CT Summation iBlaze Version
2.7.1
By
Kim
Plonksy
Since it pioneered litigation support
software in 1988, Summation has emerged as the de facto standard for
electronic case management.
CT Summation iBlaze Version 2.7.1 raises the bar yet again, and
shows why Summation continues to prevail as one of the top case
management software programs of choice for litigators.
CT Summation Blaze is available in
three different configurations (Blaze LG, Blaze LG Gold and iBlaze),
ranging from approximately $1,000 to $2,500, and multinode network
packages also are available. Buyers can pay for only needed feature
groups, putting Summation in reach of smaller firms.
The latest version of iBlaze provides
more than just the ability to search, organize and analyze case
information. My favorite feature is the ability to load e-mails and
attachments from Microsoft Outlook or IBM Lotus Notes. By downloading
and installing the Petrification Toolset at
http://info.summation.com/petrify, you can convert electronic
documents and e-mails into image format.
Also, iBlaze users can remotely access
external databases in Microsoft Access or Microsoft SQL Server 7.0,
allowing collaboration with co-counsel on a master case database. You
also can create searchable, full-text versions of images in your
databases, thanks to iBlaze’s built-in optical character recognition
engine. I also like that images easily can be added to the database by
dragging and dropping them from Windows Explorer directly onto the
program’s Image Viewer.
With all that iBlaze has to offer
litigators, there simply isn’t much to dislike about it. As complex and
sophisticated as the program is, it’s still fairly user-friendly,
especially compared to similar software. The user interface can be
confusing because of the different viewing options, but the more you use
it, the easier this becomes.
My only real disappointment with iBlaze
is that it doesn’t print condensed deposition transcripts or a
concordance (word list) from a single deposition transcript. This would
be handy when a transcript on disk is all that is available and a hard
copy is needed (for example, to attach a transcript as an exhibit to a
pleading). Also, I dislike that the only “Help” feature available is
online, and find that its information is too broad, forcing me to make
multiple searches.
Overall, iBlaze is fabulous, and worthy
of praise. Buyers can rest assured knowing this product was 17 years in
the making and is still growing. IBlaze is on the cutting edge and
preeminent in the case management software field. You can download a
demo version of iBlaze at
http://info.summation.com/demo.
CT Summation iBlaze
Version 2.7.1 |
CT Summation • (800) 735-7866 •
www.ctsummation.com
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Starts at $2,495 • Microsoft Windows 98/2000/NT/XP;
Pentium II 300MHz, 128MB RAM, 200MB hard drive, Internet Explorer 5.5.
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Pros: Easy to use. Performs fast
searches. Imports sequentially numbered document production sets and
markup or redact images. Has helpful customer support and on-site
training.
Cons:
Interface can be confusing due
to different viewing options. Doesn’t print condensed deposition
transcripts or a concordance from a single deposition transcript.
“Help” feature is only available online.
Verdict:
CT Summation iBlaze is a proven leader in the field. Besides
being an invaluable tool, it’s one of the the most widely used
litigation management software in the country, assuring buyers of the
likelihood of sharing and exchanging data with opposing counsel.
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