Overview
SpecLink Cloud Version 2024.1.0 provides the following new features, enhancements, and fixes to the system.
Please note that moving in line with the RIB Global Release management practice, we've adopted a new release and update numbering system to improve ease of identification. Moving forward, the release version of SpecLink Cloud will include <Year>.<Release Number>.<Update Number>. The new release version 2024.1.0 identifies this as the 1st major release of 2024.
Watch the SpecLink Cloud Release 2024.1.0 highlight video below.
Please see update to Cut/Pasting target links with the 2024.1.3 update.
New Features
The following features were added to SpecLink Cloud:
- Ability to Export Keynotes from a Project or Office Master
- Ability to Fix Hierarchy Issues in Sections
- Include Links when Cut/Copy and Pasting Paragraphs
Ability to Export Keynotes from a Project or Office Master
Users can now export a keynotes text file from a SpecLink Cloud Project or Office Master by accessing the options menu for the Project or Office Master. The exported text file will appear in the Export Files Menu in SpecLink Cloud.
The Keynote text file (.txt) can be used to assign keynotes to objects in Revit. Paragraphs that exist under the "Section Includes" article in each section will be exported along with an automatically generated keynote number.
For Projects, only active paragraphs under each Section Includes article will be exported. For Office Masters, all paragraphs (active and inactive) under each Section Includes article will be exported.
The Keynote text file (.txt) will include the following information from the project/office master:
- Paragraphs under Section Includes, along with indented paragraphs.
- Division number and Division Title
- Section ID and Section Title
- Keynote Number and paragraph text
- Section Source Tag format
- Text will be ALL CAPS
Example:
The Keynote File will be downloaded as .txt file and employ the following filename syntax:
<Project Name>_<MM.DD.YYYY>_Keynote.txt
Ability to Fix Hierarchy Issues in Sections
Occasionally while editing a section in SpecLink Cloud, a paragraph hierarchy issue would occur, such as a Level 3 paragraph followed by a Level 5 paragraph, causing a break in level hierarchy. Click here to learn more about Paragraph Levels. In some rare cases, the break in hierarchy had to be fixed by the SpecLink Cloud Development team. Now, users have a tool they can use to fix hierarchy issues immediately.
Under the "More" menu on the Toolbar, clicking on the "Fix Hierarchy" button will bring up a prompt to run the Fix Hierarchy tool. After allowing the tool to run, a pop-up message will appear alerting the user if the fix hierarchy was successful or failed. If successful, the page will refresh.
Include Links when Cut/Copy and Pasting Paragraphs
Cutting and Pasting User Paragraphs - Both Target and Source Links
Note: As of the 2024.1.3 SpecLink Cloud update, target links are included when cutting and pasting a user paragraph, within the parameters described below.
SpecLink Cloud users will now have the ability to retain link information, both source links and target links, when cutting and pasting user paragraphs with links within SpecLink Cloud project. A new "Paste Paragraph(s) with Links" option will be shown in the options menu when right-clicking within a section.
The ability to retain link information will apply to cutting and pasting in the same section or across sections. This includes pasting a single paragraph, multiple paragraphs, or an entire branch.
Switching browser tabs, opening new sections with the sections toolbar menu, or returning to the project sections list to when navigating to different sections are all functional when pasting paragraph(s) with links.
It is important to know, that the "Paste Paragraph(s) With Links" option will not be available when cutting from one project and pasting into a different project.
Copying and Pasting Paragraphs - Target Links Only
SpecLink Cloud users will now also have the ability to retain target link information when copying and pasting any paragraph within SpecLink Cloud.
The steps above for cut and paste all apply to copy and paste as well, but there are some differences in function. Copy can be used on any paragraph, where cut can only be used on user paragraph(s). Since copy and paste is creating a new paragraph, the source links from the original paragraph are not copied, as the new paragraph is a new unique line and different sequence number.
It is important to know, that the "Paste Paragraph(s) With Links" option will not be available when copying from one project and pasting into a different project.
For more information about Linking, please click here
Enhancements
Enhancements that have been made to SpecLink Cloud include:
- Choice Fields Displayed as a Selection Tree
- Simultaneously Create Multiple Links
- Edit Existing Links
- Additional Improvements to the Links Pane
Choice Fields Displayed as a Selection Tree
Previously, when creating links that involve choices, the choices are displayed as drop-down selections in the Links pane. To bring clarity to the linking process, choices will now be displayed as a selection tree in the Links pane instead.
Simultaneously Create Multiple Links
Previously, only one link can be created at a time. With the SpecLink Cloud v2024.1.0 release, users can save time by creating multiple links with the same source or target at the same time by following the steps below.
- Follow the steps to creating a new link. Review steps for Creating Paragraph Links as needed.
- When adding a new target or source link, users can now drag and drop multiple sequence numbers to the Links pane. There is a maximum limit of 10 sequence numbers during each link creation.
- After all sequence numbers have been added to the link pane (up to maximum 10), click "Save" to create all the links at once. When creating multiple links this way, all links will be the same link type and color, but can be edited afterwards individually.
- The created links will all appear as separate individual links in the appropriate section of the Links pane. Also, the Link icon will appear in the Links column for affected target link paragraphs.
Multiple link creation is not available when the first paragraph has a choice selected in the choice tree within the Links pane. When attempting to add a sequence number to a target or source choice link, the paragraph will not be added and an error message will notify users. However, it is allowed for a choice to be selected for the primary paragraph in the center of the Links pane.
