Copyright 2009 Real Freedom, Inc.

Size: px

Start display at page:

Cecil O’Brien’
6 years ago
Views:

2 Installation Mac Users: 1. Go to and click the button to download your software: 2. When prompted, choose to save the file to your Desktop. 3. After the download is complete, go to your Desktop and double-click PLGMacInstall.zip. Unzip the file to your Desktop. (Note: If you're not familiar with unzipping files, check out 4. Open the unzipped folder on your Desktop and double-click Probate Letter Generator Install.pkg. 5. Follow the step-by-step installation. 6. When the installation is complete, double-click the Macintosh HD icon on your Desktop. 7. Double-click Applications. 8. Double-click the Probate Letter Generator folder. 9. Double-click the Probate Letter Generator icon to launch the Probate Letter Generator software. Windows Users: 1. Go to and click the button to download your software: 2. When prompted, choose to save the file to your Desktop. 3. After the download is complete, go to your Desktop and double-click PLGWindowsInstall.zip. Unzip the file to your Desktop. (Note: If you're not familiar with unzipping files, check out 4. Open the unzipped folder on your Desktop and double-click setup.exe. 5. Follow the step-by-step installation. At the end, you ll see a popup message saying The.jar suffix (Java Archive) has been registered successfully. Simply click Ok on this message.

3 6. When the installation is complete, you ll find a Probate Letter Generator shortcut on your Desktop. Double-click it to launch the Probate Letter Generator software.

4 Using Probate Letter Generator Setting Up Your Profile: After you ve installed and launched Probate Letter Generator for the first time, the first step is to set your profile. You only need to complete this step one time. To set your profile: 1. From the Main Menu, click Manage My Profile and click Ok 2. On the Profile screen, enter your name, address, and phone number, then click Save & Close. This information will be used in all your probate and attorney letters. Generating a Single Probate Letter: The Probate Letter Generator software is set up in step-by-step fashion. To generate a new probate letter: 1. From the Main Menu, click Create a New Record and click Ok

5 2. Select Create from scratch 3. Complete the following step-by-step process to enter information about the probate record: a. Step 1: Enter the case details, then click Next b. Step 2: Enter the name and address of the deceased, then click Next c. Step 3: Enter the name and address of the personal representative, then click Next d. Step 4: Enter the names and addresses of up to 5 heirs of the deceased, clicking Next after each individual. If you have less than 5, simply leave the form blank and click Next. e. Step 5: Enter the name and address of the attorney, then click Next f. Step 6: Enter the assessment value of the property, then click Next. If you do not have this information, leave the form blank and click Next.

6 4. After completing Step 6, click the Generate button 5. Select the date you d like to appear on the probate and attorney letters, then click Next 6. Select who you would like to address the probate letter to, then click Next 7. Select anyone you d like to list as receiving a CC of the probate letter, then click Next 8. The probate letter is generated a. Optional: At this point, you can make any necessary changes to the probate letter b. Click Print to print this probate letter

7 c. Click Next 9. The attorney letter is generated a. Optional: At this point, you can make any necessary changes to the attorney letter b. Click Print to print this attorney letter c. Click Close to return to the Main Menu Generating Multiple Probate Letters at Once: The Probate Letter Generator software allows you to import a CSV file of probate records, then generate and print several probate letters at once. This process is set up in step-by-step fashion. To generate multiple probate letters: 1. From the Main Menu, click Create a New Record and click Ok

8 2. Select Create from CSV then click Next (Note: You must have a CSV file to complete this step. CSV is a common file type that stands for comma separated values. Any spreadsheet software, such as Microsoft Excel, can save a file in this format. Open plg_import_template.csv, which came with your Probate Letter Generator software, for an example, and use this template for your own imports. It is recommended that you keep your data in the same column layout as the template.) 3. CSV Select: Click the Browse button and locate the CSV file on your computer. If your CSV file contains a header row at the top (e.g. Case No Decedent Name Decedent Address ) select the checkbox beside My CSV contains a header row. If the first row of your CSV contains data instead of a header row, leave this checkbox unchecked. Click Next.

9 4. Match Fields: This screen reveals the first row of data from your CSV and gives you the opportunity to match the names to the appropriate fields. If you see any names that are out of place, use the select boxes to choose the appropriate matching. (Note: If you ve used the standard plg_import_template.csv, your data will already be in the correct order.)

10 5. Select Records: This screen allows you to select the records to import from your CSV. Select ALL records by clicking the single checkbox beside Case No. Otherwise, select the specific individual records you d like to import. 6. Select Settings: On this screen, you ll select who you d like to address and CC each letter to. To select settings that will apply to ALL imported probate records, click the Set Default Settings link. Otherwise, use the Settings link next to each individual record. Click Next when finished.

11 7. Save and Generate: This screen displays a final preview of your data before import. If you see any problems, click Back. Otherwise, click Save and Close to finalize your import, or click Save and Generate to finalize your import and generate all letters immediately. Opening an Existing Probate Record: If you ve previously created a probate record and you d like to change any information or re-generate the letters: 1. From the Main Menu, click Manage an Existing Record and click Ok

12 2. Click the row of the probate record you d like to edit, then click Open Record 3. On the next screen, you can review the details of this probate record. 4. If you d like to edit any of the details: a. Click the Edit button b. When you re done editing, click Save 5. If you d like to generate probate and attorney letters for this case, click the Generate button 6. Select the date you d like to appear on the probate and attorney letters, then click Next 7. Select who you would like to address the probate letter to, then click Next 8. Select anyone you d like to list as receiving a CC of the probate letter, then click Next 9. The probate letter is generated a. Optional: At this point, you can make any necessary changes to the probate letter b. Click Print to print this probate letter c. Click Next

13 10. The attorney letter is generated a. Optional: At this point, you can make any necessary changes to the attorney letter b. Click Print to print this attorney letter c. Click Close to return to the Main Menu Creating or Modifying a Letter Template: This feature allows you to write and generate your OWN probate letters instead of using Preston s standard letter templates. 1. From the Main Menu, click Manage Letter Templates and click Ok

14 2. To create a new letter template: a. Select New Letter then click Next. b. Name your letter template (e.g. My Probate Letter ). c. Select whether you ll be creating a Probate Letter template or an Attorney Letter template. d. Preston s standard template is provided. You can modify the details of this letter. i. Note 1: Be sure not to remove the bold text between ## symbols. These are points where variables will be embedded into your letter during the generation process. ii. Note 2: Your signature lines will automatically be appended to the bottom of your letters, so there s no need to include these. e. When you re satisfied with your letter, click the Save button. 3. To modify an existing letter template: a. Select Existing Letter. b. Click the row of the letter you d like to edit then click Next. c. Make any changes you d like to make. i. Note 1: Be sure not to remove the bold text between ## symbols. These are points where variables will be embedded into your letter during the generation process.

15 ii. Note 2: Your signature lines will automatically be appended to the bottom of your letters, so there s no need to include these. d. When you re satisfied with your letter, click the Save button.

MAILMERGE WORD MESSAGES

MAILMERGE WORD MESSAGES MAILMERGE WORD 2007 It is recommended that Excel spreadsheets are used as source files and created with separate columns for each field, e.g. FirstName, LastName, Title, Address1, Address2, City, State,