Back to Home

---

Update Summer 1999

• 1 new generic section
• 111 updated generic sections
• 3 new proprietary sections
• 54 updated proprietary sections
• 689 sections, total
• standards for 20 reference organizations verified

New Sections: The following new sections are included in this quarter's update:

15831 - Air Curtains: Air curtains are often installed over a building's exterior door or window openings. They provide an air barrier when doors or windows are opened that helps reduce the building's heating and cooling losses, repel gusts of wind, and minimize the entrance of windborne dust, fumes, pollutants, and insects. Additionally, air curtains help to expedite the flow of traffic in and out of the building by providing an unobstructed view of the door opening.

08110 – Steel Doors and Frames: Amweld Building Products, Inc.; steel doors, frames, and transom panels.

08721 – Sliding Door Hardware: Hager Companies; bi-fold, by-pass, and pocket door hardware, and pocket door frame kits.

08715 – Thresholds And Weatherstripping: Hager Companies; thresholds, weatherstripping, and astragals.

BSD SpecLink Workshop

BSD's SpecLink workshop continues to be well-attended and highly rated by attendees. Subscribers wanting to learn how to get the most out of their SpecLink program are encouraged to attend. The course is 1-1/2 days in length and is good for 36 AIA Learning Units, which qualify for 12 Health, Safety, and Welfare hours. The cost for the course is $395 per person. Here is the schedule for the next six months:

• June 28-29
• July 26-27
• August 23-24
• September 27-28
• October 25-26
• December 20-21

 

Referring to the Owner, Design Professional, and Contractor in the specs:

This quarter some inconsistent language has been changed so that the Owner, Design Professional, and Contractor terms are never preceded by the word "the." The impetus for this was the increasing use of the full name of the owner in the specifications – some users reported that the word "the" made the grammatical structure strange.

Each changed paragraph will show up on the Update Log, which you can print out. They will also appear in magenta if you choose to have all updates marked for you.

Although it is true that the default settings for any of the replaceable keywords can be changed to any words desired, you may still find some odd constructions if you use actual organization or firm names. Most problems will arise due to possessives and hyphenations in the text, such as "Owner-furnished products" and "Owner's personnel".

If you change the names, you should also be sure that the correct contractual arrangement is reflected. Where the duties of each party to the construction contract are described in SpecLink, mostly in Division 1, the relationships are in accordance with the typical Owner-Contractor agreement based on AIA A201 and EJCDC 1910-8, which both describe contract administration provided by the design professional.

In addition, if the actual contractual relationships are different, substitution of a different set of names may not be sufficient to clarify the modified responsibilities. In that case, it is advisable to examine each section for statements relating to the duties of the parties to the contract and make modifications as necessary.

Did you know that it is actually useful to turn off your computer at least once a day?

That's because Windows 95 and 98 don't manage memory resources in the most optimum way. After a period of use the system resources may get so low that you get unexplained problems, including GPF's. This is such a pervasive problem that Windows 98 includes a Resource Meter that can be used to track 3 kinds of resources: System Resources, GDI Resources, and User Resources. So, restarting once or twice a day (like at lunchtime) will clear out the clogged up resources for a fresh start. (NT users don't have this problem!)

Standards News

Standards Organizations: This past quarter, we verified that all the standards referenced in BSD SpecLink for 20 different organizations are up to date. This process included ordering 17 replacement standards and verifying that 72 other reference documents are still current. We also compared the replacement documents to those previously referenced and made appropriate changes to the database. Those organizations whose reference standards were verified this quarter are the following:

CGA - Compressed Gas Association

CISPI - Cast Iron Soil Pipe Institute

CLFMI - Chain Link Fence Manufacturers Institute

CRSI - Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute

CTI - Cooling Tower Institute

GA - Gypsum Association

HI - The Hydronics Institute

ILI - Indiana Limestone Institute of America, Inc.

IMIAWC - International Masonry Industry All-Weather Council

NCMA - National Concrete Masonry Association

NEBB - National Environmental Balancing Bureau

NECA - National Electrical Contractors Association

NEMA - National Electrical Manufacturers Association

NSF - NSF International

PCI - Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute

PTI - Post-Tensioning Institute

SMACNA - Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association

TIA - Telecommunications Industry Association

TPI - Turfgrass Producers International (formerly American Sod Producers Association)

WDMA - Window and Door Manufacturers Association

SSPC-Paint 25: Steel Structures Painting Council (SSPC) has revised this commonly specified primer for steel fabrications. SSPC-Paint 25 was a red iron oxide, zinc oxide, raw linseed oil and alkyd primer. It has now been divided into two separate paint specifications, SSPC-Paint 25.1 and SSPC-Paint 25.1BCS.

SSPC-Paint 25.1 is titled "Zinc Oxide, Alkyd, Linseed Oil Primer for Use Over Hand Cleaned Steel" and SSPC-Paint 25.1BCS is titled "Zinc Oxide, Alkyd, Linseed Oil Primer for Use Over Blast Cleaned Steel."

As the titles indicate, 25.1 is for painting hand-cleaned steel and 25.1BCS is for blast cleaned steel. Both paints are French process zinc oxide, raw linseed oil and alkyd primers that meet VOC Class 4 (Type I paint) or VOC Class 3 (Type II paint). However, 25.1 is slow drying (approximately 36 hours), while 25.1BCS dries a little quicker, in about 18 hours. 25.1BCS contains 30% more alkyd resin than 25.1 and is not recommended for use on hand-cleaned steel. Both primers are suitable for normally dry interior and exterior steel surfaces and may be applied with a brush, roller, or sprayer. If exposed to weather, the topcoat should be applied as soon as possible.

NWWDA: National Wood Window and Door Association has changed its name to Window and Door Manufacturers Association to "expand its focus beyond wood products to embrace all high quality window, door and skylight products." See www.wdma.com, where a complete publications list and order form is available, or call (847) 299-5200.

Questions From Our Users

Q. If I re-use an old project how can I be sure I haven't left in things that I don't need on my next project?

A. The only way to be sure is to systematically review each section. Following are some tips:

1. Print the old project's table of contents (TOC) (click on File, Print, Table of Contents).

2. After reviewing the Table of Contents, deselect sections you know you don't want to use this time. (Hint: Use Compact View to see only the currently selected sections).

3. Select any additional sections you will need.

4. Print the Table of Contents again – at this point, at least 90% of the sections needed will be selected. Use this as a checklist for your review.

5. Now, systematically review the sections. Start with Part 2 to see whether the products selected are correct – review Part 2 of all sections before going on. (This will also help to remind you of other sections you need to add.)

6. If you are starting work on this project early, it may be practical to wait until the end of the construction documents phase before completing your review. Otherwise, complete the review by proceeding from Part 2 to Part 3, and then to Part 1.

Q. When I import text from Word using the Import From Clipboard function, it isn't formatted the same as it is in Word. Why not? And what can I do about it?

