Data in basic WP format

You have prepared a normal 3 column list in a word processor and now want it in a database so that you can sort and classify the entries. Assuming a reasonable degree of consistency in the layout of the WP list, we can usually convert it into an Openlaw database.

Data in columnar WP format

You will find it much easier to exchange WP lists as data if you prepare the list in say six columns, headed, List No, Item, From, To, Date, Estimated Date.

Then although you have prepared the list in a word processor and now want it in a database so that you can sort and classify the entries, assuming a reasonable degree of consistency in the layout of the WP list, we can easily convert it into an Openlaw database.

Data in other formats

You or your clients may already have lists of relevant documents in another database or document management product or in spreadsheets. Often we can import directly from that source; alternatively, many such products have an export function which will put the data into an accessible format. Openlaw itself has such an export function when you need to send data to other people.

Exchanging Data

The recent procedural reforms encourage parties to share data (including document lists) with other parties. We can take data supplied by other parties and add it to your own data so that you have a single store of information about all the documents disclosed in the action. This is particularly helpful for the party who has responsibility for preparing the trial or appeal bundles who would otherwise have to type up an entirely new list as the bundle index.

Exchanging Images

We can extract from your image store the images which you want to supply to other parties and write them to CD for exchange. We can also build a new Openlaw database comprising only the disclosable data from your Openlaw law database so that you can on-sell the complete index, with images, to other parties.

Distribution of Data

In multi-party actions, you may want to provide counsel and experts, your clients, co-plaintiffs or defendants, and their advisers, with your data or a sub-set of it. Because Openlaw does not involve significant infrastructure implications, it is easy to distribute install sets by CD for others to share. Furthermore, the data itself sits in a single file which can be zipped down and sent by e-mail.

Cleaning up Data

It is often helpful to make global changes to a database which go beyond the scope of the menu options within Openlaw. This arises where circumstances change in the litigation, or where insufficient planning in the early stages leads to confusion or lack of consistency later. We are often able to make wide changes in a few hours which it would take weeks to effect manually.