Using Tabs3 and PracticeMaster Software on Terminal Services or Citrix

Last reviewed: 09/02/2011
Article ID: R11284

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

This article provides installation information regarding running the Tabs3 and PracticeMaster software using Microsoft Windows Terminal Services or Citrix.

Information included in this article:

SETUP.EXE

STI.INI

Outlook Plug-in

CompuLaw

SETUP.EXE

The SETUP.EXE program must be run to install shortcuts, program files, help files, and other necessary files into a directory on each workstation. This program will only need to be run once by a Terminal Services computer, regardless of how many users log onto the workstation remotely.

Step 1: Delete Shortcuts

Before running SETUP.EXE, delete any shortcuts to the Tabs3 and PracticeMaster programs for each user on each Terminal Services computer.

Step 2: Run Setup

Using Windows Explorer, open the Tabs3 current working directory. By default, this folder is located in C:\Tabs3 on the server. Double-click SETUP.EXE to run the Setup program.

Step 3: Copy Shortcuts

After SETUP.EXE is run successfully, a single set of desktop shortcuts are created. This set of shortcuts is located in the public desktop directory. These desktop shortcuts will need to be copied to each user's desktop directory.

To move the shortcuts to user-specific folders

  1. Using Windows Explorer, open the public desktop directory.
  2. While holding down the Ctrl key, click each Tabs3 and PracticeMaster Software shortcut icon.
  3. Right-click and select Copy.
  4. Open the desktop directory for each Terminal Services user, right-click and select Paste.
  5. Delete the desktop shortcuts from the public desktop directory. If this is not done, users will have two sets of shortcuts.
  6. Once users have their own shortcuts, they are free to add startup options as desired.

Note: Desktop locations may be different for Citrix.

Subsequent Updates

When the Tabs3 and PracticeMaster software is updated on the server from the Web, it is necessary for an Administrator to open any Tabs3 and PracticeMaster program on the Terminal Server. Doing so will automatically update the program files that are installed on the Terminal Services computer by copying them from the server. This update process makes it unnecessary to run SETUP.EXE again, because the local program files are automatically updated when the software is started. For more information regarding automatic updates for the local installation, refer to the KB Article R11229, "All About the Local Install (SETUP.EXE) and Auto Update."

STI.INI

The STI.INI file stores configuration settings for all Tabs3 and PracticeMaster software. This file is stored individually for each user, regardless of whether the user is logged into Terminal Services. In a Terminal Services environment, however, the STI.INI file is stored on the Terminal Server rather than the local user workstation. If logging into a Windows Server 2008 machine (including Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows Small Business Server 2011), the STI.INI file is located in C:\Users\<UserID>\AppData\Roaming\Tabs3. If logging into a Windows Server 2003 machine, the STI.INI file is located in C:\Documents and Settings\<UserID>\Application Data\Tabs3.

More information regarding information stored in the STI.INI file is provided in the KB Article R10662, "Settings Stored in the STI.INI File and User Profile."

Outlook Plug-in

When running SETUP.EXE on any workstation, the following message will be displayed:

The Outlook Plug-in can be used to save e-mails as PracticeMaster records 
while working in Outlook. To install the Outlook Plug-in, click "Install Now".

If you click Install Now to install the Outlook Plug-in, it will be installed for the current Windows user only. Each additional user who will be utilizing the Outlook toolbar will need to install the Outlook Plug using the following steps:

  1. Open PracticeMaster.
  2. From the Maintenance menu, highlight Integration and select Toolbar Plug-ins.
  3. On the Outlook tab, click Install Outlook Plug-in.
  4. Close and restart Outlook for the toolbar to appear.

Prior Versions

If your PracticeMaster release date (found in Help | About PracticeMaster) is prior to 3/30/2011, clicking Install Now will install the Outlook Plug-in for all users. The same behavior is present when installing the Outlook Plug-in from within the PracticeMaster software. Therefore, before selecting to install the Outlook Plug-in, it must be determined whether all Terminal Services users for this server will have access to PracticeMaster. Regardless of whether some Terminal Services users will not have access to PracticeMaster, you can still install the Outlook Plug-in. However, any users who do not have PracticeMaster access are advised to do the following after the plug-in has been installed:

  1. Open Microsoft Outlook.
  2. Click the New button to open a new e-mail.
  3. Click the PM Journal, PM Calendar, and PM Fee toolbar buttons so that all are displayed as Off.
  4. Close the new e-mail with these settings turned off. (Note: The Off settings will be saved without sending the e-mail.)
  5. From the Toolbars tab of Tools | Customize, clear the PracticeMaster E-mail check box to hide the PracticeMaster E-mail toolbar in Outlook.

Completing the steps above will ensure that the Outlook Plug-in will not attempt to open PracticeMaster for users who do not have access to PracticeMaster.

CompuLaw

Note: The following does not apply when using PracticeMaster Version 15.3 with CompuLaw Version 10.

In Version 15.2 and prior, CompuLaw settings must be configured for each workstation. When using the CompuLaw/PracticeMaster integration on Terminal Services or Citrix, it is important that you run an installation program to install the required files and desktop shortcuts on the workstation. To configure CompuLaw, each user must:

  1. Log into Terminal Services or Citrix.
  2. Click the Start button, and then click Run.
  3. Click the Browse button and navigate to the folder where PracticeMaster is installed on the server. Double-click the COMPULAW folder under the folder where PracticeMaster is installed. Select the NCRDENG.EXE file in the CompuLaw folder and click OK to run the program.
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to configure CompuLaw.

    Note: Make sure each workstation uses a drive letter mapping to the PracticeMaster program directory that is consistent for all workstations. For more information about installing CompuLaw for use in PracticeMaster, see KB Article R10890, "CompuLaw Installation Instructions."

REFERENCES

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