Adding/Editing Hyperlinks for Screens

A Hyperlink is linked text on a Name or Matter window that shows data from a different record — usually from another database. When clicked, it opens a window to edit that other record.

At a matter, when the user hovers over a Hyperlink to a linked name the description for that link displays (for example, “Adjustor” or whatever text was entered into the Description when the name was linked to the matter).

There are two different kinds of Hyperlinks you can add to a screen:

• Direct Hyperlink: A Direct Hyperlink does not look up a linked record. Instead, it displays a specific record which users select. You can add a Direct Hyperlink to a Name or Matter screen, and it can access name, matter or event records. Note that, at first, the Direct Hyperlink will simply display "Not selected" on the Name or Matter window for each record. When you click it, a browse window appears for you to select the exact record to display. This is very handy for showing a statute date on a Matter window. When a new matter is added and a statute date has been added to the calendar, you can click the Direct Hyperlink and select that event.

• LinkType Hyperlink: A LinkType Hyperlink can be added to a Matter screen to show names linked to the matter or to a Name screen to show matters linked to the name. You select the Type code of the record you want the Hyperlink to access. The most common use for this type of Hyperlink is to show the related client on the Matter window itself. If you use the same link type code to identify the client for each matter, the correct name will show for every matter automatically.

To add/edit a Direct Hyperlink:

IMPORTANT: For each record to know which other record to display in a Hyperlink, you must have a field in the database to store the information. So, before you create the Hyperlink, edit the database structure and add the HyperLink field (such as "Statute" for a Matter screen).

1. From the Screen Designer, do one of the following:

   1. To add a Direct Hyperlink, right-click a blank area of the Screen Designer and select Add Hyperlink > Direct to a Record.

   2. To edit a Direct Hyperlink, right-click it.

2. The Direct Hyperlink Properties window appears.
   
   
   
   Complete/edit the settings on the window:

   1. Store in Field: Click the lookup button and select the user-defined field that was added to the database specifically for this hyperlink.

   2. Link to Database: Click the lookup button. The Hyperlink Target window appears. Highlight the database for the Hyperlink and click Done.
      
      

   3. Link Expression to Show: Enter the actual expression to display in the Hyperlink. If a matter record is to be displayed, this is usually the matter field. For names it is usually the LastFirst() function which shows the usual lastname – firstname combination.

   4. Message: The tooltip message that will appear to the user.

   5. Justification: Select to center, left justify or right justify the text for the Hyperlink within its box.

3. Click Done to save your changes.

4. Open the data window (Name or Matter window) to which you added a Direct Hyperlink. Notice that it is displayed as "Not Assigned." Click the Direct Hyperlink. The Names Browse or Matters Browse window opens. Highlight the record you want to link to the selected record. That record will now always be linked to the selected record.

To add/edit a LinkType Hyperlink:

1. From the Screen Designer, do one of the following:

   1. To add a LinkType Hyperlink, right-click a blank area on the Screen Designer and select Add Hyperlink > Show Linked [Name, Matter].

   2. To edit a LinkType Hyperlink, right-click it.

2. The LinkType Hyperlink Properties window appears.
   
   
   
   Complete/edit the settings on the window:

   1. LinkType code to find: Click the lookup button. The Valid Link Type Entries window appears. Select the type of name you want to be able to access when viewing matters or select the type of matter you want to be able to access when viewing names and click Done.

   2. Link Expression to Show: Enter the actual expression to display in the Hyperlink. If a matter record is to be displayed, this is usually the matter field. For names it is usually the LastFirst() function which shows the usual lastname-firstname combination.

   3. Message: The tooltip message that will appear to the user.

   4. Justification: Select to center, left justify or right justify the text for the Hyperlink within its box.

3. Click Done to save your changes.