Filefinder Anywhere Client Newsletter Sept 2014 (Global)

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September 2014

CONTENTS 3. Introducing FileFinder Anywhere 7. Free Live Training Webinars 8. The Research Practitioner Skills Day - Special Rate 12. Tips for using FileFinder 14. FileFinder Product Development

FileFinder User Group on LinkedIn – JOIN TODAY!

Welcome to the September 2014 edition of the FileFinder client newsletter. You may be reading this newsletter on your office computer. You may be reading it on your iPad, on a shared PC at an airport, perhaps on a Mac, possibly on a Chromebook or maybe on your phone. I’m delighted to say that whichever of the above devices you are reading this on – actually, whatever you are reading this on (assuming you haven’t printed it out!) – you will also be able to access FileFinder on now that our new product FileFinder Anywhere has been launched. In this newsletter, you will learn about: FileFinder for Browser, which delivers approximately 70% of FileFinder’s core functionality through browsers, including Google Chrome, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Apple’s Safari (yes, it works on Macs!) Our two new Outlook apps, which allow you to manage emails without leaving Outlook FileFinder for Desktop – part of the FileFinder Anywhere suite – which replaces FileFinder 10 Our cloud hosting services, which now support synchronization and are delivered via hubs in five countries across four continents In addition, we have news on a number of upcoming events including: The FileFinder Anywhere product launch, taking place at ODEON Covent Garden, London on the 7th of October - to attend, please email redcarpet@dillistone.com The Research Practitioner Skills Day, taking place in London on the 4th of November (a significant discount is available to clients with a valid support contract) The World Executive Search Congress, which is due to take place in Las Vegas in 2015 (again, clients with a valid support contract are being offered a significant discount) A FileFinder user meeting, taking place in Las Vegas as part of the World Executive Search Congress. We have invested millions of dollars in the development of FileFinder Anywhere. We are not aware of any comparable product that offers the flexibility of delivery that FileFinder Anywhere does. We are not aware of any comparable products that are using the latest Microsoft Outlook technology in the way we do. We are not aware of any comparable products that offer the type of web research tools that our products do. We are extremely proud of what we have developed and hope you enjoy reading more about our new suite of applications in this newsletter. Thank you for your continued support of Dillistone Systems!

Best regards, Jason Starr

Find the group on LinkedIn.com or go to www.linkedin.com/ groups?gid=3680734

Click to watch the video: All FileFinder clients with current support or ASP contracts are welcome! Video © PowToon

We’re on the move! We are delighted to announce that our London-based employees will be moving to a new office on Friday, October 10, 2014. Our new premises boast improved client training facilities and extra space to accommodate our ongoing expansion, reflecting our commitment to continually develop our technology to better serve our clients and provide a first-rate training service. We hope there is minimal disruption to our services on moving day, but if we do appear slow to respond, please bear with us. An “office move” reminder email will be sent to you in early October.

Our new address will be: 1st Floor, 50 Leman Street, London, E1 8HQ. Our telephone numbers will remain the same. – UK office main: +44 (0)20 7749 6100 Technical Support: +44 (0)20 7749 6101.


SAVE THE DATE!

LAS VEGAS, MARCH 9-10, 2015 Click on the Play button above to watch testimonials from the 2014 event!

Visit www.search-consult.com/WESC2015 or email events@search-consult.com for updates


Introducing By the time you read this client newsletter, a number of our clients will be using FileFinder Anywhere as part of our beta program. In this article, we aim to introduce our new suite and talk about how you can roll it out for your team members.

What is FileFinder Anywhere?

