The Orion Law Management Systems Administration and Practice Management program allows you to manage clients, contacts, cases, emails, to-do lists, docket and calendar items, and documents. Behind the scenes, Orion holds the powerful tools used to create, secure, and develop all the necessary tables, fields and views required by your firm. However, in order to efficiently use these tools, you must first “design” your database structure.
A significant amount of time should be invested on the front end in planning what you want your database to hold, and the information you would like to get out of it. Once these plans are set, you must create certain tables and other items in Orion as well as design Entry/Edit screens for your users. You should also put a lot of thought into security and who will have rights to access, enter and/or edit information.
The subsequent chapters in this guide will go into detail on the “how to” of creating the various tables, forms and views you decide you need. This chapter provides an overview of the Orion Administration and Practice Management Program.
Navigation
This chapter provides an overview of the following user interface elements you use to navigate within the Administration program:
- Title Bar – located at the top of the screen; displays the name of the server and the database you are currently accessing. For details, see “Title Bar” on page 1-3.
- Tool Bar – contains buttons that you use to change existing records, create new records, and delete records. For details, see “Tool Bar” on page 1-4.
- Task Bar – located on the left hand side of the screen; contains preset groups which are further divided into categories. For details, see “Task Bar” on page 1-5.
- Administration Menu – contains File, View, Action, and Help options. For details, see “Administration Menu” on page 1-7.
Getting Started
After reading this chapter, you will have a general overview of the tools and features available for use in the Orion Administration and Practice Management program. You are now ready to begin setting up your system.
The following chapters provide step-by-step procedures for adding and editing records within the various Groups. Please note that the creation of records in this program will only be as good and effective as your plan for how you would like to use the system.
Title Bar
The Orion Administration Title Bar is located at the very top of the Orion Administration screen and displays the name of the server and the database you are currently accessing. This will not change unless you change your server and database by using the Database option on the File menu.
Tool Bar
The Orion Administration Tool Bar contains several options (buttons) that give you the ability to change existing records, create new records, delete records, and other functions.
Tool Bar Options
This table describes the options on the tool bar:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Edit | Allows you to view and edit the properties of a record (displayed as an icon) shown in the Display Panel. To edit a record, you must first highlight a record (icon) in the Display Panel and then click Edit. |
| New | Allows you to Create a new record (icon) for the category currently active on the Display Panel. |
| Delete | Allows you to delete an existing record in the category currently active on the Display Panel. To delete a record, you must first make it the active record by clicking on it in the Display Panel. Note that in most cases, deletion is allowed only if the record is not being referenced in the system. |
| View | Change the way in which records are listed in the Display Panel. You can select the following buttons:
|
Task Bar
The Orion Administration Task Bar is displayed on the left hand side of the screen.
Accessing Groups and Categories
The task bar contains preset groups (for example, System Information and User Setup) which are then further divided into categories. When a category is accessed, you may add new records to the category.
- To access a group, click the group header and the categories within are displayed.
- To add records to a specific category, click on that category and then click New.
Task Bar Groups
Following is a brief description of each primary group on the Task Bar. Details of the categories within and adding records to each will be discussed in subsequent chapters of this guide.
| Group Name | Description |
|---|---|
| System Information | Provides categories for defining certain system wide settings including your email system and word processing program used |
| User Setup | Contains categories allowing you to set up users, work groups and security groups |
| Contact/Case Setup | Provides categories for setting up variables used when entering new contacts and cases |
| Tables and Views | Provides you with categories allowing you to create new data tables and data views from within which to enter data in these tables |
| Document Library | Contains categories related to creating documents that will be used to extract data from Orion Contact and Practice Management and merge it into a master form |
| Critical Dates | Contains categories related to Dockets and Calendars, including setting up Venues and Protocols |
Administration Menu
The Administration Menu options appear at the top of the screen immediately below the Title Bar when you access the program.
Menu Options
The Orion Administration Menu contains four options from which to choose:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| File | Allows you to change your database. If you choose to connect to a:
Once you have changed databases, the Orion Title Bar changes to show the new Server and Database you are connected to. |
| View | Allows you to choose your view in the Display Panel. You can choose the following options:
|
| Action | Gives you the options of Edit, New, or Delete |
| Help | Gives you connection information on the user and database currently connected |