A. There are several potential problems with importing from clipboard that you can eliminate in Word before importing.

• Paragraph Breaks: Each paragraph in the original text will be pasted consecutively into a separate new paragraph in the section. A paragraph mark is used to determine the end of a paragraph. If there seem to be too many or too few paragraphs, you need to adjust the paragraph marks. If you are uncertain about where paragraphs end, make the paragraph marks visible by pressing the Show/Hide icon ¶ on the Word toolbar.
• Paragraph Levels: The original indentation of paragraphs is retained. However, in Word 97 the indentation must be accomplished using tabs at the beginning of the line, not left margin indents. The default setting for Word 97 is to use tabs to set the left indent for a paragraph so you need to change that setting. To do so, go to Tools, Options, Edit and uncheck the box next to "Tabs and Backspace Set Left Indent."

• Paragraph Numbers: If the imported text contains paragraph numbers made using either text characters or the "bullets and numbering" function, you should delete them first. When Word sends the file to the clipboard it converts the numbering codes to actual text.
• Special Characters: The text imported from the clipboard is ASCII text. Besides letters and numbers, tabs and carriage returns, the only characters that will be imported are those in the standard ASCII character set (those that are on a standard keyboard). If you need special characters, re-insert them after importing, by using the Alt+number codes shown in Windows Character Map.

Back to Top

---

What's New for Spring 1999, Version 4.0

• 130 updated generic sections, plus 1 new section
• 60 new proprietary sections
• 210 updated sections
• 686 sections, total
• standards for 22 reference organizations verified
• more manufacturer lists added to Divisions 15/16

Standards Organizations: This past quarter, we verified that all the standards referenced in BSD SpecLink for 27 different organizations are up to date. This process included ordering 18 replacement standards and verifying that 240 other reference documents are still current. We also compared the replacement documents to those previously referenced and made appropriate changes to the database. Among those organizations whose reference standards were verified this quarter are the following:

• Aluminum Association (AA)
• American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA)
• American Assoc. of State Highway & Transp. Officials (AASHTO)
• American Concrete Pipe Association (ACPA)
• American Galvanizers Association (AGA)
• American Institute of Timber Construction (AITC)
• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
• Associated Air Balance Council (AABC)
• Hydraulic Institute (HyI)
• Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)
• Society of Protective Coatings (SSPC) (formerly Steel Structures Painting Council)
• Steel Door Institute (SDI)

>New Steel Door Standard – ANSI A250.8 – Replaces SDI 100: The Steel Door Institute has revised SDI 100 and has obtained ANSI approval for the new document. ANSI A250.8, SDI-100 Recommended Specifications for Standard Steel Doors, was published in September 1998. This change significantly affects all steel door specs, since the different grades of doors and frames have been changed. Instead of Grades I, II, III, and IIIA, there are now Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4 that define the basic material thicknesses, plus performance Levels C, B, and A. SpecLink Section 08110(BSD) has been created to fully implement these changes, with explanations of the principal differences.

New Section 08110 – Steel Doors and Frames:
3 generic sections on standard and custom steel doors and frames have been combined into a single section and updated to the newly-published standard steel door standard promulgated by the Steel Door Institute. Sections 08111 – Standard Steel Doors, 08112 – Standard Steel Frames, and 08114 – Custom Steel Doors have been deleted, although they remain in the database for use on previous projects.
The new section, 08110, covers all types of hollow steel doors, including fire-rated, non-rated, sound-rated, and flush and stile-and-rail styles. Standard manufactured "stock" doors and frames are normally specified using ANSI A250.8 (formerly SDI 100). Doors and frames made-to-order, or non-standard, are usually specified using NAAMM HMMA standards (860 through 865). Doors can be specified by both standards in this section. Both standards include specific construction details that are not repeated in this section. The basic differences between the grades represented by the standards are explained in this section, but the fine nuances are not -- if you need to understand the precise differences between the standards or the grades, we recommend that you get a copy of the standards.
The Steel Door Institute publication "The Standard Steel Door and Frame Story" and the NAAMM Hollow Metal Manufacturers Association publication "Introduction to Custom Hollow Metal" explain the fundamental differences between "standard" and "custom" hollow metal.

• Steel Door Institute: (440) 899-0010, www.steeldoor.org.
• Hollow Metal Manufacturers Association, division of National Association of Architectural Metal Manufacturers: (312) 201-0101, www.naamm.org.

Revised Section 08115 – Steel Door Frames:To accompany new section 08110, this section has been revised to cover both standard and custom steel frames for use without steel doors. If Section 08110 - Steel Doors and Frames is used, it is not normally necessary to use this section.

New Sections: The following new proprietary sections are included in this quarter's update:

