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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 repository 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.
Here's what we'll cover:
What is the CaseMap importer and how does it work?
The CaseMap importer lets you transfer CaseMap 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 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.
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- 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).
"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
Once imported into MasterFile, you'll have all the benefits of MasterFile's repository including:
- MasterFile's exclusive argument technology to let you draft your argument and go beyond just "listing the facts" and professionally set out and substantiate argument, point by point.
- MasterFile's unique integrated repository:
- The simplicity of one system for managing, facts, evidentiary and work product documents -- for example: one search finds all documents, facts, extracts, notes, etc., simultaneously, using industrial strength full text content search and indexing.
- Specially designed to be effective and efficient in small and solo offices or for small cases with just a few hundred documents, but scales for global teams with cases or investigations of up to 500,000*.
- View all your documents, extracts and facts with live "by issue" views and do away with printed reports.
- Documents are stored inside the database itself and therefore MasterFile eliminates the headache of broken file links, or missing files when you are working away from the office, is eliminated.
- MasterFile's exclusive Extract Repository -- where you can see at a glance what's important in dozens of documents - transcripts, contracts, authorities, pleadings, expert reports, etc. - saving you and your team hours of rereading or sifting through electronic notes, one by one.
- Full, unrestricted mobile user/remote office functionality with bi-directional synchronization.
- No need to remember hundreds of CaseMap "short names", (click here to learn more).
- MasterFile's unique Evidence Cruncher (optional) to convert documents to PDF format, OCR scanned images, and produce documents for discovery.
- Attractive competitive upgrade pricing for CaseMap users to migrate to MasterFile
Some examples of the results compared to CaseMap
To see the CaseMap importer in action and learn more about MasterFile's unique Fact Management system take a look at our brief "Facts & Argument" video.
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.
MasterFile: Facts by relevance
MasterFile: Facts by Impact Assessment
For comparison, here is the CaseMap fact spreadsheet ...
CaseMap: Facts
Document views compared
Next is MasterFile's "by From" document view. Here, documents are automatically listed 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, to locate or reference any document, nor any column or secondary sorts to set each time search criteria change. Instead, exactly two mouse clicks clicks gives you what you want - letters, evidence, facts or argument, etc.
MasterFile: Documents by author and document type
Here is a small section of the CaseMap document spreadsheet for comparison. It contains the same two letters from Philip Hawkins to William Lang shown above in MasterFile.
CaseMap: Documents
"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. CaseMap does not have "by issue" views we can compare MasterFile to. Instead with CaseMap you must keep printing reports to view documents, facts, etc by issue
MasterFile: Everything by issue
To learn more about MasterFile's exclusive, live, "by Issue" views, see our related article:
Further information
*Actual number of documents depends on compression of contents
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