FileFinder Anywhere allows users to access and interact with critical business information through a variety of platforms. It is made up of several elements: An enhanced FileFinder Desktop App Two entirely new Outlook Apps Our classic Mobile App An entirely new Browser App

Each of the above platforms provides access to the same database in real time. This means, for example, that a change made by a user working with one of the Outlook apps will be seen instantly by users accessing the system through the other platforms. The Apps have been designed individually to meet the specific usage case needs of the platform. While they access the same data, the specific functionality will reflect the potential of the technology and the typical requirements of the user. In short: FileFinder for Desktop – The Desktop App replaces FileFinder 10. It is very similar to the FileFinder 10.8 release rolled out over the summer (which delivered significant speed improvements, numerous fixes and new functionality such as list sharing) but also features a number of improvements requested by users (including a redesign of the personal contact information panel, the ability to edit contact logs, and the ability to select two records and de-duplicate in the front-end). FileFinder for Outlook – We have developed two new Outlook Apps. One is designed for the Desktop version of Outlook and replaces the current Outlook plugin. The other is designed for the browser version

of Outlook (delivered as part of Office 365). Both tools are extremely powerful, we believe they will significantly change the way users work with both Outlook and FileFinder. It is now possible to manage your inbox, make calls to candidates and log them all without ever leaving Outlook. If you have Office 365, this can be done from anywhere – if you are in the office, you may use the desktop version of Outlook, but if you are on the road, you can simply log in through your browser. From a technical perspective, FileFinder doesn’t even need to be installed! FileFinder for Mobile – Other than some technical changes under the bonnet, our Mobile App is unchanged from the version delivered with FileFinder 10. It is an HTML5 Web App, which means that it supports most modern mobile devices, and it is optimised for small screen devices. In addition, users accessing Outlook on the iPad will soon be able to use FileFinder via the Outlook 365 plugin, allowing them to manage emails while on the road. FileFinder for Browser – This is what you have been asking for! Our HTML5 browser based App allows you to work on virtually any modern browser. Designed to mirror the look and feel of the Desktop App, FileFinder for Browser contains approximately two thirds of the functionality in the Desktop version. You can manage your assignments, search the database, access and upload documents and so on. You should note that some functionality found in the Desktop App is missing from the first release of the Browser App – most notably the Admin tool, Research Zone/Web Profiles, Flex, Introductions, Reporting and Import. We anticipate filling most of the gaps in 2015, but don’t forget users can have access to the Desktop App.

We are very proud of the FileFinder Anywhere suite and are hosting a series of free webinars so you can see the software in all its glory (see page 5 for webinar registration links). We are also hosting a launch event at ODEON Covent Garden in London on Tuesday 7 October. To register, please email redcarpet@dillistone.com.

September 2014

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Powering Executive Search. Anytime. Anywhere.

FileFinder for Desktop

FileFinder for Outlook

• Designed for Windows, FileFinder for Desktop replaces FileFinder 10

• Two NEW Outlook Apps allow you to manage your emails without leaving Outlook!

• Significantly faster than early versions of FileFinder 10

• New Desktop Outlook App provided free with FileFinder for Desktop

• Enhanced functionality, including improved de-duplication and contact information panel

Join one of our exclusive client-only webinars ‘Introducing FileFinder Anywhere’ to find out more!

Date and time of webinar Tuesday, September 9, 2014, 12.00-12.30pm Los Angeles time 3.00-3.30pm New York time 4.00-4.30pm Rio de Janeiro time Register at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/ register/650626512


Introducing FileFinder Anywhere, a unique combination of four platforms – Desktop, Mobile, Browser and Outlook – that allows users to access information anytime, anywhere.

FileFinder for Browser

FileFinder for Mobile

• Access FileFinder wherever you are through virtually any modern browser • Available on most modern devices • Contains approximately two thirds of the functionality available in FileFinder for Desktop

• Supports most modern mobile devices • Optimized for small screen devices • FileFinder’s new Outlook App for Office 365 offers additional email management functionality on the iPad

Date and time of webinar

Date and time of webinar

Thursday, September 18, 2014, 10.00-10.30am New York time 11.00-11.30am Rio de Janeiro time 3.00-3.30pm London time 4.00-4.30pm Frankfurt time

Thursday, September 25, 2014, 1.30-2pm Hong Kong time 3.30-4pm Sydney time 5.30-6pm Auckland time

Register at

Register at

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/ register/597228048

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/ register/961896176

www.dillistone.com

sales@dillistone.com


Upgrading to

– Frequently Asked Questions What is FileFinder Anywhere?

