SpecLink Cloud Quick Start Lesson #2: Importing Content - Basic Linking - Printing & Exporting

Overview

The intent of this second quick start lesson is to work through the steps of importing content, perform basic linking, and printing and exporting to the desired output. 

For your convenience, we've attached a document of a specification section that you will be directed to use for importing (SECTION015526.docx). We've also attached a PDF version of this lesson article and included a video that will walk you through the lesson's steps.

Importing a User Section

Before beginning this lesson, we suggest that you download, save, and review the attached SECTION015526.docx file located at the bottom of the article to a location on your computer that you can easily access.

Follow the step below to import a user section from a Word document (.DOCX or .DOC).

1. Once you’ve created a Project, the list of Sections will be visible. Click the red New button.
   
   
    
2. From the menu that appears, select Import from Word - Specification Section.
   
   
    
3. The Import Section window will open. Auto-selecting paragraphs, auto-tagging paragraphs, and Enhanced Text options are presented in this window. 
   
   
   
   For this lesson, adjust the settings to match what is as pictured above.
    
4. Once the settings are adjusted, either click on the dotted line box and locate the sample SECTION015526.docx file, or drag and drop the file directly into the Import Sections window.
    
5. Once you’ve selected the file and clicked Open (or dragged the file in directly), the Import Section screen will update as shown below. Note that all the settings from step 3 will now be greyed out and no longer adjustable.
   
   
   
   The Section ID and Section Name fields are derived from the first two lines of the imported document. The default entry for the Suffix field is USER. All of these fields are editable. 
    
6. Click the blue OK button to accept the imported section details. The imported section will appear in the appropriate location within the sections list as shown below. Click the name of the section to access it in edit mode.
   
   
   
   The U indicates a User created section while the M indicated a Master section.
    
7. Now that you’ve accessed the imported section, you’ll want to activate it.  Click the sequence number “0000” that correlates to the section title “TRAFFIC CONTROL”.
   
   

The next part of the lesson will continue from within the section and introduce linking.

Linking Basics

It is standard practice in the RIB Master content to link the paragraph “PART 2 PRODUCTS” to activate when the section has been activated. 

Follow the steps below to create a link to activate "PART 2 PRODUCTS" when the section is activated.

1. Click the Sequence Manager tab on the left side of the document panel.
   
   
    
2. From the Sequence Manager menu, click on “Links”.
    
3. Click the Create New Link button located in the top center of the Links menu.
   
   
    
4. The ability to drag and drop a sequence number will appear.
   
   
    
5. Click on the sequence number “0000” and drag it to the red “Drag and Drop a sequence number to start…” area of the menu.
   
   
    
6. Click in the “+ Click to add a target link” window below 0000 TRAFFIC CONTROL. The “Add a New Target Link” area will open.
   
   
    
7. In the “Add a New Target Link” area, click the Link Type menu and choose P – Paragraph Link
   
   
    
8. From the Link Color menu and choose G – Paragraph Link.
   
   
    
9. Return to the document area. Grab and drag sequence number 0012 – “PART 2 PRODUCTS – NOT USED” to step 1 of the Add A New Target Link window.
   
   
    
10. Click the Save button in the lower right corner.

You’ve successfully linked the section title and PART 2 PRODUCTS. When the section is activated, Part 2 Products will automatically be activated due to the linking you’ve created. The document window will appear as below.

Printing & Exporting

Output options of SpecLink Cloud include Print to PDF or Export to a MS Word document. The user will have the ability to select the Project, a Division, or a Section to create an output file.

Follow the steps below to access the printing and exporting functions.

1. From within a section in the document window, click the print icon from the SpecLink Toolbar.
   
   
   
   The Print Menu will appear providing options of printing or exporting documents and document drafts.
    
2. For this exercise, match the following settings of the Print Menu in the image below.
   
   
   • Scope of Report: Section
   • Advanced Settings: Keep With Next & Widow/Orphan
   • Track Changes Options: None
      
3. Select the 015526:USER-Traffic Control section as pictured above.
    
4. Click the Print button to create a PDF of the section. The PDF will appear in a separate tab of your browser.
   
   
    
5. Return to SpecLink Cloud and click the Export button. From the options that appear, choose Word.
   
   
   
   You’ll receive a notification that the file has been created. The option to download it will appear. 
   
   

Review

With this lesson, you were able to import a user section into SpecLink Cloud, perform basic linking within the imported section, and choose to print or export the section. 

For more information on the content covered in this lesson please review the following articles:

• Importing a User Section

• Preparing a Word Document for Import

• Linking Basics

• Printing and Exporting

Review our online training events schedule.

As always, our support team is available every weekday to address your questions. Call us at (800) 266-7732 or email us at support.usa@rib-software.com. 

Quick Start Lesson #2 Video