What’s New in PracticeMaster Version 10

Note:  When Version 10.6 of STI’s software was released, the product name “Case Master” was changed to “PracticeMaster”.

Highlights

• PracticeMaster Version 10 is a true 32-Bit Multiple Document Interface (MDI) program that allows multiple program windows within PracticeMaster to be open at the same time.
• PracticeMaster is also available in a Client Server Version.
• Data files are ODBC capable (Open Database Connectivity).
• Added the ability to save any printed output to an HTML file. This file can be attached to an e-mail thereby allowing the recipients to easily view the information using their Internet browser software.
• New STI developed document assembly engine works directly with Microsoft Word (no HotDocs purchase required).
• A new data entry Form Designer allows customized data entry windows.
• WORLDOX and PaperPort Scanner integration.
• QuickBooks integration.
• New multimedia tutorial.
• PracticeMaster Palm Application software provides two-way synchronization capabilities between PracticeMaster and handheld computers such as Palm Inc.’s Palm(tm) handhelds or the Handspring Visor.
• Built in Report Writer includes a wizard to simplify the creation of reports.
• New Client Manager shows basic client information and allows you to customize and launch up to 10 of the most commonly used programs from the same window. With the click of a button you can pop up the TABS III Client Manager allowing you to view current accounts receivable and work-in-process totals as well as quickly drill down to the detail records.
• Greatly improved security includes menu level security and secure client designations.
• True drill-down editing when displaying reports. Click a yellow highlighted area of a report and an editor window with that record is automatically opened allowing you to edit the information.
• New Contact Search quickly finds contact information from alpha and memo fields specified in File Maintenance.
• Allows for integration with MAPI compliant e-mail applications.
• New Backup program that can make a temporary backup of the data files. (There is also a restore option.)
• PracticeMaster utilizes a graphical Task Folder user interface. The following Task Folders are customizable: Main, Files, and Reports. The PracticeMaster Task Bar reflects the icons in the Main Task Folder.
• New Tip of the Day feature.
• Extensive context sensitive shortcut menus can be accessed by right-clicking your mouse.
• New formatting features such as bold, italic, and underline can be used in Memo fields.
• PracticeMaster supports task based billing data entry features.
• Calendar records can be integrated with other systems such as Palm Desktop, Microsoft Outlook, and Novell GroupWise.
• Two-way integration with Microsoft Outlook calendar entries.
• Clients and Related Parties can be exported to the Palm Desktop Address List.
• Added the ability to Check Out Briefcase data for use at a remote location. Data can be updated at the remote location and then synchronized with the main data files. This feature requires PracticeMaster Briefcase which is provided with PracticeMaster.
• Seamless bi-directional synchronization with TABS III.
• On-screen calendar by day, multi-day, week or month can be customized by each user.
• Graphical calendar reports.
• Enhanced calendar plan engine with secondary rules feature.
• Define holidays for any venue.
• Recurring Dates feature simplifies the creation of repetitive calendar records.
• New active alarms provide pop-up reminders.
• Ability to quickly convert calendar and journal records to fees.
• Conflict of Interest searching has been improved and is incredibly fast.
• New Text Macros speed up data entry by automatically replacing the macro with user-defined words or phrases.
• New Web Browser lets you access the Internet directly from PracticeMaster.
• New QuickDate Calculator feature.
• Integration with iManage document management software.

General

• Version 10 requires Windows 95 or greater or Windows NT 4 or greater. Version 10 will not run under Windows 3.1, Windows 32S or Windows NT 3.5.1.
• New Tip of the Day feature provides informational topics regarding PracticeMaster. The topics are stored in a text file called PMTIP.TXT. This file can be edited which allows users to add their own tips.
• Greatly improved security. Access profiles are used for specifying access rights to the various functions within PracticeMaster. Clients can be designated as secure clients. Users can be assigned to timekeepers so the user can only access those timekeepers’ clients and transactions.
• Separate access rights can be assigned for adding, changing, deleting, and browsing separate files.
• Added Close All and Minimize All menu options to the Window menu to close or minimize all open windows with the exception of the Task Folders window.
• Added a Fast Access Mode that allows a user to access the data files using a special technique that reduces the amount of time it takes to perform disk-intensive functions.
• Client numbers can be numeric, alpha or alpha-numeric (mixed). This allows automatic bi-directional integration with TABS III and TAS.
• Added a toolbar button and Ctrl+T keystroke to display the Task Folders.
• Sophisticated spell checking with many advanced features such as the ability to check for duplicate words and irregular capitalization. Suggestions for alternative words can be listed when an unknown word is encountered. Words with numbers or all capital letters can be ignored. Special dictionaries can be created that allow automatic or conditional correction of misspelled words. Dictionaries can also be created that include lists of words to be ignored as well as lists of words to automatically consider misspelled. Dictionary files from other software packages can be added to user dictionaries.
• The Status bar displays descriptions of menu selections and graphical buttons when the mouse pointer is positioned over a menu selection or button.
• A client Lookup window allows you to toggle between descending or ascending order for the index selected.
• An incremental search feature allows for faster access and retrieval of a specific client.
• Added Auto Dialer capabilities to automatically dial a phone number with a click of the mouse.
• Added the ability to assign a location to each client.
• Expanded the allowable date range to 01/01/0100 through 12/31/9999.
• Added the ability to use the period key to increment a date and the comma key to decrement a date by one day.

