The new file format
GrandTotal saves newly created files in version 2 of its file format. Compared with the previous one it syncs faster, tidies itself up, keeps the editing history even after an optimization, and can be verified.
Faster in sync
A file used to consist of a great many small files, hundreds of thousands for documents kept over years. Every one of them had to be transferred by the sync service on its own. The new format gets by with a fraction of that. Dropbox, iCloud Drive and other services finish noticeably sooner, and a second Mac has the file up to date earlier.
Tidies itself up
What the command Optimize File used to do by hand, GrandTotal now does in the background: older saves are bundled so that opening stays fast. The history is not lost in the process.
Identical attachments are stored once in the file, even when the same PDF hangs on many receipts.
Signed and verifiable
Every save is signed with a key for this Mac and tied to the previous one. A later change or a removed save shows up when checking. Export the proof under File Info and upload it to Verify a document; the page sees no content, only hashes.
History as a timeline
The history of a record shows every save: when, who, on which Mac, and for each field the old and the new value. Clients, items and payments in it lead to their own history.
Compared with the previous version
Far fewer individual files
Faster syncing with any service.
Automatic consolidation
No more manual optimizing, the history stays.
Signing
Every save signed and verifiable.
History stays
Even after an optimization, old and new per field, as a timeline.
Attachments only once
Identical PDFs take no double space.
The new format writes far fewer individual files — the cloud folder syncs faster and the history stays intact.