• 02070 - Geosynthetics (HUESKER inc.)
• 03121 - Architectural Form Liners (Symons Corp.)
• 03361 - Concrete Stamping (Symons Corp.)
• 03931 - Concrete Crack Injection (Chemrex/Sonneborn)
• 03932 - Concrete Bonding (Chemrex/Sonneborn)
• 04092 - Masonry Flashings (AFCO Products Inc.)
• 04210 - Clay Masonry Units (Endicott)
• 04220 - Unit Masonry Assemblies (Clayton Block Co., Inc.)
• 04812 - Thin Brick (Endicott Clay Products Company)
• 05520 - Handrails and Railings (Moultrie)
• 05520 - Handrails and Railings (Ensurco Duradek)
• 05810 - Expansion Joint Cover Assemblies (Architectural Art)
• 06067 - High Pressure Decorative Laminates (Nevamar)
• 06630 - Plastic Railings (Cross Industries)
• 06650 - Solid Polymer Fabrications (DuPont Corian)
• 06650 - Solid Polymer Fabrications (MPI/Corian)
• 07140 - Fluid Applied Waterproofing (Chemrex/Sonneborn)
• 07165 - Cementitious Waterproofing (Chemrex/Sonneborn)
• 07222 - Roof Board Insulation (Atlas Roofing Corporation)
• 07240 - Exterior Insulation and Finish System (Omega)
• 07261 - Weather Resistant Membranes (DuPont Tyvek)
• 07310 - Shingles (Elk Corporation)
• 07329 - Tile Roof Fasteners (Newport Fastener)
• 07410 - Metal Roof and Wall Panels (Reynolds Metals)
• 07464 - Vinyl Siding (Vytec Corporation)
• 07469 - Metal Siding (Alcoa Building Products, Inc.)
• 07481 - Tile Panel Wall Cladding System (Coop.Cer.D'Imola)
• 07610 - Sheet Metal Roofing (Englert, Inc.)
• 07721 - Prefab. Roof Curbs (Custom Curb, Inc.)
• 07721 - Prefab. Roof Curb Support System (Roof Curb Sys.)
• 07901 - Epoxy Joint Sealers (Chemrex/Sonneborn)
• 08130 - Stainless Steel Doors and Frames (Krieger)
• 08150 - Pre-Assembled Metal Door/Frame Units (Benchmark)
• 08365 - Upward-Acting Sectional Doors (Amarr)
• 08381 - Double-Acting Impact Traffic Doors (Eckel/RubbAir)
• 08520 - Aluminum Windows (Peerless Products, Inc.)
• 08520 - Aluminum Windows (St. Cloud Window, Inc.)
• 08711 - Architectural Hinges (Hager)
• 08712 - Continuous Geared Hinges (Hager)
• 08715 - Door Trim and Auxiliary Hardware (Hager)
• 08719 - Sliding Door Hardware (Hager)
• 08810 - Glass (Visteon Float Glass Operations)
• 09300 - Tile (Endicott)
• 09305 - Tile Setting Materials and Accessories (Mapei)
• 09320 - Floor and Wall Tile (Cooperativa Ceramica D'Imola)
• 09689 - Carpet Reclamation (DuPont Flooring Systems)
• 09800 - Acoustical Treatment (Eckel Industries, Inc.)
• 09900 - Paints and Coatings (ICI Devoe)
• 09900 - Paints and Coatings (ICI Fuller-O'Brien)
• 09963 - Elastomeric Coatings (Chemrex/Sonneborn)
• 10305 - Manufactured Fireplaces (Superior Fireplace)
• 10503 - Metal Lockers (Penco Products, Inc.)
• 10530 - Protective Covers (Royal Aluminum, Inc.)
• 11613 - Laboratory Glassware Washer/Dryers (Labconco)
• 12055 - PVC Upholstery Fabric (GenCorp Polymer Products)
• 12496 - Window Shade Systems (Shade Techniques, Inc.)
• 13075 - Bullet Resistant Fiberglass (Waco Composites, Inc.)
• 13096 - Radio Frequency Shielding Enclosure (TeckNit)
• 13155 - Swimming Pool Accessories (Paragon Aquatics)
• 13851 - Fire Alarm Systems (Fike Protection Systems)
• 14120 - Electric Dumbwaiters (Waupaca Elevator)
• 14220 - Residential Elevators (Waupaca Elevator)
• 15054 - Water Soluble Flux (Taracorp/IMACO, Inc.)
• 15411 - Accessible Bathing Units (Fiberglass Systems, Inc.)
• 15831 - Air Doors/Air Curtains (Berner International)

BSD's Website

Some things you can find on our Internet website, which can be reached at www.bsdsoftlink.com, are:

• The Specifier's Basic Library.
• Frequently asked questions – with answers!
• Full descriptions of the available model projects.

Questions From Our Users

Q. When I used one of the model projects, it included sections that I couldn't access. How do I get them out of my project so they don't print or show on the TOC?

A. If you don't subscribe to the Comprehensive Catalog, you won't need some of the pre-edited sections in the model projects. Although these sections are already selected it's not necessary to remove them from the project just to keep them from printing or showing on your Table of Contents.

• To make a custom Table of Contents, use Section 00010 – Table of Contents, instead of the automatic Table of Contents that is printed from File Menu/Print. You'll probably need to do this anyway, to add the sections that will be prepared by others.
• The easiest way to make Section 00010 – Table of Contents look right is to change the Format setting to Block format.
• To avoid printing unnecessary sections, don't try to print the whole project using the "Complete Project" setting in the Print Dialog Box. Instead, use the "Selected Division" or "Selected Section" setting, whichever is most efficient. For example, if you subscribe to the Architectural Catalog, print Divisions 0 through 14 by the division and then the few sections in Divisions 15/16 individually. Or, for Mechanical/Electrical Catalog subscribers, print Divisions 0, 1, 15 and 16 by the division, then others by the section.
• If you want to use a model project as the starting point for an office master, and also want to remove the unnecessary sections, you'll need to create a new blank project first, then copy only the needed sections from the model project to the blank project.

Q: Is SpecLink Y2K compliant?

A: Yes. SpecLink uses dates for permissions and updating – both are Y2K-compliant date systems.

BSD SpecLink Workshop

BSD's SpecLink workshop continues to be well-attended and highly rated by attendees. Subscribers wanting to learn how to get the most out of their SpecLink program are encouraged to attend. The course is 1-1/2 days in length and is good for 36 AIA Learning Units, which qualify for 12 Health, Safety, and Welfare hours. The cost for the course is $395 per person. Here is the schedule for the next six months:

March 22-23; April 19-20; May 17-18; June 28-29; July 26-27; August 23-24

Back to Top

---

Winter Update 1998-99 (Version 3.3)

New Model Projects!

This new edition of BSD SpecLink includes a total of 4 model projects. In addition to the professional building project included on the last update, there are new model projects for a branch bank, multi-family housing, and a small commercial building. These model projects are designed to save you time when developing specifications for similar projects, because they include the most commonly needed sections, pre-edited for typical situations.

Installation Procedures: When you install your new CD-ROM, you will be offered the opportunity to copy any or all of the model projects onto your hard drive. We recommend that you install them all. To save space, however, you can leave the model projects on the CD-ROM and copy them only when needed as the starting point for a similar project.

Create New Project: When you select New Project from the File menu, you will see a new dialogue box that allows you to use any model project or any of your own projects as the starting point for the new project.

The default setting for the project source is the same blank template that has always been included in SpecLink. By clicking on the open folder icon to the right, however, you open a dialogue box that allows you to specify any existing project or any model project as the starting point for your project. After selecting your template, you can then type in a path and name for your new project or click on the open folder icon to open a Name New Project dialogue box. When the fields project source and new project are both correct, click on the OK button to create the project. Descriptions of the new model projects begin in the next column.

Multi-Family Residential Project (multifam.slp): The sections most often used in low-rise apartments and condos are pre-edited for the following prototypical building:

• a three-story building with parking on ground level.
• slab-on-grade ground floor, steel-framed second floor, and wood framing and roof construction above.
• vinyl siding and brick veneer exterior, with wood windows and insulating glazing.
• asphalt shingle roofing.
• metal-framed stairs; masonry fire separation walls.
• hollow metal exterior doors, flush wood interior doors.
• automatic overhead grilles for parking entrances.
• interior finishes of painted drywall, tile, resilient flooring, stone flooring, carpet.
• dwelling unit fixtures of kitchen cabinets and appliances, horizontal louver blinds, manufactured fireplaces, toilet accessories.
• common area fixtures of mailboxes, fire extinguisher cabinets, storage shelving.
• furnace/heat pump HVAC, plumbing, and electrical.

