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Nathan Woods, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: nwoods

Post Number: 878
Registered: 08-2005


Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 - 01:31 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

It seems to me that there is a lot of movement in the spec writing software industry right now. There are many solutions, but they are evolving rapidly, changing hands, and being renamed, or combinations thereof.

To wrap my head around this, I created a list of what I think is currently known and/or available. It is my intent to make this a living document, that we all collectively update as warranted.



Note: I tried up follow the directions to upload from Excel, but it came out really funky
Melissa J Aguiar
Senior Member
Username: melissajaguiar

Post Number: 18
Registered: 09-2015
Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 - 02:05 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Thank you Nathan!
Jeffrey Potter
Senior Member
Username: jpotter

Post Number: 30
Registered: 02-2017
Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 - 02:10 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Nathan, MasterSpec is the collection of guide sections owned by the AIA. MasterSpec is not a technology product. Spectext is also a collection of guide specs, not a technology product.

Currently no plan to phase out e-specs.

Revit integration with Specpoint will also becoming soon.
Nathan Woods, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: nwoods

Post Number: 879
Registered: 08-2005


Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 - 03:17 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Jeffrey, thank you for the clarification. Is it fair to say, that MasterSpec is the content provided via the AIA, that is only currently available when purchased from Deltek, using a software overlay such as SpecPoint or VisiSpecs to edit and manipulate?
Jeffrey Potter
Senior Member
Username: jpotter

Post Number: 31
Registered: 02-2017
Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 - 04:16 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Yes, that is fair. You can use any of Deltek's platforms.
Nathan Woods, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: nwoods

Post Number: 880
Registered: 08-2005


Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 - 05:48 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Based on Jeffery's comments, I have added a column to distinguish data source from software. See updated list as follows:

Jeffrey Wilson CSI CCS SCIP
Senior Member
Username: wilsonconsulting

Post Number: 342
Registered: 03-2006


Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2022 - 11:30 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Nathan, this is very helpful info -- thank you for taking the initiative. A couple comments:

1. VisiSpecs does indeed require a MasterSpec license (or other source possibly?) to obtain content. I understand it is an MS Word plug-in, so DOCs are required. Deltek just announced that Word files will be phased out this year, which means that content could be in jeopardy.

2. There is no data source associated with Conspectus Cloud -- it's a platform that operates on user-furnished content.
Jeffrey Wilson CCS CSI SCIP
Wilson Consulting Inc
Narberth PA
Nathan Woods, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: nwoods

Post Number: 881
Registered: 08-2005


Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2022 - 11:42 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Awesome, thanks for the feedback. New version posted:

ken hercenberg
Senior Member
Username: khercenberg

Post Number: 1497
Registered: 12-2006


Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2022 - 01:00 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

From what I understand Conspectus Cloud provides access to the Conspectus spec master as well as allowing upload of Word files in docx format so that office masters, project files, etc. can be used to create multiple masters based on project types, clients, etc.
Jeffrey Wilson CSI CCS SCIP
Senior Member
Username: wilsonconsulting

Post Number: 343
Registered: 03-2006


Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2022 - 01:11 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Ken is probably right, in which case I stand corrected. Maybe Dave Stutzman can chime in to confirm.
Jeffrey Wilson CCS CSI SCIP
Wilson Consulting Inc
Narberth PA
Ruppert Rangel, AIA CDT
Senior Member
Username: rangel

Post Number: 36
Registered: 08-2006
Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2022 - 01:19 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

A few months ago I tried to get some software support from Deltek/Avitru on e-specs and found out most of the experienced Avitru staff are gone. I didn't get an enthusiastic response from the remaining Deltek folks familiar with e-specs. I'm not convinced it will be supported much longer and Deltek will likely focus on SpecPoint.
David Stutzman
Senior Member
Username: david_stutzman

Post Number: 87
Registered: 07-2002
Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2022 - 01:26 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Hello all. Conspectus Cloud is offered with our own master specs developed to be part of the offering. Subscribers may use their own legacy content if they wish - simply import DOCX files as masters or as project docs.

Additionally, SpecText is not based on AIA MasterSpec. It was the first commercial spec system, independently developed by the Construction Sciences Research Foundation (CSI's first foundation) and sold to Arcom>Avitru>Deltek. SpecText content was licensed to BSD for the initial content for Speclink.
Nathan Woods, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: nwoods

Post Number: 882
Registered: 08-2005


Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2022 - 02:12 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Thank you David!

David G. Axt, CCS, CSI ,SCIP
Senior Member
Username: david_axt

Post Number: 1953
Registered: 03-2002


Posted on Friday, September 02, 2022 - 11:59 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Don't forget SimpleSpecs by ZeroDocs. It is cloud based. https://zerodocs.com/
David G. Axt, CCS, CSI, SCIP
Specifications Consultant
Axt Consulting LLC
Dan Helphrey
Senior Member
Username: dbhelphrey

Post Number: 108
Registered: 12-2018
Posted on Friday, September 02, 2022 - 02:08 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Thanks for this effort, Nathan!

A few clarifications:

- VisiSpecs will work with any MS Word files, not just AIA MasterSpec, as long as they are adequately formatted (i.e. named paragraph styles, outline levels, etc). Out of the box, it reads the familiar AIA MasterSpec/SpecText paragraph styles (PRT, ART, PR1, PR2, etc) but settings can be changed to read any other set of named paragraph styles. VisiSpecs also has some tools to work with UFGS, but it still sends you to the SI Editor for the actual editing of the Sections.

- Since SpecText was acquired by Arcom/Avitru/Deltek, the sections have been formatted (roughly) the same as AIA MasterSpec sections, so the two libraries can always be integrated into the same project, whichever editing software you're using.

- AIA MasterSpec can also be edited using plain vanilla MS Word, or with the MasterWorks plug-in for Word, for as long as it's still available in Word docs.

- Ron Blank & Associates used to make their SpexPlus master guide specifications available for free. They discontinued this a number of years ago, but you can still find zipped copies of their last published version floating around.

