Matter Code Patterns - Admin
The matter code patterns section on Thread allows you to choose the pattern of how your matters are displayed. You can add patterns or separators that are specific to your firm. For example, a matter that has the matter code pattern [year][counter][category] would have a matter code resembling 2025/1/Con. You can choose any of the existing patterns in Thread and make it your default or create a new matter code pattern.
Adding Matter Code Pattern
1. Select the settings tab
on the bottom left of your menu.
2. Select General and then Matter Code Pattern.
3. To create a new Matter Code Pattern, click +Matter Code Pattern in the top right corner.
4. A pop-up window will appear. Create a matter code pattern by using the options shown in the pop-up.
5. For the First Field of the code, choose: Matter owner, Contact Surname or Year.
6. For the Second Field of the code, choose: Category, Contact Company or Contact Surname.
7. For the Third Field of the code, choose to have None, Contact Company or Contact Surname.
8. For the Counter Type, choose to have:
Matter count – a sequential number based on the number of matters made globally on Thread.
Contact matter count – a sequential number based on the number of matters made for that specific contact.
9. For the Counter Type Length, choose the number of digits you want the counter type to have. E.g., if the Counter Type Length is 3, and your matter is the 100th on Thread, it will appear resembling KAT/FAM/100.
10. For the Default section, toggle Yes to set this pattern as the standard across all Thread matters.
You must have one matter code pattern set as default.
11. For the Separator section, choose your preferred separator to use between fields (i.e. forward slash, back slash or hyphen).
12. The Allow Refresh button allows user to refresh a matter code.
13. When finished, click Save.
Editing Matter Code Pattern
Once you have created a matter code pattern, you can edit it at any time in the Admin Centre.
1. Select the settings tab
on the bottom left of your menu.
2. Select General and then Matter Code Pattern.
3. Select the Matter Code Pattern you wish to edit and click Edit in the top grey pane.
4. A pop-up window will appear where you can make changes to the Matter Code Pattern.
5. When finished, click Save.
Setting your Default Matter Code Pattern
Once you have chosen a matter code pattern you would like to use, in the Admin Centre you can select it to be your default pattern for all matters.
1. Select the settings tab
on the bottom left of your menu.
2. Select General and then Matter Code Pattern.
3. Select the Matter Code Pattern you want to set as your default and click Edit in the top grey pane.
4. A pop-up window will appear where you can toggle Yes to set this as the Default pattern you want to use across all Thread matters.
5. Click Save.
Below is a breakdown of Matter Code Pattern options, including a sample of each:
Pattern 1: Matter Owner + Category + 3rd field optional + Matter Count.
Sample: BA-Fam-148-1
Pattern 2: Year + Sequential number (number of matters year to date).
Sample: 2025/424
Pattern 3: First 3 letters of Company/Contact Last Name + Number of duplicate contact code (e.g. if 2, starting with THR – THR002) + Number of cases on which that contact is the main/primary client.
Sample: THR001003
Pattern 4: Company/Contact Last Name Code + Number of duplicate Contact Code + Number of cases on which that contact is the main/primary client + Year + Month.
Sample: 01-04-06-2025-03
Pattern 5: Category + Counter (initial number can be set, next matter will be +1 from that number).
Sample: Lit-501
Pattern 6: Year + Counter + Category (counter initial number can be set, next matter will be +1 from that number).
Sample: 2025/459/Con/1
Pattern 7: Contact A/C code (from contact details page) + Number of cases on which that contact is the main/primary client.
Sample: ADB003003
Patterns 1, 5 and 6 have several field combinations that can be amended.
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