Bug Fix:Adobe locks Word Autotext Functions

Issue:
Many of our clients have reported an issue where Autotext entries will not be remembered between Microsoft Word sessions.

Specifically for Infoware Word Extensions clients, this issue results in the behaviour that the Set Document Author function will allow users to switch between Author entries in the Glossary but this change will not be retained between Word sessions.

Description
The basic problem is an issue with the Adobe 7 COM add-in. This add-in (which enables the Adobe toolbars in Word) marks the file Normal.dot as "clean" and will not save the file irregardless of changes made.

For those unfamiliar with Word, the normal.dot file is opened whenever Word is launched and among other things is the store for Autotext entries.

By in effect locking the normal.dot template, the Adobe add-in causes a number of the problems. This includes not saving new or edited autotext entries as well as default font and paragraph settings.

Resolution
Microsoft has a support article Q906899 that describes the issue and some workarounds.

Infoware recommends the following:

To prevent the add-in from loading, edit the Windows registry.

1. Locate the key[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
   Office\Word\Addins\PDFMaker.OfficeAddin]


2. Change the subkey called "LoadBehavior" from a value of 3 to 0

Note: you must be a local administrator to write to the Local_Machine registry key. Your application push tool may be able to set this key remotely!

Additional Note:There are a number of posted articles on the web but we have not found information on Adobe's site re the specific problem or a fix.

Document AssemblyWorking with Multiple Clause Collections

Infoware's Document Assembly Clause tool gives legal professionals great flexibility in the creation of complex documents.

A common question from potential clients is whether they can have more than one Master Clause Document - the collection of the firm's clauses - for use in the firm.

Q. My firm wants to install the Document Assembly Clause Tool on the computers of lawyers in the Estates group and on the computers of lawyers in the Corporate group. Do they have to share the same group of clauses?

A. A common implementation of the tool at a firm is to have multiple Master Clause Documents. Typically, clause collections are divided by practice area - when running the Clause Tool, the Corporate group defaults to use the Corporate Master Clause Document, and the Estates group defaults to use their Estates Clause collection. The Document Assembly Clause Tool can support up to 16,000 clauses in each Master Clause Document.

It is also very easy for users to move between Master Clause Documents. To switch the Clause Source from within a document, the user simply needs to click on the "File" menu of Clause Tool dialog box and then select the "Clause Source" option. Provided the user has network access to the Clause Documents, they can switch between available clauses.


In this manner, a lawyer drafting an agreement and who by default is using the Corporate Master Clause Document can switch into specialized language in an Intellectual Property collection that he might otherwise not frequently use

Important Dates+Licensing Public Folder Reminders...you need at least two licenses

Infoware's Important Dates+ Outlook add-in allows organizations to set followup reminders on any Outlook item including Public Folders.

However for organizations that are looking to send reminders from a public folder, it should be noted that the organization will need to order a minimum of two mailbox licenses - one for the Exchange Server Public Folder tree and one for each unique reminder creator and unique mailbox containing reminder items.

An evaluation version of Important Dates+ is available for download. For organizations reviewing this product, it is recommended that you review our suggested implementation diagram.

Windows XP Home Support Extended

Microsoft has quietly extended the support lifespan of Windows XP Home, which as recently as last week was scheduled to be put out to pasture at the end of this year.

Analysts had pointed out that XP Home, and most other XP operating systems, would be cut off from technical support on Dec. 31, 2006, a potential problem since XP's successor, Windows Vista, isn't to release until shortly before that date.

In a blog written last Wednesday, JupiterResearch analyst Joe Wilcox put the blame at Windows Vista's door. "It's more a problem of product delays, that Microsoft repeatedly delayed release of Windows Vista," he wrote.

In an updated support lifecycle listing, Microsoft said that all Windows XP products--which include Home, Pro, Embedded, Media Center, and Tablet PC--will enjoy mainstream support for "two years after the next version of this product is released."

Assuming Vista releases in November of this year, XP's mainstream support will end November, 2008.

Shared Computer Toolkit for Windows XP:Public Terminal Lockdown

Microsoft has released a toolkit that provides administrators with the ability to lockdown PCs that are accessible to the public or untrusted users. The Toolkit can be used in an Active Directory environment.

Click for more Information.

Two MS Security Bulletins released today

Microsoft has released two Security Bulletins today:

1. Vulnerability in Embedded Web Fonts Could Allow Remote Code Execution (908519)[bulletin]


2. Vulnerability in TNEF Decoding in Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Exchange Could Allow Remote Code Execution (902412) [bulletin]
   

Legal Extensions Feature: Recheck Spelling

Q. When would I use the recheck spelling button?

A. When you spell check a document and use the "ignore" option it marks the word as valid for that document forever. If you have someone else created a document for you and you are not sure if they may have ignored a word that should have been fixed you can use the Legal Extensions recheck spelling feature to force Word to revaluate all spelling in the document including any words that are marked "ignore".

In other words the recheck spelling button throws away all ignore spelling items for the document and lets you start fresh. Some of our clients use this as the standard spell check for all documents they do not have complete control over.

Remember to review your Backup Processes!

Have you reviewed your backup procedures and hardware lately?

Today's enterprises have increasingly complex data storage and retrieval requirements. And as these storage requirements have changed, the hardware that is employed by the firm has the tendency to traverse several different lifecycles.

Although most firms will agree that their data storage system is business-critical, few spend the time to regularly review their existing storage hardware. Remember that all hardware data storage resources are in a state of constant decay! And particular attention should be paid to the lifecycle of your hard disks. Not only do the spindle bearings naturally wear with each rotation, but the strength of all storage platter magnetic data encoding patterns is also naturally evaporating. Magnetic field sublimation applies to tape data as well.

As a new year starts, you should revisit your data’s safety and adopt strong measures to secure your data. How old are the firm's drives and tapes? Do you have data and systems redundancy?