(Also, as a VisiSpecs user, I'm very disappointed to hear that Deltek has finally admitted they will be discontinuing Word file subscriptions and set a date...)
John Bunzick
Senior Member
Username: bunzick

Post Number: 1893
Registered: 03-2002
Posted on Friday, September 02, 2022 - 02:11 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Okay, to nitpick a bit. The military product is actually UFGS (United Facilities Guide Specifications), a combined effort of several branches of the DoD, and published as part of the Whole Building Design Guide. They were at one time commonly called NAVFAC specs, as the Navy was the lead author (I think, or maybe it was the Army Corps of Engineers). SpecsIntact is the software that edits them. Although NASA uses them, I don't think they ever led the development of the content. I first used them in 1985 for a project in Quantico; they didn't have an EPDM section yet, so we had to get special permission to use our own section for that.
Nathan Woods, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: nwoods

Post Number: 883
Registered: 08-2005


Posted on Friday, September 02, 2022 - 02:51 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

David Axt, is SimpleSpecs still alive? Every link on that website to the software leads to a 404 Error
Nathan Woods, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: nwoods

Post Number: 884
Registered: 08-2005


Posted on Friday, September 02, 2022 - 02:53 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Well, let me recuse myself. MOST of the links are dead, but not this one:
https://zerodocs.com/master-guide-specs/architectural-specifications/
Dan Helphrey
Senior Member
Username: dbhelphrey

Post Number: 109
Registered: 12-2018
Posted on Friday, September 02, 2022 - 03:16 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

This was the first time I had heard of SimpleSpecs - they look a LOT like the old SpexPlus.
Dan Helphrey
Senior Member
Username: dbhelphrey

Post Number: 110
Registered: 12-2018
Posted on Friday, September 02, 2022 - 03:20 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

@John Bunzick - UFGS and SpecsIntact are currently hosted on a NASA server and administered out of Goddard, hence the confusion.
Wayne Yancey
Senior Member
Username: wayne_yancey

Post Number: 948
Registered: 01-2008


Posted on Friday, September 02, 2022 - 03:32 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

What Dan said.
ken hercenberg
Senior Member
Username: khercenberg

Post Number: 1500
Registered: 12-2006


Posted on Friday, September 02, 2022 - 05:02 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Well, Kennedy Space Center. Formerly Canaveral. They've been housed in what they described back in the 80's as "a little shack in the back of Cape Canaveral." Goddard has enough problems.

They self-describe as "SpecsIntact is a mature automated system for preparing standardized facility construction specifications used worldwide by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the U.S. Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)."

Below is per their webpage - https://specsintact.ksc.nasa.gov/HelpCenter/helpcenter.shtml

SPECSINTACT IS A SOFTWARE PRODUCT OF THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA), AND IS DEVELOPED AND MAINTAINED UNDER THE KENNEDY INFRASTRUCTURE, APPLICATION AND COMMUNICATIONS (KIAC) CONTRACT AT THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER. ALL OTHER PRODUCTS MENTIONED ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE COMPANIES.

SPECSINTACT, KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL 32899
Nathan Woods, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: nwoods

Post Number: 885
Registered: 08-2005


Posted on Friday, September 02, 2022 - 05:09 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Updated per the commentary

ken hercenberg
Senior Member
Username: khercenberg

Post Number: 1501
Registered: 12-2006


Posted on Saturday, September 03, 2022 - 09:00 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Thanks again for doing this Nathan!
ken hercenberg
Senior Member
Username: khercenberg

Post Number: 1502
Registered: 12-2006


Posted on Saturday, September 03, 2022 - 11:30 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

On a similar note, resurrecting and old thread http://discus.4specs.com/discus/messages/7866/7198.html, there are rumors that Deltek now does charge manufacturers to be listed in MasterSpec. Not Product MasterSpec but the MasterSpec that many of us currently subscribe to and complain about. I have noticed lately that there seem to be more Sections that have no or very few listings when I open Paragraph Builder.

I never relied much on MasterSpec for manufacturer selections since Colin consistently does a much better job maintaining 4specs.com. Colin is a lot better than any other resource I can find.

I know that RIB does not charge manufacturers to be listed in SpecLink Cloud.

Does anyone know definitively whether the policy has changes at Deltek?
guest (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted on Saturday, September 03, 2022 - 08:55 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Dan,

I believe Ron Blank sold his specification program to ARCOM just prior to Alpine Investments buying ARCOM and changing the name to Avitru. Rather than fulfilling it's purchase obligations Alpine Investments never did anything with SpexPlus.
Adam
New member
Username: adamzerodocscom

Post Number: 1
Registered: 09-2022
Posted on Monday, September 05, 2022 - 07:31 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

ZeroDocs.com is alive and well.

https://zerodocs.com/spec-writing-software/
Nathan Woods, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: nwoods

Post Number: 886
Registered: 08-2005


Posted on Wednesday, October 05, 2022 - 08:20 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Chalkline reached out to me and confirmed that they are definitely active and not phasing out as surmised. They allow the use of any Word.doc based format, not reliant on AIA MasterSpec. So I have updated the chart accordingly and have also updated ZeroDocs.

Nathan Woods, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: nwoods

Post Number: 887
Registered: 08-2005


Posted on Wednesday, October 05, 2022 - 08:23 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Here is the updated list:
Spec writing software solutions
Jeffrey Potter
Senior Member
Username: jpotter

Post Number: 32
Registered: 02-2017
Posted on Thursday, October 06, 2022 - 12:26 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Hi Nathan, thank you for putting together this list. Just to update on the Deltek stuff, we are not phasing out SpecsText and will be incorporating it into Specpoint sometime during 2023.

Specpoint is a cloud based application that is accessible through any device and browser.

Specbuilder Cloud does not have revit integration.

Line 7, she is an independent specifier.

What program is line 14? Are you able to share information on that?
Nathan Woods, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: nwoods

Post Number: 888
Registered: 08-2005


Posted on Thursday, October 06, 2022 - 03:22 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Thanks for the updates everyone, please keep them coming! I think there is a clear lesson to be learned by this effort of simply trying to determine who is out there and what software we have access too: The websites for these companies have lousy transparency!

