What Gift?

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Author Message Ralph Liebing, RA, CSI Senior Member Username: rliebing Post Number: 264 Registered: 02-2003 Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 10:07 am:    Having remembered, and already acquired my wife's primary Christmas gift, I now am in the spirit; soooooooo.......... With only your spec writer's hat on, what gift would you like to receive to facilitate your work; modify your work; make your work better, faster; to support your work; to educate or instruct about your work, and other such "work gifts? [a hefty raise, hourly kudos, barrels of strong drink, a gold watch, and similar professional "stimulants" should not be included] What truly bugs you or is missing in your work that you would like a gift to resolve? Anonymous   Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 11:06 am:    Some consultants with an understanding that Word/WordPerfect is something more than just a typewriter with a screen. So, a gift certificate to a series of classes for them would make a great present for me. Richard Howard, AIA CSI CCS Senior Member Username: rick_howard Post Number: 65 Registered: 07-2003 Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 11:12 am:    A reasonable budget of overhead hours to do what it takes to keep things running smoothly. Doug Frank FCSI CCS Senior Member Username: doug_frank_ccs Post Number: 128 Registered: 06-2002 Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 11:18 am:    My perfect gift would be for ALL colleges and universities to include an actual course on Specifications and their role in design and construction. It should be based upon the CDT program and include successfully completing the CDT Exam. What a Wonderful World it would be if all graduate architects/engineers/etc. had an understanding of what a project Manual is and what it takes to create one! Back to reality. But there really isn’t anything of a physical nature that I need to improve my working condition. I’ve got fast computers, printers, internet access: comfortable chair and air conditioning: plenty of pencils and paper: and the autonomy to manage my workload. My biggest hassle is the time and energy it takes to explain, to folks who should already know, the process of selecting products and conveying the salient data (ALL of the data) to me for the spec. "I guess I'd just like some "Tinker Toys". J. Peter Jordan Senior Member Username: jpjordan Post Number: 158 Registered: 05-2004 Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 11:27 am:    I'd like a computer with a DWIM key (do what I mean). Keyboard would be simple to use, just a single DWIM key. Press the DWIM key and you get what you want rather than what you told the computer to do. (Not originally my idea, but a good one nonetheless) Brett M. Wilbur CSI, CDT, AIA Senior Member Username: brett Post Number: 77 Registered: 12-2004 Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 11:43 am:    I would like to have the foresight to know now what I won't know for many years. The wisdom, special knowledge, technical expertise, and general humility and patience that I believe it truly takes to be a great spec writer. If not that, then I just want one person to walk into my office today, right now, and say, hey Brett, thanks, you are doing a great job, and mean it. If nothing else, at least relieve me of this rash. Steven T. Lawrey, AIA, CSI, CCS, CCCA Senior Member Username: lawrey Post Number: 39 Registered: 08-2004 Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 12:57 pm:    I would like a new model of crystal ball (I use my present model to read designers' minds) to see if us specifiers will be obsolete in the near future. Our Architectural Applications Specialist (a.k.a. CAD guy) came back from Autodesk University and said a software company will be sending me information about a program that integrates specs into CAD. Ahh, they have enough to think about. Let designers design and specifiers specify! Ralph, now you can relax now that you have your wife's gift. Any gift ideas? Ralph Liebing, RA, CSI Senior Member Username: rliebing Post Number: 265 Registered: 02-2003 Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 01:23 pm:    Ah, Steve- let designers design! let CAD folks CAD! let spec writers spec!!!!! Me thinks only such "compartmentation is necessary, vital, professionally sound, and correct. If the truth be known and my opinion is worth anything-- CAD Designer, or Architectural Designer [with only CAD or Associate degree training] is an oxymoron. Have done a piece on "BIM Before BIM" which might interest you [Other Articles below on this site] Gifts-- nice jewelry; clothes you like, even if she returns it, you've made your point!. Stay away from appliances and underwear. Anne Whitacre, CCS CSI Senior Member Username: awhitacre Post Number: 272 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 01:26 pm:    I just had my review and said that I wanted to be listed as part of the quality control on all our proposals and listed as part of the team on all of our awards submissions. I figure if we can list "the sustainability coordinator" we can list the specification writer.... Ralph Liebing, RA, CSI Senior Member Username: rliebing Post Number: 266 Registered: 02-2003 Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 01:45 pm:    And, Anne, I hope they see fit to make the list alphabetical by