Under the sequential file approach, the general ledger master file is not updated after
each batch of transactions. To do so would result in the recreation of the entire general
ledger every time a batch of transactions (such as sales orders, cash receipts, purchases,
and cash disbursements) is processed. Firms using sequential files typically employ separate
end-of-day procedures to update the general ledger accounts. This technique is
depicted in Figure 9.1.