Setting Up the Timeslips Link

The AbacusLaw by CARET integration with TimeSlips is currently only compatible with TimeSlips 2016 and below.

Follow these instructions to set up the link to Timeslips.

1. From the menu bar in AbacusLaw by CARET, select Tools > Timeslips Link > Setup. The Setup for Timeslips Link window appears. (Timeslips must be installed for it to be available in AbacusLaw by CARET.)
2. Complete the settings in the window. Click OK.

The following describes each setting on the window.

• Timeslips database: Lets you select the Timeslips database. To change, click the button. Select the MAIN.DB containing your real data and click OK.
  • NETWORK TIP: Notice that this is a shared setup, so all stations must be able to access the same drive letter and path. For example, if the Timeslips database is located at “F:TIMESLIPDATA01Main.db”, all stations must have drive “F” mapped to that same drive. Also, different users cannot link the AbacusLaw by CARET database to different Timeslips databases.
• Import/export Matters as well as clients?: Select if you are using the Client Project system in Timeslips and you want AbacusLaw by CARET to export all the matters for each client as a separate record in Timeslips. The name records will export as master clients, and matters linked to a name as a CLIENT will export with NickName1 set to the client’s ID# followed by a dot (.) and the matter case number. The dot (.) is configurable in Timeslips and AbacusLaw by CARET will use whatever your setting contains.
  • If you have data in Timeslips that you plan to import into Law, select this option if you want a separate matter record created for every Client Project record in Timeslips. If this option is not selected, importing will create a name record for each Timeslips record. If you aren't familiar with Client Projects, open the Timeslips help system and search for “Projects” to read about how they work.
• Link Type Code: The code you use to link names to matters as a client. AbacusLaw by CARET lets you link names as attorneys, judges or other roles, and these should not become records in Timeslips. Usually clients are linked to matters with a link type code of CLIENT, but if you use a different code (like CLIENT-B for Billing Client) you can enter it here.
  • NOTE: The two previous settings affect how AbacusLaw by CARET behaves later when you add new records. When you add a new name record, AbacusLaw by CARET sends that new record to Timeslips as a master client record. But when you add a new matter, AbacusLaw by CARET doesn't know yet if the matter has a linked client. So, AbacusLaw by CARET only exports new matters at the point where you link a matter to a name using this special link type code. If the Import/Export Matters box is checked, the matter will be exported as a Client Project record for that linked name.
• Get address changes at startup: When selected, AbacusLaw by CARET will ask Timeslips for new or modified records whenever you start AbacusLaw by CARET. Once the link is established, Timeslips notices when you add or change client records and saves that information. Law can ask for it at startup and make those changes to the same records in AbacusLaw by CARET, or you can use a menu option to ask for these changes at will. In general, its better if you add and modify addresses and phone numbers in AbacusLaw by CARET only and let it post those changes directly to Timeslips in real time. Users that don't understand or want the responsibility of accepting address and phone number additions and changes should NOT select this option.
• Field assignments: Used to change the default settings for special reasons. This function lets you map the fields in AbacusLaw by CARET to the various fields in Timeslips. You may, for example, have existing Timeslips records that have the Fax number in the second phone number field instead of the third as in AbacusLaw by CARET.
  • Notice that the default setup has field assignments that map AbacusLaw by CARET fields to the Timeslips fields. For example, the Names ID field will be the same data as the Timeslips NickName1 field, and the Names Last field (client's last name) will have the same data as the Timeslips NickName2 field. We strongly recommend you stick with these assignments. If you expect to do a bulk import or export to move all clients from one program to the other, you must have unique values in these “key” fields, so changing the field assignments can create problems. However, the address lines may be used differently in different firms so you may want to confirm your data is mapped the way you want. Timeslips numbers the address lines different than AbacusLaw by CARET's “Label” lines, so be careful! For peace of mind, if you already have data in both programs and don‘t have NickNames that match AbacusLaw by CARET's ID, you can clear those assignments (don’t map Nickname fields to anything). When one program updates the other, you can be sure only the fields you leave mapped will transfer data.
• ADDITIONAL NOTES:
  • AbacusLaw by CARET will NOT overwrite the Timeslips NickName fields when posting changes to existing records. Since the Nickname fields are “key” fields that identify records for related information and historical records, automatically overwriting them has too much potential for user‘s simple mistakes causing a big problem. If a user’s Last Name changes and this is mapped to the Nickname 2 field, you will have to make that change in Timeslips IF indeed you want that field to change.
  • 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. AbacusLaw by CARET can let you “link” its codes to existing Timeslips codes as you bill new notes and events, but it cannot add new Timekeepers or Activity codes for you.