The Paper Tiger v 1.2

The Paper Tiger v 1.2, Build #6

Is it out of control? Paper, that is. Is the paper tiger creeping up on you? The inevitable byproduct of litigation and other legal transactions, attorneys have plenty of paper. At times, it even seems to have a life of its own; it can spin out of control and turn into a mess.

Software programs and other organizing tools can help attorneys enhance their business and personal effectiveness through better organization. The Paper Tiger is a paper-management program designed to help simplify the task of filing and retrieving paper. The Paper Tiger guarantees that users will find anything in their office in five seconds or less, or your money back. This eyebrow-rising statement intrigued me. Some attorneys have stacks and stacks of paper in their offices, and are on the path of forever looking for that key document. Often, crises develop and tempers flare, due to the inability to find information or documents. Better paper organization ends this nightmare.

This is where The Paper Tiger comes in. The program assigns keywords and categories to documents and produces document-finding reports. Essentially a kit, the program includes software, pre-printed labels and a user's guide. Its basic premise is that users index and file documents numerically instead of alphabetically. The documents are stored in their original form with no need for scanning. The program assigns each file a number, while you assign file locations, item names, keywords and categories for your documents. You can also assign action dates to documents and files. The documents are kept in numbered hanging files using the pre-printed labels. You enter keywords into a Net-like search engine to find your documents. The Report Wizard prints out various types of document-finding reports.

In addition to organizing documents, The Paper Tiger tracks books, software, archived files, videos, audiocassettes, keys and so on. It's a complete system that organizes all the materials in your office. The Paper Tiger offers better options for organizing documents and materials, versus the traditional way of dropping documents into file folders with simple or generic categories. And it takes into account all your business materials -- not just paper.

Barbara Hemphill, the developer of this program, has put a great of deal of thought and energy into The Paper Tiger, and it shows. Hemphill has left no stone unturned as to providing paper-taming tools and advice. However, the program borders on the complex side, and some users may feel frustrated trying to figure it all out. Hemphill has compensated for some of the difficulty by spelling it out in online Help and a users guide. She also offers a two-page cheat sheet that shows step-by-step how to attack the paper jungle. I was still intimidated by the organizational theory behind the software and time involved to learn it, however. But if users are willing to spend a day or afternoon to watch the tutorial, read the user's guide, enter the data, and finally, organize the paper and materials, I believe rewards in the form of improved productivity and organization will follow.

Monticello Enterprises Inc.
(800) 430-0794
www.thepapertiger.com

Windows 95, 98 and NT

$79.95 single user
$129.95 per user for the network version

Reviewed by Melynda Hill-Teter, litigation paralegal, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Feb/Mar '00 Issue

PROS
Complete kit (including labels) to organizational bliss; prints document-finding reports; excellent online help; tech support quick to answer e-mail questions.

CONS
Plan to spend some time learning the program, and getting the new filing system up and going.

VERDICT
Good for organizing attorneys' personal files in the law office; better way of filing and retrieving paper versus the old-fashioned way of dropping documents into file folders (with generic labels) with hopes of finding them later.