Branch Bank (brnchbnk.slp): The sections most often used for a small free-standing bank with covered drive-through are pre-edited for the following prototypical building:

• a single-story building with sloped roof on lobby/office area and flat roof over drive-through.
• slab-on-grade ground floor, steel framing, light-gage steel stud exterior walls, and wood truss roof framing.
• brick veneer exterior with aluminum storefront and insulating glazing, EIFS canopy.
• metal roofing on sloped portion, built-up roofing on flat roof.
• hollow metal exterior doors, flush wood interior doors.
• typical interior finishes and fixtures, assuming a lobby, restrooms, and a break room.
• rooftop HVAC, typical plumbing and electrical.
• concrete driveways and parking lot.
• Note: bank equipment must be specified by the owner.

Small Project (smalproj.slp): The sections most often used in light commercial construction are pre-edited for the following prototypical building:

• a low-rise building of size not requiring protected non-combustible construction.
• slab-on-grade first floor, spread footings, and steel-framed upper floor and roof construction.
• brick veneer exterior over metal studs, with aluminum storefront framing and tinted insulating glazing.
• built-up bituminous roofing.
• interior finishes of painted drywall, lay-in acoustical ceiling panels, carpet.
• hollow metal door frames and flush wood doors.
• sodding, drive and sidewalk paving.
• typical residential or rooftop HVAC, plumbing, and electrical.
• fire protection systems by reference to code.
• no special telecommunications or security.

What's New for Winter 1998-99

• 2 new sections
• 182 updated sections
• 3 new model projects
• standards for 38 reference organizations verified
• manufacturer lists added to Divisions 15 and 16
• 660 sections total

Standards Organizations: This past quarter, we verified that all the standards referenced in BSD SpecLink for 38 different organizations are up to date. This process included ordering 17 replacement standards and verifying that 42 other reference documents are still current. We also compared the replacement documents to those previously referenced and made appropriate changes to the database. Among those organizations whose reference standards were verified this quarter are the following:

• AASHTO—American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
• ARI—Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute
• CRI—Carpet and Rug Institute
• NEII—National Elevator Industry, Inc.
• NRCA—National Roofing Contractors Association
• SJI—Steel Joist Institute

New Sections: The new sections included in this quarter's update are:

• 00010 - Table of Contents
• 11450 - Residential Equipment

Table of Contents: This new section is designed as an alternative to the Table of Contents report that is available from the Print dialogue box. Every section in BSD SpecLink is linked to its corresponding title in the new TOC section, so the table of contents is automatically edited as you add sections to your project or exclude unneeded sections. Unlike the TOC report, which must be exported as an .rtf file in order to add documents not produced in SpecLink, the new TOC section can be edited like any other SpecLink section. You can also add your own links between sections you have added to an office master project and corresponding titles you have added to the TOC section.

Manufacturer Lists: This quarter, we have added optional manufacturer lists to over 75 percent of the sections in Divisions 15 and 16. These lists are in addition to those previously added to non-proprietary sections in Divisions 2 through 14.

Specifier's Library

Building Systems Design's specification writers have reviewed the wide range of resources available in the specification field and recommend the following to persons new to spec writing or wishing to improve their resource libraries.  This information is available on our website.  Major topics include the following:

• Professional Organizations
• Section Numbers and Titles
• Master Guide and Sample Specifications
• Specification Organization and Terminology
• Agreements and General Conditions
• Specification Writing Practice
• Metric Practice
• Reference Standards and Documents Sources
• Reference Standards Collections
• Construction Product Information Resources in Print
• Internet Portal Sites with Focus on Construction (coming soon)

Questions From Our Users

Q. The default font for BSD SpecLink is Arial. How can I change the font for all the text in my project?

A. In SpecLink, fonts are established separately for each text level. This feature allows you to use different fonts, if desired, for different parts of the section. For example, you can use a larger font for the 3 Parts of each section, or for article titles. You can also use bold fonts for some levels, or use underlining for emphasis.To change the font for each level, go to the Format menu and select Paragraph Format. When the dialogue box opens, click on the Modify button to open the Modify Paragraph Format dialogue box. At the top of the box, use the Level pull-down list to select the text level you want to modify, then click on the Font button to open a font selection dialogue box. Repeat the last step for each text level you want to change. Changing fonts for all text levels should not require more than a minute or two.

BSD SpecLink Workshop

BSD's SpecLink workshop continues to be well-attended and highly rated by attendees. Subscribers wanting to learn how to get the most out of their SpecLink program are encouraged to attend. The course is 1-1/2 days in length and is good for 36 AIA Learning Units, which qualify for 12 Health, Safety, and Welfare hours. The cost for the course is $395 per person. Here is the schedule for the first six months of 1999:

• January 19-20
• February 23-24
• March 22-23
• April 19-20
• May 17-18
• June 28-29

Back to Top

---

Fall Update 1998 (Version 3.2)

Improved Updating!

With this new CD, we have made the process of updating existing projects both faster and more reliable. Users with SpecLink installed on a local drive will probably not notice any significant speed difference, but single users on a network and multiple user installations should see a substantial improvement in the speed of updating.

Updating on Networks: The processes of marking updates and applying updates will run dramatically faster. When the project is stored on a network drive, the software first makes a copy on the C drive, updates that copy (a much faster process), and then replaces the network file with the copy. While the update is being performed, no other users can open the original copy on the network. Based on our testing, the length of time required to update a project of about 15MB has dropped from over an hour and a half to under 15 minutes.

Multi-User Network Environments: In situations with more than one concurrent user, the changes we've made protect the project files from damage during updating. If one user has a project open, no other user can mark updates or apply updates to the same project. If someone is marking or updating a project, no other user can open it until the marking or updating is complete. If you get a message to the effect that you are not allowed to open a project, one of these situations is most likely to be the reason.

Temporary Files: In the past, some users experienced problems during the updating process that resulted in loss of the original project file. Updating now protects against this possibility by making both a backup (file extension .SAV, in the same location as the project file) and a temporary working file (.SLU, in the C:\Windows\Temp directory). If this temporary file space, equal to the project file size in both locations, is not available, the update has to be performed on the original project file. Since operating with so little free disk space is likely to become a bigger problem sooner rather than later, we recommend that you stop the update if you get any message during updating that says you don't have enough free disk space. Clear some additional disk space and start the update process again.

Backup Files: After updating a project, you can delete the .SAV file to save disk space - it is obsolete as soon as you make further changes to the project. If you want to back up the project for safety, you need to copy the latest .SLP file to another location, either in another directory on the same drive or on another drive or tape.

Finally, the arrival of your quarterly update CD shouldn't be an occasion for trepidation. Simply remember that if you don't want your projects to be changed, they won't be changed. You have complete control over what happens - you can use the updates automatically or selectively or not at all on a section-by-section basis and on a project-by-project basis. See your User Manual for more information.

What's New for Fall 1998

• 23 new sections and 371 revised sections
• 442 documents verified
• 658 total sections

ASTM Standards: In June, the American Society for Testing and Materials published its annual ASTM Standards in Building Codes, which led to many of the updates this quarter. Of the 641 ASTM standards that are referenced in SpecLink, 176 were revised this year. These revised standards affected 326 sections in SpecLink and required changes to 964 reference citations and 1,797 text segments.