Spec writing software solutions
Seamus McGrady (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 - 01:10 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

I can see how this grid would be valuable if accurate. A few items have been updated for Chalkline, but two more are also in need of correcting:
1) VisiSpecs includes Free Community Masters which currently have the Canadian NMS masters (English and French and MasterFormat and UniFormat) and the Kalin Associates Short Form Masters. The Community Masters make masters available Free or Paid to all VisiSpecs customers. SpecsIntact (UFGS) integration is also included. VisiSpecs users also import their own masters, client (owner) masters, BPM masters, commercial masters, international masters, and any Word or PDF docs. Every proprietary spec application I know exports to Word docs which are an import source to VisiSpecs.
2) As there is an Active vs Active and Growing option, VisiSpecs is definitely in the Active and Growing arena so that update is needed.
Nathan Woods, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: nwoods

Post Number: 889
Registered: 08-2005


Posted on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 - 04:23 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Seamus, while informative, your comments are difficult to apply to the chart. If you have Specific comments that can be applied, I will endeavor to do so. As for "Active and Growing", that term presumes a familiarity with various products that I simply do not have, and am not qualified to have an opinion on, so I have revised the term to simply be "Active" where applicable. See updated chart:

(Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted on Thursday, October 13, 2022 - 08:23 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Is there a tab that could be added to this list that indicates a cost associated with all of these systems? Something simple like $, $$, $$$ or HOLY CRAP BATMAN???
Loretta Sheridan
Senior Member
Username: leshrdn

Post Number: 48
Registered: 11-2021
Posted on Thursday, October 13, 2022 - 12:37 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

While that'd be nice, most have various permutations on how they figure the cost: Number of seats, size of "enterprise," number of divisions, etc., etc., etc. And when I am able to find out any pricing, most of it seems to fall in the "HOLY CRAP BATMAN???" category.
Nathan Woods, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: nwoods

Post Number: 890
Registered: 08-2005


Posted on Thursday, October 13, 2022 - 01:49 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

As Loretta indicated, it is intentionally difficult to compare apples to apples, and the results would be pretty subjective, so I am going to vote no this feature request.
ken hercenberg
Senior Member
Username: khercenberg

Post Number: 1522
Registered: 12-2006


Posted on Thursday, October 13, 2022 - 01:56 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Or "If you have to ask..."
Loretta Sheridan
Senior Member
Username: leshrdn

Post Number: 49
Registered: 11-2021
Posted on Thursday, October 13, 2022 - 02:53 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

SpecsIntact is FREE!
Gary Barnett
Intermediate Member
Username: gary_barnett

Post Number: 4
Registered: 08-2011
Posted on Thursday, October 13, 2022 - 08:40 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

I have used the VA sections for VA work some time ago. It appears that many their sections have been updated in the last few years but I have not used them recently (They are free as well)
https://www.cfm.va.gov/til/spec.asp#05
Dan Helphrey
Senior Member
Username: dbhelphrey

Post Number: 117
Registered: 12-2018
Posted on Friday, October 14, 2022 - 04:13 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

UFGS/SpecsIntact and VA are only "free" until you add in all the time it'll take editing them for private work - I'm still not sure I've found every possible permutation of "resident engineer" and "contracting officer", and I'm quite sure I haven't found every reference to specific Government regulations...
(Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted on Sunday, October 16, 2022 - 12:01 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Understood on the cost request, and it was really more of an inquiry. I've found much the same, expensive across the board. Smaller firms may find it difficult to expend that kind of capitol. We are a transitioning size firm growing and finding a need for "a better way" (if you will). Currently using Avitru but that is going to be phased out so at some point we will need to shift. We are searching NOW so that this process of transitioning doesn't creep up and bite us all of a sudden. At the same time we're also looking at finding a manageable c/a / project management software (procure too big and expensive) that we can use internally. Any direction to other posts on that would be greatly appreciated.
Phil Kabza
Senior Member
Username: phil_kabza

Post Number: 728
Registered: 12-2002


Posted on Sunday, October 16, 2022 - 04:22 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Regarding using VA and UFGS for specifications for projects where they are not required: DON'T!! Their content is just not good enough, and contain no manufacturer/product information (not allowed for most Federal work).

The commercial specification library subscriptions are cheap given their value, unless you don't value specifications, in which case you wouldn't be in this forum. So bite the bullet and go with one of them; they'll save you their value in research time in the first quarter.

Regarding project management software: Good luck, and post your findings here. There is a thread running right now on the AIA Knowledge Communities about architectural firm project management software. Finding a suitable multi-project management tool that reflects the type of scopes and complexity that constitute architectural practice is very difficult; we don't do construction projects with hundreds of discreet activities, and we don't need something that granular.

We looked at a couple of tools: Basecamp for one (cool interface but terrible document manager for our use) and Wrike (I want to write specs, not spend all day tweaking a management tool). We finally decided to use SmartSheet which we already subscribed to, and tweaked and hacked it to do a pretty good job at helping us track 20+ active spec projects. Their support people were a help.
Phil Kabza FCSI CCS AIA
SpecGuy Specifications Consultants
www.SpecGuy.com
phil@specguy.com
Nathan Woods, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: nwoods

Post Number: 891
Registered: 08-2005


Posted on Sunday, October 16, 2022 - 04:42 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

SmartSheet is good for certain things, mostly things that involve some degree of scheduling, Asana is popular in my office for managing projects, and Miro Board is popular for various tasks also, but you're reference to ProCore makes me think you are thinking more of CA related tasks. We use Newforma and have found no equals to it, but we have looked hard at quite a few. TonicDM is developing nicely, as are a few others, such as ProjectReady.

There is a pretty good thread on this in the Software channel here on 4Specs:
http://discus.4specs.com/discus/messages/430/8743.html?1660226153
John Bunzick
Senior Member
Username: bunzick

Post Number: 1899
Registered: 03-2002
Posted on Monday, October 17, 2022 - 04:45 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

The obvious trend in all sectors of the economy is strongly towards cloud-based subscriptions and its concurrent complexity. I'm president of a small non-profit arts organization (and the accidental IT guy). Over the last three to four years, we have transitioned our entire technology platform to the cloud. We have something like 15 cloud platforms to make this work - and we really are very tiny. Fortunately, as a non-profit, we some of the important ones for free, including Google Workspace, SalesForce, and Microsoft 365. Still, it consumes a good chunk of our budget and time to manage and maintain. On the other hand, the power it has given us to be largely virtual, more organized, in control of all our data, and reach people across the entire world is extraordinary. I don't think any small business, even very small ones, can expect to survive without spending several thousand bucks a year minimum for information services and technology. Spec software, and MasterSpec, and ASTM and all the others - that's just part of what it takes to be in business. But wow, when I first started I had to trek to the business library in town occasionally to do research, or persuade the company to spend thousands on hard copy that was out of date in a year. I wouldn't go back.
Adam
Junior Member
Username: adamzerodocscom

Post Number: 2
Registered: 09-2022
Posted on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 - 05:03 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Our team developed modern open-source cloud tools for construction projects a few years back as a free service.

Spec writing and management simplified (full editing of MS word without a subscription)
https://zerodocs.com/spec-writing-software/

Product management made simple -
https://zerodocs.com/product-list-selection/
Nathan Woods, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: nwoods

Post Number: 892
Registered: 08-2005


Posted on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 - 05:29 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Thanks Adam, updated!
guest (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 - 05:27 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Adam (no last name), are you promoting your own product?
If so, I did not think that was the purpose or function of this website.
Jeffrey Wilson CSI CCS SCIP
Senior Member
Username: wilsonconsulting

Post Number: 345
Registered: 03-2006


Posted on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 - 06:09 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

IMHO it's fine in this case for Adam to add to this valuable thread w/ add'l info about one of the systems listed in Nathan's document. I welcome the input, and ZeroDocs appears to be a well-thought-out system. It is one of the packages I'll be considering once Deltek ends support for Word documents. Based on reports from attempts to use SpecPoint, it is a long way from becoming a useful (or even usable) tool.
Jeffrey Wilson CCS CSI SCIP
Wilson Consulting Inc
Narberth PA
Nathan Woods, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: nwoods

Post Number: 893
Registered: 08-2005


Posted on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 - 06:46 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Adam in this case, is a long time work acquaintance of mine, through various companies over the years, and current rep for ZeroDocs

Adam Schwegel, CDT, SCIP
ZeroDocs.com
(714) 493-7474

Also, made another minor update to the ZeroDocs line
Nathan Woods, RA, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: nwoods

Post Number: 894
Registered: 08-2005


Posted on Wednesday, October 19, 2022 - 02:14 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Another minor update
Nathan Woods, RA, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: nwoods

Post Number: 896
Registered: 08-2005


Posted on Friday, October 21, 2022 - 01:19 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Another update, a correction regarding VisiSpecs


Chris Grimm, CSI, CCS, SCIP
Senior Member
Username: chris_grimm_ccs_scip

Post Number: 568
Registered: 02-2014
Posted on Wednesday, October 26, 2022 - 11:04 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Since 2018, Holly Robinson and I have developed an extensive set of homegrown CSI-based specifications and I have been developing some powerful spec tools in Word, not yet totally user-friendly. Open to collaborators and new users to test things and give feedback. I feel it is time. At some point I will include support for OpenOffice / LibreOffice / Linux.
David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP
Senior Member
Username: david_axt

Post Number: 1968
Registered: 03-2002


Posted on Thursday, October 27, 2022 - 12:47 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Chris,

That begs the question, "Why doesn't CSI, or better yet SCIP, look into developing our own specifications?" It would be specifiers developing specifications for other specifiers.

Yes I realize this would be a lot of work.
David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP
Specifications Consultant
Axt Consulting LLC
Wayne Yancey
Senior Member
Username: wayne_yancey

Post Number: 953
Registered: 01-2008


Posted on Thursday, October 27, 2022 - 12:51 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

That is what David Stutzman of Conspectus did.
Conspectus Cloud.
David Stutzman
Senior Member
Username: david_stutzman

Post Number: 88
Registered: 07-2002
Posted on Thursday, October 27, 2022 - 01:32 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Thank you, Wayne. This is not new for Conspectus. We were doing the same for all the years we wrote SPECTEXT for the Construction Sciences Research Foundation. Now, Conspectus Cloud - both the tool and the content - is Conspectus created.
Chris Grimm, CSI, CCS, SCIP
Senior Member
Username: chris_grimm_ccs_scip

Post Number: 569
Registered: 02-2014
Posted on Thursday, October 27, 2022 - 01:54 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Yeah, a big fish swallowed some other fish, including SpecText. Gulp.
Chris Grimm, CSI, CCS, SCIP
Senior Member
Username: chris_grimm_ccs_scip

Post Number: 570
Registered: 02-2014
Posted on Thursday, October 27, 2022 - 02:07 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

So if we the specifiers want to collaborate and develop Word specs, how long until a bigger fish tries to buy it and absorb/discontinue it? I think there should be at least one solution that remains open source so to speak, like Linux is to Apple and Microsoft. Not necessarily free, but the specifiers’ level of contribution to the system could possibly warrant free licenses. I wasn’t in specs yet during the days of CSRF to know how that worked when CSI was doing the collaborative spec writing thing. Nor how a product collaboratively developed by a nonprofit organization was sold for profit(?!) but I recall people wondering about that.
David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP
Senior Member
Username: david_axt

Post Number: 1970
Registered: 03-2002


Posted on Thursday, October 27, 2022 - 02:10 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Nathan,
Your table is great. I would like to suggest a column for price.
David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP
Specifications Consultant
Axt Consulting LLC
Nathan Woods, RA, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: nwoods

Post Number: 897
Registered: 08-2005


Posted on Thursday, October 27, 2022 - 04:06 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

David, pricing is intentionally difficult to compare apples to apples, and the results would be pretty subjective, so I am going to vote no this feature request.
Chris Grimm, CSI, CCS, SCIP
Senior Member
Username: chris_grimm_ccs_scip

Post Number: 571
Registered: 02-2014
Posted on Friday, October 28, 2022 - 02:46 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

I will never use cloud as my main solution. I use it for immediate backup of work files and for collaboration, but I don't want to be in a position of not being able to work at all during an extended service interruption. I recall there was a large regional interruption not long ago. I'm working on practicing resilience in every are of my life and this is no exception.

