The Client Manager has been updated and renamed to Matter Manager! Like the PracticeMaster Matter Manager, the Tabs3 Billing Matter Manager acts as a central hub for matter-related information and activities in Tabs3 Billing. The Matter Manager allows you to view relevant information for each matter at a glance, perform common tasks, and run reports.
The following sections are available in the Tabs3 Billing Matter Manager:
Matter Information – Quickly view and edit matter information and notes. You can change the amount of information displayed in this section by using the arrow at the bottom.
Accounts Receivable tile – Displays the matter’s current accounts receivable balance and the last payment received.
Work-in-Process tile – Displays the total unbilled fees and costs and the last statement sent.
Client Funds/Trust Balance tile – Displays either the current client funds or trust account balance and the last activity for the account. You can toggle between these views by clicking the 
(Display Options) icon in the upper-right corner of the tile and selecting your preferred view.
List Content – Transactions and statements can be viewed in a combined Recent Activity list or by type with additional detail. Click a work-in-process transaction from the list to open it in the appropriate editor. Click a statement from the list to view it in the Statement Information window.
Take Action pane – Click the 
(Take Action) icon to perform matter related tasks such as adding transactions (including payments), generating and managing statements, and opening the matter in PracticeMaster or the trust account in TAS.
Reports pane – Click the 
(Reports) icon to run reports for the current matter from a customizable list. Click the (Customize Reports) icon in the upper-right corner of the pane to open the Customize Reports window. From this window, you can add or remove reports from the reports pane and update the report definition assigned to each report for use with the Matter Manager.
Note: This feature is available in Tabs3 Version 2020 beginning in Version 20.2.6.
From installing and keeping the software up-to-date to setting up new workstations and user rights, we put all of our resources to help you install and update the software in one place.
Knowledge Base Article R11215, “Installation Articles,” provides a list of resources for installing, converting, and troubleshooting the software. Included are resources for where the software is installed, what you need to know about the local install, and more!
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.
Our office will be closed on Monday, September 7th, in recognition of Labor Day.
Here are some helpful Support resources that are available 24/7:
Beginning with Version 2020, you can now quickly access statement information via the Tabs3 Billing Matter Manager (File | Matter Manager). Simply click on a Statement from the Matter Manager to display a Statement Information window for that statement. The Statement Information window includes the following:
The Statement Information section shows matter information, the Statement Date, Statement #, the total Billed on the statement, and the total Amount still Due.
The Statement Preview displays a reprint of the statement, using the same functionality as the Reprint Updated Statements program. Like any preview window, you can search, zoom, and print directly from this preview.
The Take Action pane allows you to perform tasks related to the statement, such as reprinting or undoing the statement, adding a payment, or writing off the balance.
Note: This feature is available in Tabs3 Version 2020 beginning in Version 20.2.6.
Did you know that you can change how Tabs3 Connect appears on your Smartphone, tablet, or computer? By changing a Tabs3 Connect setting, you can make the most of the space available. Changing the setting is easy – simply tap or click the 
icon and select Use Phone Layout. Enabling the Phone Layout option uses smaller icons and shows only the most pertinent information for what you are working on in order to save space. Want to change back to the full view? Tap or click the icon and select Use Full Layout.
Furthermore, the following options in Tabs3 Connect are dependent upon whether you are using the Full Layout or Phone Layout:
Calendar View
- When using Full Layout and reviewing calendar entries, you can change your view between the Calendar and Agenda views.
- When using Phone Layout, you must view your calendar entries using Agenda view.
Logging Out
- When using Full Layout, you can log out either by tapping Logout in the upper-right corner, or by tapping or clicking the icon and selecting Logout.
- When using the Phone Layout, you must log out by tapping or clicking the icon and selecting Logout.
For more information on Tabs3 Connect, contact your consultant, contact Technical Support at (402) 419-2210, or visit Knowledge Base Article R11480, “All About Tabs3 Connect.”
If your firm works with multiple areas of law, it can be difficult to organize your client’s information for each type of case. That’s why using customizable Area of Practice pages can work for you!
Using PracticeMaster’s Area of Practice feature, you can store and organize matter information unique to a specific area of law, making it easy to locate and track the details that matter to you most.
Watch this three-minute video here:
Training Videos can be accessed at Tabs3.com/videos. You can also access the videos while in the software by selecting Help | Training Videos.
