Goldenseal Accounting Software Topics-- Moving between Macintosh and Windows

Switching between Mac and Windows

Can I use the same file for Mac and Windows?

Yes, Goldenseal accounting software files are "binary compatible". You can open the same file on a Macintosh or a Windows machine.

That means that you can change from a Windows machine to a Mac (or vice versa), and still keep using the same data file for your business info. You can do that as a one-time event, or more frequently (for example, if you use a Mac but your accountant uses Windows).

Swapping Files

To open a Goldenseal file on both Mac and Windows, you'll need to install a copy of the Goldenseal application for Macintosh, on the Mac, and a copy of the Goldenseal application for Windows, on the Windows machine.

NOTE-- The Goldenseal application program is not binary compatible. You'll need to use separate copies of the Goldenseal application that are written for each type of computer. However, you don't need to purchase two complete copies of the Goldenseal software, since we offer a cross-platform option for a reasonable price.

To move a Goldenseal file from one platform to another, follow these steps:

Move the file to the new computer. You can use a flash disk, a CD, a DVD or a network to make the swap.
Double-click on the Goldenseal file to open it.

NOTE-- Click here for more info about moving from Mac to Windows, or from Windows to Mac.

Using a Network

If you have the multi-user version of Goldenseal, you can also use a network to move files between a Macintosh and Windows machine.

NOTE-- The Macintosh and Windows operating systems both allow you to move files over a network, between computers. When you sign on as a networking client within Goldenseal, you are not moving the company file between the computers. Instead, the two computers talk to each other, and make it appear that the server's file is on your machine.

Technical Details

Macintosh and Windows use different "byte ordering". Goldenseal handles that by saving each record with the byte ordering for the current platform.

When you open a Macintosh file on Windows or vice-versa, it takes a little longer to open each record for the first time. You may not even notice the difference.

Click here for more about sharing files between Mac and Windows.

Click here to return to Macintosh software topics.