TechnoLawyer: TL NewsWire

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers an Outlook-based docketing and court rules system (see article below), two server-based backup solutions for local area networks, an iPhone PDF reader, and an online store for household and office supplies. Don't miss the next issue.

Outlook Does Dockets and Court Rules

Law firms don't just solve legal problems for people. They also provide peace of mind by taking responsibility for deadlines ranging from trademark renewals to court filings. This responsibility poses a problem — which docketing system to use? Outlook seems like the obvious answer since virtually every law firm already uses it. But it's not really a docketing system. Or is it?

Docket Administrator Enterprise Edition … in One Sentence
BEC Legal Systems' Docket Administrator Enterprise Edition (Docket Enterprise) adds firm and practice group docket, schedule, and task management functions to Microsoft Outlook.

The Killer Feature
Although Outlook is the dominant email and calendar solution in the legal profession, it doesn't have many legal-specific features. Microsoft does not make a "Legal Edition" and probably never will.

One solution to this problem is to replace Outlook or at least use Outlook side by side with other software that offers the firm-wide docketing functions you need. Of course, you then run the risk of your staff storming your office with pitchforks.

BEC Legal Systems offers a different approach with Docket Enterprise, which transforms Outlook itself into a firm-wide docketing and calendar solution that your staff can learn to use with minimal training.

"Our software extends the value and flexibility of Outlook in a busy law firm," Laurie Danford, Director of Software Development, told us. "It provides fast performance, relational database security, auditing and customization for each practice group — all within Outlook."

Other Notable Features
Docket Enterprise is multi-directional. When anyone at your firm adds or changes calendar items in Outlook, Docket Enterprise asks if it should designate the item as personal or enter it in your firm's docket and matter system.

Those responsible for maintaining your docket will find Docket Enterprise's automation features helpful. For example, Work Plan templates automate the creation of scheduling orders, checklists, and workflows, and distribute these events to everyone's personal Outlook calendars. Updates, reminders, changes, and cancellations occur automatically.

Docket Enterprise enables you to connect people, organizations, and matters to scheduled events. Thus, you can see the schedule for any given client, matter, colleague, judge, court, etc. Litigation groups can also integrate Web-based court rules provided by CalendarRules.com.

Docket Enterprise builds upon its BEC Legal Systems' Docket Administrator Standard Edition by using CoreRelate, a SQL-based database platform. Built by BEC Legal Systems specifically for Docket Enterprise, CoreRelate is scalable and customizable thanks to a software developers kit (SDK).

What Else Should You Know?
Because Docket Enterprise works within Outlook, your colleagues can also access your firm's dockets from their smartphones. The cost of Docket Enterprise depends on the size of your firm and the options you select. Pricing starts at $125 per user and $995 for the server license. CoreRelate starts at $75 per user. Learn more about Docket Administrator Enterprise Edition.

How to Receive TechnoLawyer NewsWire
So many products, so little time. In each issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, you'll learn about five new products for the legal profession. Pressed for time? The "In One Sentence" section describes each product in one sentence, and the "Killer Feature" section describes each product's most compelling feature. The TechnoLawyer NewsWire newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers a document comparison and security software suite (see article below), a business-class VoIP service, speech recognition software for BlackBerrys, a court deadline calculator for iPhone, and a computerized pen that captures notes and accompanying audio and video. Don't miss the next issue.

A Rarity in the Software Industry

Email is a simple technology that creates complex problems for lawyers. For example, you may find that you need to compare multiple versions of a document, sometimes in different formats. You may need to collaborate on this document with multiple people. You will want to remove metadata before doing so and may even want to redact portions of the document. In short, you may find it necessary to use document comparison and collaboration software.

Workshare Professional 5.2 SR2 … in One Sentence
Workshare Professional 5.2 Service Release 2 (SR2) consists of a suite of tools that facilitates document comparison, multi-person document reviews and content security.

The Killer Feature
The software industry has a reputation for releasing products that don't perform properly. Many customers seem to have a high tolerance for these "bugs," but others shy away from upgrading or at least wait for reports from early adopters.

Recognizing that reliability is as important as any feature, Workshare underwent a reorganization about a year ago to improve product quality. For example, it beefed up its quality assurance testing protocols, expanded the number of beta testers, placed all software engineers on a single team, and hired a new VP of Engineering. Perhaps even more importantly, with quality being the priority it plans to issue fewer releases per year to lessen the burden on customers.