In addition to updating ASTM standards, we verified reference documents for 28 other organizations. We verified 442 existing documents for these organizations, acquired 59 new documents, and identified 4 existing documents that have become obsolete.

New Sections: The new sections included in this quarter's update are proprietary, and most of them present products and technology for which a generic equivalent did not previously exist. With the addition of these sections, we continue to expand user choices. Here are the new sections included this quarter:

• 04221 – Glazed Concrete Masonry Units; Spectra-Glaze
• 04700 – Simulated Masonry; Stone Products
• 07430 – Composite Panels; Reynolds Metals
• 07435 – Light Transmitting Panels; Sequentia
• 07464 – Vinyl Siding and Soffits
• 07464 – Vinyl Siding; Mastic
• 08116 – Bullet-Resistant Steel Doors and Frames; Krieger
• 08120 – Aluminum Doors and Frames; Cline
• 08211 – Flush Wood Doors; Buell
• 08212 – Stile and Rail Wood Doors and Frames; Buell
• 08213 – High Press. Dec. Lam. Veneer Doors; Buell
• 08842 – Laminated Glass Glazing; Solutia
• 09050 – Basic Finish Accessories; Plastic Components
• 09100 – Metal Support Assemblies; Radius Track
• 09548 – Wide Panel Mtl Ceiling Systems; Hunter Douglas
• 09841 – Fabric-Covered Acoustical Wall Panels; Homasote
• 09930 – Stains and Transparent Finishes; Dura Seal
• 10670 – Storage Shelving; ClosetMaid
• 13032 – Saunas; Finlandia
• 14410 – People Lifts; Mengo Industries
• 14421 – Wheelchair Lifts; Garaventa
• 15831 – Air Curtains, Commercial; Mars Air Doors
• 15832 – Air Curtains, Industrial; Mars Air Doors

Questions From Our Users

Q. Why does my office master take up so much room? There are only 9 sections in my master and the file size is 32MB. I've excluded all of the other sections.

A. Your project file is so large because you excluded several hundred sections. In SpecLink, only selected sections will print or be included in the Table of Contents, so it isn't necessary to exclude sections you don't need. By excluding sections, you force the program to store unnecessary information in your project file, making it larger than it needs to be.

Q. Is there anything I can do to reduce the size of my project file?

A. Don't exclude sections unnecessarily (see answer above). You can also "compact" your project to remove embedded space in your database. "Compact" is a project management tool that saves disk space. SpecLink does this by eliminating the system space resources that are used to maintain deletions. It is a good habit to compact a project after you delete whole sections, and also when a project is completed, in preparation for archiving. When you perform a "repair and compact" on a project, SpecLink repairs the internal system tables of the database to see if the integrity of the database is intact. If not, it attempts to repair them. It then performs a "compact" to condense the database into as little space as possible.

SpecLink Quick Start

Are you aware that there is a short cut available for starting a new project? The "model" project can be the basis for a new project in lieu of starting with a blank slate. The model project includes a collection of the sections most often encountered in commercial construction and pre-edits them for the most typical conditions.

The project is a hypothetical office building of approximately 14,000 square feet on two floors. Civil, architectural, mechanical and electrical sections are included.

The model project will be installed automatically when you install your SpecLink update. The project will be located in your SpecLink Projects directory with the file name PROFBLDG.SLP. If you do not want the model project installed, choose "Change Options" and uncheck the box next to "Copy Model Project From CD" before you run the update installation.

Alternative to "Export To RTF"

Did you know that it's possible to send SpecLink files to your blueprint or reprographics company for printing without using Export to RTF? It's called "printing to file" and is very easy to do. Also, these files will include headers and footers, unlike the RTF files. All you need is the same printer driver (the printer's software) that the printing company uses. Explain to them that you want to generate printer files from your software (SpecLink) for printing on their printer. They should be able to send you their printer driver, which you install on your computer just as if you had that printer connected. Then edit the printer properties in Control Panel, specifying that the port to use is "File: (creates a file on disk)" rather than an LPT or COM port. When you want to generate the printer files, select Print from the File menu and select the new printer instead of your in-house printers. You will have to specify a file name for the generated file.

Suggestions: When you try this for the first time, "print" a single section and let your print shop verify that the process works correctly. Also, keep in mind that SpecLink can create one print file for each section in the project, one file for each Division, or one file for the whole project. Which method you use depends more on convenience than on any technical issue, but the way you are going to convey the files (by disk or e-mail) probably will influence maximum file size (remember, you can also compress them). Unless the project is very small (under 4MB), we do not recommend trying to "print" the entire project to one file, because generating the file will take a considerable amount of time (possibly several hours).

SpecLink Workshop

BSD's SpecLink workshop continues to be well-attended and highly rated by attendees. Subscribers wanting to learn how to get the most out of their SpecLink program are encouraged to attend. The course is 1-1/2 days in length and is good for 36 AIA Learning Units, which qualify for Health, Safety, and Welfare hours. The cost for the course is $395 per person. Here is the schedule for the remainder of 1998:

• September 21-22
• October 5-6
• November 9-10
• November 30-December 1

The classes are held at our training facility in Atlanta. BSD can also send an instructor to your location for up to 8 students. Call BSD at 888-BSD-SOFT to get additional information or to reserve your place in one of these classes.

Back to Top

---

Summer Update 1998 (Version 3.1)

SPECLINK'S NEWEST

The SpecLink Specifications Department welcomes Dennis Ashlock, PE, to the team. Dennis is a mechanical engineer with 20 years of experience that includes design, document preparation (specifications writing and CADD production), and cost estimating of HVAC, plumbing, and fire protection systems. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois, where he was an offensive tackle for the "Fighting Illini," and has been an Atlanta resident for 14 years. Dennis is married to Barbra Talbott and has two children - Drew, age 10, and Allison, age 5. With the addition of Dennis to the group, BSD now boasts five full-time specifiers on staff.

MANUFACTURER LISTS

In response to requests from our users, we are pleased to announce that this quarter's update features the addition of manufacturer names to SpecLink sections. With this release we have included manufacturer names for sections in Divisions 2 through 14. Future updates will include Divisions 15 and 16. The ARCAT proprietary sections are unaffected by this change.

Policy: In sections where manufacturer names are appropriate, BSD SpecLink lists three companies that make the types of products specified in the section. In all cases, we included manufacturers that are well known and that users are likely to want to include. The following initial criteria were used to determine which manufacturers would be listed:

• At least one manufacturer who makes all of the products (and options) included in the section.
• Two more who make all or most of the products included (no more than 3 total).
• Nationwide availability of major products.
• Headquarters or principal sales areas of the 3 listings are geographically well-distributed.

