Flexible, interactive reports

In MR9 you will find that some reports have been transformed from static reports into customizable information grids that you can export to use in other programs. 

Some simple, static reports remain

In MR8 a report is a report. After entering parameters you can view the report onscreen, print it out, save it, and/or email it. This works fine for some reports — such as the Insurance Billing Report — that you review or submit to others to review but don’t need to do anything else with the information. In MR9 simple informational reports like that remain the same as an MR8 report.

Other reports are interactive

But other information that is presented in MR8 as a static report is now open for use in MR9, Excel, and other programs. For example MR8 has the static Sales Tax Report, but we found that clients don’t need to print it out — that just wastes paper and you can’t work with it. So in MR9 we changed it so you can export it as an Excel spreadsheet, which is more useful.

Another report that has been repurposed to be more useful in MR9 is the Voided Invoices report. Instead of the static MR8 version, in MR9 all of the listed voided invoices are hyperlinked so you can easily view any invoice information without leaving the function.

Maybe the biggest example of a transformed report is the Aged A/R Report, which has been changed so much, it’s almost like another MR9 module.

Tabs are history

A new MR meant the chance to update anything and everything. Even if your use of MR8 is limited to a single module, you will find that MR9 is a different experience. Everything has been simplified — both visually and functionally — so you will be able to work faster and easier.

Single-screen functions

A big difference is that everything in a function is on the same screen in MR9. Instead of the MR8 experience of clicking tabs or opening windows, you scroll to see more information. This layout is especially good with large monitors: You will be able to see more information all at once.

In MR8 in order to see details, you open a new window that blocks the view of the existing window. And some operations result in opening a bunch of windows on top of each other. In MR9 a detail window opens as a panel to the right of the main window. You can easily scroll to see any information that doesn't fit into your screen.

Nothing hidden

When MR8 was developed, it used the layout elements of its time — such as tabs for partitioning information. But tabs are a solution to the old technology problem of a fixed window size, and when you click a tab you lose info on other tabs. In MR9 you simply scroll down through information panes. You can also jump to a pane directly instead of scrolling. And if you don’t want to scroll down at all, MR9’s offers a Collapse All function to hide all information panes at once — making it easy to find, then click to view the one pane you are looking for.

Email form letters

MR8 has an extensive set of print form letters but few email form letters. You can send some forms with MR data in them — but only as an attachment to an email or embedded and as an attachment. MR9 keeps MR8 options but adds more choices.

MR9: 100% email-able form letters

If you like to send forms as attachments to email, you can continue to do so. But you have more options in MR9 email:

• All forms are email-able.
• Forms can be embedded in emails without also being sent as an attachment.

Email or snail mail: your choice in MR9

MR9 still has print capability. So if you want to print forms and hand them out or mail them traditionally, you can continue to work the way you are accustomed to.

Fewer plug-ins, more features

MR8 plug-ins offer flexibility and customization but at an added monthly cost. Due to MR9’s radically different technology, some features that are optional plug-ins in MR8 and MR Web could be included in MR9 and MR Connect fairly easily — so we did!

Reward points program included in MR9

If you reward loyal clients with points or would like to, the MR Reward Points system (similar to frequent flyer programs) that was a plug-in in MR8 is included in MR9. 

MR Connect: the new MR Web

MR Web online offices is still an optional plug-in, but with a new name, MR Connect, and includes 2 MR8 plug-ins for no additional charge:

• My Reward Points: If you offer reward points to your clients, they can manage their points online.
• Order Progress Access Extension: This MR Web 8 plug-in allow others (such as co-counsels) to view the progress of relevant orders online.

Functions rethought

Because MR9 is browser based, it was very important to make its data management processes simpler to return results as fast as possible. So we had to rethink every function in MR9 — simplifying some, breaking some down into multiple functions, and eliminating some features that became obsolete with this new workflow.

Some functions didn’t change, such as Daily Orders Audit. Others had a name change but work similarly to MR8’s version, such as Print Forms in MR8 is called Send Forms in MR9.

Generally changes from MR8 to MR9 are additions or restructured functions. But in rethinking everything there was a function we removed due to lack of use. The Print Certified Mail Cards function was used to fill out the USPS Form 3811, AKA Domestic Return Receipt, for the post office to provide evidence a form package was delivered to the correct recipient. Based on user feedback and the trend of using email instead of snail mail to send records and other documents, we removed this function from the Orders module.