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Import a custom format from the Practice CS Library

The Library provides custom formats that you can import into your Practice CS database to expand the capabilities of Practice CS, and in many instances, reduce the effort you would expend in producing custom formats yourself. Most of the custom formats are a result of multiple customer requests for changes or additional features associated with reports, invoices, statements, labels, and letters. In response to such requests, custom formats were added to the library so they could be made available to all customers. The types of formats available in the Library include:
  • Reports
    : You can create custom versions of standard reports in the Custom Formatting screen. Before customizing the report yourself, check the Library to see if a customized version of the report, or something close, has already been created and is available for import. The reports are organized in the library by type, using the same categories found on the Print Reports screen, and presented in alphabetical order.
    note
    • A number of the reports in the Practice CS Library are similar, if not identical, to reports that were available in Creative Solutions Practice.
    • The custom reports include reports that are similar to those available in some competitor products such as ProSystem fx Practice Management. These reports are found in the Competitor Reports section at the bottom of the page.
    • If you don't find a report in the library that satisfies your needs, we offer a custom formatting service that may be able to generate the report you are looking for. For more information, select 
      Show More
       Two blue down arrows.
  • Invoices
    : The Invoices and Invoices (Default) sections include various invoice formats that might be closer to how you would like your invoice to look than the default invoice format provided with the application. The Invoices (Default) section includes the formats found in the Sample database plus variations. The Invoices section includes formats that use numerous graphics, which give the invoices a more structured appearance. You might find that none of the invoice formats available meet your exact needs, but that one is close. You can import that format and further customize it in the Custom Formatting screen to get exactly what you need.
  • Statements
    : As with invoices, the Statements section includes statement formats that might be closer what you want than the default statement formats. You might find that none of the statement formats meet your exact needs, but that one is close enough that you can import the format and further customize it in the Custom Formatting screen.
  • Letters
    : Examples of letters that can be used as is, or imported and modified further in the Custom Formatting screen.
  • Labels
    : Label formats that can be used to expand the set of available labels. The custom labels also include DYMO labels and envelope layouts.
To import a format from the Library, follow these steps.
  1. Open the Practice CS Library portlet on any dashboard.
    note
    If you don’t currently have access to the library, you can add it by following the instructions in Selecting portlets for a dashboard.
  2. Select the
    Custom Formats
     link.
  3. Browse the list of reports to find ones that might match what you're looking for.
  4. Hover your mouse pointer over the format title to see a brief description of the format.
  5. To view a preview of the format, select its title. A preview of the report opens in Adobe Reader.
    note
    Format previews are static snapshots of the format using Sample data. They don't reflect how the format will look using your own data.
  6. If there's a note Note for the format in the Notes column, there is special information for using the format. Select the icon to read the special information.
  7. When you find a format you want to import into your database, select
    Import
     Green down arrow for that row. Once imported, the format becomes part of your database. You can use the format as you would any format that already exists in your database.
    • Imported report formats will appear in the Print Reports screen.
    • Imported invoice formats can be used anywhere an invoice format can be selected, including the Billing screen and the Clients screen.
    • Imported statement formats can be used anywhere a statement format can be selected, including the Print Invoices and Statements screen and the Clients screen.
    • Imported labels and Letters can be used in the Print Labels and Letters screen.
note
  • After importing a report format, the format is added to the list of reports in all security groups and is disabled by default. This means that, initially, only staff in the Administrator group will have access to it. To provide access to other staff:
    1. Select
      Setup
      , then
      Security Groups
      .
    2. Select a security group to give access to the report format to.
    3. Select
      Edit
      .
    4. Expand the security tree to
      Practice CS
      ,
      Menu
      ,
      File Menu
      ,
      Print Reports
      .
    5. Expand the group containing the new report format and mark the checkbox for that format.
    6. Select
      Enter
       to save the change.
    7. Repeat the steps above for each additional security group that should have access to the report.
  • The content of the Library comes from several sources, including Thomson Reuters development, technical support, consulting, and other Practice CS users. You can determine the source of the format by the icon that appears in the Source column.
    Person with light blue shirt Format was contributed by our development team.
    Person with dark blue shirt Format was contributed by our technical support team.
    Person with grey shirt Format was contributed by our consulting team.
    Person with red shirt Format was contributed by another user of the application.
    If you develop a custom format that you believe would be of interest to other Practice CS customers, you can submit it to the library for other users to use.
    Select
    Show More
     Two blue down arrows  next to the
    Contribute to the User Community
      and follow the instructions.
  • The date that the format was added or last updated is shown in the Updated column. We recommend that you periodically check for new additions that might be useful to you, or for updates to formats you already imported and are using. You can sort the list by selecting the header of a column. Select twice to sort in descending order, which will bring the newest items to the top of the list.

This article applies to:

  • PRODUCT: Practice CS
  • Subject: Reports,Dashboards