What’s New List for Version 15
of Tabs3, PracticeMaster, and Tabs3 Financial Software

 

New Vista Compatibility

• Implemented significant “behind-the-scenes” enhancements to provide seamless Vista compatibility.
• Employed Microsoft's best practices for Vista programming.
• Made it easier to run the Tabs3 and PracticeMaster software as a non-administrator.
• When User Account Control is enabled (UAC), a shield icon will be displayed for functions that require elevation. Users will automatically be asked for administrator credentials to perform these tasks.
• All functions in Tabs3 and PracticeMaster can now be run with UAC enabled, including Word Document Assembly in PracticeMaster Premier.
• The Tabs3 and PracticeMaster configuration file, STI.INI, has been moved from the protected Windows folder and is now stored in C:\Users\User Name\AppData\Roaming\Tabs3 for Vista users (or if using Windows XP, in C:\Documents and Settings\[userID]\Application Data\Tabs3).

 

New Vista Compatible Help Files  (All Systems)

• Help files are now provided in a Vista compatible format (i.e., CHM format).
• Changes to registry settings are no longer needed to access help on Vista computers.

 

New Custom Report Headings

• New custom report headings now available in Tabs3, General Ledger, Trust Accounting, and Accounts Payable.
• Report definitions include the ability to print the description as an additional heading line, thereby allowing you to provide additional information about the report without referring to a Criteria Page.

 

Autofill Feature  (All Systems)

• Added autocompletion capabilities to all lookup fields in Tabs3, PracticeMaster, and Tabs3 Financial programs. As you type in a lookup field, the field will autofill based on the information entered.

 

Incremental Search  (All Systems)

• Added incremental search capabilities to all lookup windows. Previously, incremental search was only available in the Tabs3 Client lookup window and the PracticeMaster List windows. Now, incremental search is available in the User lookup window, the Timekeeper lookup window, the APS Vendor lookup window, the GLS journal entry lookup window, the TAS Trust Account lookup window, the TAS Payee lookup window, etc. For example, typing “T” while in the User lookup window will advance the list to the users that start with “T”.
• When a lookup window is displayed, typing one or more characters will highlight the next record matching the characters entered.
• Incremental search works with whichever column the list is sorted by.
• Expanded the types of fields that incremental search will work with to include number and money fields.

 

New Print from Preview Window Default  (All Systems)

• Changed the print default in the Print from Preview Window to All Pages. Previously, the default was the Current page.

 

New Zoom Function for Preview Windows  (All Systems)

• Added enhanced zoom functionality to Preview Windows using the keyboard and the scroll function of your mouse. The following methods can be used to instantly control how large or small a report appears in the Preview window.
• To enlarge the display in 5 percent increments
• Press the Ctrl key while scrolling up
• Press Ctrl + “=”
• Press Ctrl + “+”  (on the number keypad)
• To reduce the display by 5 percent increments
• Press the Ctrl key while scrolling down
• Press Ctrl + “–” 
• To toggle between 100% and Fit to Window
• Press Ctrl + “Double-click mouse wheel”
• Press Ctrl + “0” (zero)
• Press Ctrl + Insert

 

New Active User List Features  (All Systems)

• Added a new column for Computer Name that displays the name of the computer at which each active user is logged in.
• Added new Detail and Summary options.
• The Detail option displays task information for each active user.
• The Summary option displays a single occurrence for each active user.
• Accessing the daily, weekly or monthly calendar or Task List in PracticeMaster will simply be displayed as “Calendar” for the Current Activity.

 

New Popup Calculator  (All Systems)

• A new popup calculator allows you to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all numeric fields of all software (e.g., Rate, Amount, Units, and Hour fields).
• Pressing “+” in a number entry field displays a calculator tape that expands as you add numbers.
• Pressing “-” in a number entry field displays a calculator tape that expands as you subtract numbers.
• Pressing “-” at the beginning of the number will make the number negative.
• Pressing “*” in a number entry field displays a calculator tape that expands as you multiply numbers.
• Pressing “/” in a number entry field displays a calculator tape that expands as you divide numbers.
• Pressing “=” on the calculator tape will display the current total.
• Pressing “Enter” or clicking out of the calculator tape will close the tape and display the total in the field.
• Pressing “Esc” will close the calculator tape and will not update the total in the field.

