The information in this article applies to:
The Version 14.2 update is provided as a downloadable update at www.tabs3.com/support/update/v142update.html. This document includes information regarding the Version 14.2 update that will prove helpful when beginning to use Version 14.2. Various procedures are included to help familiarize you with the features you may need to know about, thus providing a quick introduction to Version 14.2. Although the Version 14.2 What's New List itemizes all of the features added to the software, this document helps you identify the features you may need to be aware of in order to take advantage of the improved functionality.
No separate conversion program needs to be run.
Client Server Version Note: Version 14.2 Client Server Version (CSV) software has not been released yet, but will be released later this year. Click here for more information on Client Server Version software.
Tabs3 & GLS Integration Considerations
New Location for Conflict of Interest Indexing
PracticeMaster Premier Considerations
Client Server Version & STI Server
After downloading and installing Version 14.2, the file structure for the new GLS configuration options needs to be updated. When Tabs3 is started for the first time, a manager must log in and the following message will be displayed indicating the System Files need to be updated.
Tabs3 System Files need to be updated before continuing. System files can only be updated by a manager. Update files at this time?
Clicking Yes will update the files. However, if Tabs3 is started by a non-manager, clicking Yes will display the following message.
Access Denied.
Once the update has completed, the following message will be displayed.
Update completed successfully.
The first time you start Version 14.2, you will find the Application Toolbar on the right side of the window. This toolbar provides one-click access to the various Tabs3 and PracticeMaster products for which you have access rights. This toolbar can be repositioned if desired. If you prefer to disable the toolbar, simply select View | Application Toolbar.
The built-in Back Up Data Files program now backs up data files for all Tabs3 and PracticeMaster programs, thereby making it easy to back up everything at once and provide better data integrity for integrated systems in the event you need to restore. As a result, this program is now an exclusive task and requires that no other users be in any of the software when it is run. When selecting this program, all new users will be locked out of the software until the backup has completed.
Tabs3 firms that integrate with General Ledger Software will be excited to know that additional account mapping capabilities are now available.
These new mapping features can be configured via the GLS Integration Setup window.
To view GLS Integration Setup
PracticeMaster users will be excited to see the new Quick Clicks and List Preferences features as well as reviewing changes to the Convert to Fee Settings, Timer window, Conflict of Interest Indexing, and Auto E-mail Notification features.
The new Quick Clicks pane allows convenient access to many standard features of a file's Editor Window, including the new List Preferences feature.
Let's take a quick look at Quick Clicks in the Client file.
To view Quick Clicks
The Quick Clicks pane is shown on the right side. As a result of the new Quick Clicks pane being positioned on the right side of the Editor window, you may prefer to move the SnapShot to the bottom of the Editor window as opposed to the side.
To reposition the SnapShot
The Quick Clicks pane can be easily hidden in order to show more of the Editor window.
To hide Quick Clicks
button shown in the Quick Clicks
title bar and move the mouse off the button. The Quick Clicks pane will be hidden
and replaced with the Quick Clicks
button.To redisplay Quick Clicks
button. The Quick Clicks pane will slide
out.If you prefer, you can "pin" the Quick Clicks pane to the Editor window so it is always shown.
To pin the Quick Clicks pane to the Editor Window
button. The
button
will change to a vertical push-in button indicating the pane is pinned to
the Editor window.The new List Preferences feature lets you change the text and background colors of rows in PracticeMaster windows. Implementing this feature can provide a great deal of visual impact and make it easy to distinguish between different types of data entry windows.
Let's customize the List tab of the Client file.
To customize the List tab of the Client File
Separate color schemes and row heights can be defined for each PracticeMaster file. Likewise, each user can define his or her own List Preferences for each file. Many users prefer customizing List Preferences for the Fee file or Journal file by increasing the Row Height; doing so makes it easy to see more or all of multi-line description fields.
PracticeMaster Version 14.2 now allows you to configure separate defaults for each type of record that can be converted to fees. Previously, the same settings were used for calendar, phone, e-mail, research, and timer records.
Version 14.2 also lets you create fee records from client notes records. You can even define default phase/task codes and activity codes for task based billing as well as create customized descriptions for the fee transaction using variable information from the record being converted. Furthermore, you can configure the default timekeeper and whether or not you want the fee record window shown.
