Integration with LexShare, a secure file sharing and electronic document signing service, has been enhanced in the most recent version of PracticeMaster. LexShare integration allows your clients to easily upload files that you request, or add their electronic signature to a document that you send. The document can then be imported to the PracticeMaster Document Management file.
The Request eSignature, Request File, and Send File actions are available in the Take Action group of the Quick Clicks pane in the Matter Manager, Client file, and Document Management file. These links open a new window where you can send an email to a client or other recipient, allowing them to access, sign, and return documents to your office.
Previously, LexShare integration required the LexShare Add-in for Outlook to perform secure file transfers and electronic signature requests. Beginning with Version 2022 (Build 22.2.10), Outlook is no longer required.
Additional information about using PracticeMaster with LexShare can be found in KB Article R11901, “LexShare Integration.”
Are you planning on purchasing a new server, or moving from one computer to another? Sometimes it becomes necessary to move the Tabs3 Software from one location on the network to another location. Knowledge Base Article R11895, “Moving Tabs3 Software,” and Knowledge Base Article R11896, “Moving Tabs3 Platinum Software,” walk you through the steps to move the software to a different computer.
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.”
Are there additional notes that you want to add to statements for one or more clients? There are multiple areas in Tabs3 Billing to enter notes that can then be shown on statements for a single client, a group of clients, or all clients. A graphic is provided at the end of this article that represents each of the following elements.
Statement Notes for a Single Client
If you want to add notes to a single client’s statement, this can be set up in the Client file using the Beginning and Ending Statement Notes fields, located on the Statement Options tab, or the Miscellaneous lines 1-3, located on the Custom Fields tab.
Beginning and Ending Statement Notes
The Beginning Statement Notes will print following the Work Description and Miscellaneous Lines 1-3. The Ending Statement Notes will print at the end of the statement, but before any statement notes included in a statement template or ending text defined on the Headings tab of Statement Customization. Each of these fields has a maximum of 250 characters.
You can optionally select to Change Notes to blank after Statement updated if you want the note to only be included on the next statement.
Tip: You can optionally use Change Client Options (in the Quick Launch, search for and select “Change Client Options”) to set Beginning and Ending Statement Notes for multiple clients.
Miscellaneous Lines 1-3
The Miscellaneous Lines 1-3 will print following the Work Description. Each of these fields has a maximum of 255 characters.
Statement Notes for a Group of Clients
To add notes to multiple clients’ statements, you can use Statement Notes (in the Quick Launch, search for and select “Statement Notes”). Statement Notes can be up to 511 characters. Once Statement Notes have been created, they can be assigned to a statement template (in the Quick Launch, search for and select “Statement Templates”).
Statement templates provide the ability to include a Beginning Note that is shown below the Client’s Beginning Statement Notes, and an Ending Note that is shown below the Client’s Ending Statement Notes. Statement templates are assigned to each client via the Statement Options tab in the Client file.
Statement Notes for All Clients
If you want to show the same note on every statement for every client, then you can use Statement Customization (in the Quick Launch, search for and select “Statement Customization”). On the Headings tab, you can add up to 9 lines of text to the top of the statement (60 characters each), or 250 characters of text at the bottom. When adding Lines of text to be printed as a heading on the first page of each billing statement, this text will be the first text shown on the statement. When adding Lines of text to be printed as a message at the end of each billing statement, this text will be the last text shown on the statement.
Want to know if Platinum is right for your firm? Try out Tabs3 Platinum risk free for 30 days! This offer allows you to use all of the Platinum features with your own data for 30 days before determining whether Platinum will be a permanent upgrade.
Key features in the Platinum software include:
- Tabs3 Connect – Tabs3 Connect provides secure access to Tabs3 Billing and PracticeMaster anywhere you can connect to the Internet using smartphones, tablets, and computers away from the office. Enter fees and costs, browse client and contact information, see calendar events, receive eNotes and alarm notifications, and more!
- Tabs3 Billing and PracticeMaster Accelerators – Accelerators run on the server, helping to minimize both the amount of data transferred across the network and the amount of data processed on the workstation. This means that the performance of generating reports and statements is dramatically improved.
- Transaction Processing and Auto-Recovery – Transaction Processing ensures that database transactions complete successfully, guaranteeing that the database remains in a consistent, reliable state. If an interruption during a process such as update statements occurs, Auto-Recovery “rolls back” the database to its previous state before the database transaction began, saving you from an entire system restore.
- Accelerated Filtering and Column Sorting – PracticeMaster filters and column sorting are processed at the server, similar to the PracticeMaster accelerator, which improves the speed at which lists are displayed.
- eNote – PracticeMaster eNote provides an intra-office way to quickly communicate by blending the best features of instant messaging and email. Send a quick message, or attach a PracticeMaster file such as a calendar or journal record for review. If you don’t want to be bothered, you can even set your status to “Do Not Disturb.”
- HotBackup – With HotBackup, you can back up your data while others are actively using the software and maintain up to 198 backups in the location of your choosing. You can schedule data to be backed up automatically for the days and times of your choosing and designate one or more email addresses to be notified of successful and/or failed HotBackups.
