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Doc-links are one of MasterFile most valuable and innovative features. They are a simple and reliable way to create instant one-click descriptive hyper-links to documents, extracts or facts.
Doc-links are used for many purposes, including:
- substantiating an argument with it's supporting evidence, point by point.
- references to attachments, amendments, exhibits, etc.
- references to documents, extracts, facts, authorities, transcripts, etc. in other MasterFile case databases to MasterFile databases containing authorities patents, for example, or even to MasterFile databases set up for bulky digital evidence such as video and audio segments.
Doc-links can be e-mailed, eliminating bulky file attachments (which clog e-mail systems) and ensure only those with access to the database can retrieve the information.
Doc-links can also be used to create reminder alarms for yourself or others to ensure actions to be taken with respect to specific documents or extracts are done at the right time -- such as renewing a contract or filing a response by its deadline.
To create a doc-link to the current profile you are viewing or editing, click on the "put doc-link on clipboard" button  . The doc-link and its descriptive text are placed on the clipboard for you to paste into any shaded field of any other profile. Also placed on the clipboard is a "Notes URL" of the form:
notes:///88256E9B006750FE/00000000000000000000000000000000/37058BD52BA36D3A882 56E290008A236
which you can delete. For more information about Notes URLs, see the section "E-mailing doc-links from other e-mail software" in "Sharing profiles via e-mail" in the MasterFile user documentation and the next tip.
The first and last doc-link buttons at the top of the profile and keyword forms let you reference other applications with MasterFile using doc-links:
The first button lets you create an NDL doc-link file which can be used by an application that allows file attachments. When an NDL file is opened, it opens the profile it references like a regular doc-link.
Other applications allow you to reference information using URLs, such as the the http://www ... URLs used for websites. The last button above places a Notes URL ,explained above, on the clipboard ready for pasting into other applications.
If you need to NDL files or Notes URLs for several profiles, use the "Doc-links as clip-board URLs" or Doc-links as NDL files" buttons in the menu panel.
MasterFile's "Reminder tasks" let you create set to-do reminders for documents, extracts and facts which you can then view in the "Reminders" views organized by various criteria.
However, when you have follow up work to do and need to be reminded at a specific time, such as a contract renewal, or filing pleading by a critical date, rather than creating yet another system to learn to use, MasterFile inserts its doc-links in the to-do list, and appointment calendar you are already familiar within Outlook or Notes. To-do tasks, delegated tasks, alarms, etc. related to documents are kept together with all your other reminders and tasks. And when you synchronize your Outlook or Notes appointment book with PDAs or other devices, all your document related tasks will flow through to your PDA.
In any view, simply select the documents, extracts or facts you want and from the menu panel choose "Doc-links to new task" or "Doc-links to new appointment", as shown below:
Or if the document, extract or fact is already open, just click one of the following buttons at the top of the profile form:
Notes and Outlook users
A new task or appointment is created in your Notes calendar or To Do list with doc-links already inserted. Simply set the reminder date, complete any other comments you need and save the task or appointment. In addition, Notes doc-link (NDL) files are created and attached to the e-mail. When you open these NDL files, the corresponding document, extract or fact profile from MasterFile is opened, just like a doc-link. The last button, also attaches the document itself to the e-mail.
Other e-mail software users
A new task is not created. Instead Notes URLs and descriptions of the selected documents, extracts and facts are placed on the clip board. Simply create an e-mail or task in your software and paste the clipboard contents into it. Furthermore, Notes doc-link (NDL) files for the selected profile or profiles are created in the MasterFile temporary directory and must be attached manually to your e-mail message, just like any other file attachment.
Click here, to see our our self-service tutorial "Collaboration with MasterFile & Notes or Outlook" for an in-depth demonstration of using doc-links with Notes or Outlook e-mail and Notes URLs.
You can create a doc-link to a player. For example if they provided some information and you want to link them as a source.
- While editing the profile, click on the "Insert doc-link" button as usual.
- When the view appears, click on the arrow in the "To" column header to displaye the "documents by "From, To", and then the third arrow displayed to see the to "Players" view.
- Select one or more players and click "OK".
Doc-links created by the "Insert doc-link" button:
are added at the top of the field above a short dashed line. To create doc-links in any shaded field at the location of the cursor use the three doc-links buttons that appear on the button bar at the top of the profile form:
Rather than inserting the doc-link at the top of the field, these buttons insert doc-links inline with your text on a new line following the cursor.
Note that using any of the following profile buttons causes the contents of the clipboard to be replaced with selected text and/or doc-links and their descriptions:
Similarly the following menu panel buttons, replace the contents of the clipboard:
In addition when you create a document profile, or add a document to an existing profile, using the a Watch Folder Alert, the contents of the clipboard are replaced.
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