(This Article is "in progress" and may be modified - last revision 7/20/07)
Introduction
The A1-Law Transfer Utility completes the paperless process. The
Transfer Utility allows one to quickly and easily transfer all their files
either open, close or all to their laptop computers. Most offices will
probably prefer to only transfer their open cases daily or every few days to
their laptop computer because it is a lot faster to transfer one's open case
load rather than the entire database.
The first transfer may take as long as 30 minutes depending on how much data one has along with the speed of the computers. However, after the first transfer, it should take no more than 1-5 minutes to transfer the data because the Transfer Utility will only transfer the changed information.
One may set up the Transfer Utility to do a "one way sync" or a "two way sync" so that they may work offline and then sync the changes when they return to their office.
To start, make sure you have the latest version of A1-Law. Click Help, Check for Web Updates and then after updating quit A1-Law and go back in. Next, make sure you have access rights to the Transfer Utility. Click Tools, System, Configure Group Defaults, Security, Access To Transfer Utility
Initial Setup On A Laptop Computer
One may decide to purchase a spare battery so that if they are on a long
airplane flight they may work longer. No internet access is required
because changes are made "offline" and synced when one returns to the
office.
You must first hook your laptop computer to the network and install A1Law on your laptop computer as a workstation. Map a drive to your laptop computer (such as Z:\A1Law) and run the A1Setup.exe program on Z:\A1Law. After running A1Setup there will be an A1Law icon on your desktop. Configure A1Law on your laptop so that you can run A1Law just as you would on your desktop workstation.
Try running A1Law on your laptop as if it were another workstation.
Transfer Utility Initialization
1. Click Search For A Case and enter O for the Status
(open cases) and check the Primary Names Only checkbox. Enter the Attorney
Handling initials to export only that attorney's open files (leave blank for the
entire office but probably not necessary). Click Search and then click Yes
to continue. The Found Cases window appears listing the number of open
files.
2. Click the Transfer Cases button at the lower right (put the mouse cursor over the buttons to find the one that says Transfer Cases).
3. Click the Clear and Add button at the lower right. Next, click the Fast Copy Direct Connect button.
4. .At the top where it says Specify Location
Where A1-Law is Located on your Laptop Computer enter the following:
C:\A1Back
Click the Type of Transfer and select Everything.
5. Two Way Syncing: Click the Config button and check all the boxes to activate two way syncing. Leave it blank for one way syncing. Click the PROCEED button to transfer everything to the local C drive on your laptop computer.
This may take some time if you have not completed the transfer before to your laptop computer. Once completed, setup a new location on your laptop for quick and easy access.
Setup a New Location on Your Laptop Computer
1. Quit A1-Law on your laptop computer
2. Double click the A1Law icon and at the sign on screen click the Setup button
3. Click the Setup Locations button
4. Click the Advanced button
5. Press Enter so that the NETDRIVE = line
moves to line 2 and change NETDRIVE to say NETWORK since it sounds better. On
the first line enter the following:
LAPTOP = C:\A1Back
Your Advanced setup may now look as follows if
Z:\A1Law is your network drive:
LAPTOP = C:\A1Back
NETWORK = Z:\A1Law
(note the space before and after the = sign)
6. Click the Save button and close the windows to get back to the main sign on window and you should now be able to click the Location dropdown to specify if you want to sign on to the Laptop (for offline access) or the Network (for online access). You will want to sign on to the network on your laptop when you are going to do a two way sync.
7. Click the dropdown to Laptop and sign on locally. Once signed on the laptop computer after selecting location LAPTOP, Click Tools, System, Configure System Defaults, Drives, Network/Offline Status. Click Offline - Two Way Syncing (if you want to sync your changes offline otherwise specify one way) and click the Save button.
Updating Your Laptop Computer Daily or Every Few
Days
1. Make sure the Location says Laptop when you are away from the
office with your laptop computer and want to work offline. When you want
to sync your changes you will need to go to the office and connect your laptop
to the network. Change the location to Network and sign on.
2. Under Transfer Utility Initialization (above) click Search For A Case and go through the procedure above including the Fast Copy Direct Connect. Select Everything for the Type of Transfer and click Proceed to sync your changes to your laptop computer.
The first time you copy all your case information to your laptop computer may take anywhere from 5 minutes to over an hour but all subsequent updating should take anywhere from 1-4 minutes because A1-Law will only copy the changes.