Moving to SpecLink-e

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Author Message John Regener, AIA, CCS, CCCA, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: john_regener Post Number: 738 Registered: 04-2002 Posted on Wednesday, February 18, 2015 - 08:10 pm:    I have subscribed to SpecLink-e. It's a matter of productivity vs using conventional word processing programs. So, Setting aside my shyness, I ask, what has been the experience of making the transition, especially incorporating text from office prototype/master specifications and past project specifications which embody the corporate knowledge and experience of the specifier? Dave Metzger Senior Member Username: davemetzger Post Number: 560 Registered: 07-2001 Posted on Wednesday, February 18, 2015 - 08:51 pm:    John, Does this mean you're giving up on DOS and WordPerfect 5? Margaret G. Chewning FCSI CCS Senior Member Username: presbspec Post Number: 265 Registered: 01-2003 Posted on Wednesday, February 18, 2015 - 09:46 pm:    Oh John, be forewarned, there is a learning curve. I too have just become a SpecLinker. This after many years as a loyal SpecText user. Note, among any of the Word processing type masters SpecText is my choice. I am making the adjustment and have found importing project sections from Word to work most of the time. the effort comes in figuring out the linking and "nesting" of paragraphs. Fortunately SpecsIntact prepared me for that. First few projects will go slow as you build your own data base. but as you have repeat type projects using similar language your master will keep building. At first I was skeptical, but as I had invested in the subscription I plowed on and find where I have repeat sections they go much more quickly. Still working to get it the way I want, but it is getting there. Good luck, and don't hesitate to call the Tech assist. They were a great help when I couldn't find the how to on the help menu. Curt Norton, CSI, CCS Senior Member Username: curtn Post Number: 209 Registered: 06-2002 Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2015 - 08:23 am:    When I started using Speclink, I went to their training session (~2.5 days?) and it was well worth it. It's not hard to learn, it's just different. Changing text or adding text from your old master is no big deal, but when you can, use the text that is there. It makes updating much easier. Also, try to avoid forcing lines OFF. Learn what triggers a change in the document. The more you force, the harder it is to go back and update a section because the project changed. But how often does that happen? Lynn Javoroski FCSI CCS LEEDŽ AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 1975 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2015 - 11:52 am:    There are glitches, but there are glitches in any software. Margaret is right - the tech support is great. (she's right about just about everything) Don't attempt to import tables, though. Build the appearance using tabs. John Regener, AIA, CCS, CCCA, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: john_regener Post Number: 739 Registered: 04-2002 Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2015 - 12:45 pm:    Giving up on WordPerfect DOS 5.1? Reluctantly, I have left WP5.1 behind after a PC crash in March 2014. One of the transition and use issues for SpecLink is incorporating user-created text. I'm expecting to do cut-and-paste of text from a Windows-based word processing file, whether from my archives or a manufacturer-produced spec. Lynn Javoroski FCSI CCS LEEDŽ AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 1976 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2015 - 01:06 pm:    SpecLink will import entire Word docs and rtfs as well as phrases, sentences, paragraphs, etc. It does it generally quite well. It will also import from one of its projects to another. And you can export in Word or PDF.