ARE YOU CONNECTED TO YOUR P.I. POWERTOOL?

One of the prime benefits of the PIP is that information entered by any one person in your office can be accessed by any other person through your computer network. The PIP operates similar to FM Radio. The Host computer (which has the *.FP5 files in the \HiPerSoft folder) broadcasts the PIP signal when it is in MultiUser mode. The client computer (any workstation computer other than the Host computer) receives the signal like the radio in your car. Quite simply, in order for the Client computer to share the PIP, the Host must be broadcasting the PIP.

Since you have taken the time to enter all of your case information into the PIP, everyone in your office should take advantage of the benefits. Not only can you share raw data about your cases (ex., case information and calendaring), but you can also use that data to create documents using Custom Forms (ex., letters, pleadings, fax cover sheets, discovery documents), and Judicial Council Forms.

Most recently, we have developed the Document Management System (DMS) Module to take advantage of shared access. The DMS allows you to gather, review, and retrieve all of your case file documents from a single screen in the PIP. The document Detail View provides information including the date and time of creation and modification, the file size, file type, and the staff member who assigned the document. Any document can be opened by using the "Open" button next to the document.

If your network is configured properly, you should only have to do the following to get connected to the Host computer from one of your Client computers:

(a) On the Host Computer, open the PIP program. The file that is used to start the PIP is the SET.FP5 file located in the \HiPerSoft folder. NOTE: If you do not have the SET.FP5 file in the \HiPerSoft folder on your computer, then you are probably not the Host computer).

(b) On the Host Computer, select "Set MultiUser Status ON" from the Scripts menu at the top of the screen.

(c) On any one of your Client Computers, download a copy of the "PIP Client Access File" from the "Downloads" page on the HiPerSoft website.

(d) Once you have downloaded the PIP Client Access File to one of your Client Computers, double click on that file to start the PIP over your network.

With all of these benefits, it pays to be connected!

P.I. POWERTOOL "POP-UP WARNING SURVEY" RESULTS!

Once again, we would like to thank everyone for participating in the "Pop-up Warning" survey. As you will remember, this survey was a followup to the New Feature Survey to determine what you wanted to be warned about, and when you wanted to be warned.

Notwithstanding the fact that the number of responses was quite large, most of the responses were the same. With regard to the type of events about about which you wanted to be warned, a full 26.3% of the responses included Statute of Limitations. This was not unexpected. What was interesting was that 13.2% of the responses rated Motions as the second most important event for pop-up warnings, edging out Trials and Appearances.

As a group, the average respondent selected 4 event types to be warned about. However, on the extreme ends of the scale, one respondent marked every event type, and one other respondent marked only one event type (you guessed it...Statue of Limitations).

The survey also asked you to pick intervals for your warnings. These were classified into the following categories: LESS THAN 1 HOUR, BETWEEN 1 AND 4 HOURS, and 1 DAY OR MORE. We will be using the winner from each category in the new "Pop-up Warning" feature. Therefore, you will be able to choose to be warned every 30 minutes, every 2 hours, every day, or any combination thereof.

The last question in the survey asked how you would like the warning to be displayed. We put this question into the survey because we know the pop-up warnings in Microsoft Outlook are displayed that way. Your responses seem to indicate that many of you use Microsoft Outlook, since a full 70% of the votes were for the small "pop-up" style dialog box.

FileMaker Pro, the database platform that the PIP is designed in, does not provide much control over the size and position of dialog boxes, so this may be a challenge. However, we are going to give it our best!

If you have any other input or suggestions, please send them to newideas@hipersoft.com.

	Question: For which events would you like to be warned?
	Statute of Limitations	26.3%
	Trials	10.5%
	Appearances	10.5%
	Arbitrations	7.9%
	Motions	13.2%
	Depositions	2.6%
	Discovery to Plaintiff	7.9%
	Discovery to Defendant	7.9%
	To Do's	7.9%
	Special Events	2.6%
	Unique Events	2.6%

 

	Question: If you would like to be warned in time intervals LESS THAN 1 HOUR, which time period would be your preference?
	5 minutes	16.7%
	10 minutes	0%
	15 minutes	33.3%
	30 minutes	50%

 

	Question: If you would like to be warned in time intervals BETWEEN 1 AND 4 HOURS, which time period would be your preference?
	1 hour	0%
	2 hours	66.7%
	3 hours	33.3%
	4 hours	0%

 

	Question: If you would like to be warned in time intervals of ONE DAY OR MORE, which time period would be your preference?
	Daily	66.7%
	Weekly	22.2%
	Every Other Week	11.1%
	Once a Month	0%

 

	Question: Which would be the best way to present you with the warning message?
	Separate full screen view with detailed information of the event with "back" button.	30%
	Small box in front of current screen with "back" button, and "Detail" button for more information about the event.	70%

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