The following is to assist first time users. When PI Helper is first started the main (entry) form is displayed. The following are the basics steps first time users should follow. Please Print these instructions and use them as a checklist..
- Investigators Setup
- Report Headers Setup
Case Management:
- Create a Client
- Create a Case
- Assign Client to created Case
- Input Timelog data
- Create Invoice (on the Invoice Processing form)
- Printout Invoice, Timelog reports for Clients.
Right-Clicking is an important option in the program. For instance, on the Cases form, right-clicking the Subject name (under the toolbar) will allow you to quickly go to any opened case.
Extensive on-line Help - For additional information, access the on-line help system. To access help, just press F1 anywhere in the program or select Help from the menu bar.
Preliminary Setup: From the main form Press the Setup button. This form consists of seven pages. Two pages are of concern for first time users, Investigators and Report Setup.
Investigators Setup : Change the "temp Category" category name. For instance one could have Basic Investigation, Senior Investigation, etc. Input Hourly and mileage rates. Press New to setup new categories.
In the bottom table change the Investigator name, piName, to your name or another Investigator name. Move the mouse over the Category column and right-click to assign a Category to the Investigator. Press New to setup new Investigators. If more than one Investigator is listed assign one of them as the default Investigator. Right-click the desired Investigator name and select "Set as Default" from the popup menu.
Report Headers Setup: The Company information that will be displayed on the printed reports is entered here. Just click on the fields in light yellow and input the company information. The Header Preview at the bottom changes to show the changes made.
Creating a New Case: The following are the basic steps for starting a new case:
New Case with a New Client:
- Go to the Client Record View page of the Clients form.
- Press the press the New button (top center of toolbar) and select "New Client #" A temporary Client number will be assigned.
- Input Client information in the light yellow fields.
- Press OK or Return to save the Client information.
- Proceed with the steps listed next.
New Case with an Existing Client:
- Go to the Client page of the Cases form:and press the New button (top center of toolbar), or right-click the Case# field and select New Case.
- Type in your Case number, press Enter.
- Click the mouse in one of the Client Auto Search fields to display the popup Client table. Start typing the Client name (or Contact) and program displays the clients starting with the Characters entered
- Assign Client: Once the correct client is shown move the mouse over the client record and left-click to assign the displayed client to the Case.
- Input any Case information as desired.
- If a Date value is entered in the Trial/Due Date field an entry is automatically placed in the Reminder Calendar.
Entering Timelog Data: Go to the Timelog form from the Main form or directly from the Cases form. On the Timelog form, right-clicking the Subject Name field (below the Return button ) will display a popup menu listing all open cases.
Initial Timelog Setup: Go to the Preferences notepage and change the User Defined Expense Category Settings. Some examples are Hotel, Phone Charges, Video Tape Charge. These Categories are setup at the time of Case creation.
Basic steps for Timelog operation: For the first three pages, Investigation- Hours, Mileage, and Expenses the following applies:
- Press the New Entry button (middle of the form, left side) to start a new entry.
Basic fields will be automatically set: Date, PI, Rates, Expense Qty
- Investigation- Hours: Enter task highlight in the Description field. Right-clicking the Description field will display a popup menu listing user defined description entries. Create your own list by selecting "Program this Description List" from the popup menu.
For longer narrative entries utilize the Description Notes memo field near the bottom left of the form (large light yellow field).
- Expenses: Enter task highlight in the Description field. Right-clicking the Description field will display a popup menu listing user defined description entries. Create your own list by selecting "Program this Description List" from the popup menu.
Right-click the Cata field to display the Categories for expenses (setup from Initial Timelog Setup) All Expense entries that are not assigned a Category are summed into the Misc field on the Invoice form.
Invoice Creation: After all necessary Timelog data are entered an invoice can be created.
Steps to create an Invoice:
- Go to the Invoice Processing form from the Main form.
- Go to the Cases Not Invoiced notepage.
- Press the "Build Open Case List" button (top center on the toolbar). Any opened Cases without Invoices are displayed in the table. An X in the Sel column indicates a case selected for Invoice generation.
- Change any Sel values by pressing Select/All - None, or by clicking the Sel field.
- Press OK to generate an Invoice
- Go to the Invoice Display notepage to review the Invoice.
- If desired press the Edit Labels button to change the Category labels that will be printed on the Invoice.
- Press the Print button (toolbar at top) and select Invoice to print the Invoice.