Edit Existing Links
SpecLink Cloud v2024.1.0 has added the ability to make multiple types of edits to current links.
Steps to begin making edits for links in general are listed below:
- To begin editing a link, open the links pane either by clicking the link icon in the Link column or through the Sequence Manager Tab.
- To edit a link, the process is the same for both Target or Source Links. Start by expanding the Target or Source link to be edited to view the details of it.
- After making any edits to the link, the the "Save" button will become selectable. Click "Save" to save your edits, and the link is now changed. See below for some specifics steps regarding link editing. Click here for detail on Linking Basics.
Editing Sequence Number(s)
- To edit the sequence number(s) for a target or source link, follow the above steps to open the link details for the paragraph to be edited.
- Locate the current sequence number shown in step 2 in the Link Pane. If needing to delete the current sequence number, click the Red X on the sequence number to remove it.
- Drag and drop the any new sequence numbers into the link pane to include them in the link, and then press save.
- Please note, adding additional sequence numbers is not allowed if the current sequence number is a choice link.
Editing Choice Field Selection (in Top or Bottom of Links pane as applicable).
- To edit a choice selection in a target or source link, follow the above steps to open the link details for the paragraph to be edited.
- Select the new choice and click save.
Editing Choice Field Selection for the Primary Paragraph (in Center of Links pane)
- If editing a link to include or change a choice in the primary paragraph (Center pane), begin by opening the Target or Source link the edit will be applied to, as shown in the steps above. This must be done before selecting any choices in the center pane.
- Once open, scroll to the center pane and select an option from the Choice Tree.
- Click save in the appropriate link pane. The link has now been updated.
Please note, once saved and the edit menu is closed, the link style will update to show the correct link type; C type indicating a choice link or P type indicating a Paragraph Link. Additionally, the choice list in the center pane will not show the selected choice. Upon opening a link to edit again, the center pane choice selection will appear selected.
Editing Cross Section Links
When the link to be edited is a Cross Section link, there are additional restrictions to ensure the links between sections remain fully functional.
-
- User can edit only choice options and link color.
- User cannot edit Link Type.
- User cannot delete or add sequence numbers.
- If user deselects all choice options, the tool tip on the Link type will change accordingly.
Additional Improvements to the Links Pane
Links Types (Paragraph - P; Choice - C; Cross Section - CS) will be displayed more clearly in the Link Pane. When a user is creating or editing a link, and changes the link from one type (P, C, or CS) to another, the link type will change to reflect the new type (P, C, or CS).
When editing or creating links that involves choices:
- If the user changes Link Type from P to C, it will select "Choice 1 Option 1" of the choice tree (checking both boxes) automatically. If the user changes Link Type from C to P, any selections in the choice tree will automatically be deselected in the choice tree.
- If the user selects a box from anywhere on a choice tree, it will automatically change the Link Type from P to C (if not already C).
- If the parent of any choice tree is selected, it will automatically select the first option in that choice tree as well. If a child option is selected, it will automatically select the parent in the same choice tree.
- When selecting choice options, any change made in the choice tree will automatically deselect any other selections made. Only one choice tree can be selected at a time.
Fixes
The follow fixes have been made to SpecLink Cloud:
- Removed Unnecessary Confirmation Message When Exiting Link Menu
- Blank Notes on Copy and Pasted Paragraphs
- Deleting Paragraphs Causing an Incorrect Hierarchy
- Incorrectly Showing Choice Order In Link Pane
- Pasting Branches Not Including Tags
- Track Changes not Prompting to Accept Deletion of Reference Standard Paragraphs
- Various Dialog Box and Popup Messages
- Various Data Fixes
Removed Unnecessary Confirmation Message When Exiting Link Menu
Previously, if a user has started creating a link or selected an existing user link, and then the user exits the Links Pane without making any changes to the link, a prompt would appear to save edits.
Now, users will not be prompted to save edits to links when they have not yet made any edits to the links.
Blank Notes on Copy and Pasted Paragraphs
When users would copy a paragraph that has a master or project note in it, the note was not pasting with the paragraph. This has been resolved.
Deleting Paragraphs Causing an Incorrect Hierarchy
When a user deleted a parent paragraph, either the remaining paragraphs would be at the incorrect hierarchy level, or the remaining paragraphs would remain active when they should not.
This has been fixed by having SpecLink Cloud appropriately adjust any subparagraphs to the correct level, or appropriately deactivating the subparagraphs.
Incorrectly Showing Choice Order in Link Pane
Currently, if a user has more than one choice field in a paragraph and either deletes one of the choices or adds additional choices before the final choice, the choices in the Links pane do not appear correctly. The choices are being listed in the order they were created.
This has been corrected so that choices will appear in the Links pane in the order they appear in the paragraph.
Pasting Branches Not Including Tags
When users would copy or cut branches, then paste the branches, tags were not always pasting with the pasted branch. This issue has been resolved.
Track Changes not Prompting to Accept Deletion of Reference Standard Paragraphs
Currently, users can remove (delete) user paragraphs that contain Reference Standard references, or that are full Reference Standard paragraphs. However, users were unable to accept deletion of those paragraphs while using Track Changes.
This issue has been resolved.
Various Dialog Boxes and Popup Messages
Various dialog boxes and popup messages have received minor edits.
Various Data Fixes
Various data fixes that are project or customer specific have been applied since the previous SpecLink Cloud release.
New Release Video
Watch the SpecLink Cloud Release 2024.1.0 Highlight Video to see the new features and enhancements in action:
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