As shown in figure 14-2, the first activity in the general ledger system (circle 1.0) is updating the general ledger. Updating consists of posting journal entries that originate from two sources:
1. Accounting subsystems. Each off the accounting subsystems described in chapters 10 through 13 creates a journal entry to update the general ledger. In theory, the general ledger could be updated for each individual transaction. In practice,
However, the various accounting subsystems usually update the general ledger by means of summary journal entries that represent the results of all transactions that occurred during a given period of time (day, week, or month). For example, the revenue cycle subsystem would generate a summary journal entry debiting accounts receivable and cash and crediting sales for all sales made during the update period. Similarly, the expenditure cycle would generate summary journal entries to record the purchase of supplies and inventories and to record cash disbursements in payment for those purchases