STI System Configuration

• Users, groups, access rights and firm information defined in STI System Configuration are now also used by STI’s PracticeMaster practice management software.
• Access profiles replace the Group Configuration program from Version 9. Groups are a new feature that is now used in PracticeMaster for calendaring, scheduling and e-mail purposes.
• Added a log file named RESET.LOG that tracks information regarding all resets of STI software.
• An unlimited number of access profiles can be defined. Previously, there was a limit of 50 profiles.
• Added an E-mail Address field to User Configuration.
• STI software now saves various default settings in the user profiles (such as the “Do not display again” check box in various message boxes). These settings can be reset to their default values by using the Reset Profile button.
• User IDs can now include characters other than letters and numbers.
• Added the following fields to the User Configuration program for PracticeMaster users:
  Initials - Used for the calendar and document assembly purposes.
  Logon User - Used to indicate whether the user will be logging into the software. Resources such as conference rooms and video equipment can be defined as non-logon users for scheduling purposes.
  Calendar Rights - Allows users to designate which other users have rights to browse and/or edit their public and private calendar entries.
  Integrate with GroupWise Calendar - Used for exporting calendar entries to Novell’s GroupWise calendar.
  Integrate with Outlook Calendar - Used to enable integration with Microsoft Outlook. PracticeMaster exports calendar entries to Microsoft Outlook. Additionally, a Synchronization process implemented with the release of Version 10.6 provides two-way integration with Outlook calendar entries.
  Exchange User - This field allows a PracticeMaster user to add, change or delete calendar records for other PracticeMaster users and have those calendar records integrate with Outlook when using Microsoft’s Exchange Server. This feature was added with the release of Version 10.5.
  Outlook Configure - This button opens a window that is used to configure Outlook integration. The release of Version 10.6 implemented the two-way integration with Outlook calendar entries. When using Microsoft’s Exchange Server, calendar entries for other Outlook users can be synchronized to PracticeMaster.
• An unlimited number of users can be defined. Previously there was a limit of 999.
• Added a County field to Firm Information and a spelled out State field for integration with PracticeMaster.
• Added a Reindex Files program in STI System Configuration that allows reindexing of the user file and access profile files in the event these files are corrupted.

Client Server Version

• PracticeMaster is now available in a Client Sever Version. STI Server minimizes the amount of information flowing back and forth on a network thereby greatly optimizing performance. Improvement in performance is particularly apparent in reporting functions and other disk intensive tasks.
• Client Server versions are available for PracticeMaster, TABS III, Accounts Payable System (APS), Trust Accounting System (TAS), General Ledger System (GLS) and TABS III Report Writer. All integrated STI systems must be Client Server versions.
• If using the Client Server Version, STI Server is required. STI Server must be installed on a computer running Windows NT4/2000 Server, NT4/2000 Workstation, or Windows XP Professional with at least a Pentium 133 CPU. STI Server will also run as an NLM on a Novell Server, Version 4.2 or later, using TCP/IP protocol. Workstations can use Windows 95 or greater. The STI Server takes very little time to install and is quite simple to use.

Form Designer

• A Form Designer program is used to create form layouts. Form layouts are used to determine the layout of the data entry screens. Form Layouts have multiple tabs or pages.
• The Form Designer uses a graphical user interface complete with drag-and-drop capabilities.

Data Entry / Editor Window

• Customizable screen layouts are created using the Form Designer.
• A new Editor window is used by all data entry programs in PracticeMaster to add, change and delete records in a file. The contents of each tab can be customized by using the Form Designer. The first tab of every Editor window is the List tab. The List tab acts as a lookup window allowing you to select which record you want to work with. Once a record is selected, you can select any of the other tabs to view information regarding that record.
• The List tab of the Editor window lets you select Indexes and Column Layouts “on-the-fly” thereby determining how the information is listed both horizontally and vertically. (An Index determines the order of fields whereas a Column Layout determines the horizontal order of the fields are shown in the List tab.)
• The Editor window includes a Filter button allowing you to filter the records by Area of Practice, by using full text search or by using a Query/Expression Editor to screen and find records.
• The Client Editor window can be configured to display or exclude the following pages (i.e., tabs): Fee, Cost, Document Management, Calendar, Client Related, Journal, Client Notes, E-Mail, Phone, Timer, Research, and TABS III Billing Notes.
• Rich text attributes such as Bold, Italic and Underline can be applied to memo fields.
• Memo and Alpha fields can be configured for automatic spell checking.
• Text Macros can be used in memo fields to replace macros with associated text.
• Fee and Cost data entry windows are now similar to TABS III for easy integration.
• Fee and Cost data entry programs support task based billing.
• Added a Rate field to the Fee File. If integrating with TABS III, leave this field blank and the default rate from TABS III will be used when the fee record is transferred to TABS III. If not integrating with TABS III, rate #1 from the timekeeper file will be used as the default rate.
• Icons for special actions, reports and documents are included on the Editor window toolbar.
• Added a Batch Replicate function that lets you replicate multiple records in an Area of Practice file from one client to another client in the same Area of Practice.

Back Up Data Files and Restore Data Files

• Added the ability to make a temporary backup from within the software. The backup file is created in a “BACKUP” subdirectory below the program directory. The Restore Data Files program allows you to restore the temporary backup. Only one backup file is maintained. The backup procedure is a temporary backup and is not intended to replace, but rather supplement, existing backup procedures.

Client File

• The Client File allows easy access to all client information. All information regarding a client such as notes, fees, costs, calendar records, documents, Related Party, and Area of Practice information can be accessed from this program.
• The Client and Case File have been consolidated and organized into various tabs to closely resemble the client file in TABS III.
• Additional fields have been added to the Client File to accommodate integration and automatic synchronization with TABS III and TAS.
• Special Category pages that are associated with a specific Area of Practice can be defined in the form layout thereby allowing the Category page to be displayed only when a client from the associated Area of Practice is selected.
• Added the ability to designate a client as a Secure Client, Inactive Client, or Task Based Billing client.
• Combined the Client and Case file. This combined file is now referenced as the Client File.
• Added a Gender field and Date of Birth field to the Client File.

Client Manager

• New Client Manager allows you to customize and launch up to 10 of the most commonly used programs from the same window. Each workstation can customize which 10 programs will be shown on their respective Client Manager window.
• Shows basic client information such as contact, address, phone numbers and e-mail address.
• A single mouse click switches to the TABS III Client Manager allowing you to view current accounts receivable and work-in-process totals as well as quickly drill down to the detail records.
• New phone call, e-mail, notes and fee records can quickly be initiated via the Timer button.
• The Contact Search button allows quick access to the Contact Search feature.