FileFinder Anywhere is a suite of complementary tools designed to allow your users to access your FileFinder database from virtually any device. All of the tools connect to the same database, which means that any change on one device is immediately available on the others. The product is made up of four tools, three of which are FileFinder for Desktop (an upgraded version of FileFinder 10), FileFinder for Mobile (a cut down browser app optimized for small screen devices) and FileFinder for Browser (a cutting edge HTML5 web app that delivers approximately 70% of the core product functionality through a browser). FileFinder for Outlook, the fourth tool, offers two new Outlook Apps that allow you to manage your emails without leaving Outlook. One of the apps is designed to sit inside the desktop version of Microsoft Outlook; the other is designed to sit within the browser version of Outlook.

Is FileFinder Anywhere a Cloud hosted application?

We allow our clients to have the choice. FileFinder Anywhere may be hosted in the Cloud; we use a range of Cloud hosting facilities, including both Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services, and these may be found in five countries across four continents. However, subject to suitable technical specifications, clients may also host the product themselves. FileFinder Anywhere also supports data synchronization for clients with multiple offices. Further details on our Cloud hosting facilities are available upon request. If you choose to host internally, additional fees apply for the SSL certificate.

What will upgrading to FileFinder Anywhere cost?

If you are currently using FileFinder and have a valid support or subscription contract, we will not charge license fees for either FileFinder for Desktop or for the desktop element of FileFinder for Outlook. In terms of time taken to do the upgrade - if you are currently using FileFinder 9 or earlier, the upgrade is a fairly significant process and may take a number of days. However, if you are currently using FileFinder 10, the process is relatively simple and will typically take in the region of half a day (although it may take longer under certain circumstances). Whichever version you are upgrading from, we will charge for the time taken to do the work and for any training. FileFinder for Browser is an optional add-on with a subscription payable. The subscription includes the cost of FileFinder for Mobile and the plugin for the browser/ iPad element of FileFinder for Outlook.

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Which version of Outlook do I require?

If you are using FileFinder for Desktop only, you will require the desktop version of Microsoft Outlook (versions 2010 onwards). If you are using FileFinder for Browser, you will require the Outlook Web App, which is part of Office 365. To be clear, users using FileFinder on the Desktop do not need Office 365 – this is only required for users wishing to manage emails through the browser. Please note that the cost of Office 365 is not included in the cost of FileFinder Anywhere.

Can I use FileFinder for Browser without FileFinder for Desktop?

No. Currently, approximately 70% of the functionality within FileFinder for Desktop is available in FileFinder for Browser, so FileFinder for Desktop is required. We anticipate the addition of functions to FileFinder for Browser over time, but certainly functionality such as the Research Zone and Web Profiles cannot currently be delivered through a browser for both technical and legal reasons.

Can I use FileFinder on my Mac?

Yes. FileFinder for Browser works on a range of browsers, including Safari. Emulation software is not required. If you wish to run FileFinder for Desktop, you will require an emulation tool such as Bootcamp. As mentioned above, at least one user will require FileFinder for Desktop.

How can I upgrade to FileFinder Anywhere?

We anticipate demand for FileFinder Anywhere to be high, and we will implement the product on a first come, first served basis. If you would like an upgrade, please register for one of our upgrade webinars. Details of these may be found on this page.

Dates and times of client webinars: Tuesday, September 9, 2014, 12.00-12.30pm Los Angeles time/ 3.00-3.30pm New York time/ 4.00-4.30pm Rio de Janeiro time Register at : https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/650626512 Thursday, September 18, 2014, 10.00-10.30am New York time / 11.00-11.30am Rio de Janeiro time / 3.00-3.30pm London time / 4.00-4.30pm Frankfurt time Register at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/597228048 Thursday, September 25, 2014,12.00-12.30pm Hong Kong time / 2.00-2.30pm Sydney time / 4.00-4.30pm Auckland time Register at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/961896176 FileFinder update from Dillistone Systems


