CA Software

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Author Message John Hunter Senior Member Username: johnhunter Post Number: 53 Registered: 12-2005 Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 - 11:36 am:    Is anyone using specialized CA software in-house? There seem to be a number of subscription services - Buzzsaw, etc. - but I can't seem to find software packages for purchase that log RFI's, submittals, etc. Nathan Woods, CCCA, LEED AP Senior Member Username: nwoods Post Number: 233 Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 - 12:22 pm:    We developed our own in house specifically for that reason. So many of the "extranet" style solutions focused on construction trade features that are far more complex an indepth than what an Architect needs. As a result, the architectural module was either ridumentary, or horribly expensive because you HAD to buy all the other stuff too. Jerry Tims Senior Member Username: jtims Post Number: 14 Registered: 04-2005 Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 - 03:14 pm:    We hired a couple of programmers to create a Filemaker Pro database for us for this use. As far as I know it works well (or at least well enough) for our needs. Randy Cox Senior Member Username: randy_cox Post Number: 49 Registered: 04-2004 Posted on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 - 10:51 am:    We also spent a bunch of time searching for a premade package. I wasn’t part of the search party, but they couldn’t find what we wanted. We developed (via consultants) our own CA database with Filemaker Pro to log and track the usual suspects: RFI, SK, CCD, ASI, and Submittals. We have been running this for about a year as projects have moved into CA and we are still working through issues and making improvements. Colin Gilboy Senior Member Username: colin Post Number: 133 Registered: 09-2005 Posted on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 - 11:03 am:    4specs uses Filemaker Pro for our offline database of manufacturers. I like it and it is relatively easy to use and change the screens and data fields. It can be used in a peer to peer version with up to 10 computers accessing the information at each time - about $300 a computer for the program. I suspect these databases will be lightly used and this will probably work for a medium sized firm. For heavier use at a larger firm where all projects are CA managed through Filemaker, you will probably want a server version - $1000 plus a dedicated computer. The Server Advanced version - $2500 - permits accessing with password using a browser and does not require every user to have a program on their computer. The Instant Web Publishing gives infrequent users the ability to read or update using a browser, saving the $300 license fees. The server versions have advantages for backup and stability. The Filemaker soultion is much easier to implement on the Internet than mySQL or Access. If you have any questions, let me know directly and I'll answer them. Filemaker has been very useful to me in managing the manufacturer database. We have a total of 7 people updating the records, all using Filemaker. Anonymous   Posted on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 - 11:52 am:    Check out Projectmates. No, I'm not a vendor, but have used this project management software at a previous office and it will track and send reminders for all of the RFIs, submittals, CO, and so on. Steven Bruneel, AIA, CSI-CDT, LEED-AP Senior Member Username: redseca2 Post Number: 93 Registered: 12-2006 Posted on Monday, March 24, 2008 - 02:25 pm:    We find that the Contractor for each project has many more reasons than the Architect to use specialized CA hardware. In support of the concept of not doing something twice, we tend to adopt their system. Richard A. Rosen, CSI, CCS, AIA Senior Member Username: rarosen Post Number: 39 Registered: 08-2006 Posted on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 - 11:52 am:    The offices that I have been employed in over the last 10 years or so seem to use either nothing, home made systems consisting of excel spreadsheets with built-in links, or custom software packages. One of the more popular systems which I have seen used by contractors on several projects is Prolog Manager (http://www.pssgroup.com/index.asp). From what I have seen of this system it should be easily customized for A/E use. You may have to register to get on the website but there is a PDF document that illustrates the available reports and gives a sense of what the software is capable of providing. Anonymous   Posted on Friday, May 02, 2008 - 10:38 am:    John, Have you heard of Submittal Exchange? I received an e-mail from this web based system for "exchanging, reviewing, and archiving construction submittals."