Related Parties

• New built-in Related Party Categories can optionally be used to classify records in the Related Party file. Examples of Related Party Categories might include: Attorney, Judge, Expert Witness, Court Reporter, Paralegal, Investigator, Insurance Adjuster, Doctor, Hospital, Medical Provider, etc.
• Each related party record can be assigned multiple related party categories. However, only one related party category can be designated for a related party field.
• Related Party Categories can be defined “on the fly” when using the data entry program.
• Related Party Usage Reports include drill-down capabilities.
• Related Party information can be added, changed or deleted from any editor window that includes a Related Party lookup field.
• Special Category pages that are associated with a specific Related Party Category can be defined in the form layout thereby allowing that Category page to be displayed only when the selected Related Party is assigned that type.
• Added the ability to rename a Related Party.

Web Browser

• Added a Web Browser feature that opens a Microsoft Internet Explorer window with special PracticeMaster toolbar buttons including:
  • The ability to create a Research record.
  • The ability to save entire Web pages for offline viewing at a later time.
  • The ability to paste actual research contents from the Web page into a Research record.
  • The ability to update URL locations in a research record.
• A Web Browser window can be opened from the Main Task Folder, from the File | Web Browser menu, by pressing Ctrl+W or by clicking the Web field button from a Research record or any other record with a Web field.

Timer

• Added a Timer that makes it extremely easy to track time spent on a user’s specific tasks for various clients.
• Timer Tasks, Phone Tasks and Research Tasks can be tracked in the Timer window.
• Each task can have multiple start and stop times. Once the task is completed, the task is removed from the Timer window. Completed tasks can be sent to billing to create a fee entry for billing purposes.
• Multiple timers can be run at the same time by opening multiple timer windows.
• A Timer Preferences program allows you to configure various Timer options.
• A Timer can automatically be started upon the creation of a Phone task, Time task, or Research task. You can configure the timer to automatically open an Editor window for the task.
• A Visual Timer Display window shows all timer records in a visual grid allowing you to see where overlapping timer records appear as well as gaps for undocumented time.

Process Timer Records

• This program converts timer records (i.e., time tasks, phone tasks and research tasks) to fee records. Multiple timer records can be combined and converted to a single fee record or each timer record can be converted to a separate fee record.
• A Minimum Time and Minimum Time Increment can be defined.

Journal File

• A new system file called the Journal File is used to store Client Notes records, Phone Task records, Timer Task records, Research Task records and E-mail records.
• Added the ability to convert a journal record to a fee record by right-clicking a journal record and selecting the Convert to Fee menu option from the Action menu.

Client Notes

• Client Notes are now stored as individual client note records in the Journal File.
• Client Notes can be assigned to a specific User ID and Related Party.
• Client Notes entered in TABS III can be viewed and accessed via PracticeMaster. These Client Notes are categorized as having a Billing designation. (Client Notes entered into PracticeMaster do not go over to TABS III.)

Printing

• The Print Preview window allows you to search the document forward or backward for user specified text.

Send & Read E-Mail

• Added a new messaging program that includes a direct link designed to work with Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI) compliant e-mail programs. Almost all major Windows e-mail systems, such as Microsoft Exchange, Outlook, Microsoft Mail, GroupWise, ccMail, etc. are MAPI compliant. PracticeMaster will automatically detect the presence of your e-mail application that is installed and activate the link to this e-mail application to send and receive messages.
• E-mail messages sent and received can be copied to Client Notes in PracticeMaster. A client and related party can be linked to each e-mail message. Attachments can be viewed or saved.
• Specify whether or not to include messages that have been read.

Calendar Editor and Display Calendar

• New graphical Daily, Weekly, and Monthly Calendar Display programs. The Calendar programs allow users to easily see at a glance events scheduled for a specific user, multiple users, or groups of users and facilitate easy scheduling.
• Calendar records are now classified as Events or Tasks. (Case Master Version 2.2 classified entries as Memos, Reminders, ToDos, Appointments and Blank.)
• The Calendar programs incorporate an Event Calendar and Task List.
• An All-Day Activities area shows all-day events and holidays and optionally includes tasks and reminders.
• Calendar records can be designated as public or private.
• Ability to assign a priority to tasks. The Task List sorts tasks by user ID, completed date, due date, and then by priority.
• Calendar records can be displayed using the default colors specified in the user ID record in STI System Configuration, the color specified for the Calendar Code (i.e., type of entry), or the color specified in Calendar Properties. You can specify the color and background color of calendar records.
• Alarms and reminders can be assigned to calendar event records and calendar task records with a time. The alarms and reminders will appear on the Daily Report or notify the user 1, 5, 10, 15, 30, 45 minutes or 1, 2, 4 or 8 hours before the event. Alarms can be “snoozed” by the user.
• A new system file called the Calendar Code File is used to store calendar-related activities instead of the Transaction Code File. This makes it easy to distinguish calendar activities from fee and expense activities.
• Calendar records can be assigned to a Related Party.
• Each calendar record can be assigned to a specific User ID, multiple User ID’s or one or more groups of users. Groups can be created “on-the-fly”.
• Calendar records can be added, edited, or deleted in the Calendar program.
• Calendar records for multiple users can be linked thereby allowing any changes or deletions to apply to all linked records.
• When viewing the Calendar for multiple users, calendar records linked to multiple users/groups can be displayed as a single group record instead of multiple individual records.
• Advanced filtering capabilities let you display calendar records with specified text or an expression.
• Calendar entries can be moved by dragging, or copied by holding the Ctrl key and dragging. Drag and Drop capabilities can be disabled in Calendar Properties or disabled at the calendar code level.
• Calendar records now have two description fields: 1) a 128-character alpha field called Description is used for a short description that is displayed on the calendar; and 2) an unlimited memo field called Comments is used for additional detail.
• The Case Summary field has been eliminated from the file definition. All Calendar records will now print on the Client Summary Report.