professional title! Anonymous   Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 02:28 pm:    Steven T. Lawrey wrote: "a software company will be sending me information about a program that integrates specs into CAD." Hope you like AEC Daily specs, because I think that is what is headed your way. I heard they struck a deal to include their mfg specs into AutoCAD, either directly or through a link to their site where you download. George A. Everding, AIA, CSI, CCS, CCCA Senior Member Username: geverding Post Number: 88 Registered: 11-2004 Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 02:50 pm:    Dear Santa Ralph- 1. Honest Project Deadlines 2. Realistic Internal Budgets 3. Better Document Coordination -Georgie ("keep my name off the Naughty List for another month") Ralph Liebing, RA, CSI Senior Member Username: rliebing Post Number: 267 Registered: 02-2003 Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 03:01 pm:    Sorry, George-- - sold reindeer to buy new software - sleigh is rusted 1947 model [we all have budgets]; never liked flying that fast anyway. - having harder and harder time finding "good" boys and girls [fewer and further apart] - elves are in a slow down and taking a union vote. And George, what is going to happen with you after just one more month off the naughty list???? What do you have planned, hmmmmmm? Marvin Chew Senior Member Username: bigmac Post Number: 19 Registered: 03-2001 Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 07:13 pm:    What I want for x-mas are project managers who know how to put a building together, schools that teach these individuals to think, and firms that allow employees to experience the entire building process by getting their butts kicked by Contractors when they screw up....You learn by doing it, not being protected in the office or being promoted to a higher position. Vivian Volz, RA, CSI, CCS Senior Member Username: vivianvolz Post Number: 52 Registered: 06-2004 Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 07:50 pm:    All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth... I could use a two-tier bookshelf that holds product binders and fits under my desk. I'd like a pretty wall calendar that fits on my cubicle wall, which is unusually short. (Pretty like high-design, or maybe art deco, not pretty like pictures of cats with big eyes.) I'd like some really good scheduling software that will take what I know (how long it ought to take me to write a project's specs, and when they're due) and tell me what I don't know (when to work on each, and whether I have time to take on one more thing). And then train me to use it. I'd like a preternaturally comfortable stool that fits under my return when not in use, so that my visitors will be comfortable, and perhaps even impressed with my style sense and accessibility. I might even sit on it myself once in a while. I'd like the perfect vase, one that won't tip over easily when holding peonies, that is fairly hip looking, and which arranges the flowers artfully because of its shape. And maybe an ikebana prong set that fits it, in case I have just three flowers. (This is a professional wish because I use flowers to help my co-workers see that I'm not a troglodyte tech geek.) And I want my alma mater to send my firm another really rockin' intern who makes ME look good just by being his or her rockin' smart responsive creative self, and by being from my alma mater. Heck, I might even be convinced to be a "good" girl and contribute to said alma mater, if they gave me that intern for Christmas! Jim Brittell Senior Member Username: jwbrittell Post Number: 9 Registered: 08-2004 Posted on Thursday, December 08, 2005 - 04:35 pm:    Vivian, At my office, everyone has a rolling 2-drawer unit that fits under the return and has a nice cushion on top. We got them from Tangram. Don't know if they were off-the-shelf or custom-made, but they are very cool! P.S. We are looking for an architect with good spec-writing/quality assurance experience, if you live in southern California... Vivian Volz, RA, CSI, CCS Senior Member Username: vivianvolz Post Number: 54 Registered: 06-2004 Posted on Thursday, December 08, 2005 - 04:49 pm:    Thanks, Jim. We're looking for the very same person. Send me your also-rans. :-) Vivian Lynn Javoroski Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 263 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Thursday, December 08, 2005 - 05:09 pm:    All of the above... But one of my wishes has been granted by this discussion forum and the terrific specification writers, product representatives and others who contribute to it. Joyous Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and Rohatsu, Merry Yule, and blessed Zarathosht Diso. And if I missed any, I apologize; may your season/holiday be all that you desire. Ron Beard CCS Senior Member Username: rm_beard_ccs Post Number: 90 Registered: 10-2002 Posted on Thursday, December 08, 2005 - 05:14 pm:    Vivian: You’ve enlightened my day. Never once have I thought of arranged flowers in my office. Interesting touch, however - it might be nice to spruce up the old place. While I have never associated myself with being a troglodyte, I have been accused of the being a troll since I don’t always come out from under “my bridge.” Little difference, I guess. Do troglodytes have a special flower? Do specifiers have a special flower? ... cactus? Ron Robert E. Woodburn Senior Member Username: bwoodburn Post Number: 91 Registered: 01-2005 Posted on Thursday, December 08, 2005 - 05:21 pm:    The specifiers' special flower is a hybrid of night-blooming chrysanthemums and daisies--better known as night-blooming crazies. Ralph Liebing, RA, CSI Senior Member Username: rliebing Post Number: 268 Registered: 02-2003 Posted on Friday, December 09, 2005 - 07:11 am:    Surprised no one has thought of the "gift numbers" -- those that exist outside the MF04. Mine are: 17x35; 46R; 42/30; 11D;, XL; 7-1/4; 44; 1/2 high. Receving address upon request! And oh, yes, I looked around, assessed himself and determined that I, as a spec writer, am a Sweetheart Rose!!!! Sheldon Wolfe Senior Member Username: sheldon_wolfe Post Number: 179 Registered: 01-2003 Posted on Friday, December 09, 2005 - 01:19 pm:    "I had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalog: "No good in a bed, but fine against a wall." - Eleanor Roosevelt Yolanda Lynn Jolley Intermediate Member Username: lynn_jolley Post Number: 4 Registered: 10-2005 Posted on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 07:41 pm:    I'd like Santa to show me how to print lists of my files in Word like I could in WordPerfect. I'd also be very grateful if Santa would help architects understand and embrace the concept of "Say it once and in the right place on drawings." David J. Wyatt Senior Member Username: david_j_wyatt_csi_ccs_ccca Post Number: 13 Registered: 07-2005 Posted on Thursday, December 15, 2005 - 08:15 am:    Wyatt's list: 1. 50 library carts - one for each Division - for catalogues, samples, and other important stuff. 2. One of those chairs that tips the seated person into a chute to a dungeon below, and activated by a button on my desk. This would be useful in a lot of daily situations. 3. Some of those coin-operated newspaper vending boxes you see on the streets. I'd load them with spec sections, articles, newsletters, advice columns. At 50-cents apiece, perhaps money for writing would start to trickle in. 4. A magic spec book that always has the answers people need or want. I would share this with the 4specs people who did not get one. 5. A Tomaine truck, for selling food, coffee and the answers to RFIs at the job site. With this, the contractors and subs would be happy to see me coming for a change. 6. A magic hammer. You know, the kind that turns attorneys into piles of gold coins when you rap them on the head with it? 7. A couple of cases of B-S spray. Remember the stuff? You spray it at the source of B-S, of which spec writers know there is plenty, and it vanishes. I would also share this with the 4specs people. That's enough for this year. Don Harris CSI, CCS, CCCA, AIA Senior Member Username: don_harris Post Number: 46 Registered: 03-2003 Posted on Thursday, December 15, 2005 - 08:46 am:    To Ms. Jolly and anyone else in need: Copy this text into notepad (or any text editor) and save it as "prin.bat", or "<Insert name here>.bat" as the mood may suggest. Place the file in the folder where the list is desired and double click. Voila...a list of files in that folder is printed to your default printer. I keep it on my desktop and copy it into folders as needed, then delete it so there's not thousands of copies on my computer. Not perfect, but it works. This came from the Microsoft Knowledge Base. @echo off dir %1 /-p /o:gn > "%temp%\Listing" start /w notepad /p "%temp%\Listing" del "%temp%\Listing" exit J. Peter Jordan Senior Member Username: jpjordan Post Number: 161 Registered: 05-2004 Posted on Thursday, December 15, 2005 - 09:10 am:    For Ms. Jolly and Mr. Harris: To print a listing of files, I use Microsoft Outlook. You can print the contents of a directory. Since I keep section titles and numbers in specific property fields, I set up to print only these 2 fields. I print it to an .pdf file, copy the file into Word, do about 2-1/2 minutes of formatting and viola! Table of contents. Since my the information on the section number and title are referenced from fields in the header and footer, table of contents matches my specs. I count the fact that you cannot print a list of files as a significant defect in Windows. Brett M. Wilbur CSI, CDT, AIA Senior Member Username: brett Post Number: 80 Registered: 12-2004 Posted on Thursday, December 15, 2005 - 11:31 am:    Don, that only prints what is in the directory and then closes. Very cool, but how can you get it to remain open so it can be cut and pasted like Peter is talking about? Lynn Javoroski Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 271 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Thursday, December 15, 2005 - 11:52 am:    Don, That is the answer to prayers, not just a gift wish list! Thanks! John Bunzick, CCS, CCCA Senior Member Username: bunzick Post Number: 446 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Thursday, December 15, 2005 - 01:28 pm:    I love the idea of this little code bit! It looks to me if the second to last line was deleted, the file created by the "dir" command would remain. (Named "listing".) Then the file can be opened and edited. I'm not at my regular work station, so I can't test this out. Anyone want to give it a whirl and advise? Don Harris CSI, CCS, CCCA, AIA Senior Member Username: don_harris Post Number: 47 Registered: 03-2003 Posted on Thursday, December 15, 2005 - 02:02 pm:    Brett: I could go into a Cliff Claven rant here, but the honest to garsh answer is I don't know. When I get home, I'll