Version 12 What's New List

• Highlights for All Systems
• General
• DropBox
• SnapShot Views
• Data Entry
• Tabs3 Billing v12 Highlights
• PracticeMaster v12 Highlights

• Tabs3 Trust Accounting v12 Highlights
• Tabs3 Accounts Payable v12 Highlights
• Other PracticeMaster v12 Features
• Other Tabs3 Billing v12 Features

• Implemented new and improved visual design with professionally designed graphical icons. The new visual design takes advantage of the color options offered by today's advanced computers to create richer icons that are easy to recognize and are similar to icons in the latest Windows operating systems. State of the art Windows XP visual style effects provide an updated look and feel.
• Added built-in PDF support lets you output any report or statement to a PDF file.
• Implemented a new DropBox feature that holds PDF files and other files on your computer allowing you to easily distribute reports.
• Added the ability to quickly sort records in List tabs and lookup windows by clicking on the column heading.

Back to top >>

• The software has been given a complete new look with new graphical icons in Task Folders, toolbars, and menus. Windows XP visual styles have been implemented including highlighted tabs, small icons on menus, contrasting colors in dialog boxes, menus, labels, drop-down buttons, check boxes, lookup lists, and more.
• Added a new uninstall program that makes it easy to uninstall the software from a specific location.

Back to top >>

• Added a new DropBox feature. The DropBox serves as a temporary holding area for reports that are output as PDF files. It can also be used as a temporary holding area for any type of file on your computer, such as Word documents, text files, graphics files, video files, audio files, etc. Files in the DropBox can then be e-mailed, saved, as well as dragged or copied to another location.
• A single DropBox window is opened for all Tabs3/PracticeMaster applications and will be closed when the last Tabs3 or PracticeMaster software application is closed. All files in the DropBox are deleted when the DropBox is closed.

Back to top >>

• New SnapShot views display pertinent information in a separate panel in List tabs and lookup windows making it easy to see complete information for the highlighted record before selecting it.
• SnapShots include the ability to display photos in PracticeMaster. New photo fields in the client and related party file let you see pictures of the client and related party in SnapShot views--no extra click required. Graphic file formats supported include GIF, JPG, PNG, BMP, WMF, XBM, and EMF.
• Hotspot links are shown on e-mail addresses that will open a Send E-Mail window allowing you to draft and send an e-mail.
• Hotspot links are shown on telephone numbers that will open a Phone Dialer window.
• Hotspot links are shown on Web Pages that will open an Internet browser window with the specified Web site address.
• SnapShots can be positioned at the bottom of the window or to the right of the window.
• SnapShots can be searched and printed.

Back to top >>

• Added Find capabilities to all Memo fields in PracticeMaster, Tabs3 and Tabs3 Remote (i.e., Descriptions, Comments, E-Mail Body, etc.).

Back to top >>

• Added a new SnapShot feature in Tabs3 that displays data from individual records in an easy to view format.
• Added new easy sort column headers.
• Conflict of Interest in Tabs3 now searches Custom fields from the Client file.
• Added a new Collections Report to assist with the collection of receivables.
• Improved Write-Up, Write-Down and Courtesy Discount reporting on various reports. Tabs3 now accounts for write-up and write-down amounts that occur as a result of writing Hours up or down (i.e., adjusting the Hours to Bill but not the Worked Hours). Previously, the value of these write-ups and write-downs was not reported.
• Better Courtesy Discount reporting now shows Courtesy Discounts as separate amounts on productivity reports. Separating Courtesy Discounts from the Write-Down amounts provides a better idea of what was manually written down and what was discounted.

