NEWSLETTER

BSD SpecLink Enhancements Improve Flexibility

In addition to the new updating features discussed in another article in this issue, BSD SpecLink this quarter has two other signifi cant enhancements that have been requested by our subscribers. The first new feature is the ability to easily add and edit tables. The second new feature is the ability to change the format of the new 6- and 8- digit section numbers used in MasterFormat 2004.

Figure 1

Although it has long been possible to insert a table in a SpecLink section, the process was a bit complicated and required several steps. The new Table feature allows our users to insert a table in a simple, straightforward process. From the new Table menu, click on Insert Table, enter the required number of columns and the required number of rows in the resulting dialog box, and then click OK (see Figure 1). The table is inserted at the current cursor location and paragraph hierarchy level, pushing the original paragraph down. The initial column width is determined automatically—dividing the space available by the number of columns required. Once the table has been created, it is possible to make a number of adjustments from the Table menu. You can insert a new row into the table below the current row, change the width and alignment of each column, add or remove a printing border, or delete the current row or column. Tables must be created in SpecLink, because there is currently no way to import a table from word processing.

There is also a new setting on the Summary Info dialog box that allows users to change the formatting of the new MasterFormat 2004 section numbers. The original format established in SpecLink separates the first pair of numbers (the division number) from the remaining four, so the section ID numbers appear as XX XXXX. Now it is possible to change the section number formatting to XX XX XX or to XXXXXX (see Figure 2).

	Figure 2

In addition, if a format is chosen that includes spaces between the number pairs, you can substitute a separator in place of the spaces. For example, if you choose a hyphen separator, the section numbers will appear as XX-XXXX or XX-XX-XX. The section number format can be changed at any time and is stored as a project setting.

As mentioned above, these new features are designed to add flexibility to SpecLink and have been requested by many of our subscribers. We think our users will find them useful, both now and in the future. Please let us know if you like them.