My system allows for globally edited options per project like LEED/other sustainability, regional, and client preferences. If others want to subscribe to my masters, my team can push them out with updates while also synchronizing known firm preferences so you don't have to. Also can quickly provide rough draft specs that have the majority of stuff deleted that doesn't apply (based on an Excel checklist), for you to continue editing. Depending on our agreement per project, we can also capture input for remaining submissions.

I can offer the masters with basic spec tools for a reasonably low cost which includes synchronized firmwide preferences and real-time updates as we learn of industry changes. And the advanced spec tools for a bit more if you want to do the rough draft processing in house (that's the part I'm especially still working on making more user friendly).

Currently MS Word is supported. In the future will include one or more open source word processing platforms, and something cloud for those who prefer that for whatever reason.
Chris Grimm, CSI, CCS, SCIP
Senior Member
Username: chris_grimm_ccs_scip

Post Number: 572
Registered: 02-2014
Posted on Friday, October 28, 2022 - 02:51 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

The system is called AEC Specifications. I cover all disciplines. Some could become more detailed in the future.

I have not done anything to market this yet. I have one firm as a beta user and could take on a couple more at this point.
Alex Sperfeld (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted on Tuesday, November 22, 2022 - 04:31 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Maybe someone from Deltek is listening, but it is my understanding that the AIA MasterSpec content will still be available through the SpecPoint cloud software. You can export to Word, if so desired, I suppose.
E-Specs does not "need" MasterSpec content. It could work with your own Word files. I believe E-Specs is being "transitioned" into SpecPoint over the next few years?
Nathan Woods, RA, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: nwoods

Post Number: 907
Registered: 08-2005


Posted on Thursday, December 15, 2022 - 12:33 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

I think this is work cross-posting. David Axt recently posted the following in the Coffee Pot channel:

"In today's email Deltek indicates subscribers will continue to receive updates in MasterSpec Word until end of 2nd quarter (June 30, 2023).

Deltek had originally set the deadline to be the end of 4th quarter (December 31, 2022)."
Jeffrey Potter
Senior Member
Username: jpotter

Post Number: 40
Registered: 02-2017
Posted on Thursday, December 15, 2022 - 02:41 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

In Response to Alex, Specpoint will have the capability to use custom office masters similarly to e-specs. Per our townhall yesterday, looking like mid-2023.

Nathan is also correct, we did extend the word document deadline.
David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP
Senior Member
Username: david_axt

Post Number: 1989
Registered: 03-2002


Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 - 01:45 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

To answer my own question about pricing, Deltek Specpoint (MasterSpec) is $2,456 (before taxes) and RIB SpecLink Cloud is $4,063.36 (before taxes).
David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP
Specifications Consultant
Axt Consulting LLC
(Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 - 02:36 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

David,
How many licenses are included in the pricing information you've provided?
Gail Ann J. Goldstead, AIA, CSI, CCS, CDT, LEED AP, BD+C
Senior Member
Username: ggoldstead

Post Number: 39
Registered: 03-2015


Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 - 05:10 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Hi David,

To compare apples to apples to RIB Speclink, I believe you also need to add in the cost of either Deltek desktop application: e-Specs or Deltek cloud-based Spec Point. When I was at the CSI conference in Denver this past fall, the overwhelming # of architects, (both large and small size firms) just get Deltek Masterspec with the Masterworks tool tab on top of MS Word. I think the Masterworks tool Tab works fine.
Gail Goldstead
David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP
Senior Member
Username: david_axt

Post Number: 1990
Registered: 03-2002


Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 - 05:53 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Unregistered Guest,

One license.
David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP
Specifications Consultant
Axt Consulting LLC
Brian Payne
Senior Member
Username: brian_payne

Post Number: 297
Registered: 01-2014
Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 - 05:53 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

David, I believe additional seats of RIB Speclink after the first is under $400 each. Definitely changes the metric if you have more than one specifier.
David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP
Senior Member
Username: david_axt

Post Number: 1992
Registered: 03-2002


Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 - 05:55 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Brian,

It is just me.
David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP
Specifications Consultant
Axt Consulting LLC
Brian Payne
Senior Member
Username: brian_payne

Post Number: 298
Registered: 01-2014
Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 - 05:56 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Too bad I can't add you to my plan. :-)
Nathan Woods, RA, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: nwoods

Post Number: 918
Registered: 08-2005


Posted on Thursday, August 03, 2023 - 01:54 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Updated with NBS Chorus: https://www.thenbs.com/nbs-chorus

Loretta Sheridan
Senior Member
Username: leshrdn

Post Number: 100
Registered: 11-2021
Posted on Friday, August 04, 2023 - 08:46 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Nathan Woods - Thank you so much for the summary. NBS Chorus is also available for the American Market, not just Canada and UK.
Anne Whitacre, FCSI CCS
Senior Member
Username: awhitacre

Post Number: 1482
Registered: 07-2002


Posted on Thursday, August 24, 2023 - 02:10 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

After dealing with this for the past month, "Masterworks" is a word plug-in, much like VisiSpecs is a Word plug-in. If you have both on your system, you have to disable one in order to work in the other -- there is a plug-in on the Word ribbon to do that. However, VisiSpecs does keep everything in the cloud, rather than resident on your computer's drive, whereas Masterworks keeps your content locally (or in your office's drive, wherever that is. Our office drive is in the cloud, too).
Julian Master (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted on Friday, August 25, 2023 - 12:15 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Hello, Anne. Personally, I've not had an issue using Masterworks tools in VisiSpec. So long as the Masterwork paragraph builder is disabled/unchecked under the Word Developer tab, COM Add-ins, Masterworks seems to work just fine for me -- including access to things like Supporting Documents.
Phil Kabza
Senior Member
Username: phil_kabza