FREE Live FileFinder Webinars Over the past two years Dillistone Systems has been running monthly training webinars covering key issues in FileFinder 9 and FileFinder 10. Typically, attendees become more familiar with the software and eager to get it to work for them in their business environment. Since late 2012, over 60 FileFinder 10 webinars have been run, and they have proved immensely popular; users who registered but did not attend received a link to the webinar recording, so they could view it at their convenience. Our approach has been extended to include FileFinder 9 since the beginning of 2014 – so far 15 webinars have been run and hundreds of users have registered. Each webinar is led by a dedicated trainer and lasts one hour, comprising a 45 minute presentation and a 15 minute question and answer session. The material is delivered in bite-sized chunks that can communicate actions and processes in a specific area of FileFinder in a meaningful manner while not disrupting an attendee’s busy schedule and normal work activities. Trainers offer top tips and expert insight and share their experiences from exposure to varying client environments. So far attendees have benefited from these opportunities to ask questions regarding real issues and situations they face. Key issues covered to date include Importing CVs/Resumes and Spreadsheets in FileFinder, Seven Ways to Add Candidates to an Assignment, Creating Reports, Editing and Creating Pick Lists and Using the Research Zone. The topics covered reflect the feedback received from clients on the areas they wish to improve their skills in.

We run three webinars, each targeting a different time zone - Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East, and the Americas - so that our clients all over the world have an opportunity to attend. We understand that not all our clients can attend, so we record each webinar and within 24 hours of it taking place we send a web link to view it to all registrants. The benefits of this are that attendees can watch the webinar again and those who missed it can view it at a more convenient time. The web link can be shared with colleagues. Ultimately, our approach to building FileFinder skills has proved so effective, popular and convenient that a number of clients have asked us to run a series of webinars just for their own staff. Led by a Dillistone Systems trainer, these bespoke webinars allow clients to focus on key FileFinder skills for their organization, ensuring there is a uniform standard of usage across the company and helping new employees become familiar with the software. This approach also includes taking advantage of the recordings to engage with those who are unable to attend and giving every employee the opportunity to review the material at their convenience. Moving forward Dillistone Systems will continue running the monthly webinars.

Three ways to ensure you do not miss a webinar: 1. Email

marketing@dillistone.com if you would like to receive email notifications.

2. Check the events schedule Visit http://www.dillistone.com and click on Client Area in the main menu. Event registration links are added one week prior to each webinar.

3. Join our LinkedIn

FileFinder User Group at http://www.linkedin.com/ groups?gid=3680734 to view details of upcoming webinars.

Here is what past attendees had to say: “Great session, as always

“Thanks for your training session. Very useful!“ – Carlos Alemany, Alemany & Partners

September 2014

Owen was clear, took the time to really demonstrate the Research Zone actions. Fantastic as usual, we love these webinars in our firm,“ – Jennifer Borrer, Borrer Executive Search

“This is great information. Thank you!“ – Timothy Conley, The Coca-Cola Company

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The Research Practitioner - Skills Day

4 November 2014, London … with a special rate for Dillistone Systems’ Clients! The Research Practitioner Skills Day (#researchskillsday) differs from other big training events in that attendees will be split into small groups for each breakout session. This approach will mean that attendees have opportunities for role play and to ask lots of questions and will enable trainers to better address each individual’s needs. Feedback from previous Research Practitioner Skills Days:

Group Sessions include: Quality in the Search Process - Why should your Consultant and Client see this Candidate? (Carol O’Driscoll)

d very well an “Organised . ly th oo sm so ran very Some e and fun. Informativ n which io informat very useful orate rp co in nly I will certai ching.” ar y to day se into my da Page el ha ic M , ar - Louise Edg al Internation “Really well organised, very lively and passionate trainers. I learnt a lot, and even when I already knew something, it was really useful to benefit from a ‘refresh’.” - Julie Fernandes, Hays Executive 3 “I liked the idea of having ing hav of ead inst ups small gro of everybody in one room all the time. The quality of all d.” presentations was very goo up gro ent cem pla , dler Hans Fie

“Excellent! I am so happy that I took this course. After almost 15 years in the search business , it was great to learn new things!” - Marja Paanlainen, IMS Talent

Carol O’Driscoll is the former Research Director, Europe, for Russell Reynolds Associates. Planning Your Search (Francesca Lahiguera) Francesca Lahiguera has spent 15 years in the executive search industry, including a number of years at Heidrick and Struggles and several years as a trainer for search-consult.

