Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers timeline creation software (see below), PDF software for power users, and redaction software. Don't miss the next issue.
One Click Timeline Charts
By Taeho Lim
Every picture tells a story. So does every litigator. A timeline enables lawyers to tell their stories visually — much like a picture does. Seeing is believing as they say. Regardless of whether a series of events transpired seconds, minutes, hours, or years apart, seeing them all in sequence in a timeline can have a tremendous impact on clients, jurors, judges, or colleagues.
Progeny Software designed Timeline Maker Professional 2.0 so that even computer novices can quickly create professional-looking timelines. To start, you simply enter events and then select the type of chart you want with one click. The event entry screen uses a table interface similar to a spreadsheet. A built-in legal spell checker corrects any typos. Alternatively, you can import events from other applications to further expedite the process of creating a timeline.
Once you've quickly mastered the basics, you can change the appearance of your chart with one click by selecting from the built-in library of graphic themes and styles. You can also define your own style by adding your logo and using your firm colors.
In addition to smartening up your timeline, you can enhance the events within it as well. For example, you can include photos, audio and video clips, and add links to PDF files or Web sites. You can also color code events to make them easier to follow (e.g., one color for your client and another color for the opposing party).
The purpose of a timeline is to show it to others. To help you do that, Timeline Maker Professional features a wealth of output options. You can print timelines on any printer at any size. You can export a timeline as a graphic (JPG, GIF, BMP, PNG), or in PDF or HTML format. You can also integrate your timeline into any PowerPoint presentation with one click.
The built-in presentation viewer enables you to show your timeline using Timeline Maker Professional itself. And the "Package for Sharing" feature creates a .zip file that you can send to anyone for output or viewing with all the files intact. The free downloadable "Timeline Maker Viewer" means that others can view your timeline without owning a copy of Timeline Maker Professional.
Timeline Maker Professional runs on Windows 2000, XP, and Vista. You can try it for free for 30 days. Pricing starts at $195 for a single-user license. The price drops significantly with each new user you add. Licenses come with unlimited free support and a 60 day money back guarantee. Learn more about Timeline Maker Professional 2.0.
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