Topic: Request for recommendation : project activity log

[MSmith]

One of my clients, a small law firm, has constant trouble with the primitive system they use to track activity on each case.  They just have WordPerfect files with tables that they edit whenever someone does anything.  This is horribly inefficient and the files get corrupted regularly.

Can anyone recommend a system that might work?  Perhaps a wiki?  I haven't installed MediaWiki; is it too complex?  The successful setup should be installable on SME and VERY simple to use.

TIA for your time in thinking about this.

[cactus]

One of my clients, a small law firm, has constant trouble with the primitive system they use to track activity on each case.  They just have WordPerfect files with tables that they edit whenever someone does anything.  This is horribly inefficient and the files get corrupted regularly.

Can anyone recommend a system that might work?  Perhaps a wiki?  I haven't installed MediaWiki; is it too complex?  The successful setup should be installable on SME and VERY simple to use.

TIA for your time in thinking about this.

I think you need some sort of document management system. This is designed to store documents and track versions and revisions. There are plenty and I do not have experience with them other then with older releases of the Knowledge Tree. Perhaps others can suggest some more document management systems or you could do a search for it in these forums or on Google.

[timn]

If it is project time tracking they are looking for I use Journyx. Free for up to ten users. Can set up projects and sub projects with against clients, enter time sheets or time spent against predefined tasks for the projects etc, also expenses and mileage. Highly configurable. I use it for my consultancy business running on SME

[David Harper]

There is a lot of very expensive software out there for tracking matters and so forth. I have seen a number of systems over the years, but they are mostly Windows based and designed for larger clients. The reason why they are expensive is that it's not often you find something that is applicable outside legal circles.

A smaller Australian product I know of is called LEAP, although I think it is Windows based.

[MSmith]

What they do is open a WordPerfect file associated with each case that has a table in it, drop to the bottom and type in the date, the person doing the work and what was done on a given day.  Primitive, I know, but it's their system and I want to replace just this tiny part of it with something that a) multiple people could view & edit at once and b) is sturdy.

[sal1504]

MSmith

Take a look at PCLaw. About $500.00 for five users, I think. I have a small law firm using this. I installed it in an I-Bay on SME and loaded the client on the workstations. This software is I very good choice for small law firms. Another good program that works in an
Ibay is Abacus. It does everything except the dishes. Expensive about, $600.00 per workstation, but well worth it. If you are needing a Time and Expense stay away for Timeslips. Expensive and poor support.

Sal.

[sal1504]

Timm

I have another client wanting to run Journyx on SME. Do you have a HOW TO on how you installed this on SME. If so could you post it please it would be really helpful

Sal

[MSmith]

Thanks for the recommendations; the firm is already using PCLaw, but they *like* their separate "activity log" setup.  All I'm trying to do is replace that one tiny part of what they do with something more robust, as these WordPerfect activity log documents seem to get corrupted with annoying regularity. 

It's absolutely true that they'd benefit from real case management software, but that's not a decision I can make for them.  I'm hoping I can set up something wiki-ish (will be evaluating MediaWiki, yes) so they can drill down to a page that corresponds pretty much exactly with their current activity log pages.

[mdo]

If I understand it right, "elog" (https://midas.psi.ch/elog/) might be helpful for this.
Michael

[Franco]

Hi,
I also work with a small law firm, we all need them these days 

I have set up OWL http://owl.anytimecomm.com/ and does everything they need.

[sal1504]

Stuntshell

Just looked at the OWL webpage. Which version of the OWL are you using. the Intranet version or the UltraLite Version. It looks interesting and may be something I will want to use.

Sal

[timn]

sal1504
It was some time ago when I installed Journyx. Will look out my notes if I can find them but I seem to remember just following their install instructions and installing in a user directory. It runs on a specific port. I have been meaning to try installing it in /opt but haven't got round to it.

[Franco]

I'm using the version 1.1, this is a beta version that no longer is available for download. For some reason they took it off. I recommend you use the latest stable 0.95 which uses mysql as DB and is much faster than the lite.

[sal1504]

tim and stuntshell

THANKS for the response. I will give them a try and let you know how they go.

Sal

[kruhm]

If they are just looking for a log, you could also try trouble ticket software. I've setup PHPTICKETS in the past:

-gpl (free)
-web accessible
-see list of "open" automatically
-set severity (low, medium, high)
-close projects as they are no longer needed (still searchable)
-update from anywhere

If they need document management, phptickets is too trivial.

[MSmith]

kruhm - very interesting idea!   I'll also be looking at OWL.  Thanks, everyone!

[timn]

I have just (finally) created a wiki Howto page for installing Journyx Timesheet (time and expense project tracking) if anyone is still interested.

http://wiki.contribs.org/Journyx_Timesheet