Active Alarms

• A new program lets you add Quick Alarms and Record Alarms to remind you of upcoming events or tasks. A Quick Alarm is created “on-the-fly” for the current day only whereas a Record Alarm can be designated to occur at a specific time on any day. These alarms will be activated when the computer time matches the alarm time. An Alarm Notification window will be displayed with the description and the original alarm date and time. You can clear the alarm or snooze the alarm. If the alarm is a Record Alarm, you can edit the associated calendar record.
• If the computer has a sound card, the sound assigned to PracticeMaster alarms will be played.

Calendar Plan Templates

• Calendar Plans are now referred to as Calendar Plan Templates.
• A Calendar Plan now refers to the group of calendar records that are created as a result of processing a Calendar Plan Template.
• Secondary items can calculate a date based on a date other than the primary key date. For example, an Earlier/Later adjustment can be used to determine if the primary or secondary date should be used.
• Added the ability for calendar items to be adjusted by Mail Offsets of days, mail days, weeks, months, or years.
• Added the ability to create Repetitive Plan Templates which can be processed to create repetitive calendar records. They are especially useful for creating calendar records that occur on a regular basis, such as making a weekly backup, meetings that occur on a regular basis, etc.
• Holiday schedules can be assigned to a Calendar Plan Template and are used to assist in determining what date the calendar entry will fall on.
• Each field in the Calendar File can be edited prior to processing the template as well as while processing a template.
• A View Associated Plans program allows you to view and edit the Calendar Plans that were created as a result of processing a Calendar Plan Template.
• Calendar Plan Templates can include another predefined Calendar Plan Template.
• A Print Template program allows you to display, print, or save to a file the contents of a Calendar Plan Template.

View Calendar Plans

• The View Calendar Plans program allows you to view, edit, or delete Calendar Plans that were created as a result of processing Calendar Plan Templates.
• Calendar records can be viewed in a Logical or Date format. Calendar records in Logical order display a tree structure outlining the relationship between each calendar record. Calendar records in Date order display a time line for the calendar records starting with the earliest date and ending with the latest date.
• A Print Plan program allows you to display, print, or save to a file the calendar records that were created as a result of processing a Calendar Plan Template.

Recurring Dates

• The recurring dates feature lets you easily create multiple calendar records with the same information for different dates. This feature is quite useful for creating dates for repetitive tasks such as client reviews, client billing deadlines (for bills, reports, notifications), backups, meetings, filing deadlines, etc.
• Includes the ability to specify a beginning and ending date OR the number of occurrences.
• Includes the ability to specify daily, weekly, semi-monthly, monthly, or yearly frequencies with various options. The following are just a few examples of how recurring dates can be applied. As examples, you can create recurring dates for an event that occurs the third Thursday of every month; you can create recurring dates for the 15th and last day of each month; you can create recurring dates for the 2nd Friday of every other month; you can create recurring dates for a specific day of every year, etc.
• Each batch of recurring dates can be optionally linked together in a series. If one calendar record in the series is changed or deleted, you will be given the option to specify whether you want all calendar records or just the future calendar records in that series to also be changed or deleted.

QuickDate Calculator

• Added a new QuickDate Calculator feature that allows you to calculate a past or future date based on a specified date. These settings can optionally be saved as QuickDates and then used for subsequent date adjustments. Final Adjustments can be made to a QuickDate allowing you to adjust a date to a previous, next or closest workday if it lands on a holiday or weekend as well as adjust for mail days. The QuickDate Calculator feature replaces Date Math.
• The QuickDate Calculator can be accessed by pressing the “Q” key or right-clicking in any date field. Also, a QuickDate Calculator button was added to the standard date selection window allowing easy access to the QuickDate Calculator.
• QuickDates can be categorized into folders allowing you to easily locate a QuickDate.
• Saved QuickDates can be accessed in all STI programs.

Holidays by Venue

• A new program is used to define sets of holidays associated with a venue. The venue can then be assigned to Calendar Plan Templates. When a template is processed, you can specify that calendar records cannot fall on the holidays designated for the venue. For example, you may create venues for various courts such as a Federal venue, a District venue, various State venues, etc.
• PracticeMaster contains one predefined venue called Standard Holidays. The holidays for the Standard Venue are perpetual and cannot be changed. Any holidays defined for other venues will need to be defined for each year.
• An unlimited number of holiday schedules can be added or defined.
• A Copy Venue program allows an existing set of holidays to be used as the basis for a new venue.
• A Merge Venue program allows you to merge the selected venue’s set of holidays with an existing predefined venue.
• A Delete Venue program can be used to delete a selected venue.
• The program allows multiple methods of marking or unmarking a highlighted date as a holiday including: pressing the space bar; right-clicking; or clicking the Mark/Unmark button.
• Descriptions can be entered for each holiday.

Calendar Properties

• The Calendar Properties program allows each user to configure what information will be shown in the Calendar programs and how it will be displayed.
• Includes the ability to specify the fields from the Calendar file to be displayed on the Daily Calendar.
• Includes the ability to customize fonts for the Daily Calendar including the fonts for the Days of the Week, Event Description, and Time. You can also configure different fonts for the Event Description for the Weekly and Monthly Calendars.
• Includes the ability to specify the user’s daily work hours and time interval.
• Includes the ability to specify the color of the events displayed on the Calendars.
• Includes the ability to specify the number of minutes for refreshing the Calendar display.
• Includes the ability to select a holiday schedule to be used when displaying the calendar.
• Includes the ability to display the ScreenTips for partially hidden events as well as show am/pm for the event times.
• Includes the ability to specify which tasks are to be included in the Task List, as well as the column layout and sorting of the tasks.
• Optionally exclude weekends from the Weekly Calendar. If weekends are included, optionally compress them.
• Includes the ability to optionally bold dates with activity in the Date Selector area. Disabling this feature eliminates the processing time required to bold the dates for systems with large data sets.
• Includes the ability to optionally combine a multi-user record into one group record.

