Records
Master is a secure file manager that allows you to collect important
records (such as bank statements, credit card statements, investment
records, bills, or receipts) or PDFs, in a database and allow for:
- easy addition of new files (importing),
- organization of files in hierarchical folders,
- optional organization of files by date,
- easy access to existing files (browsing, finding, smart
folders exporting, printing)
- the ability to associate notes with files or folders,
- the ability to associate attributes with files (e.g., cost)
and produce reports based on those attributes,
- reminders to download or scan in recurring records such as
financial statements, (including an integrated website password manager
with advanced features to make it easy for you to go to websites to
download the records),
- encrypting the database, and
- automatic or manual backup of the database.
Think of it as a replacement for a file cabinet but with easier filing
and retrieval. You can also use it just to keep any files
together...especially useful for PDFs.
A trend today with financial
institutions and
utilities is to stop sending paper copies of bills and statements, and
instead make them available online. However, this information is not
available online forever, and is inconvenient to access across all of
your financial institutions because you have to login to multiple web
sites. If you wanted to review all your statements for December of
2005, you would have a lot of work to do. Though the online statements
are often available for downloading, you have problem of organizing the
information. Records Master addresses this problem by providing a
database customized for storing and accessing such records in a single
database file. If you still get some statements only in paper form and
you have a scanner, then you might find it more convenient to scan the
statements and store them in Records Master rather than maintaining a
paper file system. You could also scan and organize receipts,
instructions, etc. Also, MacOS X allows you to print anything to PDF,
which you could then save in Records Master.
Even
though Records
Master was motivated by the problem of managing large amounts of bills
and statements, it could be used to organize any files on your computer.
Complete
documentation for Records Master is available as
help within the application.
Macintosh
Requirements
Records Master is a Cocoa (MacOS X only) application. It
runs
on 10.3.9 and higher. Universal Binary.
Version
History 6.75 - Feature enhancements:
- Added option to ignore case when sorting (under Sorting menu).
- The Import Logs folder is no longer expanded when a log is added to it.
6.74 - Feature enhancement:
- Log entry is no longer selected along with imported file(s).
6.73 - Feature enhancements:
- When a year folder is selected in the Browser, and it contains only one file, that file is displayed.
- When
a file is found, and it is the only file in a month folder, the month
folder is selected and the file is displayed, unless that month folder
is the only one in a year folder, in which case the year folder is
selected and the file is displayed.
- The import log file is not selected in the browser after an import.
6.72 - Feature enhancements and bug fixes:
- Added a preference to enable the creation of a log file for each import.
- Hovering over a Browser item now displays its location within the database (10.4+ only).
- Fixed user interface glitch in AutoFile attributes.
6.71 - Feature Enhancements and bug fixes:
- Dropping
multiple files on the Records Master icon to import them now treats
them as a single import, highlighting all of them in the browser after
importing.
- Prevented importing Records Master databases.
- Disabled dragging browser items from one database to another.
- Fixed bug in editing Import Folder Specifications.
6.7 - Feature enhancements:
- You can now specify the date range for reports.
- Added
a preference to have double-clicking a file in the Browser open the
file (vice editing its name, which remains the default).
- Reorganized the preferences to have a "General" tab, which contains the updates preference and the new double-click preference.
6.6 - Feature enhancement:
- Each database can now have its own Import Folder.
6.5 - Feature enhancements and bug fix:
- Improved AutoFile folder matching using specified string.
- Improved website password manager interface.
- Fixed entry of tabs before automatic user id and password entry.
6.4 - Feature enhancements:
- Changed the "Filing" file attribute tab to "AutoFile" to better denote its purpose.
- When searching for dates to AutoFile, dates without years are now supported.
- When
searching for dates to AutoFile, now looks for ending dates only after
starting dates, resulting in more accurate date finding.
6.3 - Feature enhancement and bug fix:
- Added notification that automatic website login is in process.
- Fixed website password manager interface glitch.
6.2 - Bug fix:
- Fixed bug causing certain reminders not to go away when checked.
6.1 - Feature and reliability enhancements and bug fix:
- Automatic filing now works for many PDFs--10.4 or greater only.
- "Go To URL" function added to File menu.
- Improved reliability with more index enhancements.
- Fixed bug in backup when saving only 1 backup copy.
6.0 - Reliability and performance enhancement:
- Completely
rewrote internal index structure to: 1) dramatically improve
performance for large databases and 2) greatly improve ability to
recover from disk errors, freezes, or crashes, so your data is even
more secure.
