known outflows.
- Check whether blanks are expected.
- Flag rows with both fields.
- Review the signed preview.
Limitations and review guidance
Accounting direction is not universal across every bank, export, or bookkeeping convention. LedgerHarbor can apply the selected mapping and show validation results, but it cannot infer a source's business meaning or guarantee that a destination accepts every transaction type. Review before export.
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