My Workstation Settings and External Tools

Workstation Settings apply to the Windows user profile logged in. These settings include options for several HawkSoft features, such as what programs to use when viewing images and PDFs, printer and Virtual Printer settings, and setting up External Tools. This article explains how to access and change Workstation Settings, and how to create External Tools.

To modify My Workstation Settings

Scan/Attach

Image (TIF/JPG) File Viewer – Select a program to use to view TIF or JPG images within HawkSoft. HawkSoft Viewer is set by default.

Scanner Control – If using a TWAIN compliant scan driver, select one of the following options that works with your drivers:

It is best to leave this option on the Default (Version 7) setting unless instructed by your tech or HawkSoft representative.

Basic (Version 7)

Default (Version 7)

Enhanced (Version 8)

Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) – Select WIA only if using a WIA Scan Driver (not recommended).

Unmatched Documents PDF Viewer – Select a default viewer to open PDFs.

The most commonly used are Adobe Acrobat Reader (Internal) and HawkSoft Viewer (Internal).

High Display Scaling Override - Select a display setting from the drop-down menu to override the resolution settings on your workstation. For example, if images or text appear blurry, then you can enable this setting to adhere to your resolution scale, or be stretched.

Printer

Remember Last Printer Used - Selecting this option defaults the printer to the last one used when printing from the Action menu.

Reset Printer Settings – Resets the default printer selected in HawkSoft to the Windows® default printer.

Install/Uninstall Virtual Printer – Opens the Virtual Printer Manager.

Follow on-screen prompts to reinstall or uninstall Virtual Printer.

Misc

Show Start Page on start up - If this option is checked, the HawkSoft Start Page opens when logging into HawkSoft.

If this option is not checked, HawkSoft opens with a blank screen.

Open Task Center in separate window - If this option is checked, the Task Center opens in a separate window. If this option is not checked, the Task Center opens in a tab within HawkSoft and appears on the client bar alongside the Start Page tab and other client tabs. This setting is checked by default.

Compress image on attach - If this option is checked, TIF images attached to the client file from the Unmatched Documents Inbox are automatically compressed using TIF level 4 compression. This will reduce the size of the TIF image files and improve the use of disk space on your server/workstation if images added to HawkSoft are in TIF format.

To set up Shortcuts to External Tools

Setting up an External Tool enables you to configure a shortcut that links to a website or program (application) of your choice. You can set these links to appear on the External Tools menu, the Quick Launch panel, and/or the main HawkSoft toolbar.

Each user can configure and apply a maximum of 16 External Tools.

Select the External Tools tab.

Click New to set up a new external tool, and complete the following:

Tool Name – Name the external tool.
Tool Type – Select Program (application) or Website from the drop-down list.
Tooltip – Enter the tool name as you want it to appear when you hover your mouse over the toolbar icon.
Help Text – Enter a description of the tool. This can include the keyboard shortcut associated with the toolbar button.

This description appears as part of the Tooltip when you hover your mouse over the toolbar icon.

Command – Enter or browse to the program (application) path or website URL:

For a website, enter the URL

For a program, enter the path to the .exe file

See the following table for a list of common programs and commands:

Tool Name	Command
Excel	Excel
Outlook	Outlook
Word	Winword
PowerPoint	Powerpnt
Chrome	Chrome
DSPro	DSPro
Publisher	mspub

Arguments – Use to send command line arguments to a program or query parameters to a website.

Arguments are an advanced feature of Windows that can drastically affect a program's behavior when launched, and should be created in conjunction with your agency's IT.
Initial Directory – This field automatically defaults to the same path as the Command field. (Optional: Used only when the tool type is Program.)
Select Show on External Tools Menu, Show on Quick Launch Panel, and/or Show on Toolbar to designate where links to the tool appear.

If there are more icons than the HawkSoft Toolbar can display, click >> in the top-right corner of the main HawkSoft Toolbar to view and/or select any hidden tools.

Troubleshooting

External Tool commands may not work as intended on all workstations. The tools may appear to do nothing and display no error message, despite being created with the correct command values. To resolve, run a Quick Repair on Microsoft 365.

You must have Windows Administrator access to perform the following steps.

HawkSoft strongly recommends involving your agency's IT department before making any changes to Windows settings. Unauthorized changes may affect system performance.

On the workstation, open the Start menu, and then search for Control Panel.
From the Control Panel window, click on Programs and Features.
Right-click on Microsoft 365, and then click Change.

The exact name may be slightly different for different users, but will always start with Microsoft 365.

You can use the top-right bar to search by program name.
Conditional: User Account Control will open on most workstations. Click Yes.
Select Quick Repair, and then click Repair.

Microsoft will run a diagnostic tool on the registry and download any missing files.

If Quick Repair fails, contact your agency IT.

After Quick Repair has run successfully, try configuring Command tools again.

Click Test to verify your setup.

Your program or website launches.
Click OK to save changes and return to the External Tools screen.
Click OK to close the My Workstations Settings.

A link to the new tool displays in HawkSoft at the designated location.