 

New Date Field Conventions  (All Systems)

• Improved date entry allows you to enter a date without specifying the year.
• Entering one or two digits when the date field is highlighted or empty will display the entered day with the current month and year.
• Dates can now also be entered in MMDD, MM/DD, MM-DD, MM DD, and DD format to simplify data entry.
• Pressing T (Today) enters the system date (in addition to D).
• Once a date has been entered, clicking a segment of the date will highlight that segment.
• Pressing + increments the day of the month when the entire date field is selected. It will increment the selected segment when only part of the date field is selected.
• Pressing - decrements the day of the month when the entire date field is selected. It will decrement the selected segment when only part of the date field is selected.
• Pressing PgUp increments the month, whereas pressing PgDn decrements the month.
• Pressing the Up-Arrow increments the day of the month, whereas pressing the Down-Arrow decrements the day of the month.

 

New Startup Behavior  (All Systems)

• Attempting to start a second instance of the same program will bring the original instance to the foreground.

 

Installation Changes  (All Systems)

• New installation process installs program files and help files on each workstation, thus providing improved loading time.
• Whenever the program files are updated on the server (usually by downloading updated programs via the Web), the program files on workstations will automatically be updated upon startup.

 

Support Log  (All Systems)

• Modified the Support Log to separate out items that affect All Programs, such as Back Up Data Files and Restore Data Files. These items will print on a separate page.

 

New Error Reporting Capabilities

• Created user friendly error messaging for troubleshooting purposes.
• Added the ability to submit error reports for analysis purposes, thereby providing overall increased performance and reliability.
• You can configure the software to send error reports automatically. Alternatively, you can send error reports on an individual basis or not at all. Reports are submitted anonymously and are used solely for quality assurance purposes.

 

 

Tabs3 Changes

Tabs3 Credit Card Authorization  

• Added the ability to authorize credit card payments in Tabs3.
• Tabs3 is working with First National Merchant Solutions® (FNMS), a subsidiary of First National Bank of Omaha, to provide merchant accounts for use in Tabs3. First National Merchant Solutions is a top 10 payment processor with more than 50 years of experience providing first-rate credit card service and solutions to businesses across the nation. Tabs3 credit card payment integration works directly with PayFuse, the Internet payment processing solution provided by FNMS.
• You can use more than one merchant account. Tabs3 lets you assign merchant accounts to the firm, separate locations, and individual timekeepers or any combination thereof.
• The types of credit cards accepted can be defined for each merchant account and include Visa®, MasterCard®, Discover®, American Express®, and Diners Club®.
• For ease of use, Tabs3 credit card authorization supports integration with Magtek® Magstripe Mini Swipe (USB) credit card readers. Using a card reader may also reduce the fees for a credit card transaction.
• Tabs3 encrypts and transmits cardholder data to PayFuse; however, Tabs3 does not store sensitive cardholder information.
• Added the ability to print a Tabs3 Credit Card Payment Receipt when a credit card payment is authorized as well as at a later time.
• Added a new Credit Card Authorization List that prints a list of credit card transactions authorized via Tabs3 for a specified time period. You can include charges, voids, credits, or any combination thereof. This report can be used to balance with your Settlement Reports on the PayFuse Web site.
• The ability to authorize Credit Card transactions is provided with Tabs3 at no charge, but requires a merchant account with FNMS that does require processing fees. For more information visit www.Tabs3.com/cci.

New Fee Recap Option

• Added a new Fee Recap Option for statements called Transaction Rate. This option will print a line item for each separate billing rate by transaction by timekeeper. You can find this option in the Statement Templates program on the Fee Format tab.

Shared Rate Tables Now Inherit Effective Date for New Rates  (T3, PM, AP, T3 Remote)

• When a Fee or Cost Rate Table is defined in Tabs3, the Effective Date of New Rate field will be shared with all dependent clients. Therefore, changes are only required for the effective date on the custom rate table client.
• When viewing a shared rate table, the effective date will be grayed out for all but the host client.
• Rates for fees or costs entered in Tabs3, PracticeMaster, Accounts Payable, and Tabs3 Remote will now be determined using the effective date on shared rate tables.

 

 

Tabs3 and PracticeMaster Changes

 

Renumber Client

• Significantly reduced the time it takes to renumber clients in Tabs3 and PracticeMaster when integrating with PracticeMaster.
• Client Server Version:  Renumber Client is now covered by Transaction Processing, thereby providing auto-recovery AND the ability to renumber clients while other users are in the software.

 

Increased Size of Phone Number Extension Fields

• Increased the phone number extension fields to 5 digits.

 

Duplicate Client ID Control

• If another user adds a new client or matter using the same Client ID at the same time, you will now be given the opportunity to assign a different Client ID.
• Using the New Client ID lookup, you can see which Client IDs are in use.
• If using a Numeric Key Type, the Next Available Client ID will be pre-entered as follows:
• If adding a new base client (e.g., 3.00), the New Client ID displayed will be the next available Client ID (e.g., 4.00).
• If adding a new matter using Numeric or Mixed Key Type, (e.g., 4.08 or Ann4.08), the New Client ID displayed will be the next available matter (e.g., 4.09 or Ann4.09).

