ERRORS

hledger produces a variety of error messages in different situations. They are intended first for humans and secondly for parsing by tools like flycheck-hledger. Here we collect examples of these errors, which are listed below for reference, and also tested as part of our test suite. This document is the README in the hledger/test/errors/ directory, and also published as Developer docs > ERRORS on hledger.org.

Each error has

• a name (similar to hledger check names when applicable)
• an executable script in this directory which reproduces the error (like balanced.j)
• which usually can also be used as a data file for manual testing (hledger -f balanced.j check)
• sometimes supplementary data files (like csvdateparse.csv.rules)
• an autogenerated shelltestrunner test (like balanced.test)

To update this readme with the latest error messages, run make readme. To regenerate the shelltestrunner tests, run make tests. To test all of these error messages with hledger, run make test. To test these errors with flycheck-hledger, customize flycheck-hledger-* in Emacs to enable all appropriate checks, then open the data files to see how flycheck handles them. C-c ! l opens a pane for easy viewing.

Error improvement

Work is ongoing to make our error messages more consistent and more useful (#1436, #1885, #1886..). This is a big project, and your help is welcome; every bit of progress counts, and this is a fast way to help users.

• phase 1: update flycheck to detect journal errors of current hledger release (and keep a branch updated to detect errors of latest hledger master)
• phase 2: survey/document current journal errors & status
• phase 3: pick a new standard format
• phase 4: implement standard format for all
• phase 5: implement accurate lines for all
• phase 6: implement accurate columns for all [where possible; we currently do not save the position of every part of the transaction, so most errors do not report columns]
• phase 7: implement useful highlighted excerpts for all [we show imperfect but useful highlighted regions]
• phase 8: implement accurate flycheck region for all [flycheck-detected regions are imperfect but useful]
• phase 9: do likewise for timeclock errors
• phase 10: do likewise for timedot errors
• phase 11: do likewise for csv errors
• phase 12: do likewise for other command line errors
• phase 13: decide/add error ids/explanations/web pages ? not needed
• phase 14: support Language Server Protocol & Visual Code

Standard error format

Here is our current preferred layout for error messages. It is similar to the parse error messages we get from megaparsec (since it's easier to follow that than change it):

hledger: Error: FILE:LOCATION:
EXCERPT
EXPLANATION

Notes:

• line 1 includes "hledger" (dropping this would require some effort), the word "Error", and the error position
• FILE is the file path
• LOCATION is LINE[-ENDLINE][:COLUMN[-ENDCOLUMN]]
• EXCERPT is a short visual snippet whenever possible, with the error region highlighted, line numbers, and colour when supported. This section must be easy for flycheck to ignore. (All lines begin with a space or a digit.)
• EXPLANATION briefly explains the problem, and suggests remedies if possible. It can be dynamic, showing context-sensitive info. (ShellCheck's summaries are static.)
• this layout is based on megaparsec's. For comparison, rustc puts summary on line 1 and location on line 2:

  Error[ID]: SUMMARY
  at FILE:LOCATION
  EXCERPT
  [DETAILS]
  

• try https://github.com/mesabloo/diagnose, https://hackage.haskell.org/package/errata, https://hackage.haskell.org/package/chapelure later ?

Limitations

Here are some current limitations of hledger's error messages:

• We report only one error at a time. You have to fix (or bypass) the current error to see any others.

• We currently don't save perfect position information when parsing, so we sometimes report only line number(s), without column number(s).

• For the same reason, the excerpts we show in error messages are not the original data. Instead we show a synthetic rendering that is similar enough to be explanatory.

Error messages

Here is the current status as of hledger (see version below) and flycheck-hledger g1310cb518. Click error names to see an example. The table headings mean:

• std format - the error message follows our standard error format
• line - correct line numbers are reported
• column - useful column numbers are reported
• excerpt - a useful excerpt is shown, ideally with the error highlighted (✓✓)
• flycheck - the current flycheck release (or a PR branch) recognises the error and highlights a useful region

hledger 1.32.99-g4dbd417c9-20240326 error messages:

accounts

hledger: Error: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./accounts.j:4:
  | 2022-01-01
4 |     (a)               1
  |      ^

Strict account checking is enabled, and
account "a" has not been declared.
Consider adding an account directive. Examples:

account a
account a    ; type:A  ; (L,E,R,X,C,V)

assertions

hledger: Error: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./assertions.j:4:8:
  | 2022-01-01
4 |     a               0 = 1
  |                       ^^^

