abacus first steps customization.pdf
TRANSCRIPT
Welcome to the First Step Webinar!
• Your presenter will be with you shortly.
• Please print out the presentation for note-taking purposes at:
http://abacuslaw.com/client-center/training
Customization
Brand Value: Our software can be customized to meet any need!
• Database Structures
• Creating fields
• Screen Designer
• Customizing Screens
• Adding Fields
• Adding Text
• Adding Boxes
• Adding Notes ListBox
• Adding Hyperlinks
• Customizing your Preferences
Objectives:
• How to add fields to the database.
• How to customize your screens.
• How to set your program’s appearance preferences.
Customization is a 3 step process:
• What changes or additions do I need to increase AbacusLaw’s benefits to me?
• How many and what type of fields to I need to add to the database to accomplish this?
• Where, in what order, and in what position do I want the new fields to appear?
Planning
Planning
Planning
Planning
Planning
Planning
Planning
INSTRUCTIONAL BREAK POINT
“making Clients happy Worldwide!”
Database Structures
Click on File>Setup>Database Structures Database Structure for Names opens by default.
Database Structures
Database to Edit allows you to select the database you want to work with.
Sort By how do you want the fields sorted: by #, Field Name or Display Name.
Delete delete a field. NEVER delete any of the original default fields.
Report prints a field list (current database only).
Database Structures
Most fields will be added to Matters. Click Database to Edit and select Matters
Database Structures
Click Add to add a field.
Database Structures
Field Name the name of the field. It is limited to 10 characters and no spaces.
Field Type: Character, Numeric, Logical (True/False), Date or Hyperlink.
Field Length how many characters will the field accommodate.
Max Decimals Numeric fields if you want decimal points for things like dollars and cents.
Display Name Can be longer or different than the field name and can have spaces and special characters.
Description if you want a more detailed description of the field.
Database Structures
Click Done when you are done adding your fields.
You will see Pending Changes Exist: Select an Action
Database Structures
Kill changes and start over if you think you made mistakes and want to start over.
Resume Editing if you decide that you aren’t finished and want to go back and continue editing.
Kill changes and quit if you think you made mistakes or need to get out of editing altogether.
Execute changes and create new databases you are finished and want to create the new fields.
Compare current to proposed changes shows you what you have now vs what you are changing.
Postpone changes and quit lets you leave but saves your pending changes until you come back.
Database Structures Once you have finished adding the fields and executed the changes you want to the database, you can then add them to your custom screens.
Here is the Original default screen
Here is the same Matter using our customized Personal Injury screen (custom Specialty screens available for purchase).
INSTRUCTIONAL BREAK POINT
“making Clients happy Worldwide!”
Screen Designer Click on File>Setup>User-defined Screens>Matters.
You will see a list of existing screens. You may see more or less depending on your options and PALS
Screen Designer
Add add and create a new screen.
Clone duplicate highlighted screen allows you to start with mostly completed screen and retain original in case of mistakes.
Edit open and make changes to the highlighted screen.
Use default makes the ORIGINAL screen the primary screen.
Assign Codes assign a case code to a screen. Will automatically display that screen for any case using that case code.
Screen Designer
You need to give the screen an ID and Description.
When you click on Add you get a completely blank screen to edit.
Label is what names your tab.
Right click on the screen where you want to add a field.
Screen Designer
Add Field adds a field to the screen.
Add Text add text to the screen.
Add Box will add a box to the screen that can be used to group fields.
Add Notes ListBox will put the Notes ListBox on the screen.
Add hyperlink add a hyperlink on the screen to show data from another database.
Field Options is used to change to 3D Fields and change field height.
Align, Size & Space Objects align and resize the selected objects.
Add Page will add a new tab (Page) to the screen.
Linked Tab & Extra Database gives you the option to show/hide any of the standard tabs as well as show the extra database tabs.
Size to screen mode pick your monitor’s screen resolution so the screen can adjust to fit accordingly.
Add Variable Text uses expressions and is a more advanced option.
Screen Designer
Right click on the screen where you want to add a field.
Highlight the field you want to add then click OK.
Screen Designer
Field appears in red and you can move it to the position you want.
Screen Designer
Field properties can be modified for additional customization options. Click Done.
