Broadcast and A1-Comm

[Joshua Morgan]

Mr. Appell-

The broadcast feature has gotten mixed reviews from the staff here, which means in a week they won't remember how they ever lived without it. : )

However, there were a couple of suggestions, perhaps you could see about integrating them into a later version if possible?

1. Is there any way to delete just one broadcast from the window and leave the others? The "clear" button removes them all. If a broadcast is old and/or pointless, but there are other broadcasts that are more important, can you selectively delete some from the window and others?

2. Is there some way to have the broadcast window pop up only on emergancy broadcasts? Some staff members in the higher pressure areas of our office don't want to be bothered with the smaller things.

3. Is there any way to have the broadcast window minimize completely after clearing?

Thanks for all your help.

Josh

[Michael Appell]

Hello and thank you for the feedback - here's my response and qustions:

1. In general - A1-Law keeps the last 10 broadcasts. When originally designing this feature - it was intended to eliminate the need for a loud speaker and allow one to quickly notify the entire staff or a group/team of a need that is pending. So, it would seem to me that really only the last one or two broadcasts are the only ones that are important at all. For example - "Anyone seen Jon, tell him the jugde is on line 1", "Where is our computer tech person - needed at Rec desk" "Does anyone have Dr. Jones phone number, it's not in the rolodex?" etc.

Therefore, yes - this request is easy to do, and I'll certainly make a note of it for the next update. I'm just trying to gain a better understanding of how you utilize the broadcast. It would seem to me that a broadcast is something that is responded to almost immediately (then the original sender double clicks on the broadcast sent and marks it Cancelled so that they don't get 20 people responding to the same question).

2. Do you have it as a separate window and not in the A1-Law toolbar? You may set it up in Configure System Defaults to choose Staff Defaults so that each staff member may configure it any way they want on startup. Also, anytime while in A1-Law, they can just double click on any broadcast and then click A1-Law Toolbar. Their broadcasts will now be in the toolbar and there will be no popups. Also, if they do choose to have a separate window, it should not interfere with their typing and the icon will blink in the lower right corner in the system tray. But, it sounds like they should have broadcasts in the A1-Law toolbar so as to not interfere with what they are doing. Let me know if that helps.

3. You mean after clicking the clear button to clear broadcasts? Yes - that sounds like a good idea - maybe I should do that after any choices they make after double clicking a broadcast. I think once we refine this - it's really going to be great.

By the way - I'm curious if you have noticed any speed differences on the computers that were sluggish and also if the stability has improved. You should have noticed the instant messages and Email notifications are also now instananeous. Also, are you aware that broadcasts may be sent to a group/team of users (ie: all the secretaries, the attorneys, etc) or to everyone by just entering a *

Thanks again for the feedback.

Mike.

[Joshua Morgan]

Mr. Appell-

The problem with deleting all broadcasts at once appeared when the receptionist sent a phone number through a broadcast. While the phone number was needed, other broadcasts were not. It wasn't a horrible problem, just that a legal assistant wanted to keep referring to the number, was too busy to enter it into the client card at the moment, didn't need the other broadcasts...

It's just that some broadcasts, especially those regarding phone calls that have information that needs to be entered into the client card, need to be saved for longer periods then others, such as "Anybody know where Joe is?"

The problem has appeared a couple of times in other situations, like "I need the 1/15/02 Dr. John report for Jow Schmoe" Fifteen minutes later: "I found a report, what was the date again?" Stuff like that.

Thanks for all your help.

Joshua Morgan

[Michael Appell]

Now I understand - it always helps to understand because it allows me to make it even better. So, I have an even better idea. We allow them to clear everything out (or a few things) and if they want, they may review a complete history for the entire session (even of the deleted stuff). That way if something is accidentally or purposefully erased - it may be recalled - kind of like a broadcast "recycle bin." What do you think of that idea?

Also, it seems like they are really starting to like the broadcast. By the way - ti would seem to me that a phone number would be instant messaged to one person as opposed to broadcasted to the entire staff (instant message is Control-I which may be faster than clicking the instant message icon).

Let me know how that sounds,
Mike

[Joshua Morgan]

Mr. Appell-

A "recycle bin" sounds like an excellent idea. I believe that the phone number may have been for a potenial new client, was broadcast to whoever could take the call at the moment...something along those lines.

Thanks for all your help.

Joshua Morgan

[Michael Appell]

I have just completed the features that will allow you to clear a specific broadcast entry or all the entries. In addition, there is a separate "broadcast History" button to allow you to access all the broadcasts while you are signed on and connected to the A1Comm server. The Reconnect button still clears out all broadcasts in both areas.

These features will be available in the next release.

Mike