Balance assertion failed in a
In commodity "" at this point, excluding subaccounts, ignoring costs,
the asserted balance is:        1
but the calculated balance is:  0
(difference: 1)
To troubleshoot, check this account's running balance with assertions disabled, eg:
hledger reg -I 'a$' cur:

autobalanced

hledger: Error: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./autobalanced.j:3-4:
3 | 2022-01-01
  |     a               1

This transaction is unbalanced.
The real postings' sum should be 0 but is: 1
Consider adjusting this entry's amounts, or adding missing postings.

balanced

hledger: Error: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./balanced.j:5-7:
5 | 2022-01-01
  |     a             1 A
  |     b            -1 B

This multi-commodity transaction is unbalanced.
Automatic commodity conversion is not enabled.
The real postings' sum should be 0 but is: 1 A, -1 B
Consider adjusting this entry's amounts, adding missing postings,
or recording conversion price(s) with @, @@ or equity postings.

commodities

hledger: Error: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./commodities.j:6:
  | 2022-01-01
6 |     (a)             A 1
  |                     ^^^

Strict commodity checking is enabled, and
commodity "A" has not been declared.
Consider adding a commodity directive. Examples:

commodity A1000.00
commodity 1.000,00 A

ordereddates

hledger: Error: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./ordereddates.j:10:
7 | 2022-01-02 p
  |     (a)               1
 
10 | 2022-01-01 p
   | ^^^^^^^^^^
   |     (a)               1

Ordered dates checking is enabled, and this transaction's
date (2022-01-01) is out of order with the previous transaction.
Consider moving this entry into date order, or adjusting its date.

parseable-dates

hledger: Error: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./parseable-dates.j:3:1:
  |
3 | 2022/1/32
  | ^^^^^^^^^

This is not a valid date, please fix it.

parseable-regexps

hledger: Error: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./parseable-regexps.j:3:8:
  |
3 | alias /(/ = a
  |        ^

This regular expression is malformed, please correct it:
(

parseable

hledger: Error: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./parseable.j:3:2:
  |
3 | 1
  |  ^
unexpected newline
expecting date separator or digit

payees

hledger: Error: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./payees.j:6:
6 | 2022-01-01 p
  |            ^
  |     (a)             A 1

Strict payee checking is enabled, and
payee "p" has not been declared.
Consider adding a payee directive. Examples:

payee p

recentassertions

hledger: Error: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./recentassertions.j:11:
   | 2022-01-09 bad1
11 |     a               0
   |     ^

The recentassertions check is enabled, so accounts with balance assertions must
have a balance assertion within 7 days of their latest posting.
In account "a", this posting is 8 days later
than the last balance assertion, which was on 2022-01-01.

Consider adding a more recent balance assertion for this account. Eg:

2024-03-26
    a     0 =  0  ; (adjust asserted amount)

uniqueleafnames

hledger: Error: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./uniqueleafnames.j:12:
  | 2022-01-01 p
9 |     (a:c)               1
 ...
   | 2022-01-01 p
12 |     (b:c)               1
   |        ^

Checking for unique account leaf names is enabled, and
account leaf name "c" is not unique.
It appears in these account names, which are used in 2 places:
a:c
b:c

Consider changing these account names so their last parts are different.

tcclockouttime

hledger: Error: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./tcclockouttime.timeclock:5:1:
  | i 2022-01-01 00:01:00   
5 | o 2022-01-01 00:00:00   
  |   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

This clockout time (2022-01-01 00:00:00) is earlier than the previous clockin.
Please adjust it to be later than 2022-01-01 00:01:00.

tcorderedactions

hledger: Error: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./tcorderedactions.timeclock:8:1:
8 | i 2022-01-01 00:01:00   
  | ^

Expected a timeclock o entry but got i.
Only one session may be clocked in at a time.
Please alternate i and o, beginning with i.

csvamountonenonzero

hledger: Error: in CSV rules:
While processing CSV record: "2022-01-03","1","2"
while calculating amount for posting 1
rule "amount-in %2" assigned value "1"
rule "amount-out %3" assigned value "2"