Graphical Calendar Report

• Added the ability to print graphical calendar-like reports by day, week, or month and optionally include them. You can print this report by using the Print button in the Calendar or from the Reports menu.
• Includes the ability to specify a beginning and ending time range for the Daily Report as well as specify the time increment (i.e., every 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, or 60 minutes).
• Includes the ability to specify fonts for headings and events (including proportional fonts).
• Includes the ability to run a report with only your calendar records or a group’s calendar records.
• Advanced filtering capabilities are available when using the Print button in the Calendar.

Calendar Integration with Microsoft Outlook

• Integration can be configured for One-Way or Two-Way Integration with Microsoft Outlook. One-Way Integration consists of PracticeMaster automatically writing calendar records to Outlook when they are saved in PracticeMaster. Two-Way Integration consists of One-Way Integration plus the addition of a full two-way Synchronization program that is periodically run in PracticeMaster. You can synchronize for all calendar entries, a date range, for specified users, tasks/events/both. When synchronizing tasks, you can exclude completed tasks and or tasks with no due date. You can configure synchronization so that PracticeMaster entries are not deleted.
• When using Microsoft Exchange Server, integration capabilities are expanded such that you can synchronize other users’ Outlook calendar records to PracticeMaster and vice versa at the same time.

Calendar Integration with Novell GroupWise

• Integration can be configured to send new, changed, and deleted calendar entries for the current user from PracticeMaster to Novell GroupWise.
• This integration is automatic and is one-way only. (Calendar entries added or changed in GroupWise are not sent to PracticeMaster.)

Convert Calendar and Journal Records to Fee Records

• Added the ability to convert a calendar record or journal record  to a fee record by right-clicking a calendar record or journal record and selecting the Convert to Fee menu option from the Action menu.

PracticeMaster Palm Application

• Includes STI’s new PracticeMaster Palm Application software which provides two-way synchronization capabilities between PracticeMaster and handheld computers such as Palm Inc.’s Palm(tm) handhelds or the Handspring Visor. This software is provided with PracticeMaster at no additional charge.
• Ability to add, change and browse calendar information for your User ID.
• Ability to browse Calendar information for all users or users associated with a specific client.
• Ability to add and browse Related Party information.
• Ability to browse Client, Timekeeper, Calendar Code and Category Information.

Palm Desktop Handheld Integration

• Added the ability to export a user’s calendar records for specified clients and dates to the Palm Desktop. Event records are exported to a Date Book Path. Task records are exported to a To Do List Path.
• Added the ability to export client and related party information to the Palm Desktop Address List.
• Once exported, the information will then be synced to the Handheld during the next HotSync.

QuickBooks Integration

• Added the ability for PracticeMaster to integrate with Intuit’s QuickBooks accounting software. PracticeMaster supports two types of integration with QuickBooks:
  • IIF - IIF Integration is the integration that was introduced in Version 10.5. This integration allows posting detailed journal entries to a QuickBooks import file whenever a cost transaction is added to PracticeMaster. This file is then periodically used by QuickBooks to import the journal entry information from PracticeMaster into QuickBooks.
  • QBXML - QBXML integration is the new method of QuickBooks integration that was introduced in Version 10.6. The QBXML format provides a dynamic method of integration that supports two-way integration for clients, fee and costs as well as one-way automatic integration for journal entries.

Document Viewer/Launcher

• Added a new field type called “File” that can be used to launch and view a document file. Clicking the button shown next to these fields while in an Editor window will automatically open the file in its native application. The application that is opened uses the Windows registered file extensions.

Document Management

• The Document History File is now called the Document Management File.
• Changed the Coded Document and Assembled Document fields to use the new “File” field type.
• Added the ability to assign responsibility to a group or user.

WORLDOX Integration

• The Client Name and Client Description can be exported to WORLDOX client tables. Whenever a client is added or changed in PracticeMaster, the WORLDOX client tables are updated.
• After assembling a document using PracticeMaster’s Word Document Assembly, a WORLDOX profile is displayed. PracticeMaster provides the Client ID, Case ID, Client Name, Client Description, and author information for the WORLDOX profile. Once the profile is saved, control is passed back to PracticeMaster and a document management window is displayed using the information from the WORLDOX profile.
• After assembling a document using the HotDocs Document Assembly feature, a WORLDOX Edit Profile window will be displayed after saving the document in WordPerfect.
• When integrating with WORLDOX, you can optionally include the contents of all documents in a PracticeMaster Conflict of Interest Search.
• Added a section to the WORLDOX’s wduser.ini file that allows documents to be categorized in the favorites file listing. Documents will appear in the PracticeMaster category in the favorites file list.

iManage Integration

• Word Document Assembly triggers an iManage document profile when the Word document is saved.
• When integrating with iManage, you can optionally search the contents of iManage documents in a PracticeMaster Conflict of Interest Search. You can drill down to the document or iManage document profile directly from the Conflict of Interest report.
• You can access iManage’s powerful Search feature from PracticeMaster allowing you to search indexed documents from multiple iManage databases as well as document profiles. An Import feature makes it easy to create PracticeMaster document management records from iManage document profiles.
• An Action menu option in the client file allows you to easily view a list of iManage documents for a specific client and drill down to the document or iManage document profile from the list.

PaperPort Integration

• Scanned documents dragged onto the PracticeMaster icon in Visioneer’s PaperPort software will automatically bring up a PracticeMaster document management record with the file name and location automatically filled in.