Workshare Professional 5.2 SR2 stems from this effort. "SR2 provides legal professionals with the customer experience they deserve," CEO Alan Fraser told us.

Other Notable Features
Workshare engineers may have focused on quality, but they managed to add many new functions as well. For example, in addition to comparing Word-to-Word, PDF-to-PDF, and Word-to-PDF, you can now compare embedded Excel tables, images, and image-based documents such as scanned and faxed documents.

Workshare Professional has long created PDF files. Now you can create PDF Portfolios. You can combine many different file types into a single Portfolio, remove metadata, apply security settings, organize pages, and export to a single PDF file while keeping the Portfolio intact should you need to make changes later.

New security features include redaction of Word documents, metadata discovery in password-protected documents and the ability to preview a document you've cleansed before emailing it. Workshare has also partnered with Safend to provide device control and USB port protection.

Finally, Workshare Professional now includes integration connectors for Microsoft SharePoint Server 2007, Autonomy, and Open Text.

What Else Should You Know?
Pricing for Workshare Professional starts at $175 per seat. Learn more about Workshare Professional 5.2 SR2.

How to Receive TechnoLawyer NewsWire
So many products, so little time. In each issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, you'll learn about five new products for the legal profession. Pressed for time? The "In One Sentence" section describes each product in one sentence, and the "Killer Feature" section describes each product's most compelling feature. The TechnoLawyer NewsWire newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers a backup and sync service (see article below), an online service for securing digital signatures on documents, a Web site that helps you make decisions, a network security camera, and a GPS-based note-taking app for iPhone. Don't miss the next issue.

Sweeten Up Your Backups

For a supposedly boring technology, backup software sure has received lots of media attention lately. There's a simple explanation. A talented public relations professional can make virtually any topic appear fascinating. Now that backup software has become a big business, big businesses have bought all the backup software companies — and invested heavily in public relations. So here we are reporting on the the latest media darling — but it may very well deserve all the hype.

SugarSync … in One Sentence
Sharpcast's SugarSync offers online backup of your files and file synchronization among multiple PCs and smartphones.

The Killer Feature
Increasingly, lawyers are traveling light with only their smartphones. A laptop makes you look like a drone whereas a smartphone makes you look like a master of the universe.

Recognizing this trend, Sharpcast offers a SugarSync app for BlackBerry, iPhone, and Windows Mobile. With these apps, you can access your files anywhere you have Internet access. You can also stream your music collection and wirelessly sync photos taken with your smartphone back to your PC. If you have a Palm Pre or other smartphone without a dedicated SugarSync app, Sharpcast offers a mobile-optimized Web site you can use.

Other Notable Features
SugarSync continuously backs up your files to a secure online repository, and stores the five most recent versions of each file (only the most recent version counts towards your storage quota). You can also archive files to preserve them no matter how many future versions you create.

SugarSync can also synchronize files among multiple computers, including Macs and PCs. Because your files also reside online, you can access them from any computer even if SugarSync is not installed. You can even upload the changes you make and SugarSync will update that file on your synchronized computers.

What Else Should You Know?
SugarSync also provides secure sending of files too large or sensitive to send by email. A free account contains 2 GB of storage and imposes some limits such as keeping only two versions of every file. The other four plans consist of 30 GB for $4.99/month, 60 GB for $9.99/month, 100 GB for $14.99/month, and 250 GB for $24.99/month. Learn more about SugarSync.

How to Receive TechnoLawyer NewsWire
So many products, so little time. In each issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, you'll learn about five new products for the legal profession. Pressed for time? The "In One Sentence" section describes each product in one sentence, and the "Killer Feature" section describes each product's most compelling feature. The TechnoLawyer NewsWire newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers speech recognition software for Mac-based lawyers (see article below), a free online forms creation service, a social network for gadget enthusiasts, organization and search software for Outlook, and an iPhone app for searching patents. Don't miss the next issue.

Speech Recognition for Mac-Based Lawyers

People communicate best through spoken language. Because that's not always possible, we developed written communication. But we don't have such luxuries with our computers. Instead, we use the keyboard and mouse. For lawyers of a certain generation, typing slows them down. And even younger lawyers can run into repetitive stress injuries. PC users have long relied on Dragon NaturallySpeaking Legal Edition to address these issues, but Mac users were out of luck. Until now that is.

MacSpeech Dictate Legal 1.5 … in One Sentence
MacSpeech Dictate Legal 1.5 is a speech recognition program for Macs with a 30,000 word legal dictionary.