Back to top >>

• Added a new SnapShot feature in PracticeMaster that displays data from individual records in an easy to view format.
• Completely redesigned e-mail includes the ability to access your e-mail software address book, use of Cc and Bcc fields, the ability to define and assign signatures, sophisticated e-mail attachment handling, autocompletion of recipients, the ability to reply, reply to all, and forward e-mail from within PracticeMaster journal records, and much more.
• New PM Link feature provides the ability to save an e-mail to a PracticeMaster Journal record while working in Outlook via a special PM Journal button.
• Redesigned the format of the Conflict of Interest Report and improved drill-down capabilities. You can customize the report by designating which fields you want included on the report.
• Added the ability to remember the last filter used when a window is closed and then apply that filter to the window the next time the window is opened.
• Added the ability to optionally display a new Related Parties tab in the Client file that lets you quickly view all related parties associated with a specific client.
• Added the ability to optionally display separate tabs in the Client file for each Area of Practice file associated with a client.
• Added the ability to optionally display separate tabs in the Client File for all user defined Common Client Related files.
• Added a new RP Usage tab to the Related Party file allowing you to quickly view all references in the PracticeMaster data files to a specific related party.
• Added a Column Layout Manager that allows users to easily define and modify column layouts at any time. Previously, column layouts were defined in File Maintenance, which required exclusive access.
• Changed the column headings on the List tab to use the Field Name instead of the Field ID, thus providing more control and flexibility for column widths and available characters.
• Added a Resize Automatically setting for memo fields in the Form Designer that resizes the field to fit available space.

Back to top >>

• Added a Memo field to the Trust Transaction data entry program.
• Added the ability to optionally print a trust transaction's Memo field on the check. The Memo field prints to the left of the signature line.

Back to top >>

• Improved check processing time.
• Improved report processing time.

Back to top >>

Other PracticeMaster Version 12 Features

• General Changes
• Client File Changes
• Related Party File
• Calendar File
• Journal File
• E-mail General Enhancements
• E-mail Integration with Journal File
• E-mail MAPI Integration
• PracticeMaster Link & Outlook
• Conflict of Interest

• Calendar Plan Templates
• Auto E-mail Notification for Calendar Records
• GroupWise Calendar Integration
• Outlook Calendar Integration
• CompuLaw Integration
• File Maintenance
• Word & HotDocs Document Assembly
• Palm Conduits
• View Menu

• Added the ability to remember the last filter used when a window is closed and then apply that filter to the window the next time the window is opened. Additionally, when toggling a filter on and off, the last filter used is always remembered.
• Added the ability to use incremental searching when filtering is enabled.
• Removed modal window restrictions from secondary Editor windows. For example, this means that you can now have multiple Editor windows open at the same time from the Client Related tab of the Client file. Additionally, you do not have to close Editor windows to perform other tasks in PracticeMaster.
• Window sizes are now remembered.

Back to PracticeMaster Features >>
Back to top >>

• Added a SnapShot panel to the List tab.
• Added the ability to display a new Related Parties tabs that lets you quickly view all related parties associated with a specific client. Two formats available:
  • A Detail format lists the Related Parties and shows the file and field name for each occurance.
  • A Summary format lists just the Related Parties.
• Added a new Client Photo field to the Details tab.
• Added a new Web Page field to the Address tab.
• Added the ability to optionally display separate tabs for each Area of Practice file associated with a client. This feature is enabled via the Configure Client Pages window. Previously, the only way to access the Area of Practice file information in the Client file was via the Client Related tab.
• Added the ability to optionally display separate tabs for user defined Common Client Related files. This feature is enabled via the Configure Client Pages window. Previously, the only way to access the user defined Common Client Related files in the Client file was via the Client Related tab.
• Moved the three Miscellaneous Description fields from the Details tab to the Setup tab.
• Moved the Comments field from the Court tab to the Details tab.

Back to PracticeMaster Features >>
Back to top >>

• Added a new Related Party Photo field to the Contact/Misc tab.
• Added a new RP Usage tab allowing you to quickly view all references in the PracticeMaster data files to a specific related party. The following views are available:
  • A Detail view provides a list of all the occurrences where a related party is used, sorted by Client ID or Client Name. The file and field name are shown for each occurrence.
  • A Client Summary view provides a list of only the clients that a related party is associated with, sorted by Client ID or Client Name.
  • A File view provides a list of all occurrences where a related party is used, sorted by file. The file and field name are shown.
  • A Record view provides a list of all occurrences where a related party is used, sorted by the date the record was last modified with the most recently modified record at the top of the list.
• Added a SnapShot panel to the List tab.

Back to PracticeMaster Features >>
Back to top >>

• Added a new Location field.
• Added a SnapShot panel to the List tab.
• When changing a Calendar record for a different user, the optional auto e-mail notification now includes the previous calendar record information as well as the current calendar record information and lists the fields that were changed.

Back to PracticeMaster Features >>
Back to top >>

• Added a SnapShot panel to the List tab.
• Added the following fields to the E-mail tab in the Journal file: Email_To, Email_From, Email_CC, Email_BCC, Email_Body, Email_Attachments.
• Added the ability to reply, reply to all, and forward e-mail from the Journal file. When an e-mail journal record is selected or opened, the Reply, Reply to All, and Forward menu options are available on the Action menu.

