Import clients from an existing Practice CS database into a separate Practice CS database

Practice CS lets firms merge databases or copy clients between databases using the Export / Import Clients process. Existing clients won’t be overwritten during the import. If there are duplicate clients in both databases, the client already in the database you're importing will be kept.
The information that will be exported/imported is limited to client demographic information, contact information, and the days until invoice is due.
  • Main tab
  • Client ID
  • EIN
  • FYE
  • Sort Name
  • Name 1
  • Name 2
  • Class
  • Status
  • Start Date
  • Individual First Name
  • Individual Last Name
  • Spouse First Name
  • Spouse Last Name
  • Contact tab
  • Name
  • Title
  • Company
  • Salutation
  • FileAs
  • Primary Phone Type
  • Business Phone Number
  • Fax Phone Number
  • Car Phone Number
  • Home Phone Number
  • Primary Address Type
  • Primary Address line 1
  • Primary Address line 2
  • Primary Address City
  • Primary Address State
  • Primary Address Zip Code
  • Primary Address Country
  • Business Address line 1
  • Business Address line 2
  • Business Address City
  • Business Address State
  • Business Address Zip Code
  • Business Address Country
  • Other Address line 1
  • Other Address line 2
  • Other Address City
  • Other Address State
  • Other Address Zip Code
  • Other Address Country
  • Primary Email
  • Email Address 1
  • Email Address 2
  • Email Address 3
  • Website URL
  • Billing and A/R tab
  • Days until Invoice is Due

Export

To begin the process, you'll need to first export the clients from the existing database.
  1. Select
    File
    ,
    Export
    , then
    Clients
    .
  2. Mark the
    Other
    checkbox for the option
    Export To
    .
  3. Select the ellipsis near the
    Other
    checkbox and browse to the location where you want to save this file.
  4. Go to
    File name
    and enter a name for the file then verify
    Save as type
    shows XML Data (*.xml). Select
    Save
    .
  5. Select the clients that you'd like to bring into the new database.
  6. Select
    Export Selected
    .
  7. After exporting the file, verify that it was created in the specified location.

Import

Import for Non-Virtual Office CS/SaaS firms
To import the clients from the XML file into a Practice CS database, complete the following steps.
  1. You'll need to create a new database. If you already have a database, continue to the next step.
  2. In Practice CS, select
    File
    then
    Open Firm
    .
  3. Use the
    Open Firm
    dropdown to select the database you want to import into. Select
    OK
    to open the database.
  4. Select
    Setup
    then
    Firm
    .
  5. Select the
    Preferences
    tab.
  6. Select the
    Integrate this Firm with other solutions
    checkbox.
  7. Go to
    Setup
    ,
    System Configuration
    , then
    File Locations
    .
  8. Verify the
    Practice CS Data path
    is entered and accurate. Make a note of the data path.
  9. Select
    OK
    to close the File Locations window.
  10. Using the Windows Explorer, go to the location where the .XML file was saved during the Export process.
  11. Right-click the .XML file and select
    Copy
    .
  12. Go to to the data path from Step 7. Once inside the
    Practice CS Data
    folder, open the
    Data
    folder, then open the
    Integration
    folder.
  13. Right-click and
    Paste
    the .XML file into the
    Integration
    folder. The .XML file should show in the folder.
  14. In Practice CS, select
    View
    then
    Refresh
    or select
    Refresh
    on the toolbar.
  15. Select
    Setup
    then
    Clients
    to verify the clients were imported.
Import for Virtual Office CS/SaaS firms
To import the clients from the XML file into a Practice CS database, complete the following steps.
  1. You'll need to create a new database. If you already have a database, continue to the next step.
  2. In Practice CS, select
    File
    then
    Open Firm
    .
  3. Use the Open Firm dropdown to select the database you want to import into. Select
    OK
    to open the database.
  4. Select
    Setup
    then
    Firm
    .
  5. Select the
    Preferences
    tab.
  6. Select the
    Integrate this Firm with other solutions
    checkbox.
  7. Go to
    Setup
    ,
    System Configuration
    , then
    File Locations
    .
  8. Verify the Practice CS Data path is set to Y:\Practice CS Data. You can select
    Use Default Paths
    to automatically set all paths to default.
  9. Select
    OK
    to close the File Locations window.
  10. Open a Microsoft Office application in Virtual Office, such as Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel.
  11. In the Microsoft application, select
    File
    then
    Open
    .
  12. Select the
    Browse
    option.
  13. Select
    Computer
    .
  14. Select the drive where the .XML file was saved during the export process. Your local drive is called C$. For example: your network drive is the T: drive, you will see T$ as an option.
  15. Find the location of the .XML file and select it once to highlight it. Don't open it.
  16. Select
    CTRL+C
    to copy the .XML file.
  17. Select
    Computer
    again.
  18. Select
    wincsi
    ,
    Practice CS Data
    ,
    data
    , then
    Integration
    .
  19. Once inside the Integration folder, select
    CTRL + V
    to paste the .XML file.
  20. Leave the Microsoft application’s Open window open and bring up Practice CS.
  21. In Practice CS, select
    View
    then
    Refresh
    or select
    Refresh
    on the toolbar.
  22. Once the .XML file disappears, select
    Cancel
    on the Microsoft application’s Open window and close the Microsoft application.
  23. In Practice CS, select
    Setup
    then
    Clients
    to verify the clients were imported.
The imported clients may not appear in
Setup
then
Clients
immediately. Depending upon how many clients are being imported, it may take several minutes to a few hours for all clients to appear.