Complete client and matter references

Client and matter references are used throughout ALB. In some cases only the client reference needs to be completed and in other cases both the client and matter numbers are required. The full client and matter reference, usually labelled as "Ref:" on ALB screens, is made up of the client and matter numbers separated by a hyphen, e.g. S00098-0003.

The client numbering format is set by system administrators using the Client Numbering System parameter (Utilities » System Parameters). Client references can be purely numeric, for example 000976, or they can begin with characters from the client's surname, for example S00098 or JAC009. Matters are numbered sequentially for each client, with the number padded with leading zeros to make it 4 digits, e.g. 0003.

Leading zeros examples

When you complete a client reference and matter number field, you do not need to type the leading zeros as ALB will fill them in for you. For the client reference, this applies to zeros that appear at the beginning of a numeric reference and to zeros that appear between the end of the character section and before the number section of an alphanumeric reference. For example:

If you type 976 in a client reference field, ALB completes this as 000976.
If you type S98 in a client reference field, ALB completes this as S00098.
If you type JAC9 in a client reference field, ALB completes this as JAC009.
If you type 3 in a matter number field, ALB completes this as 0003.

Use this procedure where you only need to complete the client reference. Where this is the case, there you will be presented with a single field for the client number.

Use this procedure where you need to complete both the client and matter reference. In this instance, you will see two fields labelled "Ref:" - one for the client number and one for the matter number.