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. You do NOT need to have PaperMaster installed to run the export.

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, which is widely available. For most users, this is your best option.
Convert Them to PDF
You can try to convert your scans to PDF files. We DON'T recommend this option because it rarely works. To attempt it, 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.

Most users should 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 NOT recommended.   For most users, it ends up being an exercise in aggravation. You're much, much better off keeping your EFX files and installing an EFX viewer – like eFax – so you can open them. If you decide to try the conversion anyway:

You Need PaperMaster or an EFX Viewer

The export requires PaperMaster or a program that can open EFX files. The export 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 – free and widely available; just do a Google search

IMPORTANT: Not all versions of PaperMaster or the viewers support the export commands. So even if you have one of these installed, it's likely the conversion still won't work! We've never pinpointed the conditions where the right commands get installed. The same version installed on four different machines might only work on one of them.

To see if your version has a chance of working, 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

If this works, proceed to the next step.

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.

Default Page Size

To try to make your PDFs the same size as the original EFX files, select Auto. WARNING: This usually doesn't work! In this case, you're better off forcing the PDFs to a specific size.

Delete EFX Files when Done

The PaperMaster Export Tool can delete each EFX file once it has been successfully converted to PDF. Note that this does not affect the original EFX files that are still in your PaperMaster cabinets.

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 give up.

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.

There's No Step 2 Tab

Your system can't convert the EFX files to PDF. Stick with EFX files (which is what we recommend anyway). See Your PaperMaster Scans above.

The Step 2 Tab Says I Need an eFax Viewer

Your system lacks the necessary components and commands to convert the EFX files to PDF. Stick with EFX files (which is what we recommend anyway). See Your PaperMaster Scans above.

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.