Creating a Laserform Template

To create and amend Laserform templates, you need to have administrator permissions as this is carried out in the Utilities section.

Creating a Laserform template involves mapping the Laserform fields to ALB fields so that during the merge process ALB knows where to put the data in the form. Fields can also hold static text as appropriate.  Once the template has been created, users can then open a matter and merge the form template in a similar way to merging documents.

  1. To create a Laserform template, go to Utilities, click on Custom Data and Mappings or use the link in Designer Studio, if you have this application.

  2. From the windows, click on the Laserform Mapping folder or tab, then right-click in the blank area of the right pane and select Add Mapping (Version 2).

Note: The Add Mapping (Version 1) menu option uses the old merge process. If you select Mapping (Version 1), the mapping screen and process is the same as Mapping (Version 2) but you see and use the Field Code Selector instead of the Field Picker.

  1. The Laserform Mapping screen displays with No Form Selected against the Form field.

  2. Click on the binoculars adjacent to the Form field to display the Laserform Browser screen. This displays a list of standard Laserforms folders for you to expand to locate the required form. To make the form selection easier, you can also use the filters at the top of the screen. Use the Category drop down and select the relevant category from the list or type into the Code or Description fields to narrow the list accordingly.

    Once you have located the relevant form, double click on it to open the form into the Mapping screen and the form name is then displayed.

  3. Once the form displays, the Laserform Mapping screen displays the following in the three tabs to the right of the screen.

Field

Description

Mapping Tab

Form

Once a form has been selected, the form name is displayed.

Application

Use the drop down list to select the ALB or User Defined module that contains the fields you want to map, e.g. to select any conveyancing fields, select Conveyancing (UD).

You can select a different application as required when you need to access fields across different applications. However, a warning message will display stating that "Changing the application may invalidate your mappings. Do you want to discard the currently mapped fields". If you click No, the system will flag up the fields that are causing problems.

Ref

This will default to FormName_custom but you can amend this as required. You can create more than one mapping for the same base form. For example, you could use an EX160 form for both Family and Personal Injury, so need to be able to differentiate between them by using a unique reference. A warning triangle () displays if there is an existing reference when you try to save the mapping.

Version

This refers to the Laserform version number and should not need to be changed. Where an updated version of the form has been released, click on the Refresh button to pick up the latest version of the form and copy the mapping to this version.

Note: If you wish to keep the old copy of the mapping, change the Ref (above) before saving.

Entity Type

 Defaults to Matter.

Description

The default text is pulled through from the Laserform application. Edit as required, e.g. to differentiate between two mappings of the same form.

Advanced

Advanced form options are designed for use by Advanced Legal Professional Services for use with the old merge process. For further details, contact your Account Manager.

Inherit

If you open an Advanced Legal mapped version of the form, you can uncheck the box to clear the Advanced Legal mappings.

Selected Field

Displays as No Field Selected. Click on the field in the Laserform in the left hand panel and the field name will display here.

Field Mapping

Displays coding, if any, for the currently selected Laserform field, showing the ALB field (with relevant format) or static text.

To map a field, click on the field in the form and the click on Field Code Selector to display a list of fields or type text directly into the box.

You can also have any combination of plain text and field codes. Carriage returns can also be used.

clears the Field Mapping box.

 opens the Field Mapping Editor - a larger floating window.

Field Code Selector

Click here to display the Field Picker or Field Code Selector, depending on whether you selected Add Mapping (Version 1) or Add Mapping (Version 2). For more information on using these, click on Field Picker or Field Code Selector.

Database Code Selector

This feature is for use with the old merge process and is not available.

Advanced

This feature is for use with the old merge process by Advanced Legal and is not available.

Test Custom Form Mapping

This feature is for use with the old merge process by Advanced Legal and is not available.

Field Mapping

The Field Mapping tab displays the coding, if any, for the currently selected field in the Laserform.

Mapped Fields

This lists the current form's fields that have a mapping defined. If the form is an Advanced Legal mapped form, there will be fields listed. If it is a blank form, there will be no fields listed until you define a mapping.
  1. When you have completed the entire field mapping, click OK to save the mappings.

You are returned to the Custom Data and Mappings screen and indicates that it is a valid mapping. Forms that have errors are indicated by .