FCCS Data Extraction Tool

Extracts and organizes documents from FileCabinet CS (Thomson Reuters) using GUI automation. Designed to work across multiple client engagements without code changes.

Prerequisites

32-bit Python (must match FCCS architecture)
pywinauto (pip install pywinauto)
FileCabinet CS installed and restored with client backup data

Project Layout

File	Purpose
`config.ini`	All paths, timeouts, and FCCS control identifiers
`fccs_folders.txt`	FCCS folder templates (manually populated per engagement)
`fccs_config.py`	Shared config loading, logging, folder pattern building
`fccs_scan.py`	Step 1: Scan backup directory for drawer IDs
`fccs_export.py`	Step 2: Automate FCCS GUI to export all drawers
`fccs_reorganize.py`	Step 3: Parse filenames and rebuild folder structure

Setup Per Engagement

Edit config.ini -- point backup_dir, export_dir, and output_dir at the client's directories.
Populate fccs_folders.txt -- open FCCS > System Configuration > Document Folders and list each folder template exactly as shown, one per line. Keep the YYYY prefix on recurring folders. UltraTax CS folders are detected automatically and do not need to be listed.

Workflow

Step 1: Scan Drawers

python fccs_scan.py

Reads the restored FCCS backup directory and writes all drawer IDs (subfolder names) to drawer_ids.txt.

Step 2: Export Documents

python fccs_export.py

Requires FCCS to be open with export destination already configured. Automates the GUI to export every drawer via File > Send To > File. Features:

Resumable -- tracks completed drawers in completed.txt; safe to restart
Screenshots -- captures failure states for diagnosis
Defensive -- one bad drawer won't crash the entire run

Step 3: Reorganize Files

python fccs_reorganize.py

Parses the flat exported filenames and copies them into an organized structure:

output/
  01069_ABRAHAM, REBEKAH L./
    2025 Tax Documents/
      01069_ABRAHAM, REBEKAH L._2025 Tax Documents_03-03-2026_030126 E-mail re Tax Info.pdf
    Permanent File/
      01069_ABRAHAM, REBEKAH L._Permanent File_02-24-2018_Driver's License.pdf
    UltraTax CS 12-31-2008/
      01069_ABRAHAM, REBEKAH L._UltraTax CS 12-31-2008_02-12-2009_2008 Form 1040 Filing Instructions.doc
  _unparsed/
    (files that couldn't be parsed go here for manual review)

Exported filenames follow the format {drawer_id}_{client_name}_{folder_name}_{creation_date}_{document_name}.ext. The parser uses folder templates from fccs_folders.txt (with YYYY expanded via regex) and the creation date (MM-DD-YYYY) as anchors to reliably split the underscore-delimited fields. UltraTax CS folders are matched by a built-in pattern.

Config Reference

All scripts read from config.ini (or specify --config path\to\config.ini).

[paths] -- backup_dir, export_dir, output_dir, drawer_id_file, completed_file, log_file, screenshot_dir, folder_list
[timeouts] -- nav_timeout, dialog_timeout, progress_appear, progress_finish, settle, confirm_timeout
[controls] -- FCCS window class names and button titles (rarely need changing)

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