BSD SoftLink^® Product Improvements

The Spring 2004 release has new versions of all the BSD SoftLink products, and the enhancements include both software changes and data updates. Below is a summary of the major changes for each product. For a more complete discussion of new features, see the release notes for each product of interest. The notes are posted on our website and can also be found on the quarterly CD.

BSD SpecLink^® and PerSpective^®: Subscribers with multiple users on a LAN should be pleased about improvements to the quarterly update installation process, even though the real benefits won't be felt until next quarter. The update process for the current release will be the same as it has been in the past. However, in future the software installed this quarter will permit a much simpler update process. Once the server has been updated, individual workstations will be prevented from opening the software until the workstation has been updated, which can be accomplished automatically from each workstation location. The workstation user will be prompted to begin the update process, which simply requires an OK click to download the necessary files from the server.

We've made a number of enhancements to both programs, including the following:

• User-added sections/chapters: They now show up in the tree in a green font, making them more obvious in contrast to the blue BSD sections and the black proprietary sections.
• Section/chapter check-in: Checking out a section/chapter is the quickest and safest way to edit in a project with multiple concurrent users. Checking the section back in was sometimes a lengthy process, but it is much faster in the current release.
• In-memory linking: We've eliminated unnecessary messages that tell you when in-memory linking is being temporarily disabled—for example, when you open the links dialog box. We've also reduced the time required to save the links when you move from one section to another.
• Import from RTF/Clipboard: We've improved the "Add New Section/Chapter from RTF File" process to make it less sensitive to formatting and other errors, and we've added helpful messages for situations when text importing does fail.

We've also changed SpecLink Help dramatically, replacing the older file with a new HTML version, which looks better and operates more effectively. Please check it out and let us know your reaction.

BSD CostLink^®/AE: The biggest change this quarter is new cost data from RS Means. We've also added two new building models from RS Means: 1) a one-story office building and 2) a daycare center, bringing the models total to 72.

The 2004 RS Means cost database will be installed automatically when the new version of BSD CostLink/AE is installed. New projects started with any of the BSD templates will automatically use the newest data. Projects created with 2003 data and copies of those projects will continue to use the 2003 data unless you elect to update them to 2004 data. For these older projects, you can also choose to switch the database only for new price items while retaining the 2003 prices for existing items.

In the 2004 data, RS Means has made a number of changes in the Assembly and Line Item codes, to better align them with industry standards. BSD has "mapped" the differences between the 2003 and 2004 versions, so updating a project to the new cost data will result in automatic changes to the relevant codes in your project, as well.

BSD CostLink^®/CM: The major changes this quarter have been in reporting capability. We've added the ability to include the unit cost row to the Portrait 2 and Landscape 1 reports, and we've added the Labor and Equipment Backup reports to the Landscape 1 report. We have also corrected a problem with the Landscape 2 report that prevented it from printing properly.

Conclusion: BSD is continually working on improvements to the BSD SoftLink products. We try to respond in timely fashion to comments and suggestions, giving top priority to problem-solving and implementing enhancements as time and resources permit. We welcome your feedback.