The Killer Feature
When you beat IBM, you know you're good. Microsoft beat IBM (Windows versus OS/2). So did Dragon (now Nuance) with its NaturallySpeaking speech recognition software.

Given that NaturallySpeaking is the gold standard, MacSpeech licensed it for MacSpeech Dictate Legal. Importantly, MacSpeech didn't license an old version. MacSpeech Dictate Legal 1.5 uses the current NaturallySpeaking 10 Legal "engine," including the same 30,000 word legal dictionary.

In short, the two products are more than just kissing cousins. They're more like fraternal twins.

Other Notable Features
MacSpeech claims up to 99% accuracy with just a few minutes of initial training required. You can create multiple profiles if you share your Mac or switch between different microphones. If the legal dictionary does not contain a word or phrase you often use, you can train it (e.g., client and matter names). MacSpeech Dictate Legal works with most documents, including those initially created by typing.

In addition to writing with MacSpeech Dictate Legal, you can also use it to control your Mac and edit documents. The software understands keyboard commands such as "Press the Key Combo Command Return." For more elaborate tasks, you can create voice macros such as "Insert Signature" to add your full email signature to an email message. For editing documents, you can select and delete words and phrases, and even pinpoint where to place the cursor.

MacSpeech optimized MacSpeech Dictate Legal to work with Microsoft Word and TextEdit. It also works with virtually all software that supports text, including iChat, iPhoto, and the iWork suite.

What Else Should You Know?
MacSpeech Dictate Legal requires an Intel-based Mac running Mac OS X 10.5.6 or later. MacSpeech bundles the VXI TalkPro Xpress USB headset microphone with MacSpeech Dictate Legal at a price of $595. You can instead order the Revolabs xTag Wireless Mic for an extra $200, the Voice Tracker USB Array for an additional $240, or the Samson Airline 77 Wireless UHF for an additional $300. Learn more about MacSpeech Dictate Legal 1.5.

How to Receive TechnoLawyer NewsWire
So many products, so little time. In each issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, you'll learn about five new products for the legal profession. Pressed for time? The "In One Sentence" section describes each product in one sentence, and the "Killer Feature" section describes each product's most compelling feature. The TechnoLawyer NewsWire newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers a new automated legal forms program for New York lawyers (see article below), an iPhone app for scanning documents on the go, a legal-specific toolbar for Microsoft Office that automates document creation, a site on which you can search for large firm client memos, and a personal knowledge management application. Don't miss the next issue.

Cut Document Drafting Time in Half

Do you draft legal documents? Would you like to reduce the time it takes to draft these documents? Here's a tip — delegate the work to someone else. Of course, someone has to do the work and that someone might be you so delegation may not work. Fortunately, an alternative solution exists — use document assembly software that contains all the forms you regularly use.

ProDoc New York Automated Forms … in One Sentence
West's ProDoc New York Automated Forms is a document assembly system that ships with a library of forms, eliminating the need to create your own.

The Killer Feature
Launching today, ProDoc New York Automated Forms joins its California, Florida, and Texas siblings in the West Forms family. West claims that these products can cut drafting time in half and also reduce errors.

ProDoc New York Automated Forms accomplishes this feat thanks to a patented document-assembly engine that enables you to create several documents simultaneously. You choose the documents you want to assemble, and then answer the corresponding questions. ProDoc New York Automated Forms then builds your documents in your word processor for final review and editing. The California, Florida, and Texas versions work the same way.

Other Notable Features
ProDoc New York Automated Forms has other time-saving features as well. For example, it saves all of the client and case data you enter for reuse in other documents you create, thus eliminating dual entry.

You can tailor ProDoc New York Automated Forms to your practice by choosing from the following libraries: Family Law, Estate Planning, Real Estate, or Office Practice (the latter includes all libraries).

ProDoc New York Automated Forms also includes forms for New York Office of Court Administration (OCA) and Surrogate's Court. You'll also find model forms created by lawyers who are experts in their respective fields. ProDoc New York Automated Forms automatically keeps these forms up to date over the Internet.

What Else Should You Know?
ProDoc New York Automated Forms includes three licenses. Each additional license costs $10. You can use ProDoc New York Automated Forms in conjunction with ProDoc Small Office Suite for an additional $25. ProDoc Small Office Suite is a practice management system that features a calendar, time and billing, client and case organization, contact management, document management, and client and case notes. Learn more about ProDoc New York Automated Forms.