Ask the Experts! The day will end with a question and answer session whereby the three facilitators will utilise their knowledge and experience to answer questions from the audience. This will be a great opportunity for attendees to find answers to their questions and solutions to the challenges they face day in, day out.

Limited number of seats available!

Getting the Most Out of the Internet and LinkedIn (Lois Grimshaw)

Lois has trained hundreds of executive search professionals across Europe. She is now acknowledged as one of Europe’s leading trainers on Internet Research Techniques.

As a thank you for our clients’ continued support, we are delighted to offer greatly discounted tickets for this event:

Early Bird Price

Dillistone Client Price*

£399 / €482 / US$655

£299 / €360 / US$495 + UK VAT (if applicable)

+ UK VAT (if applicable) Standard Price after 6 October: £499 / €605 / US$825 + UK VAT if applicable

* Your firm must have a current ASP or Support contract with Dillistone Systems at both the time of booking and at the time of the event.

tion informa tely new ing rc u so “Comple n tactics o l fu ms, se a u li and n Wil tes.” - Sia s candida te e Associa Taybridg

“Fantastic, busy, inform ative day which was great for new researchers and old!” - Kiera Whitmee, Executives in Africa

To book, simply fill in and fax back the booking form to +44 (0)20 7729 6108 or +1 (201) 221-7518. For enquiries, please email marketing@dillistone.com

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FileFinder update from Dillistone Systems


AGENDA 8:30am

- Registration and NETWORKING COFFEE

9.15am

- Welcome Remarks & Sponsor Presentation

9.20am - 11.00am - Session 1 11.00am-11.25am

- NETWORKING BREAK

11.25am – 12.55pm - Session 2 12.55pm – 1.45pm

- LUNCH and NETWORKING BREAK

1.45pm - 2:00pm

- FileFinder Anywhere Demonstration (optional)

2.00pm – 3.30pm

- Session 3

3.30pm – 4.00pm

- NETWORKING BREAK

4.15pm – 4.45pm

- Ask the Experts - PANEL DISCUSSION / Closing Remarks

BREAKOUT SESSIONS DESCRIPTIONS The Research Practitioner Skills Day differs from other big training events in that, for the three breakout sessions, we will work in groups. Here is a synopsis of the three group sessions you will rotate around as well as a joint session further below:

Quality in the Search Process Why should your Consultant and Client see this Candidate? (Carol O’Driscoll) How often do you really check on the backgrounds of your candidates? Do you take what they say at face value? How often do you get a confidential third party view before you present a candidate? Remember: your clients can also check publicly available information - we need to be extra thorough! In this session we will cover quality in the search process, using your judgement to calibrate candidates, due dilligence using publicly available information and referencing techniques. This session will help you to provide a more thorough service to your clients and enhance your reputation for quality.

Planning Your Search (Francesca Lahiguera) An effective search means planning and focus. During this session, you will lear how to: • Get the information you need from your client’s briefing • Use the ‘acid test’ to focus your research on relevant candidates and evaluate them effectively • Prepare a search timeline and keep your clients and candidates on track • Get past gate-keepers to reach candidates and create interest in your search.

Getting the Most Out of the Internet and LinkedIn (Lois Grimshaw) This 90-min session will cover the following: Part 1: Internet Search Techniques • Basic Skills • Google vs. Bing • Finding High Profile Candidates • Finding Details • ‘Outside the Box’ Searches • LinkedIn • Social Media Part 2: Getting the Most out of LinkedIn and Other Social Media • Why LinkedIn? • Presentation is Everything • Grow Your Network • Other Social Media

To book, please complete the booking form (see next page) www.search-consult.com/Research2014

September 2014

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The Research Practitioner – Skills Day 4 November 2014 London, UK

Please fax this booking form to +44 (0)20 7729 6108 or +1 (201) 221-7518.

