PaperMaster Export Tool Help

This guide will help you get your PaperMaster files exported. If you have problems, see the troubleshooting section below.

IMPORTANT: The PaperMaster Export Tool ONLY works with PaperMaster 6 and PaperMaster 7 cabinets.

Where Do I Get the Export Tool?

The PaperMaster Export Tool is included in the free trial of FileCenter.

Download the FileCenter Trial »


Issue: Your PaperMaster Scans

Anything you scanned into PaperMaster is going to be an EFX file. No other software can open these files (but that's not as bad as it sounds). You have two choices:

Keep Them as EFX Files (recommended)
You can keep your scans as EFX files. These are actually "eFax" files, and you'll still be able to open them in the PaperMaster viewer or in the free eFax Viewer. As long as the company continues to provide a viewer, you'll be fine. For most users, this is your best option.
Convert Them to PDF
You can try to convert your scans to PDF files. You'll need a working copy of PaperMaster 6 or newer, a PaperMaster Viewer, or an eFax viewer. More on this below.

Step 1: Export Your Cabinets

You do NOT need PaperMaster for this step.

Go to FileCenter's Tools button > PaperMaster Export Tool.

The utility might find your PaperMaster cabinets automatically. If it doesn't, do this:

  1. Click Browse next to PaperMaster My Cabinets Folder
  2. Browse out to the folder where your PaperMaster cabinets are
  3. Double-click it or click OK to open it

Your PaperMaster cabinets should now show up in the list. If they don't see the troubleshooting section below.

Select the cabinets you want to export.

Next decide where you want the exported files to go. Put this in the Export Destination Folder field.

Overwrite Existing Files?  If you tried to export your cabinets once before, you'll want to select Overwrite Existing Files so you don't end up with duplicates.

Ready, Set, Go ...

Here's what will happen. The PaperMaster Export Tool will make copies of your cabinets. The originals will stay untouched. Your PaperMaster cabinets, drawers and folders will be duplated in FileCenter (and as regular Windows folders). The original structure and all of the original names will be preserved (if possible).

When you're ready to begin, click Export Cabinets. The export shouldn't take long.

If you only needed to export your cabinets, you can stop here. But if you'd like to try converting the EFX files to PDF, proceed to the next step.

Step 2: Convert EFX Files to PDF

This is optional.  See Your PaperMaster Scans above.

You Need PaperMaster or a PaperMaster Viewer

The export requires PaperMaster or a program that can open EFX files. It opens the EFX files one-by-one then issues the export commands. Here are your options:

  • A working copy of PaperMaster 6 or 7
  • The PaperMaster Viewer
  • The eFax Viewer

IMPORTANT: Not all versions of PaperMaster or the viewers support the export commands. So even if you have one of these installed, it's possible it still won't work!

To make sure the conversion will work, do this test:

  1. Close PaperMaster (or the viewer)
  2. Find an EFX file
  3. Right-click on it
  4. You should see a Print To option on the pop-up menu

Locate EFX Files

In the PaperMaster Export Tool, select the STEP 2 tab.

If you just ran the export, you'll see a list of all of the EFX files that were exported. Otherwise, use the Browse button and browse to any folder that has EFX files in it, then click Find.

IMPORTANT: Don't try to convert the EFX files in your original PaperMaster cabinets! These are your originals! Always export first.

Ready, Set, Go ...

One by one, the PaperMaster Export Tool will open the files in PaperMaster (or the EFX viewer) and issue commands to export them. YOU MUST STAY OFF YOUR COMPUTER WHILE THE EXPORT RUNS. Plan to run it overnight.

To begin the conversion, click Convert Files.

Failed Files

It's normal for some files to fail. These will be marked in red on the list. Most failures aren't permanent. When the conversion process is completely finished, click Convert Files again. The PaperMaster Export Tool will go back through the list and try any failed files again. If you do this a couple of times, you should be able to get most, if not all, of your EFX files converted.

If all of the files are failing, abort the conversion and see troubleshooting below.

Troubleshooting

Common problems and solutions.

I Can't Find My PaperMaster Cabinets

You need to find the folder that has CBN files in it. For example, if you have a cabinet called MyCabinet, there will be a folder with a file called MyCabinet.cbn in it. Select this folder (NOT the MyCabinet folder).

To go into more detail, you'll find this layout:

  • Parent Folder
    • MyCabinet.cbn
    • MyCabinet (folder)
      • MyCabinet.mdb
      • Data (folder)

You want to select Parent Folder.

If you're using an older version of PaperMaster, like PaperMaster 98, the PaperMaster Export Tool won't work. It only supports PaperMaster 6 and PaperMaster 7.

EFX Files Aren't Opening in PaperMaster

If you're trying to convert your EFX files to TIFF, it's critical that you have a working version of PaperMaster 6 or 7, the PaperMaster Viewer, or an eFax viewer.

When you double-click an EFX file, it should be opening in PaperMaster or the viewer. If it isn't, do this:

  1. Right-click the EFX file
  2. Select Open With on the pop-up menu
  3. Select Choose Program
  4. Select PaperMaster or the viewer on the list (if it's not there, browse to it)
  5. Select Always Use the Selected Program to Open This Kind of File
  6. Click OK

Now when you double-click an EFX file, it should open in PaperMaster or the viewer.

NOTE: The PaperMaster viewer is often located at c:\windows\eFaxView.exe.