When was the last time you backed up your Tabs3 and PracticeMaster data and tested the viability of your backup? If your firm had to restore from a backup right now, would any data be lost? Regular backups are critical for your firm to make and maintain properly.
Internal Backups
Tabs3 Software ensures you are provided the opportunity to backup when needed.
- You will be prompted to make a backup in the software when the function cannot be easily reversed or when interruption of the process can cause errors in the data.
- When presented with a prompt to make a backup, ask yourself when the last backup was made and how much data will need to be reentered if a restore is required. If you are not comfortable with the amount of work required after restoring, then you should back up your data before going any further.
- If you regularly opt to not make a backup because it’s difficult to get every user to exit the software, consider the Platinum version. Platinum includes a HotBackup feature that allows you to make backups while other users are still working in the software and doesn’t require backups be made for as many functions, including Update Statements.
- If you are using the standard version of the software, you can keep up to three internal backups with a size limit of 2 GB each.
- If you are using the Platinum version of the software, backups are practically unlimited! You can keep up to 198 user-defined HotBackups, each limited in size only by the available hard drive space.
Third Party Backups
We also recommend making regular backups of the entire Tabs3 program directory via a third-party backup program.
- Third-party backups can help you recover from a catastrophic failure, such as flood, theft, server hard drive failure, etc.
- Backups made via the Tabs3 Software only back up your data files and do not include executable files to run the programs, nor is every file in the Tabs3 Current Working Directory included.
- If you already have a third-party backup in place, make sure that it is periodically tested to verify it is working correctly. For more information on testing your backup, see KB Article R10456, “Testing Your Backup System.”
Now may be the perfect time to take a closer look at your current backup strategy and to verify the procedures you have in place. If you cannot take the time to review procedures now, add a reminder to your calendar to review them as soon as possible. Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security; backups that don’t restore correctly, or not having a backup, can cost you a great deal in both time and data loss.
For a list of resources on backing your data up and restoring, visit Knowledge Base Article R11524, “Backup/Restore Information Resources.”
Did you know that there are many ways in which you can filter your data in order to make it easier to find what you need?
If you aren’t already filtering, you may not know where to begin. Knowledge Base Article R11645, “Resources for Filtering Data,” provides a list of articles for both beginners and advanced users – everything you need to start filtering, create advanced filters, or to troubleshoot unexpected results.
Our Knowledge Base can be accessed at support.Tabs3.com. You can also access our Knowledge Base while in the software by selecting Help | Internet Resources | Knowledge Base.
Did you know that you can add tabs to the Client, Contact, and Journal files that are specific to an Area of Practice, Contact Category, or Journal Type?
These tabs are called category pages. Category pages are a special type of page that is only shown in the Editor window when the selected client or record is associated with that category. You can use the Form Designer to customize how the pages will look.
- Client category pages are configured for individual Areas of Practice (e.g., Personal Injury, Family Law, Workers’ Compensation, etc.). These pages will only be shown when a client belonging to that Area of Practice is selected.
- Contact category pages are configured for individual contact categories (e.g., Attorney, Prospect, Insurance Adjuster, Witness, etc.). These pages will only be shown when a contact assigned to that contact category is selected.
- Journal category pages are configured for individual journal record types (e.g., Email, Phone Task, Research Task, etc.). These pages will only be shown when a journal record of that record type is selected.
Setting up a category page provides a way of showing only those fields that are relevant to the selected “category,” thus reducing the number of visible pages.
In order to create a category page, you must first add any fields specific to the category page to the associated file using File Maintenance (e.g., add the desired fields to the Contact file). Once the fields have been added, the category page and fields must be added to the data entry window using the Form Designer.
To create a category page
- From the List tab of the Client, Contact, or Journal file, select Edit | Form Designer.
- To add a category page, click the
(Add Category Page) button. - Select the appropriate Area of Practice, Contact Category, or Journal Type with which the category page will be associated and click OK.
- A new page will be displayed. To rename the page, double-click the category page tab, specify a name for the page, and click OK.
- Add fields, group boxes, and labels until the category page is complete.
- Close the Form Designer and save the changes made to the form layout.
Additional information regarding category pages can be found in Knowledge Base Article R10566, “Category Pages in PracticeMaster.”
As your firm deals with the spread of COVID-19, we want to help you prepare to work from home.
Resources for working from home can be found at Tabs3.com/WorkFromHome.
Tabs3 remains committed to providing top rated customer support, and are available to help. As usual, Technical Support can be reached at (402) 419-2210, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Central Time) Monday through Friday.
