diff --git a/.github/workflows/build_cmake.yml b/.github/workflows/build_cmake.yml
index bf764f3bf9..fc61fdf77f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build_cmake.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build_cmake.yml
@@ -288,7 +288,10 @@ jobs:
         fi
         # get the tag or the current date
         VERSION=""
-        [[ ! -z "${{github.ref_name}}" ]] && VERSION="${{github.ref_name}}" || VERSION=`date -j "+%d-%m-%y"`
+        echo ${GITHUB_REF}
+        echo ${GITHUB_REF#refs/*/}
+        # [[ "${GITHUB_REF#refs/*/}" != "merge" ]] && VERSION="${GITHUB_REF#refs/*/}" || VERSION=`date -j "+%d-%m-%y"`
+        VERSION=`date -j "+%d-%m-%y"`
         # build DMG
         brew install create-dmg
         VOL="Avogadro2-$VERSION"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build_m1.yml b/.github/workflows/build_m1.yml
index 7c09569249..5d1f15f394 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build_m1.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build_m1.yml
@@ -65,19 +65,10 @@ jobs:
         repository: openchemistry/avogadro-i18n
         path: avogadro-i18n
 
-    - name: Grab cache files
-      uses: actions/cache@v3
-      with:
-        path: |
-          ${{ runner.workspace }}/build/thirdparty
-          ${{ runner.workspace }}/build/Downloads
-        key: ${{ matrix.config.name }}-thirdparty
-
     - name: Configure
       run: |
         if [ ! -d "${{ runner.workspace }}/build" ]; then mkdir "${{ runner.workspace }}/build"; fi
         cd "${{ runner.workspace }}/build"
-        # won't have any effect except on Mac
         echo "MACOSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET=${{ env.MACOS_TARGET }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
         CC=${{matrix.config.cc}} CXX=${{matrix.config.cxx}} cmake $GITHUB_WORKSPACE ${{env.FEATURES}} -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=${{matrix.config.build_type}} ${{matrix.config.cmake_flags}}
       shell: bash
@@ -145,39 +136,49 @@ jobs:
           fi # certificate exists
         fi # password exists
 
-    - name: Pack
-      if: matrix.config.artifact != 0
-      shell: bash
-      run: |
-        if [ -z "${P12_PASSWORD}" ]; then
-          unset CODESIGN_IDENTITY # to prevent cpack failing when trying to sign
-        fi
-        cpack ${{ matrix.config.cpack_flags }}
-      env:
-        P12_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.P12_PASSWORD }}
-        CODESIGN_IDENTITY: ${{ secrets.CODESIGN_ID }}
-      working-directory: ${{ runner.workspace }}/build/avogadroapp
-
-    - name: Notarize Mac DMG
+    - name: Build and Notarize Mac DMG
       if: runner.os == 'macOS'
       run: |
-        pwd
-        ls -l
+        # check current directory (failing signing)
+        echo `pwd`
+        ls -ld
+        # if possible, sign the app
+        if [ -n "${NOTARIZE_PASSWORD}" ] && [ -n "${NOTARIZE_USERNAME}" ]; then
+          cd prefix
+          codesign --force --deep -s "$CODESIGN_IDENTITY" --timestamp Avogadro2.app
+          ditto -c -k --keepParent Avogadro2.app Avogadro2.zip
+          xcrun notarytool submit Avogadro2.zip --apple-id "$NOTARIZE_USERNAME" --team-id "$NOTARIZE_TEAM" --password "$NOTARIZE_PASSWORD" --verbose --wait
+          xcrun stapler staple -v Avogadro2.app
+          cd ..
+        fi
+        # get the tag or the current date
+        VERSION=""
+        echo ${GITHUB_REF}
+        echo ${GITHUB_REF#refs/*/}
+        # [[ "${GITHUB_REF#refs/*/}" != "merge" ]] && VERSION="${GITHUB_REF#refs/*/}" || VERSION=`date -j "+%d-%m-%y"`
+        VERSION=`date -j "+%d-%m-%y"`
+        # build DMG
+        brew install create-dmg
+        VOL="Avogadro2-$VERSION"
+        DMG="Avogadro2-$VERSION.dmg"
+        echo "VOL: $VOL"
+        create-dmg --volname ${VOL} --icon-size 64 --icon "Avogadro2.app" 10 50 --app-drop-link 180 50 --hide-extension Avogadro2.app --window-size 300 50 --window-pos 200 200 --format UDBZ ${DMG} prefix/Avogadro2.app
         # check if we have the password and the username
         if [ -n "${NOTARIZE_PASSWORD}" ] && [ -n "${NOTARIZE_USERNAME}" ]; then
-          echo "codesign DMG"
           codesign -s "$CODESIGN_IDENTITY" --timestamp Avogadro2*.dmg
-          echo "notarizing"
           xcrun notarytool submit Avogadro2*.dmg --apple-id "$NOTARIZE_USERNAME" --team-id "$NOTARIZE_TEAM" --password "$NOTARIZE_PASSWORD" --verbose --wait
           xcrun stapler staple -v Avogadro2*.dmg
         fi
+        mkdir avogadroapp
+        # move it for upload
+        mv Avogadro2*.dmg avogadroapp
+      working-directory: ${{ runner.workspace }}/build
       env:
+        NOTARIZE_TEAM: ${{ secrets.AC_TEAM }}
         NOTARIZE_USERNAME: ${{ secrets.AC_USERNAME }}
         NOTARIZE_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.AC_PASSWORD }}
         CODESIGN_IDENTITY: ${{ secrets.CODESIGN_ID }}
-        NOTARIZE_TEAM: ${{ secrets.AC_TEAM }}
       continue-on-error: true
-      working-directory: ${{ runner.workspace }}/build/avogadroapp
 
     - name: Upload
       if: matrix.config.artifact != 0