Post Number: 770
Registered: 12-2002


Posted on Friday, August 25, 2023 - 02:26 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

We've had the same experience with Masterworks using Dropbox for Business. We unfortunately cannot make use of the Paragraph Builder which means we have to use workarounds to access MasterSpec's manufacturer and product listings or go without them. This issue only arose in the last year, likely the result of some Microsoft changes under the hood of Word. I would love to know if anyone has solved this, though it looks like extensive use of Masterworks will be moot before long as it will lose its support from Deltek.
Phil Kabza FCSI CCS AIA
SpecGuy Specifications Consultants
www.SpecGuy.com
phil@specguy.com
Anne Whitacre (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted on Wednesday, September 06, 2023 - 02:02 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

I think some of the issues are both Masterworks changes and also changes to our Microsoft 365 office-wide updates. (that is when we really started having problems). Paragraph builder is the problem, but I never use it in Masterworks anyway.
Myron K. Hudson
Intermediate Member
Username: mkhudson

Post Number: 4
Registered: 03-2024
Posted on Friday, March 08, 2024 - 02:35 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Thanks so much to all of you for hashing this out. I've been sweating over where to take our master specs once MasterWorks is discontinued (mid 2025 as of now). VisiSpecs looks really promising. Line Anne and probably others we don't use Paragraph Builder. As an MPE firm we find that resource to be underpopulated. We have to select what actually applies and cannot be limited by 3rd party filters. Once we get into the weeds on something we use our connections to manufacturers, reps and suppliers to get accurate product data - we even get shop drawings and sometimes AIA Masterspec sections. Whatever we migrate to, it won't be SpecPoint, and it looks like we can transition before 2025. Thanks again.
David Watson
Junior Member
Username: david_watson

Post Number: 2
Registered: 12-2023
Posted on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 - 05:24 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

New spec software option: NBS Chorus

Hoping this is the best place to introduce a 'new' option for USA specifiers - NBS Chorus cloud specifications service. It uses floating license model (which scales very nicely), with BIM/Spec integration (Revit & Vectorworks; more coming). One of it's best features is a 'template' system of formatting; focus on the data and leave formatting to the software.

NBS Chorus publishes Canadian MasterFormat specifications, and work is underway to offer USA contents. Of course, we already have some USA customers that have imported their own data.

NBS Chorus also integrates tightly with our NBS Source manufacturer's library (https://source.thenbs.com/).

Email me directly or head to: https://www.thenbs.com/nbs-chorus
Nathan Woods, RA, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: nwoods

Post Number: 929
Registered: 08-2005


Posted on Friday, March 29, 2024 - 01:49 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

David, NBS Chorus is line #14 on the above listed spreadsheet.
Roxanne Button
New member
Username: dsynergies

Post Number: 1
Registered: 03-2014
Posted on Saturday, March 30, 2024 - 10:46 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

This is really helpful! Thank you for starting the thread, Nathan. And thanks to everyone who has contributed their experience. I'm looking for a software option that fits the smaller projects that I do in my own solo architectural firm, but can also handle the spec consulting that I sometimes do for other firms. I have used SpecLink (when it was BSD) and MasterSpec at previous firms. There are a lot more options out there than I realized. (Even though it says I'm a new member, I'm actually a longtime member but haven't posted before!)
Roxanne Button AIA, CSI, MRAIC, LEED AP
www.dsynergies.com
Lynn Ostenson (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2025 - 06:26 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Curious to hear where people are at right now. The sunsetting of MasterWorks, e-SPECS, etc. is nigh !
Kathryn Evans
Junior Member
Username: hke432

Post Number: 2
Registered: 05-2023
Posted on Friday, October 24, 2025 - 08:27 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

I’m also curious, Lynn. For now, we’re riding out e-specs for all it’s worth, but my company is heading to Specpoint. I’m pretty sure it’s going to be a disaster, but they made the decision a while ago and I’m not one who gets to really have input in those decisions. Do I use e-specs and work editing specs nearly everyday? Yes. Oh well.
Edward J Dueppen, RA, CSI, CCS, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: edueppen

Post Number: 109
Registered: 08-2013
Posted on Monday, October 27, 2025 - 05:22 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

We have found Specpoint to be impractical to use for numerous reasons. But since we like the AIA Masterspec content, we have exported the masters and use them within VisiSpecs along with our own in-house masterspecs.

VisiSpecs is what Masterworks would be like if they had continued developing it for this century. It does almost everything Masterworks can do, but it does it much better.

While the SpecLink software is excellent, we don't like their content and it would be a huge commitment to maintain subscriptions to both AIA Masterspec and SpecLink, as well as a time commitment to upload and set up our masters in SpecLink.
John O'Neil (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted on Tuesday, October 28, 2025 - 09:51 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

For the time being, I'm using Specpoint for about a third of our projects. The remainder I'm producing with Word and MasterWorks.

Specpoint is slow, glitchy, and EXTREMELY disorienting. Main reason we're using Specpoint is that it's the only way to get access to updated current MasterSpec content which we've been using for decades.

We will be exploring competitors. Jury is still out on Specpoint.
Rosa Cheney
Senior Member
Username: rdcaia

Post Number: 36
Registered: 07-2018
Posted on Tuesday, October 28, 2025 - 10:24 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

John, Regarding Specpoint, can you respond whether you are on the "new" user interface that Deltek just announced last week? They have a webinar to showcase that next week, but I am wondering if it has officially been launched yet, and if people are seeing any improvements.

Also, can you describe the "glitchy" in more detail. Are these glitches where you lose work/time?

And finally, have you started to develop masters in Specpoint? It seemed like their master-manager system, when released, was an add-on that you had to pay for separately.

Thanks, in advance, for the feedback. We subscribe to Masterspec, but have not made the jump to Specpoint yet. I am still on the fence about it, and have not even had the chance to do a sample project in it. But I would like to hear more from actual users such as yourself.

