You can set up links to third party applications from within CCH Practice Management by setting up a configuration key and then setting up access via the Maintenance menu.

Set up the configuration key for third party applications

1. On the main menu, click via Maintenance > User Defined > Configuration.
2. In the Configuration window, in the blank row at the top of the table, enter the following:
   Key Name: ThirdPartyApps
   Key Value: 1
   
   Comment: Allows Creation/Maintenance of Third Party Applications
3. Click OK to save and close the window.
4. Once you have logged off and back on again, a Maintenance window will now be available for the entry of data to enable a third party application to be launched from within the software.

Set up access to the third party application

1. On the main menu, Maintenance > User Defined > Applications.
2. For each third party application,  enter the following fields in the Applications window:
   
   Name: Enter the name of the application that  will be displayed in the task bar. Note that there is a limit on the number of characters allowed.
   E.g. "MS Word"
   
   Command Line: Enter the actual command line used to run the application.
   E.g. "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\WINWORD.EXE"
   
   Icon: Enter the location of the icon that will be used in the Task Bar next to the application name.  Once loaded it will be openly available in CCH Practice Management.
   E.g. "C:\ Desktop\word.ico"
    
3. Repeat step 2 for each application you want to include a link to.
4. Click OK to save and close the Applications window.

A menu item is created for each application in the Third Party Task Bar menu.  The menu item will display the third party application name and icon. Click the menu item to start the application.