BOOKING FORM – SPECIAL RATE FOR FileFinder CLIENTS COMPANY

NAME:.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Yes, I wish to attend Research Practitioner Skills Day Delegate names / job titles / email addresses / locations: DELEGATE 1:..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... DELEGATE 2:..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... DELEGATE 3:..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... DELEGATE 4:.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Special Rate for FileFinder Clients with a valid support contract:

................................

x seats @ £299/€360/US$495

“Early Bird” Rate for FileFinder Clients with NO support contract:

................................

x seats @ £399/€482/US$655

(After 6 October 2014, these rates will rise to £499/€605/US$825 per person).

= ................................ IF YOU ARE BASED IN THE UK, PLEASE ADD VAT @ 20%

.................................

TOTAL = ................................

Please invoice me Please charge my:

Visa

MasterCard

AMEX

Card Number:............................................................................................................................................................................... Exp:.............................................................. Security Code:............................................................. (Last 3 digits from the signature strip

Last 4 digits for AMEX)

Cardholder Name:............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. Address: ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Phone:...................................................................................................................... Email:..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Signature:................................................................................................................................................ Terms and Conditions: The special rate is for FileFinder clients with a valid support or ASP contract at the time of booking and at the time of the event. Once the booking form is received and payment is processed, cancellations are liable for the full fee. We reserve the right to refuse any bookings or entrance to the event solely at our discretion. Delegate replacements may be made up to 1 week prior to the event and are subject to acceptance. New delegate contact details have to be submitted in writing (email is sufficient).

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FileFinder update from Dillistone Systems


NEW! Become a Certified FileFinder Practitioner Join our three-day training course for training people in using FileFinder. These courses are intended for companies and individuals who wish to train their colleagues in using FileFinder and want to ensure the training covers the core elements of FileFinder as trained by Dillistone Systems trainers.

The courses come with full set of notes and comprehensive lesson plans for immediate use. They will be held at the Dillistone Systems London training facilities, with other locations available later in the year.

At the end of this training course you will be: • Fully trained in using FileFinder and FileFinder Administration • Fully prepared to train others in using FileFinder (with expert feedback from a Dillistone Systems accredited trainer) • Assessed and Certified as a FileFinder practitioner with certificate issued by Dillistone Systems.

The courses are limited to eight delegates and will be open to delegates from different companies. Please note that the course can only go ahead with a minimum of four delegates from different companies, and may be rescheduled if not enough bookings have been received. Lunch and light refreshments are provided.

Next available date: Become a Certified FileFinder for Desktop Practitioner Course: Monday to Wednesday, October 6 to 8, 2014.

To book, please email projects@dillistone.com

September 2014

These training courses costs

£1,125 + VAT per person to attend.

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3 Tips for Using FileFinder 10 1. Need a report quickly for a meeting? Take advantage of the quick print function. Simply click on a ‘View’ box in FileFinder and select the ‘Create Report’ option. A screenshot of the information on the tab runs as a report immediately and, as with any report in FileFinder, you can email it, export it or print it.

2. Tasked to retrospectively code a group of records?

Just added a new field to FileFinder and want to update a number of records? Easy. Just create a list of the records you want to update and select them all. Then click on the button. A pop-up appears, and you can update all the records, including fields you have just added to the system.

Visit www.dillistone.com and click on ‘Client Area’ in the main menu to create your personal account and access free training webinars and manuals to get the most of FileFinder 10 and FileFinder 9! Please note: this service is only available to clients with a current ASP or support contract.

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3. Been asked to identify previous employees of a company? No problem. Look up the company and click the ‘Open Selected’ button to open the record. This will create a list. Simply click the ‘Go To’ button and select ‘Previous Employees’ to get a list of all previous employees.

FileFinder update from Dillistone Systems


3 Tips for Using FileFinder 9 1. Need to save a CV/Resume? When you attach a CV/Resume to a person’s record, ensure the File Description starts with CV/Resume. If you have already attached a person’s CV/Resume, use the paperclip tool to view the attachments, then click the ‘…’ button to add “CV/Resume” to the file’s description.