When a large number of manufacturers met these criteria, we gave preference to manufacturers who met the following additional standards:

• Name recognition by design professionals.
• Significant sales volume.
• Completeness of product line.

Where there was more than one manufacturer list in a particular section, the above criteria were applied to the products covered by each list separately. In all cases, we used the manufacturer's full name as it appears on product literature.

Procedure: We added new paragraphs with the manufacturer names above the existing fill-in paragraphs, and then deleted the existing paragraphs. If a user has previously used the fill-in paragraphs to include manufacturer names, updating will convert those paragraphs to user-added paragraphs below the new list. No data will be lost.

Each manufacturer's name is followed by an optional fill-in for naming a particular product. The list of manufacturers is followed by a fill-in for additional names.

Resources for the manufacturers' names included Sweet's Catalog "General Building File," The Architect's Catalog, Architect's First Source, and Sweet's "The Directory."

SPECLINK WORKSHOP

We are pleased to announce that SpecLink Workshop attendees now receive 36 AIA Learning Units. After a quality review by the AIA Continuing Education System (CES), the

SpecLink Workshop was upgraded to Level III, the highest quality level in the AIA/CES program, and now qualifies for 36 Learning Units rather than the 24 it earned before. The 36 LU's include 8 for HSW, so this one workshop fulfills AIA's annual continuing education requirements. For those of you who have already attended the workshop, the credit change will be retroactive.

SpecLink Workshop credits are also accepted by all seven states with Mandatory Continuing Education (MCE) requirements for architects. AIA membership is not necessary to receive this credit.

The SpecLink Workshop is a 1 ½ day seminar designed to help you realize maximum productivity with the BSD SpecLink specification writing system. Attendees receive professional instruction on the following topics:

• Creating an office master.
• Importing existing sections from word processors.
• Modifying, adding and deleting data within a project.
• Customizing printing formats.
• Taking maximum advantage of automatic updating.
• Adding your own intelligent links.

SpecLink Workshop sessions are held in our Atlanta training center and last 1-1/2 days. Classes are limited to 8 students and the workshop fee is $395. Seats are available June 15-16, July 13-14 and August 10-11. Call our workshop instructor, Debbie Shelley, today at 800-266-SPEC for more information or to reserve your seat in a SpecLink Workshop!

WHAT'S NEW FOR SUMMER 1998

• 20 new sections added
• 518 existing sections modified
• 484 reference documents verified
• New model project added
• 665 total sections – 423 generic, 242 proprietary

New Sections: We have added 20 new proprietary sections this quarter, continuing to broaden database content and options available to users. Here is a list of the new sections:

• 05080 - Factory-Applied Metal Coating System; Elf Atochem
• 06139 - Timber Construction; Western Red Cedar
• 06151 - Cedar Decking; Western Red Cedar
• 06152 - Wood Roof Decking; Homasote
• 06165 - Fiberboard Underlayment; Homasote
• 06221 - Wood Trim; Western Red Cedar
• 07190 - Water Repellents; Rainguard
• 07240 - Exterior Insulation and Finish System; Dryvit
• 07462 - Cedar Siding; Western Red Cedar
• 09830 - Acoustical Barriers; Homasote
• 09831 - Fire-Rated Acoustical Barriers; Homasote
• 09843 - Cork-Faced Acoustical Wall Panels; Homasote
• 09963 - Elastomeric Wall Coatings; Rainguard
• 09965 - Graffiti-Resistant Coatings; Rainguard
• 09985 - Masonry Stain System; Rainguard
• 10616 - Demountable Gypsum Board Partitions; Gravity Lock Systems
• 10825 - Barrier-Free Shower Doors; Tub-Master
• 15055 - Plumbing Solder; Taracorp/IMACO
• 15115 - Thermostatic Water Mixing Valves; Leonard
• 15819 - Air Duct Sealants; RCD

Model Project: The Summer CD includes a new "model" project to help reduce the time you spend creating a new project. If your project is reasonably similar to the model project, you can save a lot of time by using it as a point of beginning for your project, instead of starting with a blank project. To use the model project, you have to copy it from the CD-ROM during the update installation – choose "Change Options" and check the box next to "Copy Model Project from CD." The file name is PROFBLDG.SLP and will be located in your SpecLink Projects directory.

The project is a two-storied professional office building of approximately 14,000 square feet. The building features a slab-on-grade first floor, caisson foundation, and steel-framed second floor and roof construction. The exterior consists of brick veneer over metal studs, aluminum storefront framing, tinted insulating glazing, and built-up roofing. There is an EIFS-clad canopy at the building entrance, topped with a metal-framed skylight and single-ply roofing.

Typical interior finishes include painted drywall, fire-resistance-rated lay-in acoustical ceiling panels, carpet, hollow metal door frames, and flush wood doors. The lobby has slate flooring, paneled walls and a hydraulic elevator. The sample includes bidding and contract requirements, general requirements, site improvements, as well as mechanical and electrical sections.

This project brings together the sections most often used in commercial construction and pre-edits them for the most common conditions. Users can take these sections as a point-of-beginning for their own projects or office master(s) – a "head start" of sorts. Specifics relating to code requirements and structural loading were left incomplete to avoid limiting the applicability of the project to one geographic area. Users who choose to incorporate any or all of the sections from this project will need to verify information for the specific application and further edit the sections.

QUESTIONS FROM OUR USERS

Q. How do I get a continuous underline (underscore) between my header and the body of the section?

A. Go to Format | Header and Footer | Customize Header; place the desired text in the left box (using Keywords or typing text) followed by a return (Enter). Place two lines of underscore in the box (allow the underscore to wrap to the second line). Go to the other two boxes and complete the same operations. When the document is printed there will be a continuous underline across the page. To put a line between the text and your footer, place the two lines of underscore above the footer text.

Q. In my Project Window, the section numbers for sections that I have selected turn blue; however, additional section numbers for sections not selected turn blue as well. What does this indicate?

A. If you haven't selected the section(s) and you haven't opened the additional sections and made changes to them, the blue numbers indicate sections with links from other sections you have included in the project.

Q. When I select a paragraph and the parent is not selected, nothing happens. Is this correct?

A. SpecLink requires that parentage (hierarchical continuity) be maintained when selecting or excluding text. For example, if you select a Level 3 paragraph, you must also select the Level 2 parent text to have the lower level text included in the project. Because lower level paragraphs do not have green links to higher level paragraphs, the selection of an "orphan" paragraph will not result in its automatic inclusion in the text that is assembled and printed.

Q. When I am working in Compact View, why can't I insert a new paragraph?

A. You can add paragraphs while working in Compact View, but they're not visible. Compact View only shows selected paragraphs, and new paragraphs are not automatically selected. Change to either Master View or Expert View, insert, and then select the new paragraph. When you return to Compact View, the paragraph will be visible.

