Importing CaseMap cases
with the CaseMap Importer
The MasterFile CaseMap® Importer is the first and only system capable of importing CaseMap case files. In this article we’ll explain how the MasterFile’s CaseMap Importer works and show you some results – the differences are startlingly clear!
Transferring your cases to MasterFile’s integrated document and fact analysis solution is quick and easy and then, after switching, you’ll be able to analyze, set out and substantiate your case and it’s argument, point by point — unique capabilities that only MasterFile brings you. Move across to MasterFile’s trusted fact management.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
What is the CaseMap importer and how does it work? →
Why migrate from CaseMap to MasterFile? →
Some examples of the results compared to CaseMap →
What is the CaseMap importer and how does it work?
The CaseMap importer lets you transfer CaseMap v4 through v14 cases quickly and easily to MasterFile’s integrated document and fact repository.
A CaseMap case file is a collection of over a dozen “spreadsheets” such as the following:
- the fact spreadsheet which holds details about a fact, its event dates, sources, etc.,
- an issues spreadsheet where issues relevant to the case are set out and summarized,
- various object spreadsheets to hold details about people, organizations, documents etc., relevant to the case.
These spreadsheets must be exported from CaseMap, as explained below, and imported into MasterFile. Due to limitations in CaseMap, each spreadsheet must be individually exported in both CPF (CaseMap Portable Format) and CSV (comma separated value) format using CaseMap’s “Export” function.
Once exported, start the CaseMap Importer, shown below. The CaseMap importer maps the various exported CaseMap spreadsheet reports to MasterFile’s simplified and logical organization of Documents, Extracts, Facts, and Player and Issue/Topics, as explained below.
- CaseMap reports corresponding to the fields shaded green are imported as MasterFile documents or extracts. The document files themselves are imported and stored and indexed in MasterFile’s repository. If the linked file is a PDF document, its text is extracted and loaded into the “OCR/Transcript/Full Text of Document” field in the corresponding MasterFile document profile.
- Note: Due to CaseMap limitations, only documents stored as regular Windows files, and identified in the “Linked files” field of objects, authorities and extracts are imported. “Related files” or files stored in other document systems can not be imported.
- CaseMap reports corresponding to the fields shaded red are CaseMap objects which are converted to MasterFile ‘Player’ and ‘Issue/Topic’ keywords.
- CaseMap “Places”, “Other physical evidence” and “Other objects” reports are imported as MasterFile Topic keywords under the topic “CaseMap Objects”.
- CaseMap’s Fact report is imported as MasterFile facts.
Why migrate from CaseMap to MasterFile?
MasterFile offered case-analysis tools that are similar, but superior, to the case-analysis tools that CaseMap offers. On using MasterFile, the firm discovered it could manage players and documents far more easily in MasterFile than in CaseMap (with its reliance on “short names” to manage those matters). …
- A workspace designed specifically for smaller and solo offices and for smaller cases with a few hundred documents through gigabytes of evidence and teams working with cases or investigations up to 100,000 pages of documents.
- The simplicity of one system for managing facts, evidence and work product. For example, search across all documents, facts, extracts, notes, etc. at one go.
- The Extract Repository where you can see at a glance what’s important in dozens of documents saving you hours of rereading or sifting through electronic notes, or comments to documents, one by one.
We found too that the application provides a more comprehensible analysis of the case. For example, MasterFile provides views that offer a visual snapshot of the facts, their analysis and the case time line or chronology. One can “see” the case more easily with this visual snapshot than one could “see” the same case in CaseMap. — John J. Mueller
- Unique live “by issue” views that do away with printed reports when you need to see where you stand.
- The ability to draft and substantiate argument, point by point linking key evidence where you need, to go beyond just “listing the facts”.
- Easy mobility. Since each case resides entirely in its own database replication and synchronization is automatic. There are no broken file links, missing files nor the complexity of dealing with multiple applications to manage your work when you’re working away from the office.
- Easy production capabilities that lets you respond quickly to, and tracks, all filings and disclosures.
- And more.
Some examples of the results compared to CaseMap
Below are examples of a CaseMap file as it looks in MasterFile. Watch us import it into MasterFile in less than 5 minutes, here.
Fact views compared
Shown below are facts “by Relevance” and facts “by Impact Assessment” views respectively. Notice how MasterFile’s unique colour coding lets you immediately see at a glance how the case is shaping up — in this case, against us, with only one fact in our favour — and how the views are clear and understandable without any training.
Facts by relevance
Facts by Impact Assessment
The same facts as a CaseMap fact spreadsheet in comparison
Document views compared
Next is MasterFile’s “by From” document view. Here, documents are shown automatically categorized by author and then by document type. The two letters we want, from Philip Hawkins to William Lang, pop out at us. There are no ID numbers, no short names, no long names, no file names, etc. to remember in order to locate or reference any document, nor any column or secondary sorts to set each time search criteria change. Instead, exactly two mouse clicks gives you what you want – letters, evidence, facts or argument, etc.
Here is a small section of a CaseMap document spreadsheet for comparison. It contains the same two letters from Philip Hawkins to William Lang shown above in MasterFile.
“By Issue” views compared
Shown below is the “everything: by Issue/Topic view. We’ve expanded a few sections to let you see sub-issues and the information available under the expanded issues sections. Notice how this one view lets you see at a glance all documents, extracts, facts and players related to any issue without printed reports. Since CaseMap has no “by issue” views to compare with MasterFile, the best you can do in CaseMap is to keep printing different reports to view documents, facts, etc., by issue. To learn more about MasterFile’s live, “by Issue” views, see the article on our blog, here.
Civil and trial litigators –
Here’s why MasterFile is your CaseMap alternative of choice ...
As a litigation attorney, you know how complex and fact-laden your cases can be. Even in smaller cases, with thousands or tens of thousands of pages of documents, managing a case file’s litigation process on your own can be difficult. With a legal team in the mix, it’s even more so.
With MasterFile, you can streamline the litigation process:
- Take a trial mindset from the outset.
- Analyze documents, evidence, and data. Identify people, places and organizations, automatically creating connections to facts and issues. Zoom in on complex fact patterns to craft a winning strategy. And see connections that otherwise might have been missed.
- Organize your master-fact chronology, document indices, privilege logs, deposition summaries and case issues.
- Connect everyone in one workspace. MasterFile’s collaborative cloud based capabilities let your entire case team stay up to date. Its case workspace gives you full control over who gets access to what – whether they’re at your law firm, experts or even co-counsel.
- Share notes and insight about case-related evidence and relevant case documents: depositions, stacks of transcripts, or production evidence – any influx of external documents or digital information. Collaborate on review, research, case issues and the hierarchy of claims, on legal strategy development, and more, from intake to trial.
MasterFile lets you understand key document snippets, key issues, key events and key characters. It draws intelligent connections between witness testimony, facts and issues that help you to uncover how relationships unfolded over time and visually grasp what happened where, when and why in its automatic timeline tool, to let you build a compelling story.
Manage your evidence, disclosures, production, case chronologies and case analysis more efficiently and more effectively in MasterFile. Win more – and have an easier time doing so!
See how MasterFile can help your firm.
Book a demo today →