2. Need to screen using CVs/Resumes? Highlight the selection of candidates whose CVs/Resumes you wish to screen, click the drop-down arrow beside the paperclip (attachment) tool and choose CV/Resume Screening.

You will be able to view the attached CV/Resume for each of the candidates, add notes and update progress codes. Use the up/down green arrows to move through the highlighted candidates.

3. Want to save time? The “Equivalent Names” option makes it easier and faster to look up people based on a common nickname e.g. someone you know as Maggie might actually be named Margaret in the database.

Click the first green plus to add the person’s full name, and then click the second to add their nickname.

Visit www.dillistone.com and click on ‘Client Area’ in the main menu to create your personal account and access free training webinars and manuals to get the most of FileFinder 10 and FileFinder 9! Please note: this service is only available to clients with a current ASP or support contract.

September 2014

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FileFinder

Product Development In this article, Director of Product Development Alex James explains how we have put together the FileFinder Anywhere suite – the result of over 1,200 builds and many years of work – and how our HTML5 WebApp and two new Outlook tools put us at the very leading edge of systems development. We have had a busy few months leading up to the release of the FileFinder Anywhere product suite, which comprises of four - FileFinder for Desktop, FileFinder for Outlook, FileFinder for Browser and FileFinder for Mobile. The release is the culmination of more than 4 years of development. The goal was always to enable our clients to access FileFinder from multiple devices, including but not limited to PCs, Apple Macs, iPads and, smartphones; we wanted to provide our clients with the ability to access FileFinder anytime, anywhere. The desktop edition (FileFinder 10) came first but the underlying platform was created to support any number of products. FFMobile, now known as FileFinder for Mobile, and WebPort were launched next, and now we are preparing for the release of two tools that complete the FileFinder Anywhere suite – FileFinder for Outlook and FileFinder for Browser.

FileFinder for Browser:

Complementing FileFinder for Desktop, FileFinder for Browser is a rich, modern browser application. Not all of the functionality in the desktop version is yet in place, but in this first release, we will support nearly all functionality relating to assignments, marketing campaigns, people and companies. For the majority of the working day, it should be possible for someone to use FileFinder for Browser instead of FileFinder for Desktop. The interface for FileFinder for Browser is strikingly similar to that of FileFinder for Desktop, so FileFinder 10 users will be able to use it immediately. The platform is testament to just how far browser development has come in a short space of time. We expect to incorporate additional functionality over time so that the platform can be used as a complete alternative to FileFinder for Desktop.

The product has been rigorously tested over a period of several months. We use an Agile methodology, meaning that we typically create a new build of the product every day, encompassing any changes made by our developers. Each new build is tested, and feedback is provided on the spot. The build is across the entire platform, so a new build of both FileFinder for Browser and Filefinder for Desktop is created each time. At the time of writing this article, we are on build 1,231! Testing comprises of a variety of approaches. Tests with pass/fail criteria are written into the code itself (these are called unit tests), and all of these tests run automatically as part of the build. Additionally, we have several hundred automated regression test scripts (of varying sizes and complexity; some for example, complete an entire person record) that we run as part of the testing process. The scripts can have specific inputs and expected results, for example, an automated search could automatically complete some search fields with an expected number of results. The test script would actually check that the correct number of results were found. Automated tests can also be used to test performance under load. A simple example is one of the tests we did when comparing 10.7 against 10.8. We had 100 ‘users’ simultaneously performing a look-up against first name and last name. Each ‘user’ repeated the test 100 times one after another (note the ‘user’ is an automated script logging into FileFinder and performing the lookup). This allowed us to compare average performance across the two versions and showed us that 10.8 was performing the same look-up in less than half of the time. Additionally, we still undertake manual testing every day – no amounted of automated testing can replace a skilled software tester. FileFinder for Browser

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FileFinder update from Dillistone Systems


For the release of FileFinder for Browser, we have also revamped the beta test program. We have an extended 2 month beta test with a number of clients who will use the software LIVE. Only once this has been signed off will we release the software to our client base.