Multiple non-zero amounts were assigned for an amount field.
Please ensure just one non-zero amount is assigned, perhaps with an if rule.
See also: https://hledger.org/hledger.html#setting-amounts
(hledger manual -> CSV format -> Tips -> Setting amounts)

csvamountparse

hledger: Error: error: could not parse "badamount" as an amount
CSV record: "2022-01-03","badamount"
the amount rule is: %2
the date rule is: %1

the parse error is:      1:10:
  |
1 | badamount
  |          ^
unexpected end of input
expecting '+', '-', or number

you may need to change your amount*, balance*, or currency* rules, or add or change your skip rule

csvbalanceparse

hledger: Error: error: could not parse "badbalance" as balance1 amount
CSV record: "2022-01-03","badbalance"
the balance rule is: %2
the date rule is: %1

the parse error is:      1:11:
  |
1 | badbalance
  |           ^
unexpected end of input
expecting '+', '-', or number

csvbalancetypeparse

hledger: Error: balance-type "badtype" is invalid. Use =, ==, =* or ==*.
CSV record: "2022-01-01","1"
the balance rule is: %2
the date rule is: %1

csvdateformat

hledger: Error: error: could not parse "a" as a date using date format "YYYY/M/D", "YYYY-M-D" or "YYYY.M.D"
CSV record: "a","b"
the date rule is:   %1
the date-format is: unspecified
you may need to change your date rule, add a date-format rule, or change your skip rule
for m/d/y or d/m/y dates, use date-format %-m/%-d/%Y or date-format %-d/%-m/%Y

csvdateparse

hledger: Error: error: could not parse "baddate" as a date using date format "%Y-%m-%d"
CSV record: "baddate","b"
the date rule is:   %1
the date-format is: %Y-%m-%d
you may need to change your date rule, change your date-format rule, or change your skip rule
for m/d/y or d/m/y dates, use date-format %-m/%-d/%Y or date-format %-d/%-m/%Y

csvdaterule

hledger: Error: offset=0:
Please specify (at top level) the date field. Eg: date %1

csvdecimalmarkparse

hledger: Error: decimal-mark's argument should be "." or "," (not "badmark")

csvifblocknonempty

hledger: Error: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./csvifblocknonempty.csv.rules:2:1:
  |
2 | if foo
  | ^
start of conditional block found, but no assignment rules afterward
(assignment rules in a conditional block should be indented)

