Product Q&A

All Products

Q. I can’t find a Save As on the menu. How do I save the project with a different name?
A. Our products are database applications, which means that your changes are saved automatically as you are editing. You don’t have to save the file because the program does that for you as you make changes. If you want to save the project with a different name, you can do that through Windows Explorer, or you can copy the project to a new file name, and then delete the original project, if necessary. When you open the renamed file, you should open the Summary Information dialog box and make any necessary changes there, as well.

Q. I copied a project by choosing Copy or Copy Database from the File menu. Now when I click the Open button, the new file is not listed. Why isn’t it there, and how do I open it?
A. When you click the Open button, the Recently Used dialog box opens. Since you have never actually opened the newly copied project before, it has not been 'used' on this computer. To open the project, click the Browse button. The standard Windows Open dialog box will open, allowing you to navigate to the new project, select it, and open it from wherever you have it saved. When you copy a project, you need to remember to open the Project Summary Info dialog box to change the project name. An easier method might be to use your project as the template when you start a new project. When you do it that way, the Project Summary Info dialog box opens automatically and you will remember to change the project name there.

Q. How can I tell the file name and location of the project I have open?
A. From the File menu, choose Summary Info. The file name and location are listed at the top of the Summary Info dialog box.

BSD SpecLink & PerSpective

Q. How can I tell what has changed in a spec between when it was issued for pricing and when it was issued for construction?
A. The Compare Projects feature was created for this purpose, and also for tracking changes in addenda. To use Compare, be sure to keep a separate copy of your project each time it is issued. For example, when issued for pricing, keep a copy of the file called [projectname] pricing issue, and later for construction keep a separate copy called [projectname] construction issue. Also keep a copy for each addendum issued. When you are ready to see the differences between two files, open the more recent one, and from the Tools menu choose Compare. Select the older version of the project file for comparison, and then decide whether you want to compare the whole project, a branch, or a single section. In the comparison file, text that was added to the more recent project will be underlined, and text that was deleted from the earlier one will be struck out. There will also be a vertical line in the right margin of altered paragraphs.

Q. Why are my projects so large when I start them from my office master?
A. When you use your office master as your project template for new projects, you are essentially copying the office master file. Therefore, each new project will start out as large as the office master and will get larger as you make edits for a particular project. A better way to start a new project that uses the data you have accumulated in your office master is to start a new project using the BSD template (or your own formatted template with no sections in it), and then import only the sections you need. Not only will this reduce the file size considerably, but it will also improve editing speed because of the reduced size. You can copy multiple sections from the office master into your new project all at the same time, using the Import from Project Feature on the Tools menu. For instructions on importing, refer to chapter 4 of the User Manual on the CD.

Q. I imported a section that now looks like a subsection below an existing section. How did that happen, and how do I fix it?
A. To avoid this problem in future, remember when copying or importing a section that it will be pasted into the folder or document at the cursor location in the tree. Normally, you will want to paste a copy into a folder, rather than into a section. To fix this problem, you will need to move the section from its incorrect location. Click on the name of the section in the Tree panel with your right mouse button and then choose Cut Section. The Cut Section for Pasting dialog box opens, asking you to confirm that it is cutting the correct section. Click OK to verify. Then click on the folder you want as the parent of the section being moved. Use your right mouse button and choose Paste Section Into. The Paste dialog box opens, giving you the opportunity to change the number, acronym or name of the document. Verify that the information is correct, and then click OK. The section is moved to the proper location. You can also use this procedure to renumber a section.

Q. I am modifying my office master to incorporate the option of switching to MasterFormat 2004. When I look at the master paragraphs in the Related Sections article that I have edited, my version does not include the green MasterFormat version choice that the unedited paragraphs do. What is the easiest way to change that?
A. When you edit a master paragraph, SpecLink maintains two versions – the master version and your version. When we make a change to the master version, it does not affect your version. Normally this is good. In this case, you do want to incorporate this change in your version. The fastest way to do that is to remove your edit completely (by clicking on the paragraph and then clicking on the X icon in the toolbar to remove your edits.) When you then re-edit that paragraph, the MasterFormat Version choice field is now included in your edited version. You can also insert the MasterFormat version choice type in any paragraph you have added. See Chapter 5 in the User Documentation for instructions on adding Choices to user-added paragraphs.

BSD CostLink AE and CM

Q. Is it possible to include my company's logo on the reports?
A. Yes. To insert a logo into the standard reports, rename the logo to logo.bmp, logo.jpg, or logo.gif, and place that file in your local CostLink CM (or CostLink AE)\System\Reports folder. The logo will automatically print in the top right corner of your reports.

Q. I added a folder in the wrong place. How can I move it?
A. To change the placement of a folder in the Tree, with your right mouse button drag the misplaced folder to the folder that you want it to precede. When you release the mouse button, choose Move Above from the right mouse button menu.

More questions? Contact BSD Technical Support:

• Toll Free: 800-266-7732
• In Atlanta: 404-365-9226
• Email: support@bsdsoftlink.com