5.9 - Feature enhancement:
- Improved website password manager functionality and user interface to accomodate more websites.
5.89 - Feature enhancements:
- When multiple items are dragged in the Bowser, they now remain selected.
- Performance improvement when finding and selecting multiple items.
5.88 - Feature enhancements:
- Added
option to delete files from a database or from the Import Folder
securely, overwriting them with random data before deletion.
- Added option added to securely delete backup databases, overwriting them with random data before deletion.
- Added new "Security" menu for above and encryption functions.
- Reorganized the "File" menu.
- Improved feedback during backup.
5.87 - Leopard compatibility release.
5.86 - Feature enhancement:
- 1Q, 2Q, 3Q, and 4Q can now be used to specify quarters in filenames .
5.85 - Feature enhancements:
- Improved how multiple found items are handled in the history...back button now steps through each found item.
- Improved performance of file display.
- Added a warning for encrypted databases without automatic backups enabled.
- Added the ability to attempt recovery of a corrupted database by holding down OPTION key while opening.
5.84 - Not released.
5.83 - Bug fixes:
- Fixed problem with encrypting empty databases.
- Fixed problem displaying .txt files as movies.
5.82 - Feature enhancement and bug fix:
- Improved user interface when importing by dragging a file into the browser.
- Fixed bug in display of PDF
5.81 - Bug fixes:
- Fixed problem displaying PDFs in databases not on the boot volume.
- Fixed rare case where registration code had to be entered on each launch.
5.8 - Feature enhancements and bug fix:
- Added support for website user IDs that are in 2 parts.
- Added additional website user ID automatic entry option: go to URL, type tab to enter first field, then user ID.
- Limited Quicktime display to most common video/audio types only, so it does not display text and pdf files.
- PDF files with extensions other than .pdf now display and print properly.
5.7 - Feature enhancement and bug fix:
- Quicktime video and audio files can now be played from the file display panel.
- Fixed bug in rearranging folders in the browser view.
5.6 Feature enhancements and bug fixes:
- Enhanced quality of display of PDF files (10.4+ only).
- Allows PDF forms to be filled out and printed. (10.4+ only).
- Fixed display of PDF files containing different page sizes.
- Minor performance improvements with Smart Folders.
- Improved error messages for deleting.
- Added the number of days left on trial to Registration dialog.
- Fixed bug in creation of Smart Folders.
- Fixed bug causing deleted folders to not be removed from the history or remind
5.5 - Feature enhancement:
- Added support in the folder website attributes (Password
Manager)
for sites that require the password to be entered manually, e.g., via
an on-screen keypad.
5.4 - Feature enhancement:
- Added Generate Password function to folder website
attributes (password manager).
5.3 - Feature enhancement and other updates:
- Add ability to automatically enter user ID for a website.
- Reorganized website (password manager) attributes.
- Reorganized preferences.
- Added help buttons for all attribute panels.
- Reorganized documentation for folder attributes.
5.2 Feature enhancements:
- Added ability to put the displayed document or report in
clipboard when copy is specified.
- Improved automatic repair of corrupted databases.
5.1 - Feature enhancement and bug fix:
- Added ability to email selected files with Mail.
- Fixed bug in entering userID and passwords for web sites.
5.0 - Feature enhancement and other updates:
- Added website password manager to facilitate going to
websites to download records.
- Updated Adobe icon to their current one.
- Improved documentation.
4.9 - Feature enhancement:
- Added ability to specify quarter specifications in
autofiled file names (e.g. "folder+Q2" or "folder+2006q1").
4.8 - Feature enhancements and bug fix:
- Added the ability to find using "path is".
- Improved status messages.
- Fixed bug in creating Smart Folders with the button below
the Browser.
4.7 - Feature enhancement:
- Multiple files, folders, or reports can now be printed at
the same time.
4.6 - Feature enhancements and bug fix:
- Added the ability to import the contents of the clipboard
as a file (under File menu).
- Added the ability to import applications into encrypted
databases.
- Fixed glitch in icon display introduced in release 4.5.
4.5 - Feature enhancements and bug fix:
- Multiple files, folders, or reports can now be exported at
the same time.
- When exporting a smart folder, you can choose whether to
export
the associated report (as a .csv file) or the folder and its contents.
- Improved performance for large databases.
- Simplified and improved the delete confirmation message.
- Improved icons shown in the browser.
- Fixed bug in creating smart folders.
4.4 - Feature enhancements and bug fix:
- Added forward and back buttons to the Browser, allowing you
to retrace the history of what you have selected.
