* If you can export your contacts, matter, and calendar information in a CSV, then we can import it into Rocket Matter.  This is the case with Amicus, Time Matters, and other market leading software.

* We attempt to match the fields from your old program into our fields as best we can.  When they don’t match exactly, we preserve your data for reference in a “notes” field for the contact, matter, or calendar event.

* If you’re bringing in Contact data and have the capability, providing vCards is a very accurate way of moving your data from one system to another.

* If you’re bringing in Calendar data and have the capability, supply us with an Internet Calendar (iCalendar or ics file) for the best migration.

* We recommend only bringing over active data.  Keep old matters in your legacy system for reference, but don’t pollute your new system with old information if you can help it.  For active matters, it’s best to bring in just the balance for the matter and start from there.

* You will have to take a look at your exported data and see if it’s any good. CSV files work by having the field label in the first row, like “Home Phone”, and the data in the rows underneath.  We often see bad exports, for example “Mr.” will appear under “First Name”, not “Salutation”.  Also, contacts may only have email addresses listed.

* Before you send your export files over, take a look and make sure it’s what you’d like to bring into your new Rocket Matter system.

But you’re wondering – what about my existing data? How do I bring it over to Rocket Matter? This was a discussion that recently popped up on the Macs in Law Offices discussion group, so I decided to post my response to them.

Most programs allow you to export your data to CSV files. We actually have some very powerful import functionality that we currently offer free of charge:

1) Rocket Matter can import your Contact list for you either via vCard (preferred) or CSV.
2) Calendars can be imported into RM using either iCalendar (preferred) or CSV.
3) You can import any list of matters and clients via an import format we created. We have sample files we can send you so that you can assemble your data – it then gets imported right into RM.
4) You can also, more powerfully, import a list of matters, clients, and all billable activity corresponding to those matters. Per #3, we have sample files for you.

We’ve brought in CSV data from a variety of programs: Time Matters, Outlook, Quickbooks, PC Law, Small Office Suite, and Harvest, to name a few.

CSV’s can be easily manipulated via spreadsheet programs such as Numbers or Excel, then exported or “saved as” the CSV format.

If you have a lot of data to work with, or if it goes beyond the scope of contacts, calendars, matters, and billable activities, and you really don’t want to reproduce it manually, get in touch with us and we can put together a customized import package for you.