Grid turns on a grid to help you with lining up fields.
Set Order allows you to reorder the fields (tab order).
Screen Designer
The field and description appear in read and can be moved using your mouse or your arrow keys.
Click away from the added field and it will no longer be red and you can move the description and field separately for positioning..
Screen Designer
Screen Designer
Add Box puts an outline around any group of fields to help identify related or same subject information.
Click and drag using the “handles” (little black squares.
If you double click a field you will see the Field properties.
Screen Designer
Field name displays the field name.
Picture sets the field format such as decimals and force upper case (advanced).
Fastfield code put the Field name here and the field becomes a listbox.
Valid Condition only use if you want to force the user to choose from the listbox before it will let them save their record (usually you should leave this blank).
Message line usually used for short instructions in front of the field.
Screen Designer
A - Allows alphabetic characters only @) - Displays negative numbers in parenthesis without spaces, for example, (1,971.26). @( - Displays negative numbers in parenthesis with spaces. @Z ###,##9.99 - Allows the dollar sign to "float" or be displayed next to the first non-zero digit $###,##9.99 - Displays a dollar sign with spaces before the first non-zero digit. @)Z $###,##9.99 - Negative numbers are displayed in parenthesis with the dollar sign outside, @(Z $###,##9.99 - Negative numbers are displayed in parenthesis with the dollar sign inside.
@K - If the first keystroke in the field is a printable character, the entire field clears. @S - Allows the field to scroll. @! - Converts alphabetic characters to all capital letters. @4 - Forces 4-digit years for date fields # - Allows digits blanks and signs for numeric fields. 9 - Allows only numeric data to be input. , - Use to separate digits to the left of the decimal point, for example #,###.##. . - Use to designate the decimal point. $ - Use to display currency.
If you are familiar with expressions here is a short list of the most common.
Screen Designer
If you need more room, click and drag the corner to stretch the screen larger.
Screen Designer
If you need more room, click and drag the corner to stretch the screen larger.
Screen Designer
Right click and add Notes ListBox.
Screen Designer
Then click and drag to size the box.
Screen Designer
You will then be able to see your notes on your main screen.
Screen Designer
Screen Designer
A Hyperlink will let you display a linked Name on the Matter screen. Select the Link Type and when you click the Hyperlink it will automatically link that name as the Link Type.
Hyperlinks don’t have Labels so you have to add Text.
Screen Designer
Hyperlinks don’t have Labels so you have to add Text.
Screen Designer
Hyperlinks don’t have Labels so you have to add Text.
Screen Designer
Now you can link the Client’s name directly on the Matter screen.
Screen Designer
Once you save the new custom screen and use it to create a case you will see your customizations including the hyperlink.
Screen Designer
The Hyperlink field now displays the name of the person linked as the Client directly on the Matter screen.
Screen Designer
If there is no Client linked it will show Not Linked and you can click the blue hyperlink to select the Client.
Screen Designer
Screen Designer
Screen Designer
INSTRUCTIONAL BREAK POINT
“making Clients happy Worldwide!”
User Preferences Go to File>Setup>User Preferences.
Click on 2Appearance tab.
Click on Background profile button.
Highlight the profile you want then click Edit. You will then see the Color and Background Setup Editor.
User Preferences
This utility is where you select your program backgrounds and colors.
Colors controls the colors of the windows.
Background controls the colors of the backgrounds. You can use images as well.
Restore returns the color scheme to it’s original settings.
User Preferences
Main Window set color preferences for the Main screen.
Name Window set color preferences for the Name screen.
Event Window set color preferences for the Event screen.
Matter Window set color preferences for the Matter screen.
Notes set color preferences for the Notes windows.
Browses set color preferences for the any Browse window.
Data Import
Dynamic Data Capture
Name and Matter Screen Design
Extra Databases
Workflow and Court Rules
Reports
Automated Form Documents
Practice Area Legal Solutions (PALS)
Firm Branding
Custom Invoices
Helpful TidBits
• Thank you for attending our First Step Class on Calendaring
• Remember to visit www.abacuslaw.com/kb
• My email address is: [email protected]
• Tech Support can be reached @ 1-800-488-3334