-Rosa
John O'Neil (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted on Tuesday, October 28, 2025 - 12:09 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Morning, Rosa.
I don’t think I’m on the new Specpoint user interface yet. Looks pretty much the same as the interface I’ve seen over the last year or so. Thanks for mentioning the Deltek webinar next week. I’ll contact Deltek to see if I can register for it.
Glitches are of at least three types: 1) Text twitches on screen and it takes additional cursor movement/placement to get the text to stand still long enough to select or deselect a paragraph. 2) Occasionally clicking the up or down arrows to move through Specpoint text will send me flying to another part of the document, or sometimes even back to the master list of CSI Divisions. Long, complicated spec sections such as Unit Masonry and Joint Sealants exhibit this problem to the extent that I can’t even use the Specpoint version and have to revert to the Word version and MasterWorks to get a usable document. Disorienting. Definitely costs time to recover and find my place again in the editing/decision-making process. 3). Selecting the preface to manufacturer listings is laborious and annoying. Specpoint always voids my selection of “Provide products by one of the following” and insists on changing it to “Available manufacturers offering products that may be incorporated into the Work include, but are not limited to, the following”. I have to manually change it EVERY TIME.
Additionally, the process of selecting or deselecting text in Specpoint is much slower than editing in Word. Frequently it takes Specpoint several seconds to register a click to select or deselect a paragraph or choice option. Takes so long that I sometimes click again, only to discover that Specpoint has belatedly registered the first click and I have to undo the mistake.
Regarding office master specs: Judging from many of the posts on this site and elsewhere, I must be the only spec writer on the planet that doesn’t have an office master spec. Our projects include almost every building type, project delivery type, and client type, and range from tiny remodeling projects to large projects. Plus our workload allows a very high percentage of my time to be chargeable to projects. So I just don’t have the time to develop office master specs, especially for such a wide variety of project types.. I rely on AIA MasterSpec to provide up-to-date content. We do have a fair number of repeat clients, so there’s a lot of similarity from project-to-project, but I still start with master specs for most spec sections because I find the checklist aspect of doing so reassuring. So I have not explored Specpoint’s master management features.
(Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted on Thursday, December 04, 2025 - 07:31 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

So I just spent the past 30 minutes reading everyone's comments. This is all amazing information. My firm currently uses SpecPoint (we were on eSpecs). I switched to the new interface a couple of days ago. It is much less...bubbly, and looks more like a word/google doc, but the glitching and slowness remains. We have found the same frustrations with it as John has - same glitches. We even found a legit glitch where we had a window open in the tiling section and then the window opened with the exported PDF and there was literally information missing that we thought we were including (because it shows as included in the web browser - this was done (selected, exported) multiple times in front of a few people and the glitch remained). We too have the issue of response time and load times and a few of our people have gone back to just editing word files since it is faster and will not glitch when printing to a PDF. So, in lieu of scouring every specification section for literal glitch errors/missing information/lines, we have decided to move to another platform. I have used SpecLink in the past and liked it, and we have a free trial going right now and it is SOOO much faster than SpecPoint. It is also way easier to edit and add in your own content within the correct format. This is really difficult to do in SpecPoint. I was just about to pull the trigger on SpecLink, but then one of my colleagues introduced me to Conspectus.
Does anyone have thoughts on whose content is better? Within this list?
Who has better linking with Revit?
I've heard rumblings of Uniformat taking over (slowly), and I don't see anything in Speclink that can reference Uniformat. Thoughts?
David Stutzman
Senior Member
Username: david_stutzman

Post Number: 108
Registered: 07-2002
Posted on Friday, December 05, 2025 - 08:07 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Since you asked about Conspectus Cloud, I will be happy to show the system and content to you and provide a trial for you to test drive. As independent specifiers, we depend on our system to be responsive and an effective method to produce construction specs. And yes we support UNIFORMAT doc development to capture design intent early during design. If you want references from existing users, I can make the connections for you. Reach out to me directly at dstutzman@conspectusinc.com or 609.513.6992.
Nathan Woods, RA, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: nwoods

Post Number: 946
Registered: 08-2005


Posted on Friday, December 05, 2025 - 11:38 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

To the Unregistered Guest - your question about Uniformat is interesting. I do major capitol projects in the California Healthcare market. This is a fairly sophisticated construction environment with a lot of top tier contractors and trades. I personally don't see Uniformat gaining widespread use for quite a while yet. We do use on occasion (though rarely) for precon work, but it doesn't go beyond that. Some firms use it internally for detail library organization, but even that is somewhat rare in my experience.
Edward J Dueppen, RA, CSI, CCS, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: edueppen

Post Number: 110
Registered: 08-2013
Posted on Friday, December 05, 2025 - 01:09 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

To the Unregistered Guest, I suggest you also consider VisiSpecs. Since your team is comfortable with Word spec editing, VisiSpecs is a great Word add-in.

We export the content from Specpoint and import it into VisiSpecs. The transition was made extremely fast and easy by the team at VisiSpecs.
Paul Sweet (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted on Friday, December 05, 2025 - 12:51 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Virginia requires using Uniformat for cost estimating on state building projects. It's quite an adventure to reconcile conventional trade-based estimates with Uniformat categories.
David Stutzman
Senior Member
Username: david_stutzman

Post Number: 109
Registered: 07-2002
Posted on Friday, December 05, 2025 - 02:45 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

As of June, Pennsylvania Department of General Services requires UNIFORMAT project descriptions as a design deliverable. Their goals was to improve budget alignment and meeting owner project requirements. The basis for the description follows the paper I wrote and shared with the agency.
(Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 - 03:16 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

I am currently unregistered -- or at least not signed in. I do have a few questions that I hope to get answered.

Is "AIA Master Spec" owned by AIA or owned by Deltek? I was just told by someone from AIA that they are third party and that Deltek owns it. I thought AIA owned it and that Deltek managed and distributed through SpecPoint for the AIA.

Do I have to subscribe to Deltek Specpoint in order to purchase an AIA Master Spec subscription?