try John's suggestion. Any programmers out there? I also just figured out what Peter is suggesting. I'll have to work it a little, but it seems to work. I have to say I was clueless that Outlook could do that. Thanks Peter. Vivian Volz, RA, CSI, CCS Senior Member Username: vivianvolz Post Number: 55 Registered: 06-2004 Posted on Friday, December 16, 2005 - 02:53 pm:    Santa got me something that wasn't on my list, and I'm thrilled! I'm a "captive" specifier, you see, and our firm has a frenzy of congratulations and promotions once a year. Six of my specifier colleagues across the firm got promoted this year! Not me, but this is still a huge gift to me. Nothing says "specs are important" like acknowledging the specifiers. Woo hoo! Don Harris CSI, CCS, CCCA, AIA Senior Member Username: don_harris Post Number: 48 Registered: 03-2003 Posted on Friday, December 16, 2005 - 05:51 pm:    Brett, Lynn, John and others: My firm's IT guy gave me a hand and came up with the following: #@echo off dir %1 /-p /o:gn > "%temp%\DirList.txt" start notepad "%temp%\DirList.txt" exit copy this and save as a .bat file. It opens notepad and makes a text document of the folder contents. Now, you have to tell it to print. It doesn't do it automatically, but you have the file to edit, cut, copy and paste. Hope this helps. Brett M. Wilbur CSI, CDT, AIA Senior Member Username: brett Post Number: 81 Registered: 12-2004 Posted on Friday, December 16, 2005 - 06:10 pm:    Don, thanks so much. It really works! Sheldon Wolfe Senior Member Username: sheldon_wolfe Post Number: 180 Registered: 01-2003 Posted on Friday, December 16, 2005 - 09:03 pm:    A handy free utility for printing lists of files in directories - http://no-nonsense-software.com/cgi-bin/redirect/cgirdir.exe?printfolder Ralph Liebing, RA, CSI Senior Member Username: rliebing Post Number: 272 Registered: 02-2003 Posted on Monday, December 19, 2005 - 06:53 am:    For the late shoppers and those with idea challenges, you might be interested in the newest post in Other Articles [on this site] To my Christian friends, Merry Christmas; and those Jewish, Happy Hanukkah; and all others, a respectful Holiday Greeting for your special time. (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Friday, December 16, 2005 - 05:49 pm:    Brett, Lynn, John and others: My firm's IT guy gave me a hand and came up with the following: #@echo off dir %1 /-p /o:gn > "%temp%\DirList.txt" start notepad "%temp%\DirList.txt" exit copy this and save as a .bat file. It opens notepad and makes a text document of the folder contents. Now, you have to tell it to print. It doesn't do it automatically, but you have the file to edit, cut, copy and paste. Hope this helps. Marvin Chew Senior Member Username: bigmac Post Number: 20 Registered: 03-2001 Posted on Friday, December 23, 2005 - 04:41 pm:    ah, Things are easier in Wordperfect. Just open "File" and hit the button that says "Print File List". You're done. None of this extended work..... Anonymous   Posted on Monday, December 26, 2005 - 04:20 pm:    I couldn't agree with you more Marvin. It's amazing to read these posts and find all these "hoops" folks have to jump through when using Microsoft products; i.e. Windows Explorer and Microsoft Word. WordPerfect is indeed perfect when it comes to handling files, searching for phrases, and ah yes macros - - - writing two macros at the moment that will expedite the process of compiling a Table of Contents. Need a pdf of your document? In Wordperfect click File, Publish to PDF. My firm's gift to our specification writers is their continued support of our use of WordPerfect. Ho! Ho! Ho! Anonymous   Posted on Wednesday, December 28, 2005 - 08:40 am:    I am in complete agreement. Wordperfect is, by far, the superior program. However, years ago when the company went to a Windows NT network and server, my Wordperfect started crashing constantly. Now, I'm not saying Mr. Gates and his cohorts did anything that may have caused this, but one has to think.... Hence I've been using Word since then, as rebooting my computer 3 times an hour was out of the question. I still keep a copy of WP on my computer for documents that we receive in that format. It is much easier to use them in their native program than go through the conversion hassles. Thanks a lot Bill. Ron Beard CCS Senior Member Username: rm_beard_ccs Post Number: 92 Registered: 10-2002 Posted on Wednesday, December 28, 2005 - 11:38 am:    <<Now, I'm not saying Mr. Gates and his cohorts did anything that may have caused this, but one has to think....>> I have no proof of this, but, based on my personal experience, I believe he does. There are always conversion problems going from MSW to WP but seldom problems going from WP to MSW. MSW just doesn’t care and doesn’t make any effort to improve the process. I will NEVER open one of my WP files in MSW. I always make a copy then open the copy. I don’t understand how it happens but when I open my WP files in MSW, even though I do not save the file, it gets altered. I believe it’s deliberate - at least deliberate by making no effort to accommodate any other program. This attitude is prevalent throughout other MS programs as well. The rest of the year is too short to get into that discussion. To Each of You: Have a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year. Ron Anonymous   Posted on Thursday, December 29, 2005 - 12:55 pm:    Christmas Request: A contractor who can read!!