HotDocs Document Assembly

• Requires HotDocs Version 5.2 or greater.
• Improved Cross Reference Editor window incorporates a graphical user interface with a toolbar.
• Added the ability to reorder documents in the Document Selection area. Also added the ability to use leading spaces for document descriptions. These enhancements give you the ability to organize your document library lists.
• Streamlined variable grouping. The toolbar includes a Reorder List button. This button groups the mapped PracticeMaster File Name fields by the File Name/Default Value that has been selected. For example, all variables mapped to the CMCLIENT file will be grouped together. During document assembly, when all File Name fields are grouped, PracticeMaster will check for all mapped variables in the same data file with one pass.
• Added buttons to the toolbar for adding fee, expense, calendar and document management ticklers.
• Added the ability to code the Description and Responsible fields for the document management tickler.
• Added the ability to code the Description or use a Calendar Code for the calendar tickler.
• Added a button to the toolbar to merge an existing cross reference.
• Assembly of a document can be performed for multiple clients at the same time. (Note: Since both Word and WordPerfect place a limitation on the number of documents that can be opened at once, we recommend that you close all of the documents already open in your word processor and verify that all clients have been processed after assembly is done.)
• The new Initials field from the user file can be mapped to HotDocs variables.
• Multiple records can no longer be added to an empty file.
• PracticeMaster Version 10 will automatically detect the version of HotDocs and prompt for the path of the HotDocs application. This eliminates the need to copy and rename the HD3.DLL file when updates are installed.

Microsoft Word Document Assembly

• Added a new document assembly engine for Microsoft Word that uses Microsoft Visual Basic templates.
• Specially coded document templates in Word can be used to merge information from your PracticeMaster data files to create draft legal documents. If the information required is not in the data files, document assembly will pause allowing you to enter the required information. This information is then saved to the document as well as written to the PracticeMaster data files.
• All document templates that are created for Word document assembly must be based on the master document template provided by STI named CMTEMPLT.DOT. In addition, the STIMAIN.DOT file must be present in order to assemble documents. Both of these files will be shipped with PracticeMaster and installed on the hard drive during the installation of PracticeMaster.
• A specially designed STI Toolbar is used to add variables, conditional logic statements, ticklers, and include files as well as test the assembly while coding documents for Word document assembly.
• Documents can be assembled for multiple clients at the same time.
• You can use the same document for clients regardless of the designated Area of Practice.

Daily Report

• Added a new Daily Report that lets you specify the following criteria:
  • Specify a range of dates
  • Specify one or more users and/or groups (up to 6 users/groups)
  • Specify whether to include or exclude events
  • Specify whether to include or exclude tasks, overdue task and tasks with no due date
  • Specify whether to include or exclude reminders
  • Specify how the entries are categorized
  • Specify whether to append any or all of the following fields to the Description field on the report: Calendar Comments, Client Name, and Client Work Description
• This report can be configured to automatically be displayed the first time PracticeMaster is started each day.

Conflict of Interest Searching

• Conflict of Interest Searching now has fully indexed Conflict of Interest files for incredibly fast searching.
• When displaying results using the Preview option, you can mouse over individual records and with a click of the mouse immediately drill down to the field and individual record where the conflict is located.
• Only fields that are configured for Conflict of Interest Searching via File Maintenance are searched.
• Contains a Configuration option to enable or disable Conflict of Interest Searching. This option determines whether the Conflict of Interest index files will be updated during data entry. Otherwise, Conflict of Interest index files are created when Conflict of Interest Searching is enabled.
• Multiple search criteria can be entered for the search value with a maximum of 128 characters.
• Multiple search values can be included in the same search by enclosing search values within double quotation marks.
• Easy to understand search options include the ability to specify “Must match at least one word” or “Must match all words”.
• Added the ability to select a word order of “Anywhere within a record”, “Any order within the same field (NEAR)” or “Exact order within the same field”.
• When using the “Match partial words” option, you can further specify “Starts with” or “Contains”.
• Added the ability to include or exclude Area of Practice Files as well as various System Files for each search.
• When integrating with WORLDOX, you can optionally include the contents of all documents in the search. A single unified report is displayed. Double-clicking a document record allows you to drill down to the document.

Contact Searching

• New Contact Search quickly finds contact information from the Client and Related Party Files.
• When displaying results using the Preview option, you can mouse over individual records and with a click of the mouse immediately drill down to the field and individual record where the conflict is located.
• Ability to configure which fields you want included in the Contact Search by selecting the Include in Contact Search check box in File Maintenance.

Report Writer

• Includes a Report Manager with its own unique toolbar.
• Includes a Report Wizard that greatly simplifies the report creation process. Reports created using the Report Wizard are simple columnar reports with up to two sort elements. The report can include totals and/or averages. No selection criteria are allowed for these reports.
• Includes a “Prompt for Current Date” check box which defines the current system date.
• Includes drag-and-drop capabilities and right mouse functionality.
• Each sort section now includes footers.
• Added multi-file Area of Practice reporting (e.g., Client Summary). Previously, a report could use only one Area of Practice file.
• New System Values have been added for the firm’s Name, Address Line 3, State, Federal ID, Fax, and Record Number.
• Includes a listing of the available functions which include Numeric Functions, String Functions, Time Functions, and Date Functions.
• Includes a listing of the available operators which include Numeric Operators, String Operators, Relational Operators, and Logical Operators.
• The following new functions have been added:
  Date Functions: BEGMONTH, BEGYEAR, BLANK_DATE, DATENUM, DAY, ENDMONTH, ENDYEAR, ISBLANK_DATE, YEAR;
  Time Functions: BLANK_TIME, HOUR, ISBLANK_TIME, MINUTE, SECOND, TIMENUM;
  String Functions: BOLD$, EXCLUDE$, FWDCLNAM$, ITALIC$, REVCLNAM$, STRIKE$, ULINE$, USERID$, USERNAME$, VERIFID$;
  Numeric Functions: EXISTREC and RNDPENNY.
• The Query feature now includes a wizard which allows you to easily build selection expressions.
• Case Master Version 2.2 System Values for FWDCLNAM$ and REVCLNAM$ are now standard functions.
• Added a MS Word Mail Merge output format in addition to the comma delimited ASCII text and WordPerfect Mail Merge formats.
• Increased the Report Title from 30 to 35 characters.
• Increased the user defined field name from 10 to 20 characters.
• Increased the prompt for the user defined field from 30 to 50 characters.