Is there another way to purchase -- not have to subscribe to Deltek SpecPoint?
Ronald L. Geren, FCSI Distinguished Member, AIA, CCS, CCCA, CSC, SCIP
Senior Member
Username: specman

Post Number: 1667
Registered: 03-2003


Posted on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 - 03:52 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

AIA owns the MasterSpec content, and Deltek owns and develops the user software, Specpoint, that incorporates the MasterSpec content.

AIA maintains the MasterSpec Architectural and Engineering Review Committees (MARC and MERC), which review the content of the specifications and advise Deltek specifiers on recommended changes.
Ron Geren, FCSI Distinguished Member, AIA, CCS, CCCA, CSC, SCIP
(Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 - 03:59 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Thanks, Ronald -- that's what I thought but was told differently by someone from the AIA earlier today.

I called to ask because back in October 2025 I was provided the name of the AIA person responsible for managing AIA MasterSpec. I left about 6 voice messages and sent 3 or 4 emails but received no responses back. It's confusing (frustrating) to me why I have to subscribe to SpecPoint in order to gain access to AIA MasterSpec. Frustrating because Deltek SpecPoint is terrible.
Guest 2 (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 - 04:14 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

One cannot purchase MasterSpec.
One can obtain an annual subscription (license) to gain access to the MasterSpec guide specifications and supporting documents.

For a new subscriber, I assume the only way to gain access to the guide specifications (content) is by the relative new, and questionable, Specpoint software.
(Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 - 05:04 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Thanks -- I meant purchase a subscription or license...not purchase to own.

What do you mean by "For a new subscriber"?

Lots of questions -- trying to understand but it seems that the only way to gain access is by paying for a seat through SpecPoint. I think it's awful that we have pay for something that does not work well in order to gain access to AIA MasterSpec.
Ronald L. Geren, FCSI Distinguished Member, AIA, CCS, CCCA, CSC, SCIP
Senior Member
Username: specman

Post Number: 1668
Registered: 03-2003


Posted on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 - 06:08 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Specpoint is now the only source for MasterSpec content. At one time, you could get it through InterSpec's e-SPECS, which was separate from ARCOM, which offered MasterSpec through applications/add-ins such as MasterWorks, Linx, and SpecBuilder. Avitru first bought ARCOM, then InterSpec, which was later acquired by Deltek.

Deltek has transitioned from the MasterWorks, SpecBuilder, and e-SPECS platforms into the single Specpoint platform.
Ron Geren, FCSI Distinguished Member, AIA, CCS, CCCA, CSC, SCIP
Loretta Sheridan
Senior Member
Username: leshrdn

Post Number: 223
Registered: 11-2021
Posted on Thursday, April 16, 2026 - 09:58 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Is anyone here using SpecPoint yet?
JPotter (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted on Thursday, April 16, 2026 - 10:22 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Hi All, we just want to clarify the relationship with Deltek and the AIA. The AIA owns MasterSpec. As an association, Deltek is the steward of MasterSpec under contract with the AIA and is responsible for licensing MasterSpec to AE firms.

Specpoint is software that has MasterSpec embedded in the application. Under AIA direction, Subscribers of Specpoint and MasterSpec have access to MasterSpec in Specpoint and in Word format (files may be downloaded from Specpoint).

If you have any questions about Specpoint, MasterSpec, or just want to talk shop, please reach out to me at jeffreypotter@deltek.com
(Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted on Monday, April 20, 2026 - 07:42 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

J Potter-

"Subscribers of Specpoint AND MasterSpec" -- does that mean users can subscribe to MasterSpec without being required to subscribe to Specpoint?

Does the AIA require licensed users to subscribe to Specpoint in order to gain access to MasterSpec?

Can we gain access to MasterSpec if a licensed user of MasterSpec and download in word format without a Specpoint subscription?
JPotter (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted on Monday, April 20, 2026 - 02:29 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

In order to have access to MasterSpec, both in the cloud and to use as word, you do need a Specpoint subscription. The Specpoint terms and conditions are what govern both the use of the application and the use of MasterSpec.

MasterSpec updates are shipped through the Specpoint platform, which users can use directly in Specpoint, and also download word files.
(Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 - 09:56 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

To be clear -- you are stating that the only way to gain access to AIA MasterSpec for a licensed AIA MasterSpec user requires a subscription to Specpoint?
JPotter (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 - 12:31 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Yes
(Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted on Tuesday, May 05, 2026 - 07:42 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

@JPotter -- one last question....hoping to better understand subscription (seat) requirements for Specpoint. As an individual or as a firm (50 to 750 employees) -- is only one subscription (seat?) to Specpoint required? The intent is to use SpecLink Cloud to develop specifications -- import Master Spec into SpecLink. Thanks in advnace for taking the time to reposnd to my questions.
JPotter (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted on Tuesday, May 05, 2026 - 02:48 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

The subscription model is designed to be flexible and scalable. Firms subscribe to the platform with a baseline number of seats based on firm size and the selected MasterSpec content, with the ability to add more users as needed through volume-based pricing. Content within Specpoint is continuously maintained and updated in real time, and courtesy export files are available for teams that need them.

With respect to usage, MasterSpec content is governed by licensing terms outlined in the Specpoint/MasterSpec Terms and Conditions. In general, MasterSpec is intended to be authored and managed within the Specpoint environment. While users can export and work with the content in formats like Microsoft Word for project-specific needs, use of MasterSpec within other dedicated specification-writing platforms is restricted under the agreement.

More broadly, the content and platform have been intentionally developed to work together—supporting automation, reporting, and BIM-integrated workflows. As those capabilities continue to advance, the overall experience is increasingly aligned with—and optimized for—the Specpoint ecosystem.
(Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted on Thursday, May 21, 2026 - 11:23 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

@JPotter

Based on the following from your response:

"While users can export and work with the content in formats like Microsoft Word for project-specific needs, use of MasterSpec within other dedicated specification-writing platforms is restricted under the agreement."

Are you saying that if I want to use AIA MasterSpec within SpecLink Cloud or VisiSpec or any other type of specification writing platforms -- I am not allowed?
JPotter (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted on Thursday, May 28, 2026 - 10:11 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Yes that is correct per the terms and conditions.

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