Time Zones are here! Beginning in Version 2020, you can specify your time zone or set it automatically as per Windows settings (Calendar | Calendar Properties). Additionally, time zones can be changed for individual calendar records. Calendar records will be shown relative to the local time for each user. The PracticeMaster Calendar, PracticeMaster Dashboard, and Tabs3 Connect Calendar all utilize the time zone setting on the device where records are being accessed. This also provides a more seamless integration of calendar records with Microsoft Outlook.
Tabs3 Connect also now supports time zones for calendar events and tasks. Tabs3 Connect will display new calendar records relative to the local time of the device. Tabs3 Connect allows you to specify a time zone when adding an event or task to the calendar, allowing you to schedule something back at the office or for another location.
Note: Only users converting from previous versions of the software need to enable the time zone feature (Utilities | Time Zone Configuration). It is enabled by default for new systems.
Update to Version 20.2.6 to start using time zones.
Additional information on how PracticeMaster handles time zones for calendar events and tasks can be found in KB Article R11836, “PracticeMaster Time Zone Overview,” or the Help included with PracticeMaster. Click here to view the “Enabling Time Zones in PracticeMaster” training video.
You can specify Statement Notes for individual clients, which can then be automatically cleared once the statement has been updated.
To specify notes to be included on a single statement
- From the File menu, point to Open and select Client.
- Select the Client ID.
- From the Statement Options tab, in the Statement Notes section:
- In the Beginning Statement Notes or Ending Statement Notes field, enter the desired text.
- Select the appropriate Change Notes to blank after statement updated check box.
- Press Ctrl+S.
I have a new client that requested their statements only show current charges and no previous balances. How can I format my statements this way?
Statement templates can be used to customize what is and is not included on a statement. In this instance, we can create a Statement Template using the Invoice Format. When using Invoice Format, only fees, costs, and client funds will show on the bill. Previous balance, payments, credits, and finance charge will still be processed, but will not print on the bill and likewise are not included in the Balance Due.
To create an Invoice Format Statement Template
- From the Statements menu, point to Statement Setup and select Statement Templates.
- Enter a new Template ID and Description.
- In the Statement Type section, select Invoice Format.
- Select any other options as desired and press Ctrl+S.
To assign the statement template to a client
- From the File menu, point to Open and select Client.
- Select the desired Client ID.
- From the Statement Options tab, in the Statement Format section, select a Draft Template and Final Template of the new statement template you just created.
- Press Ctrl+S.
Note: You have the option of including credits and finance charge on Invoice Format statements via Statement Customization (Statements | Statement Setup | Statement Customization).
Our firm sends email statements to our clients, and each attorney sets up their own email templates. Two attorneys have left the firm in the past few weeks, and we want a list of email templates along with the clients to which they are assigned so that we can update all of them. Is there a report for this?
The Email Template List provides a list of Email Templates, and can optionally include the clients assigned to each template.
To run an Email Template List
- From the Reports menu, point to Miscellaneous and select Email Template List.
- Select the Include Clients Assigned to Each Template check box.
- Click OK.
Tip: If you want to change which Email Template is assigned to each client, you can optionally use Change Client Options (Maintenance | Client Related | Change Client Options) to change multiple clients at one time.
We have agreed to give one of our clients a 10% fee discount on their next statement. We want this discount to stand out on the statement, perhaps on a separate line from any other totals. Is there a way to do this?
A courtesy discount can be applied against the fees billed on the current statement being processed, and is automatically shown on their own line. Courtesy discounts cannot be applied against costs or a previous balance.
To specify a courtesy discount
- From the File menu, point to Open and select Client.
- Select the Client ID for which you want to apply the discount.
- On the Billing Options tab, in the Courtesy Discount section, select a Discount Type of Percentage.
- In the Percent field, enter the agreed upon discount. For 10% enter 10.00
- Optionally select the Change Discount Type to None after statement updated check box.
- Press Ctrl+S.
Note: Courtesy discounts apply proportionately toward each timekeeper whose time is billed on the statement.
A partial payment was received for a statement that had two attorneys’ time on it. I have been asked to allocate the payment to only one of the timekeepers. How can I accomplish this?
You can apply a specific amount to one or more timekeepers using the Edit Payment Allocation option in the Payment window. Keep in mind that you cannot allocate more than is due to a specific timekeeper.
To specify payment allocation
- From the File Menu, point to Open and select Payment.
- Select the desired Client ID.
- Enter the Amount of the payment and then click the
(Edit Payment Allocation) button.