Back to PracticeMaster Features >>
Back to top >>

• Completely redesigned PracticeMaster's E-mail program to function more like your e-mail client.
• Added the ability to create signatures in PracticeMaster and include a signature when sending an e-mail.
• Added the ability to send e-mails with HTML formatting such as bold, italics, underline, bullets, and numbering.
• Added autocompletion capabilities for e-mail recipients. When typing in a recipient field, PracticeMaster searches the Client file, Related Party file and User file and displays matches to the typed information allowing you to select the e-mail address you want to use. If configured to integrate with Microsoft Outlook or Novell GroupWise, the Outlook Address Book is also searched.
• When sending an e-mail in PracticeMaster, you can now include Cc and Bcc recipients.
• You can access your e-mail address book from within PracticeMaster.
• You can configure PracticeMaster to automatically refresh the PracticeMaster Inbox with the information from your e-mail client’s Inbox.
• Added the ability to configure PracticeMaster to automatically perform a spell check before sending an e-mail.
• Added the ability to optionally read e-mails via a preview pane in the PracticeMaster E-mail program. When the preview pane is enabled, you can configure PracticeMaster to mark e-mails as read after previewing for a specified number of seconds.
• Added security features that allow you to restrict access to unsafe attachments, restrict the ability to automatically download images from the Internet, as well as restrict scripts from executing.
• Added the ability to configure PracticeMaster to delete e-mail from your e-mail client when e-mail is deleted from PracticeMaster's E-mail program.

Back to PracticeMaster Features >>
Back to top >>

• E-mail attachments are compressed and saved in PracticeMaster when an e-mail is saved to the Journal file.
• Added the ability to reply, reply to all, and forward e-mail from the Journal file. When an e-mail journal record is selected or opened, the Reply, Reply to All, and Forward menu options are available on the Action menu.
• E-mails saved to the Journal file are now displayed with a special icon in the PracticeMaster E-mail program making it easy to determine which e-mails have a corresponding Journal record in PracticeMaster. Additionally, PracticeMaster can be configured to hide e-mails saved to the Journal file from the PracticeMaster E-mail program.
• When an e-mail is saved to the Journal file, PracticeMaster populates the Client ID and/or Related Party field with a corresponding Client ID and/or Related Party that has the same e-mail address. If you specify a different Client ID and/or Related Party that you want associated with that e-mail address, PracticeMaster will remember the change for subsequent Journal records.
• E-mail journal records can be converted to fee records via the Process Timer Records window.
• Added the ability to create calendar records and fee records inside the E-mail program.

Back to PracticeMaster Features >>
Back to top >>

• Extended MAPI features provide e-mail integration with Outlook or GroupWise that allow the ability to file e-mails in Outlook/GroupWise folders via PracticeMaster as well as view the contents of all Outlook/GroupWise e-mail folders.
• When integrating with Microsoft Outlook or GroupWise, e-mails sent to your e-mail client with HTML formatting can be read in PracticeMaster with the HTML formatting. Previously, the HTML formatting was ignored in PracticeMaster.
• Autocompletion uses the Outlook/GroupWise address book in addition to the e-mail addresses from the User, Client and Related Party files.
• A copy of an e-mail sent via PracticeMaster can optionally be saved to the Outlook/GroupWise “Sent Items” folder.

Back to PracticeMaster Features >>
Back to top >>

• PM Link provides an additional method of e-mail integration with Outlook. PM Link allows you to save an e-mail to a PracticeMaster journal record while working in Outlook via a special PM Journal button.