FileFinder for Outlook:

As we were developing FileFinder for Browser, we did not want to limit clients to using just the Outlook desktop application. We took the opportunity to redesign our Outlook integration from the ground up. At the outset we came up with this central vision of what we wanted to achieve: “When dealing with their inbox inside Outlook, a user will be able to directly interact with FileFinder and accomplish common recruitment related tasks. From an email, a user will be able to link to a record in FileFinde; they will be able to view relevant information about the person and undertake common actions such as replying to the person adding them to or progressing them on an assignment or attaching/parsing email attachment(s). Where appropriate they will have the option to reply in context of the email e.g. as regards an assignment. It should also be possible to create new records and access people in FileFinder not connected to an email in the user’s inbox. This should all be possible without the user leaving Outlook.” FileFinder and every other third party’s software has previously used the same Outlook add-in technology (Xobni was one of the better known add-ins, now sadly defunct) to integrate with Outlook. With Office 2013, Microsoft have changed their approach. Whilst they currently maintain support for the original addin technology, they have created brand-new add-

in technology. It is not backwards compatible, i.e. anything written for the original add-in will not work with the new version. The new add-in technology supports HTML5 (effectively it only supports browser apps) and is being rolled out across all versions of Outlook from 2013 onwards -Outlook for desktop, for browser and indeed for the iPad. An add-in installed on one of these versions is typically accessible on the other versions also. We still have a huge number of clients on Outlook versions prior to Office 2013, so we have created a version with new add-in technology and a version with the original add-in technology. Both are largely identical in scope. Our new Outlook add-ins are at the cutting edge of what can be done with Outlook. Surveys suggest that more than 50% of emails are sent from devices other than traditional PCs. With our new add-ins – which are unique as far as we know – users will be able to access FileFinder whilst reviewing emails, using a wide variety of devices with no downloads required.

FileFinder for Desktop:

Firstly, all clients will automatically receive the new Outlook desktop add-in when they upgrade to the new version of our desktop software, which will be released as part of FileFinder Anywhere. As a result of popular client demand, we have introduced some new features, including the ability for users to manually select two records and de-duplicate within the front end. In the next newsletter, I will talk more about the future road-map. For now, we are excited to get FileFinder Anywhere out of the labs and into the wild. We can’t wait to see what you all think.

FileFinder Anywhere Office 2013 Web Add-in available for Outlook 2013 for desktop and Outlook for web etc.

FileFinder Anywhere Outlook Desktop Add-in September 2014

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COURSE DESCRIPTION: This training session is designed to teach Executive Search professionals: How to use Boolean searches on Google and Bing and what different results to expect. How to search the ‘deep web’ - information not indexed by search engines. How to conduct X-ray searches to find candidates, resumes, biographies or profiles. How to use innovative methodologies to reveal the brightest talent and how to reach out to them quickly! How to find full names of people who are not in your LinkedIn network and how to contact them. How to use basic search skills effectively: “quote marks”, stop words, and more. How to discover hidden profiles. How to find specific details: locate email addresses, find conference attendees and more. How to search on Twitter, Amazon, Facebook.

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discount for FileFinder clients!*

UPCOMING DATES: Online Sessions: October 3 & November 28 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM GMT (London, UK time) If the webinar takes place outside of your working hours due to different time zones, please contact events@dillistone.com to purchase access to the recording.

Classroom Sessions:

September 12 - 9:30am-12:30pm, London, UK October 31 - 9:30am-12:30pm, London, UK

To book, please email events@dillistone.com to request a promo code.

Please note: the content for both the Online and Classroom sessions is identical. However, the Classroom session is one hour longer to allow for group interaction, practical exercises and tips from our trainer to help you solve your own difficult online searches. * 10% discount for FileFinder clients with a valid support or ASP contract.

FileFinder in the Cloud… Are you aware that FileFinder 9 and FileFinder 10 all support off-site hosting? We already provide hosting services for more than 400 of our clients, saving them the need to own a database server and the worry about backups or software upgrades.

Want to learn more? Contact your Account Manager or email sales@dillistone.com

16


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