- In the A/R Summary Allocation section in the upper-left pane, select Fees.
- At the bottom of the window, click the Clear All Allocations button.
- In the Apply column for the desired Timekeeper, enter the amount of the payment.
- Click Done.
- Press Ctrl+S.
I am often added to calendar records created by others in the office. However, it can take a while for these records to be shown on my calendar. Why is this?
The PracticeMaster graphical calendars (Daily, Weekly, and Monthly Calendars) have a refresh rate that controls how long it takes for new records to display. To refresh your calendar on demand, simply press F5. You can also change how often the calendar automatically refreshes.
To change the refresh rate of the graphical calendars
- From the Calendar menu, select Calendar Properties.
- From the General tab, in the Options section, select the desired Number of minutes to wait between refreshes.
- Click OK.
Keep in mind that having a shorter refresh rate will create additional network traffic and may also slow down the local machine. Also, If 0 is used, the Calendar program will not be automatically refreshed; refreshing will occur only on demand (i.e., when pressing F5).
You may need to experiment with this value to find the right refresh rate that meets your needs.
We need to charge the same cost to multiple matters with the same description and amount. Is there a way to enter the cost one time and then just copy it to another matter?
PracticeMaster makes it easy to replicate records. Not only can you replicate costs, but also fees, journal records, calendar records, and more.
To replicate costs
- From the File menu, point to Open and select Cost.
- Select the desired cost.
- From the Take Action group of the Quick Clicks pane, click Replicate.
- Select the Client ID to which you want to copy the cost.
- Optionally select the Update Rate and then calculate Amount check box.
- Click OK
- Make any necessary edits to the cost and press Ctrl+S.
I created a Report Writer report for a specific attorney that provides a list of the active clients for which they are the Primary Timekeeper. Other attorneys would also like to use this report, but I don’t want to have to edit the report each time a different attorney wants to run it. Is there any way to have the report prompt for the timekeeper number and generate results based on that?
When creating a report, you can save time by creating a User Defined Field with a Runtime Prompt. The field can then be used to filter the report by timekeeper.
To create a User Defined Field that prompts for a value
- From the Reports menu, select Report Writer.
- Select the report and click the Modify button.
- From the User Defined Fields tab:
- Click the (New Field) button.
- Enter a Field Name (e.g., “Pri_TK”).
- Select a Field Type of Integer.
- Select the Runtime Prompt check box.
- In the Prompt field, enter the text you want to be shown when running the report (e.g., Primary Timekeeper).
- Click OK.
- From the Filter tab:
- Click the New Advanced Row button.
- Click the Field button.
- From the User Defined tab, select the field you created (e.g., (Pri_TK”), and then click Insert.
- Click the Operator button, select = Equal to, and then click Insert.
- Click the Field button, select Prim_Tkpr, and then click Insert.
- Click OK.
- Press Ctrl+S.
- From the User Defined Fields tab:
Note: You must remove the original filter that enabled the report to be run for a specific timekeeper.
You will now be prompted for the Primary Timekeeper number when running this report. User Defined Fields with Runtime Prompts are a powerful and flexible way to build reports and filters.
When sending emails to my clients, I used to get prompted for the details of the journal record in PracticeMaster. However, I am no longer prompted, and my emails are not being journaled. How do I turn that back on?
If the PMJournal button is set to Off, an outgoing email will be sent without being automatically journaled. When sending a new email, click on the PracticeMaster tab and click the PMJournal button so that it displays “PMJournal On.” This can be toggled on or off for each new message sent as needed. Additionally, journal settings can be specified to always be enabled, always disabled, or to default to the last used option.
To specify new message defaults
- Open Outlook.
- From the PracticeMaster tab, click the Default Settings button.
- In the New Message Defaults section, select the Journal option of Enabled.
- Click OK.
Now, each time you send an email, the journal window will be displayed, allowing you to journal the email to PracticeMaster.
Whenever we reschedule calendar events, we open the record and change the date and time. Is there a quicker way to do this?
You can drag records to move them in the Graphical Calendar. This makes it easy to reschedule a meeting without opening the Calendar file.
If you want to move an event to a different time, simply move your mouse to the left side of the record until the pointer becomes a 
. Click to grab the record, and then drag it to the desired time. This removes the record from the original time slot and adds it to the new time slot.
Tip: Want to copy a calendar record? Hold down Ctrl when dragging the record to make a copy instead of moving it!