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LinkLine: Summer 2010

Product Q&A

SpecLink-E

Q. I would like to use SpecLink-E while away from the office. How can I do that?
A. SpecLink-E allows you to work on individual sections even when you are not connected to the server where your project database resides. When you check out a section, you are working on a copy of that section that is on your local computer. If you are working disconnected from the server, you can perform all the typical editing functions that you use while working on an individual section.  Please refer to the Help section “Using SLE in Disconnected Mode” for more details, or call Support at 1-800-266-7732.

Q. How do I save my project?
A. There are different ways to save your project in SpecLink-E. 
  • Save to Database (Check In and Save group / Documents tab) allows you to save your work to the projects database, while keeping the section checked out. You must be connected to the server where the projects database is located to use this function. If you are finished editing your section and want to save your work, use Check In and Close. Using this option saves and closes the current section.
  • When you are not connected to the server where the projects database resides, use Save to Disk (Check In and Save group / Documents tab) to save the work you have done to your local hard drive. When you later connect to the server, you can use Save to Database or Check In and Close to save your work to the projects database so others can see your changes. Using this option saves the current section but does not close it.
  • Save Project to File Use this command on the Tools tab, Backup/Restore group when you want to save a single SpecLink-E project to a file.  To save a project to file, perform the following steps:
  1. Close any open project.
  2. Choose Save Project to File from the Tools tab, Backup/Restore group.
  3. Select the project to be saved in the resulting Save Project to File window.
  4. Click the Browse button to select the location where the project will be saved.
  5. Navigate to the desired folder and click Open.
  6. If you want to remove the project from the current projects database, click Remove the project from the Projects database.
  7. Click Save to File.
  1. SpecLink-E saves the database and informs you when the process is complete. Use the Load from File command to load a project that has been saved to file. You will have the option to overwrite the copy in your database or make a new one.

SpecLink+

Q. I am getting a message that it is time to install my update and that I must install it to gain access to the software. I just renewed my subscription, so why am I getting this message?
A. There are two different effective dates for the software. One is your subscription effective date, and the other is the master database effective date. Your subscription expires once a year and the software master expires each quarter. The two dates are not related. To see both dates, close any open projects and click on File and then Registration and Settings. If you have not installed your update by the time that the master expires, then you will no longer have access to the software. Installing the update will allow you to use the software. If your subscription has expired and you have already renewed it, you need to enter the access key that you were emailed when you renewed your subscription.

Q. The names of several section titles are appearing in pink or magenta text in my Tree panel. What does that mean?
A. In short, it means the project has not been completely updated. The software automatically marks any section that has not been completely updated to the latest master by turning the document title magenta. To update the whole project, go to the Tools menu, select Update to Master, then select Update Project and click the Update button. You can also update only certain sections by selecting Update Section after selecting the section you want to update, and clicking the Update button. Once the sections are updated, the titles in the tree panel turn back to their normal color.

Note that SpecLink does not require that you update a project; there can be many legitimate reasons for not updating a particular project. The magenta titles simply act as reminders that those sections contain obsolete data. You can open any of those sections at any time to see which paragraphs have updated versions available (marked with a rust color), and you can view the individual paragraph changes before updating them. You can also print a report that lists every paragraph in your project affected by updates. For more detail on updating, see Chapter 11 in the updated User Manual on the latest BSD SoftLink CD-ROM or from our website at www.bsdsoftlink.com/support/sl_manual.htm.

Q. Why are there so many "empty folders" in SpecLink?
A. The folders in the Project Tree (left-hand side of the SpecLink+ window) represent the complete CSI MasterFormat 2004 numbering system down to Level 2 in most cases.  BSD does not have content for every single Level 3 specification section in MF04.

The “empty” or “place holder” folders serve a couple of purposes:  The entire MF04 numbering system is built into SpecLink+ to:
  • Assist the user in finding the appropriate Division and Section number for any new sections the user decides to add to a project, and
  • Provide a standardized location for new content, which BSD is constantly adding.

CostLink/AE

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 will follow your relocated one. When you release the mouse button, choose Move Above from the right mouse button menu.

Q. How can I email my CostLink/AE reports to someone who does not have AE?
A. Export the report(s) to a PDF file. PDF files can be opened on any computer using Acrobat Reader and cannot be edited easily.

To export your reports, Print Preview a report that you would like to email. In the Print Preview window, click the export report button on the toolbar. Choose Acrobat Format (PDF). Follow the onscreen directions including entering a file name and location. Once the export is complete, you can email the exported file as an attachment.

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

More questions? Contact BSD Technical Support: