I have been using SpecLink+ for serveral years, and I highly recommend this product. I tried MasterSpec one time, and will never go that route again.
With SpecLink+ you can insert your own spec sections, and never need to worry about losing anything with any of the quarterly updates. SpecLink+ is less word processing and more criteria selection. The content is fully customizable, or you can make selections "out of the box."
There are safeguards in the software to alert you when a selection in one section affects selections in another section. The entire specification can be printed with one click, and every section will be formatted exactly alike, it will generate its own table of contents, and all the pages will be properly numbered, if desired.
There are some cool features, too. For example you can print out a list of all sections that require submittals, and subdivide them into data, brochures, and samples.
It is very important to partake in a training course, whether in person, online, or via teleconference. If you have clerical staff who will be placing your specs into SpecLink+, you should send the clerk to the full-blown training course.
Did I say I highly recommend SpecLink+?
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Charles Graham AIA
Architect
O'Neal, Inc.
Greenville SC
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-07-2010 08:27
From: Wayne Chang
Subject: Specifications writing
This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Technology in Architectural Practice and Practice Management .
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My office is in the process of reevaluating our specifications software. Because our work is so specialized, we have set up several of our own standard sections. However, with our current software, Masterspec, it is difficult to maintain these sections with each Masterspec update. I am wondering if others can suggest a better way of handling office standard sections or if we should go to another software like Speclink? And for each project, we rewrite each section using Linx which can be a very lengthy process. Is there a better way or is it just a software issue?
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Wayne Chang AIA
Project Manager, Associate
CLRdesign, Inc.
Philadelphia PA
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