Back to PracticeMaster Features >>
Back to top >>

• Added the ability to customize the Conflict of Interest Report by designating which fields you want included on the Conflict of Interest Report. This is done in File Maintenance by selecting the new Include on Conflict Report check box.
• New and improved report format includes the following features:
  • The date last modified or created is shown for each conflict.
  • The Client ID is printed in brackets for inactive clients.
  • The primary attorney initials are printed for all conflicts in client-based files.
  • The related party category(s) are printed for all conflicts in related party records.
  • The journal type is printed for all conflicts in journal records.
  • The Field Name is printed instead of the Field ID.
  • Redesigned format greatly improves readability.
• Multiple hits in the same field are included in the Conflict of Interest Report.
• Improved the Conflict of Interest Report drill-down capabilities.
  • When drilling down to memo fields, the location of the first hit is now highlighted in the record. Pressing Ctrl+G finds and highlights the next hit in the record.
  • Added the ability to drill down to Tabs3 Billing Note records in the Journal File and view the entire record. Previously, only the portion with the hit could be viewed.
  • Added the ability to drill down to archived cost records and view the record. Previously, archived cost records could not be viewed.
  • Added the ability to drill down to any cost record if integrating Tabs3 with GLS. Previously cost records could not be viewed if Tabs3 and GLS were being used with PracticeMaster.
• Added the ability to use periods and at signs ("@") in search values thus providing the ability to search for e-mail and Web site addresses.
• Increased the maximum number of records included on the report from 1,000 to 2,500. Added an "Incomplete Search" message to the report if the maximum limit is reached.

Back to PracticeMaster Features >>
Back to top >>

• Added the ability to include text variables in a calendar plan template. When processing a calendar plan, the operator can define the variable value, which will then replace the variable code.

Back to PracticeMaster Features >>
Back to top >>

• When changing a Calendar record for a different user, the optional auto e-mail notification now includes the previous calendar record information as well as the current calendar record information and lists the fields that were changed.

Back to PracticeMaster Features >>
Back to top >>

• When GroupWise users are configured with Proxy access rights and are mapped to a PracticeMaster user in System Configuration, other PracticeMaster users can add, change and delete calendar records for that PracticeMaster user. (Introduced in August 2004 in Version 11.2.4)
• Calendar records synchronized to GroupWise display the Client's work description in the GroupWise Comments field.

Back to PracticeMaster Features >>
Back to top >>

• Calendar records synchronized to Outlook display the Client's work description in the Outlook Description field.

Back to PracticeMaster Features >>
Back to top >>

• Start Date fields for Outlook or GroupWise integration are now automatically populated. If the Calendar file has been modified to include an “OL_Start_Date” field for Outlook integration, or a “GW_Start_Date” field for GroupWise integration, records created by the Generate CompuLaw Dates program will automatically have these fields filled in with the Due Date. (Introduced in December 2004 in Version 11.2.4.)

Back to PracticeMaster Features >>
Back to top >>

• Moved column layouts out of File Maintenance so any user can modify them at any time. Added a Column Layout menu option to the Edit menu when the List tab is displayed in a data entry window and when right-clicking in the List tab.
• Added a new Include on Conflict Report check box, thus allowing you to customize the Conflict of Interest Report by designating which fields you want added to the report. A "+" character is printed to the left of the Conflict column on a File Definition Report, thereby indicating which fields have been configured to print on the Conflict of Interest Report.

Back to PracticeMaster Features >>
Back to top >>

• Added the ability to define a Fee Tickler variable for Hours Worked as well as Hours to Bill.

Back to PracticeMaster Features >>
Back to top >>

• Added a new one-way HotSync Action to the Palm Conduits that syncs PracticeMaster information to the Palm without overwriting non-PracticeMaster records on the Palm.
• Added the ability to rank phone fields. The order in which the phone fields are ranked determines which phone field is displayed in the Palm's Contacts/Address Book List. The phone field with a ranking of “1” will be displayed in the Contacts/Address Book List provided it is not blank. If it is blank, then the phone field with a ranking of “2” will be displayed provided it is not blank, etc. Previously, if the designated phone number was blank, no phone number was shown in the list on the Palm.

Back to PracticeMaster Features >>
Back to top >>

• Added a Minimize to Tray menu option that allows PracticeMaster to be running and minimized without taking up real estate in the Windows taskbar. When PracticeMaster is minimized, PracticeMaster can be opened by clicking the PracticeMaster icon in the Windows system tray.

Back to PracticeMaster Features >>
Back to top >>

Other Tabs3 Version 12 Features

• Client Data Entry
• Conflict of Interest Search
• Collections Report
• Detail Work-In-Process Report
• Client Productivity Report
• Client Ledger Report
• Write-Up/Write-Down Report

• Timekeeper Productivity Report & Category Productivity Report
• Edit Client Ledger
• Statement Designer
• Merge Remote Data

• Added a SnapShot view to the client lookup window.
• The Task Based Billing check box cannot be changed if a cost rate table is defined for the client. You must clear all rates for the existing cost rate table before you will be allowed to change the Task Based Billing status.