How to Receive TechnoLawyer NewsWire
So many products, so little time. In each issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, you'll learn about five new products for the legal profession. Pressed for time? The "In One Sentence" section describes each product in one sentence, and the "Killer Feature" section describes each product's most compelling feature. The TechnoLawyer NewsWire newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers PDF software (see article below), an ergonomic office chair, intranet and collaboration software, an outsourced help desk service, and a time and expense tracking app for BlackBerrys. Don't miss the next issue.

Recession-Friendly PDF Software

Some lawyers wonder in bemusement when they run across fellow lawyers who cannot create PDF files. These lawyers invariably work in smaller firms. Contemplating one or two copies of Adobe Acrobat Professional at $350 each is no big deal, but multiply it by 10, 100, or 1,000 times even after accounting for volume discounts and you're talking some serious money. But ultimately, these critics are correct because many less expensive alternatives exist and the PDF format has essentially become a standard for document exchange among lawyers.

NitroPDF Professional 6.0 … in One Sentence
NitroPDF Professional 6 is an Adobe Acrobat Professional alternative at a lower price point.

The Killer Feature
Lawyers love complaining about working in a "sweat shop" and their lack of a work/life balance. Of course, people who work in real sweat shops would think they had died and gone to heaven if they could trade places with a typical "overworked" lawyer.

But there is a grain of truth in the term "sweat shop" since law firms are essentially document factories. As a result, many law firms use document management systems.

Recognizing this fact, the new version of NitroPDF Professional now integrates with Hummingbird, Documentum, and SharePoint. It also comes equipped with new deployment tools for centrally installing and configuring it throughout your firm.

Other Notable Features
Other new features include a 50% speed boost for PDF creation and batch processing, support for the PDF/A format, higher-quality conversions, and interface improvements.

You can use NitroPDF Professional to review documents thanks to markup tools such as commenting, highlighting, crossing out, replacing text, and more. Other legal-friendly features include Bates stamping, form creation and submission, the ability to shrink the size of PDF files, and automatic creation of bookmarks based on document formatting and headings.

NitroPDF Professional offers 128-bit security with the usual restrictions on alterations, copies, printing, etc. It also supports digital signatures.

What Else Should You Know?
NitroPDF Professional costs $99 for a single-user license. You'll pay less beginning at 11 licenses thanks to the corporate purchasing program. NitroPDF Professional runs on Windows 2000, XP, and Vista, including 64-bit versions. Learn more about NitroPDF Professional 6.0.

How to Receive TechnoLawyer NewsWire
So many products, so little time. In each issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, you'll learn about five new products for the legal profession. Pressed for time? The "In One Sentence" section describes each product in one sentence, and the "Killer Feature" section describes each product's most compelling feature. The TechnoLawyer NewsWire newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers an online marketing service for law firms (see article below), a Web-based replacement for Microsoft Exchange, two Outlook plugins that prevent you from making embarrassing mistakes, and an iPhone app for editing Word documents. Don't miss the next issue.

Sit Back, Relax, and Grow Your Law Firm Practice

Law firms interested in growing must engage in marketing. That is a fact. Marketing dollars are moving online, primarily because it's cheaper and more measurable than traditional marketing. That is a fact. But popular online advertising vehicles such as Google AdWords favor businesses with the expertise and resources to leverage their many intricacies. That is unfortunately a fact as few law firms can play this game. Instead, law firms need more of a set-it-and-forget-it approach to online marketing.

ExpertHub Online Legal Network … in One Sentence
ExpertHub Online Legal Network (ExpertHub) is an online marketing service designed to funnel prospective clients to law firms in a wide variety of practice areas.

The Killer Feature
ExpertHub consist of a network of legal sites such as LawFirms.com, AccidentAttorneys.com, BankruptcyLawFirms.com, TechnologyLawyers.com, and many others. These sites contain a growing collection of articles and other information about their respective areas of law.

Thanks to a combination of content, site architecture, and some alchemy (a.k.a. trade secrets), ExpertHub's legal sites appear on the first page of Google for searches such as "personal injury lawyer" and "bankruptcy filing." As a result, the sites receive lots of traffic from people seeking legal services.

ExpertHub transforms this traffic into qualified leads for your law firm using a questionnaire. When a prospect's legal needs match your law firm's profile, you receive their name, email address, and telephone number. ExpertHub tells us that it delivered more than 14,000 leads last month.

Other Notable Features
To get started with ExpertHub, you use the expertPLANNER proposal generator to figure out what type of subscription would best suit your firm and its marketing goals. Before you spend a dime, expertPLANNER will tap into ExpertHub's historical data to predict the number of leads you'll receive and how much it will cost. You can run "What Ifs" to see how changing geographic location, practice areas, case types, etc. impacts these numbers.