csviftablefieldnames

hledger: Error: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./csviftablefieldnames.csv.rules:2:9:
  |
2 | if,date,nosuchfield,description
  |         ^^^^^^^^^^^^
unexpected "nosuchfield,"
expecting "account1", "account10", "account11", "account12", "account13", "account14", "account15", "account16", "account17", "account18", "account19", "account2", "account20", "account21", "account22", "account23", "account24", "account25", "account26", "account27", "account28", "account29", "account3", "account30", "account31", "account32", "account33", "account34", "account35", "account36", "account37", "account38", "account39", "account4", "account40", "account41", "account42", "account43", "account44", "account45", "account46", "account47", "account48", "account49", "account5", "account50", "account51", "account52", "account53", "account54", "account55", "account56", "account57", "account58", "account59", "account6", "account60", "account61", "account62", "account63", "account64", "account65", "account66", "account67", "account68", "account69", "account7", "account70", "account71", "account72", "account73", "account74", "account75", "account76", "account77", "account78", "account79", "account8", "account80", "account81", "account82", "account83", "account84", "account85", "account86", "account87", "account88", "account89", "account9", "account90", "account91", "account92", "account93", "account94", "account95", "account96", "account97", "account98", "account99", "amount", "amount-in", "amount-out", "amount1", "amount1-in", "amount1-out", "amount10", "amount10-in", "amount10-out", "amount11", "amount11-in", "amount11-out", "amount12", "amount12-in", "amount12-out", "amount13", "amount13-in", "amount13-out", "amount14", "amount14-in", "amount14-out", "amount15", "amount15-in", "amount15-out", "amount16", "amount16-in", "amount16-out", "amount17", "amount17-in", "amount17-out", "amount18", "amount18-in", "amount18-out", "amount19", "amount19-in", "amount19-out", "amount2", "amount2-in", "amount2-out", "amount20", "amount20-in", "amount20-out", "amount21", "amount21-in", "amount21-out", "amount22", "amount22-in", "amount22-out", "amount23", "amount23-in", "amount23-out", "amount24", "amount24-in", "amount24-out", "amount25", "amount25-in", "amount25-out", "amount26", "amount26-in", "amount26-out", "amount27", "amount27-in", "amount27-out", "amount28", "amount28-in", "amount28-out", "amount29", "amount29-in", "amount29-out", "amount3", "amount3-in", "amount3-out", "amount30", "amount30-in", "amount30-out", "amount31", "amount31-in", "amount31-out", "amount32", "amount32-in", "amount32-out", "amount33", "amount33-in", "amount33-out", "amount34", "amount34-in", "amount34-out", "amount35", "amount35-in", "amount35-out", "amount36", "amount36-in", "amount36-out", "amount37", "amount37-in", "amount37-out", "amount38", "amount38-in", "amount38-out", "amount39", "amount39-in", "amount39-out", "amount4", "amount4-in", "amount4-out", "amount40", "amount40-in", "amount40-out", "amount41", "amount41-in", "amount41-out", "amount42", "amount42-in", "amount42-out", "amount43", "amount43-in", "amount43-out", "amount44", "amount44-in", "amount44-out", "amount45", "amount45-in", "amount45-out", "amount46", "amount46-in", "amount46-out", "amount47", "amount47-in", "amount47-out", "amount48", "amount48-in", "amount48-out", "amount49", "amount49-in", "amount49-out", "amount5", "amount5-in", "amount5-out", "amount50", "amount50-in", "amount50-out", "amount51", "amount51-in", "amount51-out", "amount52", "amount52-in", "amount52-out", "amount53", "amount53-in", "amount53-out", "amount54", "amount54-in", "amount54-out", "amount55", "amount55-in", "amount55-out", "amount56", "amount56-in", "amount56-out", "amount57", "amount57-in", "amount57-out", "amount58", "amount58-in", "amount58-out", "amount59", "amount59-in", "amount59-out", "amount6", "amount6-in", "amount6-out", "amount60", "amount60-in", "amount60-out", "amount61", "amount61-in", "amount61-out", "amount62", "amount62-in", "amount62-out", "amount63", "amount63-in", "amount63-out", "amount64", "amount64-in", "amount64-out", "amount65", "amount65-in", "amount65-out", "amount66", "amount66-in", "amount66-out", "amount67", "amount67-in", "amount67-out", "amount68", "amount68-in", "amount68-out", "amount69", "amount69-in", "amount69-out", "amount7", "amount7-in", "amount7-out", "amount70", "amount70-in", "amount70-out", "amount71", "amount71-in", "amount71-out", "amount72", "amount72-in", "amount72-out", "amount73", "amount73-in", "amount73-out", "amount74", "amount74-in", "amount74-out", "amount75", "amount75-in", "amount75-out", "amount76", "amount76-in", "amount76-out", "amount77", "amount77-in", "amount77-out", "amount78", "amount78-in", "amount78-out", "amount79", "amount79-in", "amount79-out", "amount8", "amount8-in", "amount8-out", "amount80", "amount80-in", "amount80-out", "amount81", "amount81-in", "amount81-out", "amount82", "amount82-in", "amount82-out", "amount83", "amount83-in", "amount83-out", "amount84", "amount84-in", "amount84-out", "amount85", "amount85-in", "amount85-out", "amount86", "amount86-in", "amount86-out", "amount87", "amount87-in", "amount87-out", "amount88", "amount88-in", "amount88-out", "amount89", "amount89-in", "amount89-out", "amount9", "amount9-in", "amount9-out", "amount90", "amount90-in", "amount90-out", "amount91", "amount91-in", "amount91-out", "amount92", "amount92-in", "amount92-out", "amount93", "amount93-in", "amount93-out", "amount94", "amount94-in", "amount94-out", "amount95", "amount95-in", "amount95-out", "amount96", "amount96-in", "amount96-out", "amount97", "amount97-in", "amount97-out", "amount98", "amount98-in", "amount98-out", "amount99", "amount99-in", "amount99-out", "balance", "balance1", "balance10", "balance11", "balance12", "balance13", "balance14", "balance15", "balance16", "balance17", "balance18", "balance19", "balance2", "balance20", "balance21", "balance22", "balance23", "balance24", "balance25", "balance26", "balance27", "balance28", "balance29", "balance3", "balance30", "balance31", "balance32", "balance33", "balance34", "balance35", "balance36", "balance37", "balance38", "balance39", "balance4", "balance40", "balance41", "balance42", "balance43", "balance44", "balance45", "balance46", "balance47", "balance48", "balance49", "balance5", "balance50", "balance51", "balance52", "balance53", "balance54", "balance55", "balance56", "balance57", "balance58", "balance59", "balance6", "balance60", "balance61", "balance62", "balance63", "balance64", "balance65", "balance66", "balance67", "balance68", "balance69", "balance7", "balance70", "balance71", "balance72", "balance73", "balance74", "balance75", "balance76", "balance77", "balance78", "balance79", "balance8", "balance80", "balance81", "balance82", "balance83", "balance84", "balance85", "balance86", "balance87", "balance88", "balance89", "balance9", "balance90", "balance91", "balance92", "balance93", "balance94", "balance95", "balance96", "balance97", "balance98", "balance99", "code", "comment", "comment1", "comment10", "comment11", "comment12", "comment13", "comment14", "comment15", "comment16", "comment17", "comment18", "comment19", "comment2", "comment20", "comment21", "comment22", "comment23", "comment24", "comment25", "comment26", "comment27", "comment28", "comment29", "comment3", "comment30", "comment31", "comment32", "comment33", "comment34", "comment35", "comment36", "comment37", "comment38", "comment39", "comment4", "comment40", "comment41", "comment42", "comment43", "comment44", "comment45", "comment46", "comment47", "comment48", "comment49", "comment5", "comment50", "comment51", "comment52", "comment53", "comment54", "comment55", "comment56", "comment57", "comment58", "comment59", "comment6", "comment60", "comment61", "comment62", "comment63", "comment64", "comment65", "comment66", "comment67", "comment68", "comment69", "comment7", "comment70", "comment71", "comment72", "comment73", "comment74", "comment75", "comment76", "comment77", "comment78", "comment79", "comment8", "comment80", "comment81", "comment82", "comment83", "comment84", "comment85", "comment86", "comment87", "comment88", "comment89", "comment9", "comment90", "comment91", "comment92", "comment93", "comment94", "comment95", "comment96", "comment97", "comment98", "comment99", "currency", "currency1", "currency10", "currency11", "currency12", "currency13", "currency14", "currency15", "currency16", "currency17", "currency18", "currency19", "currency2", "currency20", "currency21", "currency22", "currency23", "currency24", "currency25", "currency26", "currency27", "currency28", "currency29", "currency3", "currency30", "currency31", "currency32", "currency33", "currency34", "currency35", "currency36", "currency37", "currency38", "currency39", "currency4", "currency40", "currency41", "currency42", "currency43", "currency44", "currency45", "currency46", "currency47", "currency48", "currency49", "currency5", "currency50", "currency51", "currency52", "currency53", "currency54", "currency55", "currency56", "currency57", "currency58", "currency59", "currency6", "currency60", "currency61", "currency62", "currency63", "currency64", "currency65", "currency66", "currency67", "currency68", "currency69", "currency7", "currency70", "currency71", "currency72", "currency73", "currency74", "currency75", "currency76", "currency77", "currency78", "currency79", "currency8", "currency80", "currency81", "currency82", "currency83", "currency84", "currency85", "currency86", "currency87", "currency88", "currency89", "currency9", "currency90", "currency91", "currency92", "currency93", "currency94", "currency95", "currency96", "currency97", "currency98", "currency99", "date", "date2", "description", "end", "skip", or "status"

csviftablenonempty

hledger: Error: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./csviftablenonempty.csv.rules:2:1:
  |
2 | if,date,description,comment
  | ^
start of conditional table found, but no assignment rules afterward

csviftablevaluecount

hledger: Error: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./csviftablevaluecount.csv.rules:4:1:
  |
4 | one,val1
  | ^
line of conditional table should have 2 values, but this one has only 1

csvnoinclude

hledger: Error: sorry, CSV files can't be included yet

csvskipvalue

hledger: Error: could not parse skip value: "badval"

csvstatusparse

hledger: Error: error: could not parse "badstatus" as a cleared status (should be *, ! or empty)
the parse error is:      1:1:
  |
1 | badstatus
  | ^
unexpected 'b'
expecting '!', '*', or end of input

csvstdinrules

hledger: Error: please use --rules-file when reading CSV from stdin

csvtwofields

hledger: Error: CSV record ["b"] has less than two fields

csvstdinrules

hledger: Error: please use --rules-file when reading CSV from stdin