Client Summary Report

• The Client Summary Report is now created thru the Report Writer program. Previously this report was created using a Text Editor or Word Processor.
• The Client Summary Report can be printed for a single client or a range of clients for different Areas of Practice.
• The Report Writer includes a “Print Client Summary Report” button which allows a “quick print” of client information for all System files and Area of Practice files.
• The Report Writer includes a “Create Client Summary Report” feature which automates the creation of a Client Summary Report with the information for the System Files. It allows users to build their own Area of Practice sections quickly and easily. This report can be customized as desired and used as a basis for other Client Summary Reports.

Usage Reports

• Added powerful Usage Reports that let you quickly see all references in PracticeMaster data files to a specific record in a lookup file. Usage Reports include drill-down capabilities when previewing the report. For example, you can run a Related Party Usage Report for a specific Related Party and quickly see all cross references to that Related Party.

Spell Checking & Dictionary Maintenance

• Incorporates a sophisticated spell checking program which uses multiple dictionaries, one main dictionary, and four user dictionaries.
• You can add words to the user dictionaries as well as delete words from the user dictionaries. You can create additional user dictionaries and import existing dictionaries or word lists.
• Includes the ability to configure what spell checking options you want to use such as ignore capitalized words, ignore all-caps words, ignore words with numbers, ignore words with mixed case, report doubled words, case sensitive, always suggest, phonetic suggestions, typographical suggestions, and suggest split words.

File Maintenance

• Added the ability to define User Defined Lookup Files. A User Defined Lookup file is a file that can be referenced via a field in another file.
• Added the ability to define Common Client Related Files. A Common Client Related File contains records that are associated with different clients. (The Journal File, Document Management File, Fee File and Cost File are examples of Common Client Related Files.)
• New Field Types were added which include the following:
  Client ID: Used to store a link to a client record.
  E-mail: Used to store e-mail addresses and automatically send an e-mail message.
  File: Used to launch the designated file using its native application.
  Lookup: Used to store a link to a User Defined Lookup File.
  Memo: Used to store variable length text.
  Phone: Used to store phone fields and automatically dial a number.
  User: Used to store a link to a user record in the STI System Configuration program.
  Virtual: Used to store a link to another field in another file.
  Web Page: Used to launch the designated file using the default browser.
  Other field types include: Alpha, Boolean (formerly Yes/No), Date, Money (formerly Dollar), Number, Related Party, and Time.
• Added the following Custom Properties for each field:
  Required: Indicates a field must be entered before the record can be saved.
  Spell Check: Automatically spell checks the field when the record is saved.
  Uppercase: Automatically switches the field contents to uppercase letters.
  Track History: Added the ability to track all changes to a field.
  Include in Conflict Search: Added the ability to include or exclude a field from conflict searching.
  Include in Contact Search: Added the ability to include or exclude alpha and memo fields from contact searching.
  Use Drop-Down List: Added the ability to specify values that can be defined for a field. Optionally require a value to be selected from list.
  Use a Default Value: Added the ability to specify a default value. You can specify a fixed value or base the default on a particular field from another file.
  Display as Check Box: Added the ability to display Boolean fields as a check box or a drop-down list.
  Minimum Value and Maximum Value: Added the ability to specify a minimum and maximum value for Money and Number field types.
  Related Party Category: Added the ability to classify related parties and specify a default related party category.
• Added the ability to define “Help Text” for a field which shows up on the status bar when the data entry operator places focus on a field. This text can be used to help remind the operator what should be entered in the field.
• Added the ability to define multiple indexes to determine the order of fields.
• Added the ability to define multiple column layouts which determine the order the fields are shown on the List tab of the Editor window.
• The List tab of the Editor window lets you select Indexes and Column Layouts “on-the-fly” thereby determining how the information is listed both horizontally and vertically.
• The Field ID now allows up to 20 characters (previously it was limited to 10 characters). Field IDs are now mixed case.
• The first character of a File Name no longer must start with a letter.

Import Data

• Added multiple Import File Types which let you easily import data from Time Matters, Amicus, Abacus, Outlook as well as PracticeMaster. Import File Types simplify the mapping process by not listing extraneous fields.

History Tracking Feature

• History Tracking can be used to track all additions, changes, and deletions to specific fields in a file thereby maintaining an audit trail of all activity at the field level.
• History Tracking must be turned on in Customization and a maximum file size must be specified.
• Only fields whose “Track History” option is configured in File Maintenance will have changes tracked.
• History is viewed by right-clicking in the Editor window and then selecting the Action | Display History menu.

PracticeMaster Multimedia Tutorial

• STI has developed a robust multimedia tutorial for PracticeMaster training purposes.  Video clips for more than 40 topics are included with over 150 minutes of material.  This tutorial is ideal for introducing unfamiliar features as well as training new personnel.  The video clips can be accessed via PracticeMaster’s Help menu as well as from the STI CD-ROM Browser.  For convenience, you can even install the tutorial onto a different computer such as a laptop so it can travel with you.  Once installed, you can pick and choose which video clips you want to play. Videos can be played with sound only or with text only thus providing flexibility for those systems that don’t have a sound card installed.
• Added links from online Help topics to related video clips in the multimedia tutorial.

PracticeMaster Briefcase

• A new program called PracticeMaster Briefcase can be used to run a remote installation of PracticeMaster independent of the main data files. This software is designed specifically to allow timekeepers to have client information at their fingertips while working away from the office.
• PracticeMaster Briefcase is included with PracticeMaster at no additional charge
• Once client information is checked out from PracticeMaster, it is then checked into PracticeMaster Briefcase. You can then use PracticeMaster Briefcase to add, change, or delete any information for that client. You can even add new clients in PracticeMaster Briefcase. When desired, the information in PracticeMaster Briefcase can be checked back into the host system.

Check Out Briefcase

• The Check Out Briefcase function can be used to check out client information for use with STI’s PracticeMaster Briefcase software.
• While the Briefcase data is checked out, both the Briefcase data and home office data can be modified. (Certain exclusive functions cannot be run on the home office system when Briefcase data is checked out.)
• Users can check out data for one or more clients. All client information including all System Files, Lookup Files, Common Client Related Files, miscellaneous support files and Area of Practice information will be checked out to the specified path.
• Calendar records can be checked out for additional or all clients so that the timekeeper has access to the entire calendar for the specified time frame.
• Data can be checked out for Read Only purposes. This means that the data will not be edited and therefore will not be required to be checked in by the user.

