Spotlight: Updating/Changing Firm Information in System Configuration

September 2017    Tags: Accounts Payable, General Ledger, PracticeMaster, System Configuration, Tabs3 Billing, Trust Accounting

Firm information can change for many reasons, such as when you move, add partners, or the firm splits. Updating the software with your new information is important so that your firm is accurately represented on statements, checks, and more. Informing Tabs3 is also important so that information regarding changes to the software reaches you in a timely manner.

The main changes to firm information are made in System Configuration; however, other changes may also be necessary depending on your use of the software and are outlined below.

System Configuration

You can change your firm’s name, address, phone, website, and Federal ID # in System Configuration’s Firm Information window (File | Open | Firm). Changes to the firm’s name, address, Federal ID #, or phone will prompt you to print and send us a form with the changes. This is so that we can update our records.

Making changes to the Firm Information will automatically change the following information in the software:

• Heading of all reports in Tabs3 Billing, PracticeMaster, Accounts Payable Software (APS), and Trust Accounting Software (TAS).
• Firm name displayed on APS and TAS 1099 Forms.
• Firm name printed on TAS checks to FIRM.
• Statement Designer layouts that use a variable for any of the fields that have changed.
• Document Assembly templates and report definitions that use any of the fields that have changed.

Note: When a change to the firm name is made in the Platinum version of the software, all users must exit the Tabs3 software before the change will apply to the Tabs3 and PracticeMaster report headings or the TAS Payee of “FIRM.”

Tabs3 Billing

The following changes to statement information may need to be made in Tabs3 Billing for changes to your firm’s information.

• If your firm uses the Headings tab in Statement Customization (Statements | Statement Setup | Statement Customization) to enter up to nine lines to be printed as a heading on each statement, these lines may need to be updated.
• If your firm uses Statement Designer layouts that provide firm information manually entered, instead of using variables, these layouts may need to be updated.
• If your firm uses bitmaps on statements that include the changed firm information, the bitmaps will need to be recreated.

General Ledger Software (GLS)

In GLS, the Client Name field in the Edit GLS Client program (Utilities | Edit GLS Client) prints as a heading on all GLS reports.

Tabs3 Remote

In Tabs3 Remote, the firm name is saved in Customization (Utilities | Customization) and is printed as a heading on all Tabs3 Remote reports.

Trust Accounting Software (TAS)

In TAS, you must change the FIRM payee’s information (File | Open | Miscellaneous | Payee tab) to reflect changes to your firm’s address and/or Federal ID #.

If your firm information changes, make sure you update all of the necessary areas to help make the transition smooth.