Product Q&A

All Products

Q. I want to move the software from one computer to another, but the access key won’t work. Why is that?
A. The access key you received when you installed the software is specific to the computer on which it was installed. To move the software to another computer, call Tech Support at 800-266-7732 for an Unpermit code before you remove the software from the first computer. Before you call, you can have the software already installed on the new computer, and after we get the Unpermit code, we can generate a new key for the new computer.

SpecLink+ & SpecLink-E

Q. I missed the recent SpecLink-E webinars. Can I please be contacted if you plan another one in the future?
A. Certainly. Please call Tech support at 1-800-266-7732 or email support@bsdsoftlink.com to be added to the list to be notified for an upcoming SpecLink-E webinar.

Q. I am new to SpecLink+ or have a new employee that has never used it. What is the fastest way to get up to speed on using the software?
A. Visit BSD’s website and use the step-by-step links in the Specifiers’ Library. The steps are logically laid out and provide valuable information about effectively using the software.

Q. What does it mean when there is no “+” in front of a folder in the tree panel?
A. An “empty” folder indicates that there are no master sections within a folder. You can create sections to populate these empty folders by importing.rtf files or writing you own using the section template. Please refer to the User Manual or contact Tech Support at 1-800-266-7732 if you have questions or need assistance.

Q. I messed up a section in my project. How can I start from scratch?
A. Create a new project and select the section you would like to replace in the project tree. Once you have selected the section, close the project. Open the original project and select “Tools” in the Menu Bar and select “Import from Project” from the resulting dropdown. Click the yellow folder next to “Project to import from,” choose the newly created project and click the “Open” button. Locate the appropriate section in the list and select it by clicking on it and click the “Import” button. Click “Yes” to confirm the import process. You will now have a “new” section in place of the one you messed up.

Q. I have noticed that some sections have an Optional Checklist at the beginning. What is it, and how do I use it?
A. The checklist highlights the principal specifying decisions to be made in the section. By selecting options, you will pre-edit the major portion of the text, but additional product options may remain to be selected, including optional text for submittals, quality assurance, reference standards, cross-references, and similar issues. To get a list of which sections have this option, you can print out our catalog listing from the CD or get it from our website at www.bsdsoftlink.com/speclink/catalogs/all_catalogs.htm. Any section title with two plus signs to the left includes a checklist.

Q. When I open my program, some of my toolbar options are missing. How can I correct that?
A. Close the program. Go into Windows Explorer to the application folder on your C drive, typically C:\speclink+. Find the file SpecLinkStd.Atb and delete it. The toolbar will get recreated when you restart the program. If you are uncomfortable deleting files, you can rename the file instead.

Q. Can I insert an image into my section?
A. You cannot currently insert images into SpecLink, but our new SpecLink-E in development will have this feature. In the current version of SpecLink+, you can have a picture show up in your project notes if you need something just for reference purposes. To do that, copy the file you want into C:\SpecLink+\System\Wizards folder. In the project note of the paragraph where you want the image to appear, type in the file name with the extension (.jpg). Once that is typed in, you will see the picture in the master notes field.

Q. I have a fill-in that I don’t need, but if I don’t enter something, brackets print. Is there a way around this?
A. If you don’t want or need anything in a fill-in, you can hide it. Enter the words None – N/A in the blank. Click outside the brackets. When you print, the fill-in will not print, and the spaces around it will close appropriately. (For example, if the fill-in is between two words and there is a space to either side of the fill-in, if you put None – N/A in the blank the blank will not print and only one space will print between the two words.)

BSD Costlink/AE

Q. What can I do to modify the “location adjustment”? (i.e. remote rural areas, or dense metropolitan areas with high travel/storage costs)
A. There are 930 locations to choose from, each of which has been given a specific multiplier based on the cost of building in that area. These figures have been thoroughly researched and updated regularly. The actual location of the “Location adjustment” you use in your estimate will not appear in any of the reports generated. Therefore, you can choose from any of the 930 locations available which best reflects the markups associated with your project. You can also incorporate overall markups, as a percentage, in the “Other Costs” field in the summary info box.

More questions? Contact BSD Technical Support:

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