 

New Field Conflict Resolution

• Added field conflict resolution. When two users edit the same record, a field conflict window will be displayed when the second user saves the record, thus allowing the second user to specify which field changes should be saved.
• Available in all PracticeMaster Editor windows and the Tabs3 Client, Fee, Cost, Payment, and Client Funds data entry windows.

 

Expanded Task Code Format for Taskbill

• Task Codes and Activity Codes can now have five characters consisting of two alpha characters and three numeric characters (e.g., PA100). Previously only four characters were allowed (e.g., L200).
• Task Code Sets can now have two alpha characters instead of one alpha character, thereby allowing over 600 different sets.
• Fee and Cost data entry now allows new five-character task codes.

 

 

PracticeMaster Changes

 

New eNote Feature  

• Added a new eNote intra-office messaging system for Client Server Version PracticeMaster Premier users. eNotes blend the best features of e-mail and instant messaging to provide a remarkably easy to use tool that streamlines communications, facilitates workflow between users, retains records for accountability purposes, and enhances your firm’s current case management procedures.
• A powerful eNotify feature lets you include a link from any PracticeMaster record to an eNote. For example, let’s say you add a new client and you want to notify the attorney. While in the client record, click the eNotify icon to begin a new eNote, which will automatically include a link to the client record. When the attorney receives the eNote, clicking the link will instantly display the record.
• You can quickly create Journal, Calendar, and Fee records using sent or received eNotes.
• eNote provides an easy way to notify users of administrative requests, such as asking users to log out for exclusive functions.
• eNote provides an audit trail of electronic communications that need to be tracked for case management and workflow purposes in a powerful eNote List window.
• eNotes do not replace e-mail; however, they are great for when you can’t wait for someone to notice your e-mail.
• eNotes can be kept or dismissed in an easy to use eNote window.
• Hyperlinks are automatically inserted when specifying Web sites, file names, and e-mail addresses in eNotes.
• A Preferences window enables each user to configure individual preferences for eNotes.
• An eNote icon is shown in the System tray providing easily accessed options for sending an eNote, viewing an eNote, and changing your status.
• Three status options enable you to notify others that you are: Online, Away, or Busy (Do Not Disturb).
• Added Access Profile rights for enabling, sending, replying, and more!
• The eNote List shows all eNotes for your User ID and can be filtered according to All, Unread, Received, or Sent.
• For immediate notification, mark an eNote as urgent to display it on top of the recipient’s current work.
• Managers can review all eNotes.

 

Multiple User/Group Lookup Window

• Up to 100 users and groups can be assigned to a single calendar entry (previously there was a limit of 6).
• Added an All Users check box allowing you to easily select all users.
• Added a Group Members column that displays the users in a group.

• Added incremental search capabilities; typing one or more characters will highlight the next record matching the characters entered.
• The size and position of the window are now saved for subsequent sessions.

 

Outlook Calendar Integration Now Includes Location Field

• The PracticeMaster Location field in the Calendar file is now available to integrate with the Outlook Location field.

 

New “Mark Complete” Button for PracticeMaster Active Alarms

• Added a new Mark Complete button to the popup alarm window for calendar tasks.
• The Mark Complete button provides the ability to clear the alarm and automatically populate the Date Completed field with the current system date, thereby removing it from the Task List.

 

New Mark as Completed Menu Option for Tasks

• Added a new Mark as Completed menu option to the Action menu for calendar tasks on the Quick Clicks pane, the menu bar, and the right-click menu.

 

Increased Limits

• Increased the maximum number of fields allowed in a data entry file from 300 fields to 350 fields.
• Increased the History Tracking File size limit from 999 megabytes to 2000 megabytes.
• Increased the size of the e-mail address field that is used to prefill e-mail addresses for client and related party fields from 31 characters to 50 characters when creating a journal record from an e-mail that was sent to you using PracticeMaster E-Mail.

 

Conflict of Interest

• Added the ability to print a criteria page that lists the options specified for Conflict of Interest Searches.

 

E-mail Preferences

• Added an option in E-mail Preferences to open Journal Records created from E-mail directly to a detailed view, thus providing immediate access to the Comments field.
  
  

System Configuration Changes

User Configuration

• Added a new Confirm Password field.
• Passwords are now masked in all areas of the software and cannot be seen.

User List

• Passwords can no longer be included on the User List.

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