Call Vision Interface Program
Version 1.0

Overview

The VISION.EXE interface program written by Software Technology, Inc. is a DOS program. It is used to convert telephone expense transactions from a Call Vision system to be compatible with the TABS III Merge Data Capture Transactions program. The VISION program must reside in the same directory as the TABS III program files in order to work properly.

The interface program assumes that the client/matter number in the Call Vision data is a single number with no separator. For example, if the client/matter number in TABS III is 200.03, the number must be entered as 20003 in the Call Vision system.

Note: The Create Validation Files program must be run before you can successfully use this data capture device interface program. The Create Validation Files program is found in TABS III by selecting the following menu options Maintenance|Integration|Create Validation Files. When creating validation files, select a Validation File Type of Data Capture Device.

Installation

The VISION.EXE interface program must be transferred to the directory on your hard disk where the TABS III program files reside. This is done by using the INSTALL program on the VISION interface program disk.

To install the VISION interface program on your hard disk:

  1. Insert the VISION interface program disk into your floppy disk drive.

  2. From a DOS prompt, make the floppy disk drive the default drive by entering the drive letter followed by a "colon". For example, if your floppy disk drive is drive A, then enter:

    3.         A:

  3. From the floppy disk drive prompt, enter the command:

    4.         INSTALL

    Note: The INSTALL program has a built-in search feature that will find where your TABS III program files reside. On larger network hard drives, this search feature can take quite a bit of time. If you know where the TABS III program files reside, you can bypass this search feature by entering the path following the install command. For example, if the TABS III program files reside on drive F: in a directory named "STI", you would enter: INSTALL F:\STI  

  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the software onto your hard disk. The Install program will locate your TABS III software on your hard disk so that the interface program can be transferred to the same directory as TABS III. After the installation process, the message "Installation Complete" will be displayed.

Executing the VISION Interface Program

Use the following procedure for conversion:

  1. Transfer the data from your Call Vision system to your TABS III program directory on your computer's hard disk. The data must be in ASCII format. 

  2. From a DOS prompt, start the interface program by entering:

    3.         VISION

  3. The first time you run the VISION program, you will be asked to enter the TABS III transaction code number that you use for telephone calls.

    4. Note: The transaction code number will be stored in a parameter file named VISION.PRM. Each time the VISION program is executed, it will read the VISION.PRM file and use the same transaction code number.

  4. Next, you will be prompted to enter the input file name containing the Call Vision telephone data.

  5. Next, you will be asked "Is it OK to continue? (Y/N)". If you enter "N", the program will be aborted. If you enter "Y", the program will look for the specified file containing the Call Vision system’s data. If the file is found to contain data, the program will display the message "Converting Transactions" followed by a count for each transaction read from the file. The files T3EXPKEY.REM, T3EXP.REM and T3EDESC1.REM will be created which can be merged with the main TABS III data files. You must then start TABS III and run the Merge Data Capture Transactions program.

Note: If you are not using a demo version of the program, the Call Vision telephone data file will automatically be deleted when the conversion is complete to avoid double posting of the data.

Note: You may change any of the options in the future by deleting the file VISION.PRM which is created in your TABS III program directory during Step 3 of the execution instructions. This will enable you to go through the setup procedure described in Step 3 of the execution instructions as a first time user of the program.

VISION File Layout

Field

Name

Format

1

Date

must be in the yyyymmdd format

2

Amount

billable dollar amount up to 9999999.99

3

Phone Number

uses the number dialed (i.e., xxx-xxx-xxxx)

4

Client ID

up to 11 characters

Notes

Sample VISION Data File:

20001215, 0.14, "606-528-4095", 999287
20001218, 1.81, "606-598-6989", 200145
20001219, 2.59, "402-986-9896", 102459

2000/12/18