Dear Friends,
Tally uses aliases for predefined groups. (which you can also use in ledgers)
In tally while selecting groups, it keeps on shortlisting the list of inputs based on what you type. Thus search is based on characters that you type.
So to enable selecting the groups which are known by different names by people, we use aliases(other name for same master). Thus Direct expenses and expenses direct ius same group, but as it is identified by different people with different names, mentioning both names in list provides convinience to users.
Hence you will find following Groups which are created with aliases i.e. two names
Direct Expenses - Expenses direct
Direct Income - Income direct
Indirect Income - Income Indirect
Indirect Expense - Expense Indirect
Reserves & Surplus - Retained Earnings
Bank OD - Bank OCC
So though tally provides 28 predefined groups, you will find 34 names in list in fact these are 28 groups only adding 6 line as above.
You can create Ledgers or any master with alias. You can us it as short cut keys, different name, account code etc.
For Example 1) Provision for Expense Ledger can also be created with Outstanding Expenses alias.(Different Name used for Ledger)
2) For your Bank Account which is frequently used in entries, say State Bank of India Account, you can mention SBI as alias, and while posting entries or in ledger list if you select SBI, it will select State Bank of India. (short cut key)
3) Say your company uses codes for vendors or customers (as we have WRO/NRO/CRO Nos). In all correspondence, it is a practice to mention code instead of full name. Say XYZ Ltd your customer has 1234 code. You receive a cheque from him and on backside they have written their code 1234. In this case if you create XYZ Ltd account (ledger) with 1234 alias, whenever you select 1234, it will open XYZ limited account.(account codes)
A bit of long answer. Sorry. But hope it clarifies.