NEWSLETTER

Product Q&A

All Products

Q. I have a new computer. Can I use the same access key as my old one?
A. Each access key is unique to the computer or server where the software was installed. Before removing from the old computer, call Technical Support at 800-266-7732 to Unpermit your current installation. When that is done, you can get a key for the new computer. To save time, install the software on the new computer before calling Technical Support. We can get your Unpermit Code from the old computer and issue a new key in the same phone call.

Q. I never installed my last update. What do I do?
A. Install the most recent update over your existing installation using the updated instructions on the CD or website. You do not need to install prior updates for SpecLink, nor do you need a new Access Key (unless you have not yet entered your renewal key or have a new computer).

Q. Where can I find the user’s manual?
A. The user’s manual is on the quarterly CD. It can also be found on our website at www.bsdsoftlink.com/downloadcenter/userspage.htm

BSD SpecLink+

Q. The names of several section titles are appearing in pink or magenta text in my Tree panel. What does that mean?
A. In short, it means the project has not been completely updated. The software automatically marks any section that has not been completely updated to the latest master by turning the document title magenta. To update the whole project, go to the Tools menu, select "Update to Master," then select "Update Project" and click the Update button. You can also update only certain sections by selecting "Update Section" selecting the section you want to update, and clicking the Update button. Once the sections are updated, the titles in the tree panel turn back to their normal colors, black or blue.

Note that SpecLink does not require that you update a project; there can be many legitimate reasons for not updating. The magenta titles simply act as reminders that those sections contain obsolete data. You can open any of those sections at any time to see which paragraphs have updated versions available (marked with a rust color), and you can view the individual paragraph changes before updating them. You can also print a report that lists every paragraph in your project affected by updates. For more detail on updating, see Chapter 11 in the updated User Manual on the latest BSD SoftLink CD-ROM or from our website at www.bsdsoftlink.com/support/sl_manual.htm.

Q. I am new to SpecLink+ or have a new employee that has never used it. What is the fastest way to get up to speed on using the software?
A. Visit BSD’s website and use the step-by-step links in the Specifiers’ Library. The steps are logically laid out and provide valuable information about effectively using the software.

Q. What does it mean when there is no “+” in front of a folder in the tree panel?
A. An “empty” folder indicates that there are no master sections within a folder. You can create sections to populate these empty folders by importing.rtf files or writing your own using the section template. Please refer to the User Manual or contact Technical Support at 1-800-266-7732 if you have questions or need assistance.

CostLink AE

Q. Is it possible to include my company’s logo on the reports?
A. To insert a logo into the standard reports, rename the logo to logo.bmp, logo.jpg, or logo.gif, and place that file into your CostLink AE\System\Reports folder. The logo will automatically print in the top right corner of your reports.

Q. What can I do to modify the “location adjustment”? (i.e. remote rural areas, or dense metropolitan areas with high travel/storage costs)
A. There are 930 locations to choose from, each of which has been given a specific multiplier based on the cost of building in that area. These figures have been thoroughly researched and updated regularly. The actual location of the “Location adjustment” you use in your estimate will not appear in any of the reports generated. Therefore, you can choose from any of the 930 locations available which best reflects the markups associated with your project. You can also incorporate overall markups, as a percentage, in the “Other Costs” field in the summary info box.

More questions? Contact BSD Technical Support:

• Toll Free: 800-266-7732
• In Atlanta: 404-365-9226
• Email: support@bsdsoftlink.com