Author Archives

    Bryan Sims

    Posted on

    Favorites: SpeedFiler

    by

    I have found a new software program that I absolutely love. It is SpeedFiler from Claritude Software. SpeedFiler is an add-in for Microsoft Outlook. According to the website, it is compatible with both Outlook 2003 and 2007. SpeedFiler allows you to completely and easily organize your inbox and folders in Microsoft Outlook.

    I have always been pretty good about keeping my emails organized in folders. However, the bane of my existence has always been my sent folder. It always took too much time and effort to try to organize my sent messages and put them in folders. SpeedFiler has solved this problem for me.

    When you send an email in Outlook, SpeedFiler pops up a window and asks you where you want the sent message filed. When it does this, it suggests a folder that it thinks might be appropriate. Based upon my use for almost a month, this “guess” appears to be accurate about 90% of the time. If the suggestion is wrong, you simply select the correct folder. However, rather than wading through your folder tree, you simply start typing the name of the folder. SpeedFiler then suggests the folder to you. Thus, in usually just a couple of keystrokes you can file the sent message in the proper folder.

    Speedfiler also has a selection that will send the message and then delete it from the sent folder. Finally, another great feature about the sending and filing aspect is that, if you are replying to an email, you have the option of filing the original email at the same time you file your response.

    In terms of managing your inbox, the filing system works just as well. SpeedFiler adds a toolbar to Outlook that allows you to file emails with just one click. As described above, the suggested folder is right the vast majority of the time. If that is not the correct folder, however, a few key strokes or mouse clicks will quickly get the email filed.

    I love products that aim to do only one thing and then do it well. SpeedFiler does its one thing (organizing my emails) exceptionally well. I have rarely used a program that works so well, so easily, and so intuitively. If you use Outlook as your email program, I encourage you to download a trial version today. Try it for 30 days and you will be amazed at how much easier it is to handle and file your email. I wished that I had found this program years ago.

    The professional version of the program (which includes the one-click filing and the intelligent folder suggestions) is $39.95. Further, the license reasonably allows you to use the program on multiple computers as long as you are the only user.

    Posted on

    Friday Fun: Wakerupper

    by

    I have stumbled across a service called Wakerupper. Essentially you just log on to the website and schedule a phone call to be placed to you on the date and at the time that you designate. The website promotes this as a great way to schedule a wakeup call or to schedule a reminder.

    What the website fails to mention, however is that this service is also a great way to schedule a phone call to be placed to your cell phone in case you need to get out of a meeting that is running long.

    Posted on

    Support Your Wrist

    by

    WristeaseTrish Uhl of Owl’s Ledge, LLC, introduced these to me. They are called Wristease and are wrist supports that are designed to provide comfort and support to people suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome or other repetitive motion wrist pain or injury.Wristease Logo

    If you suffer from wrist pain while using a computer or mouse, it may be worth your time and money to give a pair of these a try. To keep you stylish, they are available in Black, White, Red, Blue, and Pink. The cost is $15.99 a pair plus shipping.

    Posted on

    Top 10 Ways to Clean Your PC

    by

    From Lifehacker comes an article on the Top 10 Ways to Clean Your PC. My favorite is #10, Clear Your Desktop. I don’t know that you need to clear it entirely off as they suggest. However, I see far too many people who have a desktop that is so cluttered that they cannot find anything on it.

    This is a great tip that will increase your productivity. Clean your desktop and keep it that way.

    Posted on

    Tips for Greater Productivity

    by

    ABAThe ABA Journal recently had an article with “101 tips, tricks and tools to make you a more productive, less stressed-out lawyer.” I don’t agree that all of the suggested tips will lower your stress. However, there are several good tips here. I have collected some of my favorites below.

    Empty your e-mail inbox daily.

    Move e-mail to the appropriate folder as soon as you have read it.

    Instead of getting buried in e-mail newsletters, set up an RSS feed.

    Find a desktop search tool that works for you.

    Use Jott to send messages from your cell phone.

    Use Giveaway of the Day to get licensed software for free. Most of it will be junk you don’t need, but oc­casionally you’ll find something useful.

    Posted on

    Managing documents with the CBA

    by

    CBAI am off tomorrow morning to the Chicago Bar Association to speak on the topic of managing your documents. I am joined in the endeavor by Trish Uhl, of Owl’s Ledge Consulting. Trish has been a pleasure to work with on this project. I look forward to the presentation. It should be a lot of fun.

    If you are a reader of this blog, and are attending the presentation, please let me know.

    Posted on

    Outlook on Your Desktop

    by

    I recently ran across this neat little utility. It’s called Outlook on the Desktop and its function is to put Outlook on your desktop in a semitransparent manner. The really neat thing is that it is fully editable in this form.

    The part I love is that the developer said that he created it because it was something that his girlfriend wanted.

    Outlook on Desktop

    Posted on

    Another Cool Feature in Adobe Acrobat

    by

    If you read this blog regularly, you probably already know that I am a big fan of Adobe Acrobat. I use it on a daily basis in my practice. One of the things that always frustrated me, however, was that the “recently opened files” list (you know the one that appears at the bottom of the file menu) has only the last five files opened. Plus, unlike most other programs, I was unable to find a way to expand this list.

    A few days ago, I happened to notice that right above the 5 last opened files is a link called History. Clicking on it, I discovered that it allows me to see all files that I have opened Today, Yesterday, The Last 7 Days, The Last 30 Days, and The Last 12 Months.

    What a great feature. I don’t know why I never saw this before. However, if you, like me, get frustrated with the recently opened file limitation, you now know that there is a great solution that gives you access to so much more.