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LinkLine: Spring 2010

Product Q&A

SpecLink-E and SpecLink+

Q. How does SpecLink-E differ from SpecLink+?
A. Many new features have been introduced with SpecLink-E that were not available with SpecLink+. A list of these features can be found on our website. One major feature: an expanding/collapsing database that allows you to create outline, short form, and full construction specs without the need to start over at each project phase.

Q. How do I move my SpecLink+ projects to SpecLink-E and what information is brought over?
A. You can import your SpecLink+ projects into SpecLink-E, including all user added sections, paragraphs, links and choices. To do so just follow these simple steps:
  • You can import any SpecLink+ project from fall 2004 or later, but we recommend that you update your SpecLink+ project to the winter 2009 (or later) version of SpecLink+ first.
  • Have SpecLink-E open, but do not have a project open.
  • From the Application menu, click Copy from SpecLink+.
  • Navigate to your SpecLink+ project and select it.
Any customized style, header/footer and/or fonts applied in SpecLink+ will not be copied into SpecLink-E and will need to be recreated in SpecLink-E.

User added folders will not be copied into SLE. Any sections added under user added folders will be moved to the closest appropriate folder or the Unassigned folder.

Q. What does it mean when there is no “+” in front of a folder in the tree panel?
A. The master specification database is divided into folders that correspond to CSI’s MasterFormat 2004, plus front end documents. These main folders in turn are divided into Broadscope Heading folders, each of which corresponds to a MasterFormat number and title. Available sections related to each heading are organized under each of these Broadscope folders. An “empty” folder simply means there are no master sections available for that folder. You can create sections to populate these empty folders by importing .rtf files or by writing your own sections, using the section template. Please refer to the User Manual or contact Technical Support at 1-800-266-7732 if you have questions or need assistance.

Q. Can I insert an image into my section?
A. Yes, Windows Bitmap (.bmp), Windows Metafile (.wmf), Portable Network Graphics (.png), JPEG File Interchange Format (.jpg, .jpeg), and Graphics Interchange Format (.gif) files can be inserted within SpecLink-E sections.  Instructions detailing the process can be found in the Help file within SpecLink-E.

CostLink AE

Q. Is there a way to copy an old estimate and then just change the project size to update the estimate?
A. No, there is no easy way to do that. However, you can achieve the results you are seeking by using the linking features in CostLink/AE to link the quantity of tasks to their parent folders, and link the parent folders to their parent folders. You could also link to Excel where you would enter the size of the building and any other factors that would be used to determine the cost of a different building. See Chapter 8 of the CostLink/AE User Manual for more information on linking CostLink/AE to parent folder quantities and to Excel. The manual can be found on the CD/DVD or at our website here.

Q. I have some questions on the costs in the estimate and the assemblies in the models. Whom do I contact?
A. Your subscription to BSD CostLink/AE includes the current R.S. Means cost data in the AE Assemblies database and the Building Construction Cost Data database. R.S. Means stands behind its publications. If you have any questions about your estimate, about the costs you’ve used from their data, or even about the technical aspects of the job that may affect your estimate, feel free to call the R.S. Means editors at 1-800-334-3509.


More questions? Contact BSD Technical Support: