Importing/Exporting Records for Timeslips

Importing Records from Timeslips into Abacus

To import names from Timeslips to Abacus, select Tools > Timeslips Link > Import names. Abacus must ensure that no duplicate ID numbers are created, so if the field in Timeslips (usually Nickname1) assigned to the ID field in Abacus contains data that would cause a duplicate ID in Abacus, the record will not be imported. Once the import process is complete, an error log is displayed and shows any records that did not get added to Abacus.

Unique values must be available for the ID field. Law cannot add a record unless it has a unique value for the ID field, just as Timeslips cannot add a record unless it has unique values for both Nickname1 and Nickname2. Any records that could not be added will be listed in the error log.

If most of your records were successfully imported, you can fix the few problem records by adding a partial record to the target program. Then edit the data from the original program to have unique values, and link the records in Law using Tools > Timeslips Link > Link this record. Next, make the Timeslips record "dirty" by changing one field (perhaps adding a space to the end of a field) and then save the record. The rest of the data will then get moved into Law the next time you run it, or you can select Tools > TimeslipsLink > Get Changes to pull in all the changed records.

Exporting Records from Abacus into Timeslips

You can export all or a portion of your names from Abacus to Timeslips. As Abacus often has names that are not "clients," to export only client names to Timeslips for billing, follow these steps.

1. From the Name window, click the Query button and select the CLIENTS query. This will limit the exported names to clients only. (If you have attorneys and judges in your Names database, you probably don't want those in Timeslips.)

2. Select Tools > Timeslips Link > Export names to export all names matching the current query. If a query is not set, Abacus gives you a warning.

If you import or export records they are automatically "linked" and there is no more setting up to do for names. When you make additions or changes in one program, the changes will automatically post to the other.

NOTE: If you are starting a new Timeslips database, you will need to add all your Timekeepers and Activity codes in Timeslips before you can bill slips.

Unique values must be available for the NickName fields (both 1 and 2). If the field mapped to NN2 has non-unique values, Law will attempt to increment a number on the end of the value to make it unique.

Other possible errors include the limit on the capacity of the Timeslips database (use TSReport, File/Upgrade Capacity to increase), or unusual errors like being out of disk space: