Ecco Pro 4.01 - Feb/Mar '98

Ecco Pro 4.01

Ecco Pro is a powerful PIM that is highly customizable to your individual needs. The basic metaphor is an outliner. Although not as free form as other products such as Info Select, Ecco Pro provides tremendous control over your information and its presentation. However, this may require overcoming a substantial learning curve.

The calendar in Ecco Pro is easy to use. Create new appointments and tasks in a variety of ways. You can also set alarms for any appointment. Ecco Pro provides unlimited space for notes. In fact, you can create an entire outline regarding your meetings or appointments. This functionality could be extremely useful for attorneys. For example, under an appointment for setting a deposition, create an outline of the questions you need to cover in the deposition. Outlines can be collapsed or expanded for viewing. In addition, Ecco Pro provides complete drag & drop functionality.

The phone book in Ecco Pro is divided into two panes. The left-hand pane lists all your records in alphabetical order. The right hand pane shows detail on the selected record. The default format provides plenty of fields for capturing information. You can add your own fields or change the layout.

Project management is a snap. You can create folders and outlines for your various projects. Link information from elsewhere in Ecco Pro to keep from having to re-type your information.

Integration with other applications is handled by the "Shooter." This feature adds an icon to the upper right corner of the active application window. Click this icon to "shoot" data from Ecco into the application. If you use Ecco to create trial notebooks, the Shooter can make short work of moving through deposition transcripts and electronic documents.

Ecco Pro is Web and e-mail enabled. In fact, Net Manage includes an Internet address book with a set of useful URLs in an Ecco file, hyperlinked and ready to browse.

Editor's Note: NetManage has announced that it is attempting to sell its Ecco division, and is discontinuing Ecco Pro. Current maintenance contracts will be honored through February 1998.

Net Manage
(408) 973-7171

By Michael Jimmerson

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

Pros: Ecco Pro is the ultimate outlining tool for the law practice.

Cons: Steep learning curve.

Verdict: Although an extremely powerful PIM, Ecco Pro has a steep learning curve. If you are a beginning user, this could be a tough nut to crack.