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laurie_lynne wrote:

This issue came up before, but it's turned into a problem...

 

We're using TS2009 (my computer) and TSRemote Plus in a small office.  One of my attorneys added a client to his Remote TS, and I had a bunch of problems with it, so I CLOSED the bad one and created a new one on my computer.  The Nickname1's are almost, but not quite, identical.  The problem is that now when we exchange databases, I'm NOT getting the slips for this client, and the attorney keeps NOT getting the client data loaded into his database.

 

So, two questions:

 

1.) What's going on?   (I would have figured that the NEW version of the client would have some internal ID number or something that would just "go" to the remote without question, but now I'm curious about how it works and why what I did isn't working.)

 

2.) How do I fix it?  (i.e., get the new client into the Remote TS database and get his slips into mine)

 

-laurie

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I've been trying to stay out of this one because I am not a fan of the exchange database function and remotes.  It always seems to eventually lead to something like this, or slips coming in scrambled, or whatever.

What I have my remote using firms do is 1) create the initial transfer database to seed the TSRemote with some clients, timekeepers, activities, etc. and have my remote user enter his/her time, but then when it comes time for the return trip, I have them use the Archive function in the Remote to spit out a TSF (Timeslips format) file with the new slips in it (choosing the option to mark them as Exported when they send them).  They then transfer it back to the central billing computer and use the Combine function (specialized form of TSImport) to bring those slips into the main Timeslips database.  If there are any issues bringing them in TSImport will prompt me for what to do about it, and note any anomilies in the Journal.

New clients are entered into the main computer as usual.  The remotes can be updated with the new clients either A) with a periodic new TSF file (but beware, getting a new one will replace the one the remote has with slips in it, and they will start anew with a blank slate), or B) just let the remote users put a nickname themselves to track time on (all you need to make a slip is a nickname) and when they produce the archive, use a filter of not yet exported.  If the remote users happens to put in a different nickname than central did, you will catch it on the import and can either have the remote edit their nickname to match central, or create a translation in the import template that essentially says "Every time George sends an archive file with a slip for Hany, match that slip up with the central billing computer's client Haney).  You can also do a combination of both, say giving them new TSF files every 6 months to keep them more or less in synch.

Clear as mud?

Hope this helps.  If you think this suggestion was especially helpful, please consider clicking the KUDOS! (yellow) icon in this message.  Thanks.

Nancy Duhon, Esq.
Certified Consultant for Timeslips and Amicus Attorney
Duhon Technology Solutions, LLC
[email protected]
404-325-9779
Providing personalized local and remote online support for Timeslips users for over 15 years. 

Well, &%*$@#&$%@!  I'm really sad to hear that TSRemote doesn't really funtion as well as I had expected, since all my co-workers like it much, much more than having to write down all their time then fight over my computer to get all their time slips entered.  Unfortunately, we get new clients all the time, so your processs seems really cumbersome for me and my staff.  (Especially because they need to have more than just the Nickname set up -- they need hourly rates, whether the client's slips default to No Charge, etc.)

Now that I know how to count records, at least I can make sure we're not losing any...

In the meantime, do you (or anyone else) have any ideas WHY I'm not getting the slips from my user who created his own client or why he isn't getting the updated client?  Here's what is happening...

• Paul created client "X" on his TSRemote
• When I (main db) got client "X" (along with one time slip) from Paul and realized how badly it was set up, I  CLOSED X and created X2 in the main db, but left Paul's remote db alone. [Maybe part of the reason I did this was because another remote user did NOT get Paul's client X when we exchanged dbs, but I honestly don't remember anymore.]
• When I next exchanged databases with Paul, he did NOT get X2 (and keeps not getting X2), and X still shows up in his OPEN client section.  (Other TSRemote users DID get X2, though.)
• Paul continues to add slips under X.
• Now, when we exchange, he still doesn't get client X2 and I don't get any of his slips.

I'm guessing part of what is happening is that I'm not getting his slips because my db thinks that client X is closed.  (So, maybe I should just change it to Open and try exchanging again.)

But I cannot understand why he isn't getting client X2.  It's a completely new client, and he should get new clients -- right?  (The Nickname1's are spelled exactly the same for the first 12 characters, but that's it.  The Nickname2's are different.)

Any ideas?!?!

-laurie

mja,

(Well, after leaving my reply window open for about 3 hours and spending at least 30 minutes composing a reply, I got an "authentication error" and completely lost my long, long reply!!)

I'm afraid that I wasn't exact enough about my process.  By "exchanging" info with my remotes, what I meant is this:

• My computer has the main Timeslips 2009 database, and the database files are on my computer (not on our network, not on our server, and not accessible by anyone else).
• My four co-workers are using Timeslips Remote 2009 Plus (or Pro or whatever) on their computers and laptops.
• When it's time to "exchange" information, they do "File --> Send" and put their .xfr file on our server.  Each person uses a different directory (folder) and each person uses their name as the filename.  They always use the same filename, so they always just write over the file that was there from the last time.
• When they've told me they're ready, I do a "File --> Remote --> Exchange with Remote" and find their file on the server.  I leave ALL of the check boxes checked every time.  My file writes over their file.
• When they know that I'm done, they do "File --> Receive" and again go and find the same file.  (They are, in the meantime, keeping backup files of their own databases in the default location that Timeslips uses, and include the date in it, so they have multiple backups.)

I would have expected that this would result in me getting their time slips (I enter all of the expense slips), and them getting all new and updated information from me (clients, client references, rates, etc.).  What was surprising so far is:

• Once I get a slip from them, that's it.  If they update it later, I don't get their changes.  (Scary.)
• If I update a client, they seem to get the changes but not deletions.  For example, I changed a client's address by changing one line of the address and deleting another.   They got the change, but the deleted line didn't get deleted in their database.
• And, finally, this situation where the attorney who created the "bad" client hasn't gotten the replacement that I created.  I closed his original client, then created a completely new client.  The Nickname1's had the same first 12 characters, but that's it.  The attorney HAS since gotten another new client that I added to the database, so it just doesn't make sense to me that he didn't get the other one.

I understand what you're saying about the attorney's TSRemote not "getting" the Closed client, and see how your suggestion of reopening it, giving it a new name, etc. may work.  I also see why you went to the naming convention for "closed" clients and the like.  It makes a lot of sense.

Thanks, again, for your great explanation and suggestions!

-laurie