- When
multiple items are imported at the same time, they are placed in the
history, allowing you to easily look at each one individually.
- Updated documentation about importing.
- Fixed bug concerning dragging files and folders to the brow
4.3 - User interface enhancement and bug fix:
- Improved status info presented as file path when a single
file is not selected in the browser.
- Fixed bug concerning locked files.
4.2 - Bug fixes:
- Importing locked files is now supported.
- Importing folders with custom icons works properly now.
- Importing from folders with custom icons works properly now.
- Fixed a bug affecting the ability to view.rtfd files in
encrypted databases.
4.1 - User interface enhancement and bug fixes:
- The height of the panel to display all reminders is now
remembered (until relaunch) if the user changes it.
- Improved error checking in the add/edit custom attribute
name dialog.
- Fixed a bug in creating custom attribute names.
- Fixed a bug deleting files (introduced in 4.0).
4.0 - Feature and user interface enhancements:
- Added scheduled reminders, associated with folders, to
remind you when to download or scan in particular records.
- Files and folders can now be dragged from the Finder into
the Browser to import them.
- Sorting options are now per-database, and are set using the
new "Sorting" menu, not the Preferences.
- When you create a new folder, you are now automatically
able to edit its name.
3.6 - Fixed bug with searching Smart Folder names.
3.5 - Performance and user interface enhancements and bug fix:
- Improved performance of importing, moving, and deleting
files and folders.
- Smart Folders no longer automatically expand when dragging
items in the browser.
- Fixed a bug in importing aliases within imported folders.
3.4 - Reliability and user interface enhancements and bug fixes:
- Databases
are now checked for internal consistency when opened, with a progress
bar is displayed. This helps prevent data loss in cases where your
system crashes or freezes with a database open.
- Reorganized backup preferences to make it clearer that a
backup location can be set even though you do not backup automatically.
- Improved user interface for smart folder attributes.
- Fixed bug in editing smart folder names.
- Fixed bug in sorting top-level folders in the Browser.
3.3 - User interface enhancements and bug fix:
- When creating a new folder, you are automatically in edit
mode to name the folder.
- Clarified in user interface which items in the Browser can
be sorted.
- Improved warnings when deleting.
- Fixed bug deleting multiple Smart Folders.
3.2 - Reliability and user interface enhancements:
- Improved recovery of encrypted databases after system crash
with database open.
- When adding new custom attributes, allow case-insensitive
matching of custom attribute names.
- When adding new custom attributes, ignore keystrokes that
would not match an existing custom attribute name.
3.1 - Feature enhancement, reliability improvements, bug fixes:
- Added the ability to import aliases (importing the
referenced file with the alias name).
- Improved recovery from extraordinary occurrences such as
system crashes.
- Fixed window resizing bug.
- Fixed crash when trying to import into a read-only database.
- Fixed deletion of ignored items in the import folder.
3.0 - Feature improvements, bug fix, and name change:
- Name
changed from Records Manager to Records Master. Registered
Records Manager users remain registered for Records Master.
- Added
the ability to associate custom attributes with imported files, such as
cost or amount.
- Added
the ability to produce text reports, line graphs, bar graphs, and
comma-separated-value files based on custom attributes associated with
imported files.
- Added the ability to find files
based on their custom attributes.
- Added the ability
to find files and folders based on "path starts with".
- Added
the ability to create a Smart Folder containing files selected in the
browser panel.
- Added the ability to import
directory hierarchies.
- Added progress bar when
deleting files or folders.
- Changed icon for
show/hide attributes panel.
- Fixed bug in editing
Smart Folder names.
- Now runs on Intel-based Macs
(Universal Binary).
2.95 - Fixed bug with
unencrypted read-only databases
2.94 - Added new
type of Find that selects all found items.
2.93 -
Improved error checking for corrupted databases.
2.92
- Fixed bug in display of MB file sizes.
2.91 -
Feature enhancement:
- Added
ability to automatically check for updates, controlled by a preference.
2.9
- Feature enhancement and bug fix:
- Added
ability to find by contents of notes.
- Fixed bug in
smart folders in encrypted databases.
2.8
- Feature enhancements and bug fixes:
- Reimplemented
Find function to support multiple find criteria and to allow finding by
modified date and pathname.
- Added "Smart Folders"
-- continuously-updated folders that contain files matching specified
criteria.
- Added folder/file icons to the
folder/file window, to allow you to distinguish smart folders from
regular folders.
