Integrating MasterFile with practice management systems depends on the number of documents a particular client and/or matter generates and your preferences.

For example, you can

1. Create a new MasterFile database for every new file the firm takes on.
2. Create separate MasterFile database for larger matters (say over 100 work-product or evidentiary documents, e-mails, pleadings, etc.) — along with one “Miscellaneous” database for each client for all their smaller matters (see the post Merging many small case files into one MasterFile database>).
3. Keep documents for smaller matters in their practice management systems, migrating them to MasterFile as the case file grows or when you need MasterFile’s features like case analysis, chronologies, evidence management, etc.

How integration works

Each MasterFile database contains a “system document” dated 1 January, 1000 with a special file attachment ending in .NDL. This .NDL file is analogous to a Windows shortcut and when double clicked or opened, like a shortcut, opens its corresponding MasterFile database. Integration simply means putting the .NDL file in the right place for your practice management software.

Besides being attached to the system document as explained earlier, the database’s .NDL file also stored in a directory you can specify in MasterFile’s “User Settings” dialog, as shown below.

Set the above field to a directory on your server so all .NDL files are created there. (If you’re a standalone MasterFile user, simply create or designate a directory on your PC or laptop). Depending on your practice management system, it will either point to the same directory if its policy is to keep documents where you save them (like Abacus Law or Practice Master) or copy any files saved there, including the .NDL files, into its own area on your server.

All that’s now remaining is to set each MasterFile user’s “User Settings” to point to the shared NDL directory. If an NDL file is deleted by mistake, either from MasterFile or from the NDL directory, the NDL file will be recreated when the database is next opened.

Linking your MasterFile databases to your practice management system is as simple as filing the NDL file(s) as a new document for the relevant client and/or matter in its document’s tab. When you double click or open the relevant .NDL “document” shown in the client or matter’s documents tab in your practice management system, the related MasterFile database opens.