Numbers and pairs and spaces oh my

Log Out | Topics | Search Moderators | Register | Edit Profile

Author Message Phil Kabza Senior Member Username: phil_kabza Post Number: 604 Registered: 12-2002 Posted on Thursday, April 05, 2018 - 01:59 pm:    It's been a while since anyone ranted about this, so it's my turn. I just received 150 consultant files to combine into a composite PDF project manual. Our section numbering is 000000, the EE's is 00 0000; and the HVAC and Plumbing is 00 00 00. No one paid attention to my coordination outline sent at the beginning of the project. I really wanted to spend an hour picking spaces out of the filenames in Windows Explorer - such a good use of my time. What on earth was the original MasterFormat Comm thinking when they avoided creating a standard and left the numbering format as optional. Spec writing consultants, SEs, CEs, and MEPs work for multiple offices choosing multiple numbering formats. Our time would be much better spent concentrating on serious content and coordinating issues, instead of this kind of trivia. Grrrrrrrrr. Chris Grimm, CSI, CCS, SCIP, LEED AP BD+C Senior Member Username: chris_grimm_ccs_scip Post Number: 392 Registered: 02-2014 Posted on Thursday, April 05, 2018 - 02:39 pm:    Hi Phil, I think you will love this, www.advancedrenamer.com Don Harris CSI, CCS, CCCA, AIA Senior Member Username: don_harris Post Number: 302 Registered: 03-2003 Posted on Thursday, April 05, 2018 - 02:45 pm:    Phil, If you are looking for choices...http://www.bulkrenameutility.co.uk/Main_Intro.php Sheldon Wolfe Senior Member Username: sheldon_wolfe Post Number: 1009 Registered: 01-2003 Posted on Thursday, April 05, 2018 - 04:52 pm:    I detest blanks; hyphens more clearly show which digits are part of the same number. Our Word files used xx-xxxx format, and SpecLink allows the same. Our main consultants had no problem changing their numbers to match. For those that didn't, I finally gave up the battle. Consistency would be nice, but apparently, no one was confused by the use of different number formats. Advance Renamer is a gem! It's amazing how versatile and powerful it is. Sheldon Wolfe Senior Member Username: sheldon_wolfe Post Number: 1010 Registered: 01-2003 Posted on Thursday, April 05, 2018 - 05:05 pm:    Advance Renamer is free for personal use, $30 for commercial use. I use it for renaming photo files, but it's so useful I made the $20 donation recommended for my own copy for personal use. If you use a free or shareware utility and you find it useful, consider making a donation. Chris Grimm, CSI, CCS, SCIP, LEED AP BD+C Senior Member Username: chris_grimm_ccs_scip Post Number: 394 Registered: 02-2014 Posted on Thursday, April 05, 2018 - 06:13 pm:    Separators were for people who were afraid of seeing 6 digits run together back when MF04 was new. (Just my opinion, of course. 5 digits is what looks weird now. I write them that way if required, though.) David G. Axt, CCS, CSI ,SCIP Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 1646 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Thursday, April 05, 2018 - 06:15 pm:    I use Bulk Rename Utility all the time. It is VERY sophisticated and can do a lot of tricks....if only I can figure out how. ;-) David G. Axt, CCS, CSI, SCIP Specifications Consultant Axt Consulting LLC Phil Kabza Senior Member Username: phil_kabza Post Number: 605 Registered: 12-2002 Posted on Friday, April 06, 2018 - 02:32 pm:    Chris, Don, Thank you! I can't wait to try them out. Glad after 20 years I finally had the sense to ask folks who knew more than I did! Robin E. Snyder Senior Member Username: robin Post Number: 728 Registered: 08-2004 Posted on Friday, April 06, 2018 - 03:57 pm:    I have recently started sending files back that aren't named properly (in my instructions I state: Files should be named as “XXXXXX section name”. Sections not in this format will be returned to be renamed"). If it's landscape with 2-3 sections i do it myself, MPE, I send back now. Even w/ a batch renamer, it's not my job. The architect has clear instructions on naming conventions for drawings that have to be followed, the same applies for spec files Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, NCARB Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 1877 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Friday, April 06, 2018 - 05:20 pm:    I agree Robin, I state in my agreement what I will and will not accept from a Consultant. Once I am under contract and I know which Consultants are providing spec sections for the project manual, I send them a sample spec section as a guide for formatting. I never modify a Consultant's nor a manufacturer's spec section. Even when canned Elevator specs are used, I never touch them. Sheldon Wolfe Senior Member Username: sheldon_wolfe Post Number: 1012 Registered: 01-2003 Posted on Friday, April 06, 2018 - 07:45 pm:    I believe the xx xx xx format came from the OmniClass tables. In most cases, the pairs of digits represent MasterFormat Levels, but there are inconsistencies in Level 2 numbers. I'm not sure why MasterFormat ended up with optional formats, but if I recall correctly, ARCOM suggested xx-xxxx. I also don't understand why spaces are used instead of hyphens in OmniClass.