SPECLINK QUESTIONNAIRE

On April 1, 1998, questionnaires were sent to active, prospective, and former SpecLink users to measure the perceived strengths and shortcomings of several major SpecLink product features. The survey also asked for opinions on a variety of other issues such as quality of sales promotion materials, sales force effectiveness, technical support program quality, and product pricing. Last but not least, it provided a forum to express what respondees did not like about the product.

Thanks to all who took the time to fill out and return the questionnaire. The response rate was excellent. All comments were noted and have been taken under consideration. Many questionnaires contained suggestions for improving the quality of our product, and some requested a follow-up call from BSD. All specific requests have been addressed.

As always, additional comments or suggestions are welcome. Contact us via internet e-mail at support@bsdsoftlink.com or phone 1-800-266-SPEC (266-7732).

ABOUT BSD

Many of our SpecLink subscribers do not know much about the company, so we decided to include a sketchy portrait of BSD in this issue. We also thought you might be interested in learning something about other BSD projects currently underway.

BSD is just over 15 years old, and we currently have a staff of 30 people. We were founded at the beginning of the PC age, with the specific goal of developing microcomputer-based cost estimating systems. These early products took the place of software created to run on mainframe computers. Today, our biggest client is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which uses our software for cost management

of construction worth billions of dollars annually. Government clients now also include the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Five years ago, we began the expansion of our product line into the construction specifications arena. Today, in addition to software engineers, technical support personnel, and sales staff, we employ five full-time specification writers. Specifications-related products and projects account for approximately half of our annual revenues. We are the only company in the country with expertise in data and software for both specifications and cost estimating.

BSD is headquartered in high-rise offices located in Colony Square, a landmark development in midtown Atlanta. Our facilities include a software training classroom equipped with projection equipment, a dedicated network, and Pentium computers for ten students (see related article on SpecLink training classes).

The major thrust of our development work today is aimed at our goal of linking CAD, cost estimating, and specifications software into a suite of communicating products. To that end, we are working on new products code-named LinkMan (Link Manager) and BSD CadLink, as well as 32-bit versions of our current product line. In addition, we are consultants to the CSI/DBIA joint venture for the development of PerSpective™, a new performance-based specification system that will debut late in the calendar year.

Susan McClendon, RA, CSI, CCS, who is project manager for PerSpective, has just had a second article on the topic of performance specifying published in the May edition of CSI's The Construction Specifier. You may also want to see her first article, which was published in the Specifier's May 1997 issue.

Back to Top

---

Spring Update 1998 (Version 3.0)

Technical Support Team

The BSD SpecLink Technical Support Team is available from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. (eastern time), Monday through Friday to help you with questions about SpecLink. They can be reached by calling 800-266-SPEC.

Beth Newman is the Quality Assurance Manager at Building Systems Design. Besides taking telephone calls, Beth teaches BSD classes and is involved with a number of special projects at BSD, including several involving database development work in Microsoft^® Access. Born in Pennsylvania, Beth moved to Atlanta 20 years ago after a two year stint in Cambridge, MA. Her outside interests include running, swimming, weight-lifting, reading and running with the Atlanta Hash House Harriers and Harriettes. Beth has a husband, Phil, and two cats, Marshall Dillon and Miss Kitty.

Ed Mananquil is the Network Services Administrator at BSD and is a graduate of Clemson University with a degree in Computer Engineering. He began his career in Clemson's Information and Technology Division and then worked as an Information System contractor with Westvaco Chemical. He moved to Atlanta from Charleston, SC and joined BSD in 1995. Ed is an avid mountain biker, hiker, cartoon-watcher, and fast-food/ice-cream/BBQ eater.

Laurie Newman is relatively new to BSD, having recently changed careers from Cost Accounting to Technical Support. She is a whiz on the 10-key pad, and is rapidly learning the various products that BSD develops and supports. Born in Pennsylvania, and a graduate of Youngstown State University, Laurie moved to Atlanta 12 years ago, after spending 8 years in Baltimore, MD. Her outside interests include swimming, running, movies and volunteering at the Humane Society. Laurie has two cats who are named Trip and Miller.

Mike Underwood is Lead Software Engineer for BSD and has been with the company since 1991. He graduated from Georgia State University in 1986 (BBA in Information Systems and again in 1989 (MS in Computer Information Systems). His household consists of wife Cindy, son Austin, daughter Megan, and Whisper the cat. His interests include family, computers, soccer, and investing.

Debbie Shelley provides support and development in several departments at BSD. Most recently, she started assisting in specifications research. Her primary responsibilities include class instruction, including SpecLink classes. This South Carolinian is a graduate of Clemson University and has resided in Atlanta for 10 years. Her interests include baseball, exercising, novels of Danielle Steele and movies.

What's New for Spring 1998

• 9 new sections and 431 revised sections
• 363 references updated
• 645 total sections

Revised Sections: This quarter we have been busy checking documents referenced in SpecLink. A total of 987 documents, published by 144 organizations, were checked for their current publication date and content. That information was then compared to the same information in SpecLink. Changes were made to section content and linking to reflect changes in the referenced documents. 2,653 paragraphs had to be created or revised as a result of changes in these 987 documents. These paragraphs in turn affect 431 sections, or 68% of the total. All of these changes are in addition to ASTM standards updated last summer (these standards are published each May and are updated during our Summer quarter).

New Sections: The new sections included in this quarter's update are proprietary and most present products and technology for which a generic equivalent did not previously exist. With the addition of these sections, we continue to expand the user's choices. Here are the new sections included this quarter:

• 08120 - Aluminum Doors and Frames; Dor-O-Matic
• 08150 - Pre-Assembled Metal Door and Frame Units; Benchmark
• 08162 - ICU/CCU Sliding Doors; Dor-O-Matic
• 08465 - Automatic Folding Doors; Dor-O-Matic
• 08746 - Low-Energy Door Operators; Dor-O-Matic
• 08747 - Fire Door Operators; Dor-O-Matic
• 11610 - Laboratory Fume Hoods; Labconco Corporation
• 11611 - Self-Contained Filtered Laboratory Enclosures; Labconco Corporation
• 11612 - Biological Safety Cabinets; Labconco Corporation

Questions From Our Users

Q. What is the limit on the number of characters a user can enter into a choice field (fill in the blank)?

A. 254 bytes; that is, approximately 250 characters or about 4 lines of text. If you find that you need a choice field with greater capacity, you probably need to consider restructuring your information, using shorter, more concise statements.

Q. Can you give me a simple description of what Repair and Compact do to a database?

A. Repair - Examines the internal system tables of an access database to see it if the integrity of the database is intact. If not, it attempts to repair them. Most often, repairs are needed after a database has been closed abnormally. Each database keeps an open counter, and when the database is closed abnormally, this counter does not get reset. When the database is opened the next time, it reports that the database needs to be repaired.

