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Author Message John Regener, AIA, CCS, CCCA, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: john_regener Post Number: 614 Registered: 04-2002 Posted on Tuesday, March 19, 2013 - 02:08 pm:    I'm curious about software that spec writers find very valuable. I mean that in terms of productivity when preparing construction specifications, including word processing, managing multiple projects, managing the many tasks and decisions in a single project, managing files, creating and working with PDF files, file conversions between word processing programs (as though there are others than the one-true program from Redmond), drawing viewing, and email. John Regener, AIA, CCS, CCCA, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: john_regener Post Number: 615 Registered: 04-2002 Posted on Tuesday, March 19, 2013 - 02:23 pm:    File Managing: I use PowerDesk Pro, published by Avanquest Software www.avanquest.com/USA I first started using it because the interface was similar to PC Tools, which was swallowed up by Symantec, which sold it to Microsoft where it was lobotomized into Windows Explorer. It's a lot like Windows Explorer but much, much more robust. It includes the capability to view many file formats and to create and extract from zip files. Sheldon Wolfe Senior Member Username: sheldon_wolfe Post Number: 627 Registered: 01-2003 Posted on Tuesday, March 19, 2013 - 02:25 pm:    pdfcreator great for batch printing from other file types. PDFill PDF Tools for merging, disassembling, reordering, adding stuff (header, footer, watermark), and more. Both freeware. Sheldon Wolfe Senior Member Username: sheldon_wolfe Post Number: 628 Registered: 01-2003 Posted on Tuesday, March 19, 2013 - 02:34 pm:    Clip Name right click on a filename, copy full path or other file information to clipboard. Advanced Rename easily modifies filenames - add, remove, replace, change case, more. Both freeware. Justatim Senior Member Username: justatim Post Number: 47 Registered: 04-2010 Posted on Tuesday, March 19, 2013 - 02:52 pm:    FileLocator Lite, freeware version of FileLocator Pro. I discovered this about a year ago, when a Windows update apparently killed Windows' ability to search for a text string in multiple folders/directories. FileLocator Lite uses quoted strings of text as well as Boolean expressions. John Regener, AIA, CCS, CCCA, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: john_regener Post Number: 616 Registered: 04-2002 Posted on Tuesday, March 19, 2013 - 02:53 pm:    I forgot about the file renaming utility. I use Bulk Rename Utility, freeware by Jim Wilsher www.bulkrenameutility.co.uk works great for adding, revising or deleting information in names of over 100+ spec files. Nathan Woods, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP Senior Member Username: nwoods Post Number: 518 Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Tuesday, March 19, 2013 - 02:55 pm:    I also use Advanced Rename. It works great. However, my most favorite software is Bluebeam Revu Extreme (note, v11 has a killer new file/page renaming tool that you might like). I am also really impressed with Parallels v8 on my Mac. I can open windows-only files directly within Finder on the Mac. Really seamless, and with the ability to set up multiple desktops, I can simply swipe back and forth between OS's John Regener, AIA, CCS, CCCA, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: john_regener Post Number: 620 Registered: 04-2002 Posted on Monday, March 25, 2013 - 11:55 am:    How about a utility for converting PDF text to Word or at least ASCII text? It is tedious (!!!) to try to work from a screen capture of PDF text. I've tried Corel WordPerfect's PDF conversion utility and it works pretty well but not completely satisfactory. The issue seems to be the source of the PDF document: a word processing file or a scan. Scanned documents do not convert (i.e., not like Optical Character Recognition (OCR)). PDF documents, originally word processing documents, convert pretty well. Nathan Woods, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP Senior Member Username: nwoods Post Number: 527 Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Monday, March 25, 2013 - 12:35 pm:    John, OCR is specifically for scanned documents, otherwise known as a raster image document (a picture of text, not actual text). Exporting a vector image document (a PDF created straight from Word or AutoCAD or whatever), preserves its text and does not require OCR. In my experience, the full Pro version of Adobe Acrobat does an increadible job running OCR on raster (scanned) PDF docs. It even cleans up bad faxes. Bluebeam Revu Extreme does a good job on OCR but not quite as good on "clean-up" of bad faxes. Conversely, Bluebeam Revu (any version) does a terrific job exporting vector PDF's into Word or whatever. Paul Sweet (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Monday, March 25, 2013 - 12:48 pm:    Yankee Clipper has been my favorite for 15 years or more. It stores multiple clipboard entries - text, images, etc. The free YC3 works well enough that I haven't seen any need to move up to the paid version. http://www.intelexual.com/products/ Richard Hird (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Monday, March 25, 2013 - 09:05 pm:    Agree with the process of John Regener, and Nathan's commentary, on Bluebeam Revu. If you try to skip the Word Perfect conversion you have paragraph formatting problems. Only problem I have with this process; it seems to do headers ok, but numbered footers not so much. In addition if you ever need to take off construction quantities Bluebeam is has excellent PDF measuring capabilities. Elias Saltz, CSI, CCS, LEED AP Intermediate Member Username: elias_saltz Post Number: 4 Registered: 03-2009 Posted on Thursday, June 06, 2013 - 12:46 pm:    I agree on Bluebeam as well. Best tool for editing PDFs that I have in my toolkit. I can change the date on every footer in an entire spec when the PM tells me that the project is delayed. I use FreeCommander: freeware 2-panel multi-tabbed file management tool with built-in preview. www.freecommander.com I use Copernic Desktop Search (need the pro version to search networked folder) to search for text in previously released specifications. It also searches emails and aggregates multiple search engines for web searches. www.copernic.com "If we cannot take joy in things that are merely real, our lives will always be empty." Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 984 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Wednesday, June 12, 2013 - 02:47 am:    Confession time, I've been preparing specs on my own using Wordperfect only for the past 17 years w/o any help, a one man show, my methods are archaic, but I get the job done and have completed specs on 100's of projects, mostly highrise residential and hospitality; I seem to have a strong reputation and w/o a recession, I have no problem getting work, however Im getting older (but not as old as Ralph) and not as fast as I used to be (I think Ralph is faster), so I really need to step up my game. I don't use macros, they always seemed too complicated; I have very limited knowledge of CAD, my clients could care less; so my first question is can I use Bluebeam without CAD knowledge? What software would my peers recommend to reduce the amount of time I spend preparing specs, dumping Wordperfect is not an option; learning time is very limited, I work min 14 hrs a day, 6 days a week as is, have a dysfunctional 23 yr old daughter that lives with me and depends on me for most of her needs, even I have to sleep sometimes, though tonite I have a deadline for the morning, so its doubtful I will get any sleep. Most of my colleagues know I am a widower, with very little family left after the Big C ravaged my family, so my life revolves around my work and my daughter; I would like to write specs for no more than 8 years (I'll be 68) (the recession was brutal, I need to reboot my finances). One software program I have been considering is Dragon Naturally Speaking, I know there is a lengthy learning curve, but I would think by now the software has evolved into a timesaving program, is anyone using it in lieu of typing? Another confession ,I don't know how to use freeware - if I download it how do I know it will work with my existing wordperfect program. I prepare PDF's using wordperfect, seems to work well, but I could use more tricks of the trade. Time savings is most important. I have a computer geek who makes sure my computers and network run well, but he's too busy to provide teaching, I get a few minutes here and there, not enough to really excel on. But he is very good at what he does, provides good service, and is very reasonably priced. So that's it, my confession, no billboard announcements please, though again my clients don't seem to care, as long as I get the work done on time. Hoping my colleagues can offer some recommendations on this, not a dilemma, just a request for help. Ralph, you know how much I respect you, but seriously how young are you and when are you going to retire? Username (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Wednesday, June 12, 2013 - 09:42 am:    Jerome, I have a few Wordperfect macros that I've complied and would be happy to share with you. My email address is: morrissj __ hotmail.com. Nathan Woods, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP Senior Member Username: nwoods Post Number: 535 Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Wednesday, June 12, 2013 - 11:03 am:    Re: Bluebeam. I am a Bluebeam evangalist, and train folks on it regularly. In answer to your question, "Can you use Bluebeam without knowing CAD", the answer is a absolutely yes. It really depends on how you want to use it. What tasks you have in mind, and what features and options you are likely to use. Bluebeam is a large robust program, as if they combined 1/3rd Photoshop, 1/3rd CAD, 4/3rds Acrobat. However, it has "profiles" that simplify the interface for a given role. For letters and documents, the "Simple" or "Office" interface might be ideal for you. It presents just the tools and options you are mostly likely to need. However, if you've gotten along without a dedicated PDF program like Acrobat or Bluebeam thus far, I suspect Bluebeam will be far more than you need. There are cheaper and simpler PDF programs out there that will probably work just as well for you. Bluebeam's strength is in its large format drawing handling and markup tools. It does't sound like those are essential tools for your usage. Alan Mays, AIA Senior Member Username: amays Post Number: 122 Registered: 02-2003 Posted on Wednesday, June 12, 2013 - 12:23 pm:    Jerome, What described is what I hear from everyone. I want to change without changing. The truth is you really need to look at your process in doing specs from beginning to end. That is one thing that will help you find methods to streamline your work. Now the harder part. You will have to accept change. That may mean adopting different software packages, etc. That means learning different things. The trouble most people today (even me at times) is that they look at things with the thought that there is a quick software solution. I always used to hear the words, "it's CAD, just push a button". Well the truth is that we tend to look at solutions to our needs that way, too. Blubeam is a really robust, cool, red line tool. Yes, it can also do comparisons and other things, too. It also takes some time to learn. It, as all off the shelf software packages, has faults. One can say the same thing about Speclink and eSpecs. Do they really provide off the shelf solutions to your needs? NO! The issue is that we tend to not look at how this can help me and instead look for why it cannot. Sometimes it also means we need to look at if I change can this help me. Finally the trouble with this is also what has happened to specifications as well as drawings. It has exploded do to the computer. Instead of creating clear concise specifications, we have created a huge multi-volume legal document to CYA ourselves. More and more I find that both the Owners and the Contractors don't look at them. They look at the drawings then price product that they have relations with (many times the cheapest deal) instead of what is in the specs/drawings. The bottom line is that what the computer has actually done is created stupid documents. More drawings that say less and the same with specs. We lowered our time frames and fees to just give ourselves more work to do. Until we learn that since the world has changed and how we do our work needs to change, then we will struggle with the issues that you describe. That brings me back to my main point. Change requires change. All I can really suggest is do an analysis of your work process. Think about how to make it better and more efficient. Look at what tools (software) is needed and compare their advantages and disadvantages. Finally then learn. When I started doing this process with drawings, I saw that what was needed was simple reduction of drawings with more concise information on them. Profits started to increase and standard systematic things tended to ease my workload. I drew (not a CAD/BIM term) less and coordinated more along with gaining more time for myself. There have been many articles written about this very topic. All with the same solution. What can be done with drawings can also be done with specs. I think Sheldon talks a lot about this topic. The latest and coolest software won't help you if your work process is not set up to allow that software to help you. What it can do is actually increase your workload much the way the computer has done with our work today. John Regener, AIA, CCS, CCCA, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: john_regener Post Number: 641 Registered: 04-2002 Posted on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 - 06:13 pm:    see the following link for running WordPerfect DOS under Windows operating systems. http://www.columbia.edu/~em36/wpdos/#windows