General tips and tricks

Here are some general guidelines for using ContactsLaw in ways that get the best results possible:

1. Read the Today page - CPMS is constantly updating the software and will periodically release new versions which are automatically distributed to authorised clients. Whenever the application updates, the Today tab is displayed and you should keep up with the latest news on bugfixes and new features so that you can be sure you are using the program correctly.
   
   
2. Complete fields in order - As you fill out a form in ContactsLaw, other fields autocomplete by assembling information you have already entered. Changing the fields out of order by produce unpredictable results. Filling them out in order allows the automatic completion to work properly and will save you time by suggesting values.
   
   
3. Check every field before saving - When a form or activity loads, the displayed information may be automatically updated to reflect new information or today's date. If you change a particular field on a form, transaction or activity window, check the others are still present and accurate before you hit save. By choosing save you are confirming the accuracy of all of the information shown - not just the field(s) you modified.
   
   
4. Use "cancel" rather than "save" - If you open a properties window, transaction, activity, task etc and make no changes, you should close the window using the cancel button instead of saving. If you save, you are recommitting all fields and settings to the database for no reason and will unnecessarily label the item "last modified by <your name> on <date>" giving the impression that you changed something when in fact you did not.
   
   
5. Read instructions and message boxes - Most windows in ContactsLaw include some instructions that explain what is required within the current activity, in multi-step activities and "wizards" these are frequently on the very first page or at the top of the form when it loads. Additionally, there are dialog boxes that are displayed (especially when an error occurs) that will provide useful information and likely solutions. You are often given the chance to click OK and return to where you were to make corrections before continuining - reading the information often helps you to do so.
   
   
6. Look out for tooltips and "bubble help" - If ever you are unsure about what a checkbox, button, tab, link or other control is used for, pausing over it with your mouse will usually cause a pop-up called a tool tip to appear. The tool tip or "bubble help" provides brief information designed to explain how the feature is to be used or what effect it will have.
   
   
7. Right-click for more options - ContactsLaw use right-click options ("context menus") heavily. While double-clicking an item on screen will always perform an action, you may find alternatives when you right-click on the item. Look for these options whenever you can; there is a lot of useful functionality contained in these mechanisms.
   
   
8. Close tabs for performance - In the same way that your computer's performance degrades when you have many programs open simultaneously, ContactsLaw can slow down when you have a large number of contact/file tabs open. Close these tabs as you finish working with them and the application will speed up.
   
   
9. Search before re-registering or re-entering - ContactsLaw's search tools are fast, reliable and offer extensive options to locate the information you are seeking. We always encourage users to search for a record before attempting to create or register something which may already exist in the database. Taking the time to perform a quick search can eliminate significant time wasted on re-entering redundant information.
   
   
10. How to find out more and improve the software - This wiki is the best place to discover new aspects of the software, including contributions by everyday users. You can keep up to date with changes to the software as they are released by checking the version notes on the Today tab on your portal in ContactsLaw. Finally, our website at contactslaw.com.au provides a wealth of product information and training materials.