Check In Briefcase

• The Check In Briefcase function can be used to synchronize Briefcase data with the home office for information that was updated by PracticeMaster Briefcase.
• The Briefcase data is compared to the home office data and uses synchronization rules to determine what should be changed. If changes have been made to the same record in both the Briefcase data and the home office data, the rules for resolution of conflicts are determined by the user.
• Includes the ability to automatically check out the Briefcase data after it has been checked in for synchronization with the home office.
• Includes the ability to clear the Briefcase status for an individual user or all users.

Synchronize PracticeMaster and TABS III/TAS

• Added bi-directional seamless integration and synchronization of PracticeMaster and TABS III for Client, Fee, and Cost integration.
• Integration between PracticeMaster and TABS III is automatic and no longer uses batch processing.
• The Client, Fee, Cost, Timekeeper, Category, and Transaction Code files are mirrored with TABS III.
• The Synchronize PM and TABS III / TAS function can be used to synchronize the PracticeMaster and TABS III / TAS data files. Normally, synchronization occurs whenever a record is added, changed or deleted. However, in the event that files are in use or are not available for automatic synchronization, then this manual synchronization method can be used.
• The user who performs the synchronization has the following options: Perform synchronization and prompt for a resolution to all conflicts; Perform synchronization and do not prompt for conflicts; Use TABS III’s changes to resolve conflicts; or Use PM’s changes to resolve conflicts.
• Includes the ability to convert TABS III archive records to PracticeMaster fee and cost records.
• The following functions have been eliminated as a result of the new automatic bi-directional integration and synchronization between PracticeMaster and TABS III: Export Time Entries, Export Expense Entries, Export Client/Case Changes, Import Client/ Case Changes and Transfer All Clients/Cases programs from PracticeMaster.

Renumber Utilities

• Added a Renumber Category function which will renumber categories assigned in both TABS III and PracticeMaster if TABS III and PracticeMaster are installed in the same directory.
• The Change Key Length function has been renamed to Change Key Type since PracticeMaster now supports Alphanumeric, Mixed, and Numeric Client ID’s.
• The Renumber Client and Renumber Client functions have been incorporated into a single function called Renumber Client.

Text Macro Maintenance

• Allows you to define text macros. Text macros consist of a Macro ID and associated replacement text. Whenever a Macro ID is typed during data entry in a memo field, it is automatically replaced with the associated text.

PracticeMaster Customization

• Firm Information such as Firm Name and Address is no longer stored in Customization. This information is now stored in the Firm Information area of the STI System Configuration program.
• Added the ability to configure customized labels for Client and Timekeeper.
• Added the ability to set the global flag for History Tracking and specify the maximum History File size.

Data File Integrity Check

• Added drill-down editing when displaying the Data File Integrity Check Error Status Report (if applicable). Click a yellow highlighted error and an editor window with that record is automatically opened allowing you to edit it.
• Additional Data File Integrity Check errors have been added.
• The Data File Integrity Check Error Status Report has been eliminated. You will only be prompted to print a Data File Integrity Check Error Report if errors are encountered during the check.
• The Data File Integrity Check log file has been renamed from CMINTEG.LOG to CMDFIC.LOG.
• Added a “Read Only” option that lets the program be run while other users are working in PracticeMaster.
• Error 10’s are no longer changed to question marks (even if run without the “Read Only” option).

Initialize ODBC

• PracticeMaster data files are ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) capable.
• The Initialize ODBC function is used to create a data dictionary file that is required by the ODBC driver. This data dictionary file is named CM.DB.

Rebuild Related Party Categories

• Added a special utility function designed to remove unused Related Party categories.

Reindex Data Files

• In addition to recreating index files, the Reindex Files function can optionally compact selected files and delete records that contain errors.
• If errors are found, a Print dialog box will be displayed allowing you to print an Error Report. The Error Report is also saved to a disk file named CMREORG.LOG.

Startup Parameters

• Added startup parameters to automatically load the Client Manager, open the Calendar, open the Task List, open the Timer window, run the Daily Report, open the Read E-Mail window, and rebuild the Conflict of Interest index files.
• Changed the startup command from WCM3.EXE to CM.EXE.
• The following option in the STI.INI file no longer is supported:
  [WCM3 Initialization]
  User ID=WILLIAM

Windows Menu

• Replaced the Tile menu option with Tile Vertically and Tile Horizontally menu options.

Help Menu

• Added menu options for STI Knowledge Base, STI Web Site, and STI Newsletter that provide instant access to these online resources on the Internet.

Support Log

• Added a Support Log that tracks the last ten times that certain functions in PracticeMaster were run including File Maintenance File Changes, File Maintenance Area of Practice Changes, File Maintenance Import Data, File Maintenance Erase Data, Edit Form Layout, Process Timer Records, Auto Synchronization, Synchronize PM and TABS III/TAS, Data File Integrity Check, Reindex Data Files, Back Up Data, and Restore Data.

About PracticeMaster

• Additional information is shown in the About PracticeMaster window including the Firm Name, the Profession Code, the File Handler, the Temporary File Path, whether the user has manager rights, the Active User Limit, the Key Type, the Decimal Places, whether History Tracking is enabled, the Maximum History File Size, Current History File Size, and the File Version ID. In the lower pane, the following information is shown: Total Physical Memory, Available Physical Memory, Free Space on the Drive, Drive Type, File System, Processor, whether a Math Coprocessor is being used, Number of Processors, Windows Version, Windows Directory, Screen Resolution, Microsoft Redirector Version and Size, NetWare Redirector Version and information regarding all of the installed Windows printers.
• If using the Client Server Version, the About PracticeMaster window shows the STI Server Name, the current number of connections, the maximum number of connections and the activation limit.

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