Add-Ons

SpecCAD

OVERVIEW

SpecCAD is an additional Specsources' product, purchased separately from SpecWeb.

It's a plug-in for Autocad. It's primary functionality is to pass Areas, Rooms and Qtys of blocks in Autocad to SpecWeb's Item Area, Rooms and Qty.

SpecWeb can be used without SpecCAD, but SpecCAD cannot be used without SpecWeb.

Click on SpecCAD in the black left nav section in SpecWeb for installation instructions.

NOTE: Desginers / Users can be working in Autocad and SpecWeb simultaneously. If a SpecCAD user passes data to SpecWeb, it won't affect the SpecWeb User and vice-versa.

  • Step 1: Open the Autocad plan. The SpecCAD Menu will appear in the Specsources tab in the Autocad ribbon.
  • Step 2: Click the Project Setup icon.
  • Step 3: Enter the Token. The Token is found in the SpecCAD instructions section in the black left nav. Copy the token from there and paste it into the Token field in SpecCAD.
  • Step 4: Click 'Verify'.
  • Step 5: Select the SpecWeb' Project to pass Autocad data to. This list is generated from All Project in SpecWeb.
  • Step 6: Existing Specs - This is a list of Specs already created in the selected Project. It is just a reference and has no functionality.
  • Step 7: Click 'OK'.
  • Step 8: Click 'Add Attributes', then left-click on any block to add Specsources' attributes to. This will add Specsources' attributes to any block whose data will eventually be passed to SpecWeb.

    NOTE:     Specsources' Attributes include Spec Type, Item Type, Control #, Quantity per block, Area, Location, Room Type,
  • Step 9: Click 'Edit Attributes'. Left-click on a block, then right-click. The Edit Attributes dialog will appear.
    • Select a Spec Type and item Type. These will auto-populate from the SpecWeb Project.
    • Add/Edit the Control #. The Control # format will auto-generate from the SpecWeb Project.
    • Select an Area or enter a new one.
    • Select a Location or enter a new one.
    • Select a Room Type or enter one.
    • Tracked - Typically this is checked so the block will appear in the Sync Grid.
    • Click 'OK'.

Other Tools

Global Assign Control # by block.

Assigns the same Control # to every instance of that block.

  • Step 1: Click 'Global Assign Control # by Block'
  • Step 2: Left-Click on a block. Enter the Control #. This will add that Control # to every instance of that block.

Highlight Non-Specsources

Clicking this will indicate which blocks have not been assigned Specsources' Attributes.

Highlight Unassigned

Clicking this will indicate a block in which one of the Specsources' Attributes is missing. It is a check to make sure all Attributes were assigned.

Users can select Item Type, Control #, Area, Location or Quantity.

Tag Items

This adds a visual tag/call-out that includes the Control # for the block selected.

Blocks must have Specsources' Attributes assigned as well as a Control #.

Sync Data

The Sync Grid is an overview of all blocks that have been assigned Specsources' attributes.

These are the blocks whose Attributes will be passed to SpecWeb.

The Sync Grid can be sorted by any column. The data can also be limited by any of the dropdowns at the top of the grid.

To Sort Grid Data in a hierarchy, click on any column and drag it to 'Drag a column here to sort by this column' row. This will allow better visualization of data in large Plans.

How to Sync Data

This passes the Control #, Area, Location, Room Type and Qty of Items from Autocad to SpecWeb.

  • Step 1: Use 'Shift' or 'Control' to select the Items to pass to SpecWeb. Selecting all Items is recommended.
    If the Control # does not exist in SpecWeb, a Spec with that Control # will be created along with the Area, Location, Room Type and Qty of Items.
    If the Control #'s assigned in Autocad exist in SpecWeb, only the Area, Location, Room Type and Qty of Items will be updated on that Spec.
  • Step 2: Click 'Pass Selected Control #'s in Autocad Project..." - this will only pass data from Items selected. OR Click "Pass all Areas, Locations..." - this passes all Items in the plan. Passing all Items is recommended.
  • Step 3: Open the Project in SpecWeb to confirm all relevant fields have been updated.

*Delete all Areas, Locations and Qtys passed from all files to this Autocad Project.

This deletes all the Specsources Attribute fields in SpecWeb and allows for a 'clean' pass of data.

NOTE: If SpecWeb Users had manually added any of those fields, they will be deleted.

Other Sync Grid features

Find Item - This will indicate that individual block in Plan.

In Specsources - Those Items are in Specsources but there is no corresponding Control # for them in the Plan.

In Autocad - Those Items are in Autocad but there is no corresponding Control # for them in SpecWeb. (This is typically because the data has not been synced with SpecWeb yet.