Compact - Similar to the dBase "pack" command, with the exception that all tables, queries, and indexes are totally re-written to create as small a database as possible.

Why does Compact follow Repair? Usually a repair leaves the database in a disorganized state. Compacting reorganizes the database to allow for optimum performance.

Q: When I need to send a SpecLink project to someone else, I am confused about which files I need to send.

A: Your projects are typically stored in your SpecLink\Projects folder or directory. If you gave your project the file name of 123456, then you could find that you have the following files in your projects directory:

123456.slp - This is your SpecLink project and the one that you would normally send to someone else. This is the file that should be backed up on a regular basis.

123456.ldb - You may or may not have this file. The .ldb file is used for multi-user locking purposes only. This file will be created by the software when necessary, and may be deleted when nobody is using the project. The .ldb file should only be a few hundred bytes (128 bytes, 256 bytes, etc.)

123456.log - You may or may not have this file. This file is created when you update your project to a new master. It is a listing of the changes that were made to your project during the update process.

123456.sav - You may or may not have this file. This file is created if the database structure has changed this quarter and you answer yes to the question of whether you want to make a backup copy of your project before the update process happens. It is your project as it existed before the update. Sometimes it is necessary to rename this file using the extension .slp, repair and compact the file and then perform the update again. It is usually a good idea to answer yes when asked if you would like to make a backup copy of your project (unless you have already made your own backup copy.)

Q. When I click on the Lvl, Notes, or Source column and they turn black, what is happening?

A. This feature allows you to mark multiple paragraphs for linking to a source paragraph. Normally, if you move the cursor to one of these three columns, hold down the left mouse button, drag the icon over to the links target window and release the button, you create a single link between the target and source paragraph.

By clicking on multiple paragraphs (turning the corresponding fields in those columns black), and then performing the steps above, you will create a link from all the marked target paragraphs to the source paragraph. You click on each field again, to unmark it. This feature is most helpful in an office master, for quickly creating a large number of links.

SpecLink Workshop

BSD's SpecLink workshop continues to be well-attended and highly-rated by attendees. Subscribers wanting to learn how to get the most out of their SpecLink program are encouraged to attend. The course is 1-1/2 days in length and is good for 24 AIA Learning Units, 8 of which qualify for Health, Safety, and Welfare hours. The cost for the course is $395 per person. Currently, the course is booked up through the March class, but future classes will be offered:

• April 13-14
• May 11-12
• June 15-16
• July 13-14

The classes are held at our training facility in Atlanta. BSD can also send an instructor to your location for up to 8 students. Call BSD at 888-BSD-SOFT to get additional information or to reserve your place in one of these classes.

SpecLink User Manuals

In addition to this newsletter and a new CD, this quarter's update includes a new SpecLink User Manual. We are very proud of the new manual and believe that you will find it to be a valuable resource. Additional copies are available for $20/each plus shipping.

Back to Top

---

Winter Update 97/98 (Version 2.3)

What's New in 2.3

• 31 new sections
• 636 total sections
• software performance enhancements
• notes in Draft Copy revised for better visibility

Proprietary Sections: Many of the new proprietary sections represent products and technology for which a generic equivalent did not previously exist. With the addition of these sections, users have access to a wider range of choices. Here are some representative new sections:

• 04720 - Cast Stone; Continental Cast Stone Manufacturing
• 04721 - Cast Stone Ornaments; Pineapple Grove Designs
• 05735 - Ornamental Sheet Metal Enclosures; Metalwerks, Metal Sales & Service, Inc.
• 07185 - Traffic Membrane; Ensurco Duradek
• 07482 - Architectural Metal Wall Cladding; Metalwerks, Metal Sales & Service, Inc.
• 07841 - Partition-Head Firestopping; Fire Trak Corporation
• 08375 - Large Rolling Doors; Teknit Specialty Doors
• 08391 - Blast-Resistant Doors; Teknit Specialty Doors
• 09520 - Metal Panel Ceilings; Metalwerks, Metal Sales & Service, Inc.
• 09722 - Wall Fabrics; Carnegie

Questions From Our Users

Q. I opened a new section and began to edit in the Part-1 Article "Section Includes." I was selecting the subsequent paragraphs (in order), and many of them turned green after they were selected. Is that correct? It seems that selecting a particular paragraph should not make that paragraph turn green.

A. No segment can link to itself. That is not the reason the segment turned green. What happened is that the segment is linked to another segment, which in turn has a link back to the original segment. This frequently is the case with segments (paragraphs) in the "Section Includes" Article, since it serves a "scope" function for the entire section. The reason for this dual linking is to allow the user to edit either segment first, while always linking to the other segment. We refer to this as "cascading" links.

Text can be viewed and selected in any order. However, because of links, certain strategies may be more effective than others. It is recommended that you start with PART 2 - Products, then move to PART 3 - Execution, and finally to PART 1 - General. The reason for encouraging this order of selection is that PART 2 paragraphs, which deal with products and fabrication, always have more definitive links to text in PARTs 1 and 3 than either of those parts have to text in PART 2.

Q. What is the difference in Link Sources and Link Targets?

A. Link Sources are paragraphs or choices that must be selected for the links to take effect. Link Sources show links to the current paragraph from other paragraphs or choices. Link Targets are paragraphs or choices that would be affected by selection of the current paragraph. Link Targets show links to other paragraphs from the current paragraph.

The Links Panel displays in the Option Panel on the right side of the screen. Use the Option Panel button on the Toolbar to open the Option Panel. When the Option Panel is first opened it displays Notes. To access links, choose the Links button on the Toolbar. Click the Links button to display links for the current paragraph. The first click displays the Link Sources; the second click toggles to the Link Targets.

Q. The User Manual does not contain a lot of information about linking paragraphs (creating, using, modifying). How can I get more information about what can be done?

A. There have been a lot of software enhancements and improvements to SpecLink since the User Manual was printed. For that reason, an expanded, more comprehensive version is under development. However, SpecLink users already have a powerful resource at their fingertips with Help. There are several ways to access Help:

• F1 At any time, press to get context sensitive help about an active window or menu.
• Help Icon From the Toolbar, click the question mark to open the BSD SpecLink Help Window.
• Help Menu Displays the following options: 1) Contents, 2) Search for Help On…, 3) Help on Using Help.

Q. How do I make changes to choices?

A. Before you attempt to change (or add) choices, it is necessary to understand two things. First, embedded choice options can be manipulated only in user-added or copied paragraphs. Secondly, since building choice options is a bit more time-consuming than simply adding the text that is needed, it is principally used within an office master.

In order to change or add to choices in a user-added paragraph, position the cursor between the choice brackets in the Edit Panel. From the Choices Menu choose Edit Choice (the Edit Choice dialog box will appear). Choose the choice option to edit and make the changes in the Current Choice Text box. When changes are complete, choose OK.

Back to Top