Did you know that you can have certain software features automatically run as soon as a Tabs3 Software application is opened? You can use startup options to help automate tasks by entering command line options in the Target field of the desktop shortcut icon.
For example, in Tabs3 Billing you can have the Fee Entry window automatically open, and in PracticeMaster you can have the Matter Manager window automatically open. Other popular startup options include opening the Calendar and the Timer window. Some startup options, such as the Data File Integrity Check, can be automatically started in every application. You can even use a startup option to automatically enter your User ID. If you do not use a password, the Logon window will be bypassed and you will automatically be logged into the software. However, if a password has been set up for the user, the User ID will be filled in and a password will be required.
To add a startup option to PracticeMaster
- Right-click the desktop icon used to start PracticeMaster and select Properties.
- From the Properties window, click the Shortcut tab. The startup option can be entered following the program file name in the Target field. An example of the Target field when using the User ID startup option is:”C:\Program Files\Tabs3\CM.EXE” ALICEAn example of the Target field when using the option to start the Data File Integrity Check at a specified time is:”C:\Program Files\Tabs3\CM.EXE” /DFIC /T 11:30p
Multiple startup options can be specified in the Target field if desired. Options must be separated by a space. An example of multiple startup options is:
“C:\Program Files\Tabs3\CM.EXE” /TIMER /CALENDAR /WEEKLY
- Click OK.
You can find a complete list of startup options applicable to the application you are working in by searching for “Help Topics” in the Quick Launch. On the Index tab, simply type “Startup Options”. For more information on automating tasks, including startup options, refer to Knowledge Base Article R11034, “Automating Tabs3 Software Maintenance Tasks.”
Did you know that you can email statements to your clients? Emailing statements saves on postage and delivers statements to your clients immediately. You can also optionally include a Tabs3Pay payment link along with the email statement, allowing your clients to pay online.
Once you decide to email statements to a client, you must complete certain steps to ensure that the client, as well as the email, is configured properly. Knowledge Base Article R11913, “Emailing Tabs3 Billing Statements,” walks you through setting up and using the Email Statements feature.
Our Knowledge Base can be accessed at support.Tabs3.com. You can also access our Knowledge Base in the Quick Launch by searching for and selecting “Knowledge Base.”
A virtual field is a field that links to another field in a lookup file. Creating virtual fields provides a way to easily access information included in a lookup file from any other file, such as the Client file, Contact file, etc., which can help minimize double entry in the software. Additionally, virtual fields pull information from the lookup file, but cannot be edited. Virtual fields are read-only. This means that the information will be consistent everywhere the virtual fields are used. Examples of virtual fields include contact information. When you open the Client file, the address, Web Page, phone number, and Email fields are all virtual fields that pull from the Contact lookup file.
Let’s say you have created a lookup file for courts, and you want to display several fields from this lookup file in the Client file. This can be accomplished by using virtual fields. First, you must add a Lookup field to the Client File that will designate which record in the lookup file will be associated with the client. Then you can add one or more virtual fields.
To add a Lookup field to the Client File
- In the Quick Launch, search for and select “File Maintenance.”
- In the System Files group, select Client and click OK.
- From the Field tab, click (New).
- Enter the desired Field ID.
- Select a Field Type of Lookup.
- In the User Defined Lookup File field, select the lookup you created (e.g., the courts file).
To add a virtual field to the same file
- Click (New).
- Enter the desired Field ID.
- Select a Field Type of Virtual.
- Select the Lookup Field you created previously.
- Select the desired Field to Copy From.
- Repeat steps 1-5 for each virtual field you want to add.
- Click Done.
You can now use the Form Designer to add the new Lookup and Virtual fields to the Client file. Now, let’s say that down the road you also decide you want some of the information from the lookup file to appear in the Journal, Calendar, or Document Management files. Simply follow the instructions above for the desired file. Each virtual field will pull the information from the lookup file, so the information will always be the same regardless of which file you are accessing.
