Product Q&A

All Products

Q. When I create new projects, I always want to save them in a certain folder on my server. Is there a way to make the software save to that folder automatically?
A. Yes, you can specify a default folder where projects should be saved. To specify a default folder, open the software and close any open projects. From the File menu, choose Permissions. In the Permissions box, click the System Settings tab. The fourth field down is called Project Database Location. Click the yellow folder icon to the right of that field and navigate to the folder where you want your new projects to be saved by default. You can also use a UNC path (full name as opposed to a mapped drive). Type in the UNC path or paste the path from a Windows Explorer window and click OK. The next time you create a new project, the project will save to the specified folder when you type the name in the Save New Project dialog. If you want to save the new project to a different location, click the yellow folder icon to the right of the New Project line and navigate to the correct location.

Q. I’m trying to open a file that is on my server and I am getting error 3051 cannot open file. What does that mean?
A. You need to have full access to the folder where the project file is located - read, write, edit, delete. If you do not know how to change this, ask your system administrator.

Q. I am getting a new computer. Will I be able to use the same access key as my old one?
A. Each access key is unique to the computer or server where the software was installed. Before removing the software from the old computer, call Tech Support at 800-266-7732 to Unpermit your current installation. When that is done, you can get a key for the new computer. To save time, you can have the software installed on the new computer before calling Technical Support. We can get your Unpermit Code from the old computer and give you a new key during the same phone call.

BSD SpecLink & PerSpective

Q. Does BSD make copies available or make available the ability to view the references listed in the specification documents?
A. Starting with the current fall release of BSD SpecLink, all reference standards are hyperlinked to websites where the documents can be purchased. In a few cases, the documents are free and can be viewed on-line or downloaded. In most cases, however, the sponsoring organization sells the reference standards, so the hyperlinks allow our users to purchase them on-line for immediate viewing, printing, or downloading. In addition, you can check our Specifiers’ Library at http://www.bsdsoftlink.com/library/speclibrary_ngolist.htm, for hyperlinks to their websites.

Q. Is there a place that abbreviations such as ASTM are spelled out?
A. Yes, in the SpecLink tab, section 01425 - Reference Standards, under Part 2 - Construction Industry Organization Documents, bibliographical citations are listed. In the PerSpective tab, they are listed in section 00840. Perhaps the easiest way to search this document is to use Find (located in the Edit menu) and type in the abbreviation you are looking for. (By the way, ASTM stands for American Society for Testing and Materials.)

Q. I created a paragraph, and now when I try to delete it I get the message “Branch includes Master Paragraph. Unable to delete.” How can I delete the paragraph?
A. Click to place your cursor in the paragraph you added, then from the Document menu choose Demote (not Demote Branch). Now you will be able to delete the paragraph.

Q. I‘m considering making a checklist document that the project manager will go through to select what is included in a particular job. I will create links from those selections that will activate the appropriate sections in the job. The only problem I have is that the checklist will print when I print the whole project, and it will be listed in my automatic table of contents report. Is there any way to get around this?
A. You can do this using Non-Printing Text. To add Non-Printing text to your project, just add new paragraphs and then apply the NP (non-printing) or NS (non-selectable) tag to the paragraphs that should not print. You can apply tags using the Tags button pull-down in the document panel toolbar. The pull-down lets you apply the tags to individual paragraphs within sections to keep them from printing. Or, to keep an entire section from printing or being listed in SpecLink’s automatic table of contents, apply the NP tag to the title of the section in the Document panel. The NP tags will then be applied automatically to the whole section.

BSD Costlink AE and CostLink CM

Q. Can I import a CostLink/AE project into CostLink/CM?
A. CostLink/CM includes a feature to allow you to convert a CostLink/AE project into CostLink/CM. If you have a current RS Means Assemblies database for CostLink/CM, then the converted project will use that as the referenced database in the CostLink/CM project and will match up as many assemblies as it can find. If you do not have the RS Means Assemblies database for CostLink/CM, then the assemblies will be converted as user line items. In either case, if you are converting a CostLink/AE model, the quantities for the assemblies and tasks will no longer be driven by the CostLink/AE model quantities.

BSD CostLink CM

Q. How can I create alternates in my estimate?
A. Reporting of alternates is available with both portrait 1 and 2, and landscape 1 reports. First be sure to set up your estimate so that the entire Base Cost is in your first level one folder, and so that each of the level one folders after that contains alternate costs. When your estimate is complete, from the File menu, choose Reports Setup. Select Portrait 1 or 2 or Landscape 1, and then select the option ‘Use Level One for Base Cost and Alternates.’ Click OK. The folder icons for the alternates now have plus signs on them. When you print your reports, a total Base Bid will be printed for the costs in your first level one folder, and the following level one folders will print as additive or deductive alternates. If you need to modify the estimate, it is best to unclick the Alternates choice, modify the estimate, and then reclick the choice.

BSD CostLink AE

Q. I just purchased CostLink/AE. Is there a tutorial?
A. Chapter 2 of the User’s Manual (available on the CD or on our website), includes a step-by-step tutorial to get you acquainted with the basics of building an estimate. You can also call our Technical support department at 1-800-266- 7732 to schedule a tutorial.

More questions? Contact BSD Technical Support:

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