Is your desk cluttered with sticky notes, miscellaneous pieces of paper, and phone messages? Clear your work area, consolidate your notes, and link them to the appropriate clients and contacts by using the PracticeMaster Journal file!
The following types of records can be added to the Journal file (In the Quick Launch, search for and select “Journal File”) by clicking the 
(New) button:
- Notes: Add free-form notes to keep track of any necessary information.
- Time Tasks: Keep track of how much time you spend on the various tasks associated with your matter.
- Phone Tasks: Keep track of phone calls to and from clients and third parties, including the phone number and whether you spoke with the desired person or left a message.
- Research Tasks: Keep all of your research notes in one place, including the website address and a linked file.
- Emails: Use the Outlook Toolbar Plug-in (In the Quick Launch, search for and select “Toolbar-Plug-ins” and click the Outlook tab) to save both sent and received emails.
Alternatively, Time Tasks, Phone Tasks, and Research Tasks can be created via the Timer (In the Quick Launch, search for and select “Timer”). When integrated with Tabs3 Billing, any Client Notes from Tabs3 Billing (In the Quick Launch, search for and select “Client Information” and click the Client Notes tab) can also be viewed, but not edited, in the PracticeMaster Journal file.
Not only can you move information from paper to PracticeMaster, but every journal record provides a Client ID and Contact field. This links the record directly to the client’s matter and/or contact for which it applies and allows others to access the same information when they need it. Simply open the Client and/or Contact file and click on the Journal tab to see all journal records pertaining to this client, or select a Journal Page tab (e.g., Email, Phone, Timer, etc.) to see specific record types. You can configure which tabs to display in the Client file by opening Configure Client Pages (Edit | Configure Client Pages) from the List tab, and in the Contact file by opening Configure Contact Pages (Edit | Configure Contact Pages).
Use PracticeMaster to help organize your notes, research, and more – declutter your workspace, and allow others access to valuable information!
As of December 31, 2025, the Tabs3 Support Team will no longer provide support for Version 2021 of Tabs3 Software.
If you are using an older version of the software, now is the perfect time to get up to date with the latest version of Tabs3 Software. You will be surprised at the number of features you’ve been missing! Click here to see What’s New in each version.
Updating to the latest version is FREE when your firm has an active subscription. To get started, in the Quick Launch, search for and select “Check for Updates.”
If you have any questions regarding the discontinuation of support for Version 2021, please contact your Tabs3 Software consultant, or a member of our Customer Success Team at customersuccess@Tabs3.com or (402) 419-2212.
When your firm prints the same set of reports every year, quarter, month, week, or semi-regularly, report suites offer a one-step option to print out a predefined set of Tabs3 Billing reports using the report definitions you have set up. Creating report definitions for each of the reports your firm runs can help save time, and taking advantage of report suites can save even more. Knowledge Base Article R11908, “Setting Up and Running Report Suites,” provides the steps needed to create a report definition, a report suite, and to run a report suite.
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.”
Did you know that you can quickly convert Journal, Calendar, and Document Management records into billable fees? Use the Convert to Fee option in PracticeMaster to convert emails, research records, timers, notes, meetings, tasks, documents, and more into fees. Converting records into fees helps make sure your clients are being billed for the time you spend on their matters.
Converting a record to a fee
When you convert a record to a fee, a Convert to Fee window is opened which shows the same fields as the Fee file. If the original record does not contain a Client ID, you will be prompted to select a client before the Convert to Fee window is opened. When applicable, the Date and Description fields are automatically populated from the original record. You can then enter any other information for the fee record such as the Timekeeper, Tcode, Hours to Bill, etc. and save.
There are multiple ways to convert a record into a fee.
- From the All Activity or Calendar list in Matter Manager:
- From the Take Action group of the Quick Clicks pane, select Convert to Fee.
- Click the
(Convert to Fee) button to the right of the record (All Activity List only).
- From the Journal, Calendar, and Document Management Files:
- Right-click the record, point to Action and select Convert to Fee.
- From the Take Action group of the Quick Clicks pane, select Convert to Fee.
- From the Edit menu, point to Action and select Convert to Fee.
- From the Daily/Weekly/Monthly Calendar: Right-click the record and select Convert to Fee.
- Click the (Convert to Fee) button on the toolbar.
When a record is converted to a fee, a new fee is created without removing the record from the Journal, Calendar, or Document Management file.
Convert to Fee Settings
Default settings can be specified for calendar, email, note, phone, research, timer, and document records via Convert to Fee Settings (In the Quick Launch, search for and select “Convert to Fee Settings”). Settings are saved per user, so each login user has their own default settings. Default settings are broken down by record type (e.g., timer, email, document, etc.) and provide defaults for tcode, timekeeper, description, time to bill, and more.
Make sure you don’t have billable time that’s slipping away. Start converting records to fees and see how much additional time you can bill for.
Did you know that you can reverse write offs? The Reverse Write Off feature allows you to reverse a write off that was created via Write Off Client. The information for the write off will be backed out, returning the client ledger, accounts receivable, receipt allocation, and productivity to their original values.
To reverse a write off
- In the Quick Launch, search for and select “Reverse Write Off.”
- Select the Client ID.
- In the Reference Number field, select the write off you want to reverse.
- Click OK.
Do you want to accept credit cards, but aren’t sure where to start? Knowledge Base Article R11871, “Tabs3Pay Frequently Asked Questions,” provides information regarding using Tabs3Pay for electronic payment processing. Included in this article are questions regarding getting started, setting up and using credit card processing, integration, and online payments.
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.”