You’re probably aware that the data files were moved to a “Database” folder during the Version 19 conversion. Are your Platinum firms taking advantage of this change?

This file structure reorganization made it possible for us to implement our new Platinum Data Security feature. This feature allows firms to implement restricted network permissions so that only authorized users (typically Admin and IT users) have access to the Tabs3 Database folder. Users without full rights to the Database folder can only modify those files using Tabs3 software. This prevents unauthorized users from accessing the files on the network, but still allows them to work in the software. Restricting network access rights helps protect key Tabs3 data files from accidental or malicious attempts to compromise your important Tabs3 information.

Implementation of this feature is accomplished by changing write permissions to the Database folder on the server, not from within the Tabs3 software. More information can be found in Knowledge Base Article R11763, “Platinum Data Security.” This feature is available in all releases of Version 19 Platinum software.

This afternoon we posted a Version 19 update to optimize the Server Cache settings in the Platinum Server Configuration file.

To take advantage of this optimization, all Platinum firms should download and install version 19.1.7.709. Please note, this update requires all users to exit the software and must be performed at the server.

Proper server cache configurations can have a great impact on Tabs3 software performance and, over time, firms may need to change their Platinum Server Cache settings in order to accommodate increased data sizes. We recommend taking this opportunity to review the current settings in System Configuration. Select Platinum | Platinum Server Configuration, then select the Server Cache tab. Knowledge Base Article R11644, “CTSRVR.CFG Configuration File,” provides guidance for these settings.

If you have any questions, you can contact our Support Team at 402-419-2210.

We have been getting great feedback on Version 19. If you have customers holding back on updating to Version 19, we thought you may want to let them know about the various performance improvements in Version 19. Here is a condensed list.

Tabs3

• The Client Lookup window now returns faster results when the Include Inactive Clients check box is cleared. This improvement applies to both Platinum and non-Platinum systems. Additionally, Platinum systems now use accelerated filtering Client Lookups.
• The Update Statements process has been optimized. Firms that generally used an open (blank) client range may notice significant improvements in the time required to update statements.
• The function that calculates accounts receivable balances has been optimized. As a result, multiple features in Tabs3 that calculate the current A/R balance (including reports) will load or process considerably faster.

PracticeMaster

• The Active Only option when viewing the Client or Contact files is now accelerated, meaning that Platinum firms will see a significant performance boost. Additional improvements were made for non-Platinum systems to improve general performance of the Active Only option and reduce the possibility of PracticeMaster entering a “Not Responding” state while loading records.
• A new “hideassembly” variable has been added to Word Document Assembly to hide the document assembly process. Adding this variable to your more complex document assembly templates could greatly reduce the amount of time to assemble the document.

All of these improvements are present in the most recent release of Version 19.

A notification was recently sent to all users on Versions 14 or 15 letting them know that they should update before the end of next month. Beginning December 1^st, firms on either of these versions will be required to send us data for conversion if they wish to convert to Version 19, just like they’ve had to do previously with Versions 12 and older. The conversion files which are necessary for these conversions will no longer be available from our web installer after that day.

I suggest using your QBR to see which of your firms are affected by this change and encourage them to update. It is likely to lead to sales and service work.

For a very short period of time on 4-24-2017, Webroot Version 9.0.15.50 started quarantining various files due to false positives. Webroot reports they have fixed the problem. It appears you must remove the files from quarantine before you can successfully use the Tabs3 software.