Once virtual fields have been added to a file, they can also be used in the Report Writer and in filtering data. Take a few minutes to review lookup files you have added to the software, and where the information from these files might be useful. Haven’t added any lookup files yet? Now might be the time to take a look at how your data is set up, and to see how much time lookup files and virtual fields might save you!
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 Tabs3 Software consultant, call Support at (402) 419-2210, or visit Knowledge Base Article R11480, “All About Tabs3 Connect.”
Scheduling meetings doesn’t need to be complicated.
With PracticeMaster’s Calendar features, you can easily view everyone’s schedules, add a meeting to the calendar, and notify all attendees with just a few clicks. And when using the Auto Email Notification feature, this process becomes even more streamlined, which can save you time.
Watch this three-minute video here:
Training Videos can be accessed at Tabs3.com/videos. You can also access the videos in the Quick Launch by searching for and selecting “Training Videos.”
Did you know that you can quickly start other Tabs3 Software applications from within any application? Once you have opened one of the Tabs3 Software applications, simply click on the desired application button in the application toolbar! The application toolbar is located at the bottom of the Quick Launch pane.
When starting any application from the application toolbar, the new software will use the same User ID as the current application. An application’s button will not be displayed on the application toolbar if you do not have access rights to that application or if it is not installed on your workstation.
We have some clients with multiple matters that pay with a credit card. Can we apply a single electronic payment to multiple matters or statements for a client?
Both Tabs3Pay and LawPay can be used with the Apply Payments to Multiple Matters feature. This feature allows you to enter a single payment and apply it to specific matters and statements associated with the client. Apply Payment to Multiple Matters can be used when entering new payments as well as when using the Import Online Payments feature.
To apply a payment to multiple matters or statements when entering a payment
- From the Quick Launch, search for and select “Payment Entry.”
- Enter all information for the payment record, including the Tabs3Pay or LawPay payment method.
- Click the
(Apply Payment to Multiple Matters) button or press Alt+A to open the Apply Payment to Multiple Matters window. - A list of matters and their statements will be displayed. Specify the amount to apply to each statement. When you are finished, click Finalize. (Note: For more information on using this window, press F1.)
To apply a payment to multiple matters or statement when importing a payment
- From the Quick Launch, search for and select “Import Online Payments.”
- Double-click the payment you want to import to open the Payment Entry window.
- Click the (Apply Payment to Multiple Matters) button or press Alt+A to open the Apply Payments to Multiple Matters window.
- A list of matters and their statements will be displayed. Specify the amount to apply to each statement. When you are finished, click Finalize. (Note: For more information on using this window, press F1.)
Note: LexCharge (formerly ProPay) integration does not support the Apply Payments to Multiple Matters feature. If you are interested in using this feature, visit Tabs3Pay.com for information on signing up for Tabs3Pay.
We need to move the files for our Document Management records to a bigger hard drive. Can PracticeMaster do this for us?
PracticeMaster makes it easy to move all existing documents from the current storage location to a new location by changing the Document Store path. However, PracticeMaster will only move files in Document Management records that have the Automatically Manage Document option selected. Other linked documents in any PracticeMaster record (using a File field type) or unmanaged Document Management records will not be affected.
Tip: To check if there are any Document Management records that are not set to be automatically managed, you can create a filter of “Manage_SW is False” on the List tab of the Document Management window.
To change the Document Store location
- On the new drive, create a folder (e.g., “D:\Documents”) and set up a network sharing UNC path (e.g., \\server\documents). Make sure no users have any of the document files open or are using PracticeMaster prior to continuing.
- In the Quick Launch, search for and select “Customization.”
- On the Documents tab, update the Document Store path to point to the new UNC path.
- Click OK to save Customization.
- A prompt will be shown to run Verify Documents. Click Yes.
- When Verify Documents is complete, an Error Report will be displayed showing each file that was moved (error codes 40 or 42). These errors are expected. You can save this report for your records.
- Click Close to complete the process.
If any other codes are included on the Verify Documents Error Report, verify that the Document Management record is correctly set to manage the document, and then re-run the Verify Documents utility (in the Quick Launch, search for and select “Verify Documents”). If the error persists, contact Tabs3 Support for additional assistance.