- Rearranged
the file and folder attributes display so the built-in help information
can be hidden if desired, to conserve screen real estate.
- Made
it easier to rearrange the folder "Unfiled" in the Browser.
- Fixed
display of file attribute dates when day-before-month date format is
specified.
- Fixed bug in alphabetical sorting.
- Fixed
bug in displaying dragged file.
2.7 -
Feature enhancements:
- Added
Backup Database command to backup upon demand.
- Allowed
word wrap in the folder/file notes.
- Made format of
modified date consistant with other dates.
2.6
- Feature enhancements:
- Added
file modification date and time to file attributes display.
- File
creation and modification dates are now preserved in encrypted
databases.
2.5 - Feature enhancement:
- Added
the ability to drag/drop multiple files/folders.
2.4
Feature enhancements and bug fixes:
- Added the ability to create a Backup Folder to
the Backup
preferences.
- Added the ability to create an
Import Folder to the
Importing preferences.
- Made it impossible to
select a folder that is not empty
as the Import Folder.
- Improved Import Folder
documentation.
- Fixed bugs in processing dates.
2.3 - Feature enhancements and bug fixes:
- Replaced the attributes drawer with
iTunes/iCal-like
notes and attributes views in lower left corner of window,
automatically shortening file/folder list as needed.
- Added
the ability to associate notes with folders as well
as files.
- Improved date entry in file
attributes: if you enter only
a starting date, the ending date is set equal. This is true for
entering dates in imported filenames also. This convenient for
receipts, which have only one date.
- Changed
"Reset Dates" button to "Clear Dates" in file
attributes.
- Added support for dates with format
YYYYMMDD.
- Moved the "Show/hide Attributes
Editor" Button under the
folder/file view.
- Added help button to find
panel.
- Fixed bugs related to file importing in
rare
circumstances.
2.2 - Feature enhancement and bug fix:
- Added the ability (controlled by a preference) to
ensure
that PDF files imported have a proper ".pdf' extension so they will
display properly. This is useful because some web sites produce pdf
with missing or wrong extensions.
- Fixed a bug
with folder names containing special
characters such as "é".
2.1 - Fixed bug in creating new databases.
2.0 - Feature enhancements and bug fixes:
- Added the ability to encrypt databases with 128
bit AES.
- Read-only databases are now supported
(either with
read-only permissions or on read-only media).
- Documentation
improvements.
- Performance improvements.
- Fixed bug in backup preferences.
- Fixed
bug in sorting preferences.
1.6 - Feature enhancements:
- Added the ability to encrypt databases with 128
bit AES.
- Read-only databases are now supported
(either with
read-only permissions or on read-only media.)
- Documentation
improvements.
- Performance improvements.
1.5 - Feature enhancements and bug fix:
- Added the ability to store notes about each file.
- Various performance improvements.
- Fixed
bug in Find command.
1.4 - Feature enhancements:
- Added the ability to zoom and rotate images.
1.3 - Bug Fixes:
- Fixed compatibility with MacOS 10.2.8.
- Restored automatic creation of first database.
1.2 - Feature enhancements:
- Show progress dialog when importing files.
- Improved recovery after write error, force quit, or
system freeze.
1.1 - Feature enhancements and bug fix:
- Show progress dialog when backing up a database.
- Show an immediate error if backup fails.
- Fixed
a bug in defaulting start date of a file based on
the end date entered into the attributes editor.
1.0 - Initial release.
Purchasing
Records Master
Records Master is shareware. You can try it out for 30
days,
but if you still use it thereafter, you must register it. The
price is very reasonable--$24. After 30 days,
Records Master
will not work unless you have registered it.
If
you are a registered user of my companion program, QIF Master, you can
purchase Records Master for only $16 if you run on the same machine on
which QIF Master is running. This price is not applicable to prior
purchases.
You can also purchase a registration
code for both Records Master and QIF Master as a bundle for $32.
Registration
includes
future updates.
To
purchase Records Master, click here,
or select Registration... under the Records Master
Menu,
and click on the Purchase Registration Code
button.
You will be taken
to a web site where you can choose among the above options, then to a
Google Checkout web site where you can pay by credit card. Once
you
have
paid, you will receive a registration code via email. You can
enter this code into Records Master Registration...
dialog.
Records
Master Copyright © 2005-2008 John Woodward. All rights
reserved.
SM2DGraphView Copyright ©
2002-2005 Snowmint Creative Solutions LLC
http://www.snowmintcs.com/
You
may distribute Records Master unmodified via any media, as long as you
keep it together with its Read Me file.
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