While you can simply create a profile and then sit back and collect leads, more proactive firms willing to do a little work can take advantage of ExpertHub's expertSYNDICATION service through which you can publish articles on ExpertHub's sites and also link to these articles in your profile.

ExpertHub does not charge for its expertSYNDICATION service so it costs only your time. The articles add depth to your profile and can also generate more leads. If you're too busy to write articles, ExpertHub can write them for you for a fee.

Once you start working with ExpertHub, you can track performance using the expertSTAT dashboard, which shows you profile and article views, lead volume, and more.

What Else Should You Know?
ExpertHub's subscription prices are based on historical lead volumes for your geographic location(s) and practice area(s). Learn more about ExpertHub.

How to Receive TechnoLawyer NewsWire
So many products, so little time. In each issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, you'll learn about five new products for the legal profession. Pressed for time? The "In One Sentence" section describes each product in one sentence, and the "Killer Feature" section describes each product's most compelling feature. The TechnoLawyer NewsWire newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers a new smartphone (see article below), a secure online communication system for lawyers and clients, an online document management system, new practice management software, and an iPhone printing utility. Don't miss the next issue.

A New iPhone Blooms Every June

How do we cover a product every mainstream publication has already covered? Normally, we wouldn't bother, at least in the feature section of this newsletter. But Apple's iPhone platform is too important not to cover even though most legal vendors and law firms have yet to leverage its potential. So rather than ignore it or relegate it to the Roundup below, we'll explore the features most relevant to law practice.

iPhone 3G S … in One Sentence
Apple's iPhone 3G S is a new smartphone that runs iPhone 3.0, and is available in the United States on the AT&T wireless network.

The Killer Feature
Thanks to the simultaneous release of the iPhone 3G S and iPhone 3.0, owners of the two older iPhone models can take advantage of many new features for free. But the iPhone 3G S' faster processors (CPU and GPU) gives it some exclusive capabilities, one of which is Voice Control.

The Voice Control technology enables you to make phone calls and play music. To make a call, you can speak the name of a contact or a phone number. For music, the iPhone understands songs, albums, and artists as well as other commands such as "Play more songs like this one."

Other Notable Features
The iPhone 3G S includes a 3 megapixel autofocusing camera capable of capturing photos and video. If you're unhappy with the autofocus, you can tap an item on the screen to manually focus on it. After capturing video, you can trim your footage on the iPhone and directly upload it to YouTube.

Also new is a digital compass that integrates with the Google Maps application, and built-in Nike+ functionality for runners and walkers. The digital compass can help you with the most difficult aspect of driving from place to place when traveling — getting started.

iPhone 3.0 includes a number of new features for all iPhone models, including cut, copy, and paste, landscape keyboard, remote wipe, voice memos, MMS, universal search, and tethering (not yet available in the US). iPhone 3.0 also paves the way for GPS-based turn-by-turn voice navigation apps (TomTom for iPhone ships next week).

What Else Should You Know?
Third-party developers continue to crank out iPhone apps at a mind-boggling pace as the App Store now contains more than 50,000 apps, including a growing library of legal productivity and reference apps. In the US, everyone except AT&T customers with more than 6 months remaining on their contract can purchase the iPhone 3G S for $199 (16 GB) or $299 (32 GB). Apple dropped the price of the 8 GB iPhone 3G to $99. Learn more about the iPhone 3G S.

How to Receive TechnoLawyer NewsWire
So many products, so little time. In each issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, you'll learn about five new products for the legal profession. Pressed for time? The "In One Sentence" section describes each product in one sentence, and the "Killer Feature" section describes each product's most compelling feature. The TechnoLawyer NewsWire newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers software that automatically captures billable activities (see article below), a new smartphone, a case management and accounting system for large law firms, an online technical support service, an iPhone app for storing passwords and other confidential information. Don't miss the next issue.

Don't Track Your Time, Capture It Instead

In the old days, working on a client's matter involved fetching a folder from a file cabinet. While you might receive a phone call about another matter, multitasking as we know it today didn't really exist. Thanks to the combination of email and computers that can run many programs simultaneously, you fly from task to task on different matters, making it challenging if not impossible to accurately track your billable time using old-fashioned methods. It's time to track your time differently.

Chrometa 1.1 … in One Sentence
Chrometa 1.1 is a billing program that automatically captures and categorizes the billable time you spend on your PC.

