Word Processors & Suites

Using that intimidating programming language appears so complicated. It couldn’t possibly make your work easier — could it?

And then there are those ugly rumors that aliens created macros so only their geek spies on earth can understand them.

Well, if you’re not having your repetitive name, address and other boilerplate information inserted through a case management program or HotDocs, you might consider a dedicated prepackaged macro program appropriately called MacroSuite.

Designed to work well with both Microsoft Word and Corel WordPerfect, MacroSuite uses pop-up menus with simple check-the-box, drop-down lists and insertion fields to allow the creation of standardized templates for letters, faxes, memos and pleading pages.

Upon installation, MacroSuite has an icon available on the menu bar that, when clicked, invokes the program’s Main Menu to pop-up on your screen. From there, you can go to the Letter, Fax or Memo modules. Alternately, hot-key combinations allow you direct access to any of the main modules in the system.

Once inside each module, the program allows easy insertion of sender and recipient information, as well as standard abbreviations for “cc’s,” methods of delivery, headers and footers. Even better, once information is entered, it can be saved by a simply clicking the handy QuickFill button.

The same goes for repetitive group transmissions, such as all the parties to a lawsuit or transactions who require copies of the same correspondence or documents.

Groups also can be populated from standard address books such as Microsoft Outlook, the Corel Address Book or even GroupWise. Once entered, all the standardized information can be called up with a few clicks of the mouse.

If your firm has more than one office or attorney, different preferences can be designed for each office or attorney. This way, different office information or user’s styles can be reflected on the document.

MacroSuite has its own standard templates for letters, memos and fax cover sheets, but you can add your own or customize existing ones.

As if this wasn’t enough, MacroSuite also allows you to save up to nine reusable blocks of text of unlimited size for easy insertion into blank documents. There is a special macro for inserting watermarks, such as “Draft” and “File Copy,” on documents.

With this program, you can address and complete a standard letter, memo, fax or other boilerplate document and assign delivery options and other information, all from a pop-up list with drop-down selection boxes.

MacroSuite contains a few other useful modules. For instance, the Bates numbering module allows for easy creation of Bates labels. The module allows the user to designate such things as starting and ending numbers, special prefixes and suffixes, as well as how many counters or “zeroes” to place in front of each number.

Eliminating an especially tedious chore for many practitioners, MacroSuite also includes a pleadings module for simply creating and modifying the appearance and format of court pleadings, from proper placement of court information to the caption box’s appearance. A few templates, incorporating some well-known jurisdictional preferences are included. But here, too, the templates can be modified.

Another great feature is the program’s networkability, allowing both public lists of personnel and recipients, stored on the LAN (local area network) drive, as well as private ones, stored on the user’s local drive.

Network login scripts can be set up so that whenever a client computer boots up, changes to the public lists automatically will be synched with the user’s local information, ensuring everyone has up-to-date information.
Along these lines, MacroSuite currently interfaces cleanly with big document management products such as PowerDOCS, iManage and DOCS Open, with further supported products in the pipeline, according to the company.

However, the program does have a few shortcomings. Because it can accommodate numerous customer modifications to add to what has already been shipped, some ambitious customization work most likely will require the services of a third-party consultant. These are macros after all.

Clearly, this might be more of an issue in larger installations with more than one location, which is historically the type of firm that has been the bulk of SoftWise’s client base.
Still, the availability of this customization without destroying the program’s simple interface is a blessing for those who can either do it themselves or afford outside services to do it.

All in all, MacroSuite is a great weapon in an attorney’s or word processor’s arsenal.

It makes repetitive document entries, the kind of work that macros were largely designed to do in the first place, simple.

Windows 95/98/NT; WordPerfect 7.0/8.0/9.0; and Word 97/2000

Pricing: $65 - $250 (starting with single to 500-plus users); a software subscription service with 12 months of service also is offered from $13 - $50 (depending on number of users).

Reviewed by Jay Hollander, attorney and principal of Hollander and Company, New York.

Dec/Jan '01 Issue

PROS
Easy to use, makes quick work of routine correspondence, faxes and other standard documents. Networkable.

CONS
Full use of the program might require outside consultant customization. Cannot work with all popular document management programs.

VERDICT
MacroSuite is a strong buy for attorneys or word processors.

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Updated 09/19/01
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