Tabs3 TBDevice
Other Data Format

Overview

The Tabs3 TBDevice software (Other format) can be used to convert fee, cost, or payment transactions to be compatible with the Merge Tabs3 Remote Data program.

The TBDevice program must reside in the same directory as the Tabs3 programs in order to work properly. The data file must reside in the Tabs3 program directory.

Installation

To install the TBDevice program on your hard disk:

  1. Insert the TBDevice interface program disk into your floppy disk drive.
  2. Click the Start button, and then click Run...
  3. Type A:SETUP or B:SETUP (depending on the floppy drive used), and then click OK.
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to run the SETUP program.

    5. Note: The TBDevice program (TBDEVICE.EXE) must be installed in the same directory where the Tabs3 program resides.

Configuring the Data Collection Device Type

Before you can convert any data from a data collection device, TBDevice must be configured to handle the necessary format. The main purpose of the configuration is to specify the name of the collection device data file and map the input field positions.
  1. From the Software Technology folder, double-click the TBDevice icon to start the TBDevice program.
  2. If the Logon dialog box is displayed, enter your User ID and Password and click OK.
    3.
  3. From the File menu, select the Configure option.
  4. The Configuration window will be displayed. Click the drop-down arrow next to the Device field and select Other.
  5. Select the Default check box if you want to make the Other device the default in the Conversion and Validation programs.
  6. In the File field, type the name of the file containing the data from the collection device.
  7. Click the drop-down arrow next to the Tcode field to select the transaction code number to be used for the records. Enter "NA" if no tcode is required. (Note: When NA is specified, the next time you access the Other configuration, the Tcode field will be unavailable. If you need to change the tcode assignment, you will have to delete the tbdevice.dat file from the TBDEVICE program directory. Doing so will require you to reconfigure all previously configured formats.)
  8. Specify an amount in the Rate field. Enter "0.00" if you want the default billing rate in Tabs3 to be used. (Note: When 0.00 is specified, the next time you access the Other configuration, the Rate field will be unavailable. If you need to change the rate, you will have to delete the tbdevice.dat file from the TBDEVICE program directory. Doing so will require you to reconfigure all previously configured formats.)
  9. In the Input Field Positions section, map the position of the fields in the data file to the associated fields in Tabs3. For example, if the Client ID is in field position 1, enter 1 in the Client ID Position field. If a field position is not needed, leave the Position field set to "0".
  10. If you want the description in the Tabs3 transaction (i.e., "on copier unit nnn") to use all uppercase letters, click the More Config button and select the Upper Case Text check box.
  11. Click OK.
  12. Click the Save button.
  13. Close the Configuration window.

Creating Validation Files

Validation files for the client (CLIENT.TXT), timekeeper (EMPL.TXT) and tcode (TCODE.TXT) files can be created. The client file will contain a record for each active client/matter that exists in the Tabs3 Client file. Use the following procedure to create the validation file:
  1. If the TBDevice program is already started, skip to step 3. From the Software Technology folder, double-click the TBDevice icon to start the TBDevice program.
    2.
  2. If the Logon dialog box is displayed, enter your User ID and Password and click OK.
  3. From the File menu, select the Validation option.
  4. The Validation window will be displayed. If the Other device is not displayed in the Device field, click the drop-down arrow next to the Device field to select the Other format.
  5. Click the Create button.
  6. Once the files are created, click OK. 
  7. Click Cancel to close the Validation window.
  8. Transfer the files to the data collection device.

    9. Note: Validation files should be recreated and transferred to the data collection device after changes have been made to the Client, Timekeeper, or Tcode files in Tabs3.

Converting the Data

Use the following procedure for conversion:
  1. Copy the file containing the data from the collection device to the Tabs3 directory.
  2. If the TBDevice program is already started, skip to step 4. From the Software Technology folder, double-click the TBDevice icon to start the TBDevice program.
  3. If the Logon dialog box is displayed, enter your User ID and Password and click OK.
  4. From the File menu, select the Convert option.
  5. The Conversion window will be displayed. If the Other device is not displayed in the Device field, click the drop-down arrow next to the Device field to select the Other format.
  6. Verify that the file name to be converted is displayed in the File field.
  7. Click the Convert button. The program will look for the file name specified in the Configuration window. If the file is found to contain data, the program will read transactions from the file and increment the Processed count for every transaction that is read. All transactions that are successfully converted will increment the Added count and will be written to the Tabs3 Remote data files (RMT*.*).

    Note: A TBDEVICE.LOG file is created and will contain any records that were not converted. If no errors were encountered during the conversion, then the TBDEVICE.LOG file will be a zero byte file.

    Note: If you are using a full user system, the data file containing the logged data will automatically be deleted when the conversion is complete to avoid double posting of the data. However, when using a trail system, the data file is not deleted.

  8. When the process is complete, the data files will have been created allowing you to merge the information into Tabs3 using the Merge Tabs3 Remote Data program. To merge the files, start Tabs3. From the Integration Task Folder, select Merge Tabs3 Remote Data. This program will merge the remote data files created by the TBDevice program (RMT*.*) with your main Tabs3 data files. The Tabs3 Help includes complete details regarding the Merge Tabs3 Remote Data program.

Note: You can change the transaction code and input field positions used by the TBDevice program by selecting File | Configure.

Startup Options

Command line options can be used when starting TBDevice to bypass the User ID prompt and automatically execute the Convert and Validation programs thereby eliminating user interaction. These startup options can be quite useful when implemented as part of a batch file.

The following are examples of the available startup options:

Bypass the User ID prompt   F:\STI\TBDEVICE.EXE ALICE

Convert   F:\STI\TBDEVICE.EXE /CONVERT OTHER

Validation   F:\STI\TBDEVICE.EXE /VALIDATION OTHER

Note: The normal "sign in" routine is used when TBDevice is started with the "/CONVERT" or "/VALIDATION" options. If you have not specified a User ID on the command line, you will be required to enter the User ID. If password security has been defined, you will also be required to enter the password before the Convert or Validation program will proceed.

The TBDevice Help includes complete details regarding Startup Options.

2003/12