The Killer Feature
Although time tracking for many lawyers has long since moved from a ledger to computer software, the method remains the same. Lawyers must actively enter the time they spend on tasks. Timers can help, but they too essentially operate manually.

Chrometa takes a different approach. You just work. And Chrometa watches in the background. It logs all your computer activity and also tracks the time.

For example, if you spend three ten minute sessions working on a Word file named Smith Motion, it'll list the name of that document, display your three sessions and the time for each, and also provide the 30 minute total.

"Our product was built to prevent law firms from leaving revenue on the table by enhancing and even replacing some of the antiquated methods for time tracking," Chrometa founder Brett Owens told us via email.

Other Notable Features
Chrometa logs all computer activity, including time spent on documents, email, and online research. However, Chrometa does not log keystrokes or any other content, thus preserving confidentiality — plus you can block certain applications from being tracked. To create a time entry, you apply a client/matter tag to a captured activity.

Chrometa doesn't just track your computer activity, it also learns from your input. For example, after you tag the time spent on a document or its folder with a client/matter, Chrometa automatically assigns any future work on that document to that client/matter.

Chrometa doesn't just live on your PC. You can export data into Excel, so that administrators such as your assistant or your bookkeeper can access your logs. You can also generate a wide variety of reports for internal purposes as well as audits.

What Else Should You Know?
Chrometa starts at $49 for a single user license. The company also sells team licenses ($229 for 5 users, $439 for 10 users, etc.). The team license includes network tracking. All licenses include email support. Learn more about Chrometa.

How to Receive TechnoLawyer NewsWire
So many products, so little time. In each issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, you'll learn about five new products for the legal profession. Pressed for time? The "In One Sentence" section describes each product in one sentence, and the "Killer Feature" section describes each product's most compelling feature. The TechnoLawyer NewsWire newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.

Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers a PDF conversion program (see article below), knowledge management software, a Web browser, an online billing application for corporate legal departments, and a task manager for iPhone. Don't miss the next issue.

King of All Documents

The PDF format reigns as the king of document sharing, but Microsoft Word has a lock on document creation. Because Adobe and Microsoft get along about as well as Oliver and Barbara did in "War of the Roses," don't expect them to work together anytime soon. You need to find another way to bridge these two formats not to mention other document formats you may encounter such as WordPerfect.

PDF Transformer 3.0 … in One Sentence
ABBYY's PDF Transformer 3.0 creates PDF files from Microsoft Office and other applications, and also converts PDF files into Microsoft Office and other document formats.

The Killer Feature
The more things change, the more they stay the same — albeit with a few new twists. ABBYY made its name with its OCR software, which can convert scanned paper documents into editable Word and Excel files with the original layout preserved.

Nowadays, lawyers are just as likely to receive a PDF file as a paper document. Maybe more likely. While you can search PDF files and make small changes, you cannot engage in significant editing.

The new version of PDF Transformer doesn't just convert PDF files into an editable Word or Excel file, but it retains all the formatting as well thanks to ABBYY's Adaptive Document Recognition Technology, which it initially developed for its OCR software. This technology preserves footnotes, tables, fonts, headers, footers, page numbers, and more.

Other Notable Features
PDF Transformer now features batch processing for converting multiple PDF files simultaneously. On the flip side, PDF Transformer also features new tools for managing PDF files. For example, you can combine multiple PDF files into one PDF file, and add PDF files to an existing PDF file.

Litigators will welcome the new redaction, stamping, and Bates stamping tools. As an added bonus, if you convert a PDF file with redactions into Word format, PDF Transformer omits the redacted information from the Word file. Thus, you can create a clean PDF file by redacting, converting to Word, and then converting back to PDF.

Other new features include support for the latest document formats such as DOCX and PDF/A, a customizable interface, improved tools for navigating long PDF files, improved compression for creating smaller PDF files, and support for 184 languages.

What Else Should You Know?
As always, PDF Transformer adds a Create PDF button to Microsoft Office and a Print to PDF function to all other applications. It requires Windows XP, Vista, or Server 2003/2008. It costs $49.99 with volume licenses available. Learn more about PDF Transformer 3.0.

How to Receive TechnoLawyer NewsWire
So many products, so little time. In each issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, you'll learn about five new products for the legal profession. Pressed for time? The "In One Sentence" section describes each product in one sentence, and the "Killer Feature" section describes each product's most compelling feature. The TechnoLawyer NewsWire newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.