- Historic Accounts Receivable Reports – The Detail and Summary Accounts Receivable Reports include a Print Historic A/R option in Platinum systems that will print accounts receivable balances as of a specific date. This option calculates the A/R based on records present in Tabs3, effectively showing what the A/R would have been on the given date, assuming no records have been deleted or modified. (Note: Keep in mind that although the calculated A/R will be correct based on records currently in the software, it is possible that these may not match an A/R Report run on the original date if any transactions were deleted, statements unbilled or backdated, payments reversed, write offs reversed, or any integrity check errors are present.)
- Accounts Receivable by Timekeeper Report – The Accounts Receivable by Timekeeper Report prints a list of clients with fees due for each working timekeeper, making it easy for individual timekeepers to see which clients owe money for work they performed. This report is different from other receivable reports because it allows you to filter clients by including only those clients that the timekeeper worked on, a particularly nice feature for larger firms.
- Enhanced Detail Accounts Receivable Report – The Detail Accounts Receivable Report offers the option to include a breakdown of fees by timekeeper, and costs by cost type. When this option is enabled, each timekeeper with outstanding fees is displayed on a separate row with an aging breakdown, and outstanding costs are grouped by cost type with an aging breakdown.
For more information on the 30-day trial offer, visit Knowledge Base Article R11261, “Platinum Net 30 Trial Plan,” and then contact your local consultant or contact our Sales Department at 402-419-2200 to take advantage of this great offer!
Being able to access information about your client’s fees, costs, and payments in one report can be helpful for running your law firm. Tabs3 Billing has just the report you need for your firm to succeed!
Using the Transaction File List, you can easily track work-in-process and archived transactions for any client, over any time period. The Transaction File List video walks you through the options available when running this versatile report, ensuring that your report includes as little or as much detail as you need.
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 PracticeMaster integrates with several third-party programs such as Microsoft Outlook and Word? This integration provides the ability to add emails to PracticeMaster as Journal records and documents as Document Management records. Fee and Calendar records can also be added.
To install a toolbar plug-in
- In the Quick Launch, search for and select “Toolbar Plug-ins.”
- Select the tab of the program for which you want to install a Toolbar Plug-in.
- Click the Install button and follow any instructions noted.
The next time you open the third-party program, you will be able to use the toolbar! For more information about Toolbar Plug-ins, press F1 from within PracticeMaster and enter “Toolbar Plug-ins” on the Index tab.
I’d like to see a list of the top 20 clients for hours worked in 2022. Is there a report for that?
Tabs3 Billing has a Top Client Report, which provides the ability to rank clients or matters based on different criteria. This report shows the top hours worked, WIP figures, billed figures, paid figures, and more.
To print the top 20 clients for billed fees
- In the Quick Launch, search for and select “Top Client Report.”
- Leave the Client ID range blank.
- On the Options tab:
- In the Print section, in the Top field, enter “20” and then select Clients.
- In the Ranked by field, select All Hours Worked.
- In the Period section, in the Date field, select Current Calendar Year.
- Click OK.
My workstation was recently upgraded to a higher resolution display. Is there a way to increase the font size in the calendar to make it more readable?
Each user can customize their calendar font settings via Calendar Properties.
To change the font in the PracticeMaster Calendar
- From the Quick Launch, search for and select “Calendar Properties.”
- Select the tab corresponding to the calendar you want to edit (i.e., Daily, Weekly, or Monthly).
- Click the Select Font button.
- In the Size section, select the font size you want to use.
- Click OK to close the Font window.
- Repeat steps 2-5 for each calendar you want to modify.
- Click OK to save changes.
We need a list of all payments to our firm from trust accounts in the last year. Which report should I run for this?
The Check Register by Payee can be used to print a list of checks written to any payee for any date range.
To print a Check Register by Payee for firm payments
- In the Quick Launch, search for and select “Check Register by Payee.”
- On the Transactions tab, enter the desired Date range.
- On the Options tab, select a Payee range of “FIRM” Thru “FIRM”.
- Select any additional criteria.
- Click OK.
We have an invoice that should not be included in a vendor’s 1099 totals. Is there a way to exclude this amount?
The Exclude from 1099 Reporting check box in Invoice/Manual Check Entry provides the ability to do just that. This check box can be selected or cleared at any point, even if the invoice has been posted to Tabs3 General Ledger.
To exclude an invoice from a Vendor’s 1099 form
- In the Quick Launch, search for and select “Invoice/Manual Check Entry.”
- Select the desired Vendor.
- Select the desired Reference number.
- In the Payment Information section, select the Exclude from 1099 Reporting check box.
- Press Ctrl+S.
Note: The Exclude from 1099 Reporting check box will not be available if the vendor is a miscellaneous vendor or does not have a box specified for the 1099 Info field.
I’ve completed reviewing the books for the previous fiscal year and am ready to close them. Is there a way to prevent users from posting or editing journal records for the previous year?
Once you are certain that no additional changes will be needed, you can update the Date through which books are closed setting. Once this value is updated, no additional changes can be made prior to the specified date.
To change the Date through which books are closed
- From the Quick Launch, search for and select “Edit GLS Client.”
- In the Journal Entry Date Restrictions section, specify the new value for the Date through which books are closed.
- Press Ctrl+S.
- Close the Edit GLS Client window.
Note: No user, regardless of assigned access profile or manager status, can make changes prior to the specified Date through which books are closed.
