2. (a, b, c, d) Relationships, relationships, relationships. Start with this...you have a file of clients...a file of items related to clients. If you automatically assign a Customer ID to each client you can use that number to track whatever you need across many files. Then using those Customer ID relationships (make sure the Customer ID is used in your "matters" file) you can use something like a pop up field to see all related items.

You'll notice here:

http://homepage.mac.com/agraham999/fmp/fmp1.jpg

I use a pop up field to show a list of leads related to a clients from a leads file. And here:

http://homepage.mac.com/agraham999/fmp/fmp2.jpg

I use a navigation button to the right which will take me to one of the items in that list. I prefer to use a pop up list because it conserves space in the UI. It doesn't matter how many matters you have for each client...as long at that client ID is associated with each matter...you can pull that data anywhere you like with a relationship.

Let me know if this helps.

Alan