Back to Tabs3 Features >>
Back to top >>

• Custom fields defined for clients are now included in the Tabs3 Conflict of Interest Search.

Back to Tabs3 Features >>
Back to top >>

• A Summary Collections Report helps identify which clients may require additional collection efforts and includes the total amount billed, amount paid, percentage paid, and amount due for all outstanding invoices.
• The date and amount of the last payment is shown on both Detail and Summary Collections Reports along with the number of days since the last payment.
• Optionally includes the client address.
• A Detail Collections Report provides contact information, detail for each outstanding invoice, optional work-in-process and billing history information, optional write off and payment history, and optional billing notes and instructions.
• When including a payment history, the average number of days between payments is calculated and shown making it easy to determine if a client's last payment is within their normal average number of days.

Back to Tabs3 Features >>
Back to top >>

• If the Write-Up/Write-Down Hours column is included on the report, then the Write-Up/Down Amt column will include the value of the hours adjusted along with the write-up/write-down amount.

Back to Tabs3 Features >>
Back to top >>

• The Write-Up column now includes the value of hours written up.
• The Write-Down column now includes the value of hours written down and any courtesy discount.

Back to Tabs3 Features >>
Back to top >>

• If the Hours column is included on the report, then the value of the hours written up is included in the Write-Up amount.
• Likewise, if the Hours column is included on the report, then the value of the hours written down is included in the Write-Down amount.
• Courtesy Discount is always included in the Write-Down amount.

Back to Tabs3 Features >>
Back to top >>

• A separate column for Courtesy Discount has been added to the Write-Down section. Previously, write-down amounts for courtesy discounts were simply included in the fee write-down.
• If Hours are included on the report, then separate columns for the value of the hours written up and written down will be included on the report. These columns are called Hours Value.

Back to Tabs3 Features >>
Back to top >>

• Modified the Billed Information section to optionally include the following amounts. Previously, adjusting the Hours to Bill field but not the Hours Worked field did not generate a write-up/write-down.
  • Write-Up Hours Value (Billed Hours - Hours Worked) x Rate
  • Write-Down Hours Value (Hours Worked - Billed Hours) x Rate
  • Courtesy Discount (Dollar value of any billed and updated courtesy discounts)
  • Total Write-Up (Write-Up Hours Value + Write-Up Amount)
  • Total Write-Down (Write-Down Hours Value + Courtesy Discount + Write-Down Amount)
  • Worked Rate (Billed Amount divided by Hours Worked)

• Percentages and Percentage Formulas for all of the above new amounts can be optionally included.
• All new amounts and percentages are available on the Graph tab.
• Although the following pairs are shown as separate line items on the report, they are combined as a single option on the Format tab. (Previously defined report definitions will honor non-paired items.)
  • Write-Up/Write-Down Hours
  • Write-Up/Write-Down Amount
  • Write-Up/Write-Down Hours Value
  • Write-Up/Write-Down Total

Back to Tabs3 Features >>
Back to top >>

• Added fields for Write-Up Hours Value, Write-Down Hours Value, and Courtesy Discount.

Back to Tabs3 Features >>
Back to top >>

• Added the ability to print an "Attn:" label when the Contact name is used on a Statement Designer Page Layout.
• Added the ability to print a "Re:" label when the Work Description is used on a Statement Designer Page Layout.
• Changed how miscellaneous lines print on the statement. If a miscellaneous line is included in a page layout, it no longer prints in the statement body; it prints only in the designated location.
• Added the ability to easily access the Tabs3 Help via the Properties dialog box by clicking in a field and then clicking the "What's This?" help button.
• In the Properties dialog box, changed the "Paint Level" description to "Layer Level" to better describe its purpose.
• When previewing a statement that uses a Statement Designer page layout, moving the mouse over the left edge of the statement will display a tool tip with the name of the Statement Designer page layout.

Back to Tabs3 Features >>
Back to top >>

• Made a minor change to how descriptions are imported. Basically, whatever the remote user sees in the description field is what will be merged into Tabs3. If validation files are present and the remote user blanks out the description field, a blank description will be merged into Tabs3. Previously, the blank description was overwritten with the default Tabs3 tcode description.

Back to Tabs3 Features >>
Back to top >>