Export Guide
Export the CMCLIENT and CMRELATE files through PracticeMaster, then use the Category List and Timekeepers reports as lookup tables to prepare your data for import into CaseClock.
← All export guidesWhat to export
CMCLIENT (matters) and CMRELATE (contacts) via PracticeMaster, plus Category List and Timekeepers List from Tabs3 Reports
Estimated time
~20 minutes
Difficulty
AdvancedPart 1
The CMCLIENT file contains your matter records. Export it through PracticeMaster, not the Tabs3 billing module.
Open PracticeMaster (not the Tabs3 billing module).
Go to Maintenance in the top menu, then select File Maintenance.
In the File Maintenance dialog, select CMCLIENT from the file list. This file contains your matter records.
Click Utility in the toolbar, then choose Export Data.
In the export dialog, select all fields or at minimum: Client ID, Matter ID, Matter Name, Practice Area/Category code, and Responsible Timekeeper.
Choose a destination folder and save the file with a .txt or .csv extension.
Rename the file to cmclient.csv if it saved with a .txt extension.
Part 2
The CMRELATE file contains your client and contact records. Export it using the same File Maintenance utility in PracticeMaster.
Return to File Maintenance in PracticeMaster.
Select CMRELATE from the file list. This file contains your client/contact records.
Click Utility, then Export Data.
Export all fields or at minimum: Client ID, Client Name (first and last or company), and any contact identifiers your firm uses.
Save and rename the file to cmrelate.csv.
Part 3
CMCLIENT stores category and timekeeper codes, not readable names. Run these two reports to get the lookup tables you need to translate codes into names when mapping your CSV.
Open the Tabs3 billing module.
Go to Reports in the top menu, then Miscellaneous.
Run the Category List report and export it to Excel. This file maps category codes to readable practice area names.
Run the Timekeepers List report and export it to Excel. This file maps timekeeper IDs to attorney names.
Save both Excel files — you will use them to look up readable values when mapping your CSV columns in the Normalizer.
Using the lookup tables
In Excel or Google Sheets, use VLOOKUP or INDEX/MATCH to replace category codes in the CMCLIENT export with readable practice area names from the Category List, and timekeeper IDs with attorney names from the Timekeepers List. Once the codes are replaced with readable values, your file is ready for the CSV Normalizer.
Column reference
| CaseClock field | Tabs3 / PracticeMaster source |
|---|---|
| client_id | Client ID field from CMCLIENT or CMRELATE |
| client_name | Client name from CMRELATE (first + last, or company name) |
| matter_id | Matter ID from CMCLIENT |
| matter_name | Matter Name from CMCLIENT |
| practice_area | Category code from CMCLIENT — look up readable name in Category List report |
| billing_lawyer | Responsible Timekeeper ID from CMCLIENT — look up name in Timekeepers List report |
| jurisdiction | Not included in standard Tabs3 exports — add manually if needed |
| billing_rate | Not included in standard Tabs3 exports — add manually if needed |
CMCLIENT and CMRELATE are internal Tabs3 database files. The exact column headers in your export depend on which fields are selected during the PracticeMaster export. Use the CSV Normalizer to map whatever columns you receive to CaseClock format.
Software interfaces change over time
If these steps don't match what you see in PracticeMaster or Tabs3, the vendor may have updated their interface since this guide was written. Our support team is happy to walk you through it.
Contact support →Next step
Run your prepared CSV through the free CaseClock CSV Normalizer to map your columns to CaseClock format. It runs entirely in your browser — nothing is uploaded or stored.
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