CorelCentral - Feb/Mar '98

CorelCentral

For WordPerfect Suite 8, Corel went back to the drawing board and developed a new PIM, CorelCentral, replacing InfoCentral. Corel also used the opportunity to integrate with Netscape Communicator.

The main components of CorelCentral are the calendar, address book, card file, activity log and mailbox. The mailbox is actually a hook into Netscape Mail. An icon under the toolbar represents each component. Unlike the toolbar, as you move the mouse over these buttons, no hint box pops up. But there are only six choices and you will learn them quickly.

CorelCentral displays two panes: a browse list on the left and details in the right pane. Each entry listed in the Address Book is a card for a person, organization or resource. Click an icon on the toolbar to add new cards. CorelCentral provides no easy way to include both a business and home address in the same record.

Phone numbers entered on a card are automatically converted into links. If you click on a phone number, the phone dialer pops up, ready to dial. Notes are logged into the Activity Log, providing a history of your calls. This is a terrific tool for attorneys. Making a record of your conversations with opposing counsel can be invaluable.

The calendar in CorelCentral presents a simple interface, with multiple display options. Adding a new event or appointment to your calendar invokes Netscape Communicator. This is necessary to make your calendar Web-enabled but also demands additional resources. Unless your firm has multiple offices, you will likely not need these groupware features. You can set the length of your appointment or use the mouse to drag the boundary of the appointment to the desired length. Oddly, CorelCentral does not handle fractions for appointments. Another major flaw is that CorelCentral does not provide visual cues for days with scheduled appointments.

The To-Do list is combined with the calendar in CorelCentral and entering new items is accomplished via an icon on the toolbar or the Menu bar. You can track the progress of To-Do items by indicating the percentage of completion for a task. Alarms to remind you of appointments and pending work can be annoying but could avoid a malpractice claim. CorelCentral shines in this area. Unlike other PIMs, CorelCentral defaults to a broad range of advance notification options so you do not have to type in the interval you desire.

Corel Corp.
(800) 772-6735

By Michael Jimmerson

From the Shopper's Guide to Personal Information Managers - Feb/Mar '98

Pros: CorelCentral is a flexible PIM for use with WordPerfect Suite 8.

Cons: The application has many rough edges and integration could be improved.

Verdict: CorelCentral is worth trying if you already have WordPerfect Suite 8. The integration with Communicator is nice but not compelling.