Star Micro Systems Discussion Forums

Dear Michael and fellow users of A1 law,
I have a few questions about word processors.
1. Does the A1 law program word processor have some sort of "free form" area where people can create and save documents or do you have to edit and use/create a new form # that is currently not in use each time? I have concerns about giving everyone who wants to compose a simple letter or type up dictation access to editing letters.

2. The site now has the information that A1 law "Integrates with your word processor - it doesn't matter which one you use. Microsoft Word, Word Perfect or whatever you like."
Does this mean that there is now 100% integration with Word Perfect like Microsoft Word? Does the program support Microsoft Word XP? Would you suggest the newest Corel Word Perfect Legal Edition or Office XP?

3. Does A1 Law work under Windows XP?
-Has anyone tried out Windows XP or are considering migrating?

Thank you very much!
Sincerely,
Michael Lerner
Lerner, Moore, Mammano, Strasser, and Silva

P.S. Kudos on the new support forum. I like the style.

Hi Michael,

Thank you for posting your questions here. My hope is that eventually I can increase the traffic on the support forum and more people will post here and learn from each other. I'm placing the questions posted here on first priority.

1. The best way to do this (and this is what almost everyone does) is they set up a standard letter for dictation. For example, Letter to Client Dictation (maybe it's letter #5). Then when letter #5 is printed, A1-Law automatically fills in the date, name, caption, cc's and the user just fills in the body of the letter, prints it and saves it and it is then attached to the corresponding case activity event.

2. The site now has the information that A1 law "Integrates with your word processor - it doesn't matter which one you use. Microsoft Word, Word Perfect or whatever you like."

WP integration will be forth coming but as the A1-Law word processor now supports pleadings and spell check (in our version 4.00 beta release) it seems that our users are not even using Microsoft Word anymore - not at all. Everything is being done in A1-Law because of the time it takes to load other programs. It's just more simple this way.

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Not quite and not yet. A1-Law does not yet have what we call "automation with WP" but it's forth coming. The demand for it appears to be VERY VERY low. I just recently had an office convert to A1-Law that used nothing but Word Perfect with their other Windows based case manager that they switched from. No one at that office has asked for WP integration. It's on our list of to do's but it's not a high priority at this time because it can all be done in A1-Law.

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The program has not been tested yet with Word XP. I know it supports Word 97 and Word 2000. Again, most offices feel that the more they can do in A1-Law the better. But, for long briefs, they usually use either Word or Word Prefect.

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Hopefully as the traffic increases others can give you their feedback. It seems to be split but I don't know what the advantages and disadvantages of each one.

3. Does A1 Law work under Windows XP?

Getting close but I don't know yet if it works under XP. I know WCFMS DOS Law does work under XP (even through the Net). A1-Law does work with Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, and NT. XP just has not been around long enough yet to say. I'll keep you posted and there will eventually be information on this in a newsletter real soon.

Mike