Separate default settings are stored for each User ID. After updating to Version 14.2, each User may want to configure the default settings used for creating fee records.
To configure Convert to Fee Settings
If you use the Timer to create timer, research, and phone tasks, you will notice a change when adding new records. Previously, when creating a timer, research, or phone task via the Timer window, focus was placed on the folder tab and you had to tab to the first data entry field. A change has been made to the software to place the cursor in the first field instead of the folder tab; this means you will no longer need to tab to the first field when starting a new record.
Conflict of Interest indexing is located in a different area. Previously, this program was accessed via the Maintenance | Conflict of Interest | Configuration menu options.
Let's take a look at this new area.
To open Search Settings
PracticeMaster includes an Auto E-mail Notification feature for the Calendar. This feature creates an e-mail notification when a user changes the calendar for another user. Prior to Version 14.2, the PracticeMaster E-mail program was required to be used to send these e-mail notifications. In Version 14.2, the e-mail notification can optionally be configured to be sent through the user's default e-mail program instead. For example, if you use Outlook for your e-mail, the Auto E-mail Notification feature can be configured to use Outlook to send notification of Calendar changes to other users.
If you currently have the Auto E-mail Notification feature enabled and you want to use your default e-mail program to send auto e-mail notifications as well as all other e-mail, use the following procedure:
PM Link has been renamed to the Outlook Plug-In. This feature makes it easy to save Outlook e-mail as PracticeMaster journal records via a PracticeMaster Toolbar in Outlook. The installation for this plug-in is located in a different area. (Previously, the Outlook Plug-in was accessed via Maintenance | E-mail Preferences).
To access the Outlook Plug-In
If you are using PracticeMaster Premier, additional searching features are available as discussed in the next section.
The ability to search e-mail attachments and linked documents is one of the more powerful features added to PracticeMaster Premier in Version 14.2. A linked document is any file referenced by a File type field, such as "C:\LETTER.DOC". Linked documents are not stored in PracticeMaster; however, the File type field stores the file name and path of the linked document, thereby maintaining a link to that file so it may be accessed at any time.
The Conflict of Interest and new Document Search programs can be used to search these files. Configuration options for these new features are stored in the Search Settings program. In order to search these files for the first time in Version 14.2, the index files must be built.
Rebuilding indexes can take a long time (sometimes hours) and requires exclusive access to the PracticeMaster data files. We recommend rebuilding the indexes at a time when nobody needs to use PracticeMaster.
Let's take a look at the Search Settings program and where you can rebuild the search indexes.
To open Search Settings
Automatic vs. Manual Setting: Setting an index to Automatic causes the index to be updated every time a record is added or changed. Using this setting ensures the index file always has the most current information. Setting an index to Manual indicates that the index is not updated when new information is added to PracticeMaster, or when existing information is modified in PracticeMaster. Using the Manual setting requires that the index file be maintained by rebuilding it on a regular basis. We recommend using Automatic.
Note: Changes made to a linked document are not automatically incorporated into the Linked Documents Index, even if it is set to Automatic. To incorporate changes to linked documents, you can update the index by manually rebuilding the Linked Documents Index.
If you use HotDocs Document Assembly, the configuration program is located in a different area. (Previously, the HotDocs configuration was accessed via Documents | HotDocs Options.)
To access HotDocs Configuration
The Month-End/Year-End Close-Out program has been renamed to Advance Current Posting Month to more accurately reflect what this program does.
Version 14.2 of Client Server software has not been released yet, but will be released later this year. However, it is currently available as beta. Please contact your Tabs3 reseller/consultant or our Sales Department at 402-423-1440 if you are interested in receiving the Version 14.2 Client Server beta software.
How do I know if I am using Client Server Version software?
Client Server Version software products have a 90000 series serial number. You can find
your serial number in the software by selecting Help | About.
Firms using Client Server Version software cannot download the Version 14.2
update at this time. If you are interested in receiving the Version 14.2
features now, please consider participating in our beta program.
What will happen once Version 14.2 Client Server software is
released?
Firms using Client Server Versions (CSV) of the software will receive an updated
STI Server CD and software CD later this year. The update must be installed from
these CDs as opposed to downloading the update from the Internet.
Note: Once Version 14.2 Client Server software has been installed, subsequent downloads from the Web site can be successfully installed.
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