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Print or Export Sheet Specs

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Gary Christensen
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Overview

SpecLink Cloud provides the ability to print or export a project, division, or section as a Sheet Specs PDF document intended to be incorporated into the drawings.

This article will focus on the Sheet Specs option of the Print menu covering the following topics:

Sheet Specs can be inserted into Revit® and AutoCAD®. Review the articles below for step by step instructions and videos:

What are Sheet Specs?

  • Abbreviated, limited scope project specifications that are formatted and placed on one or more drawing sheets.
  • Also referred to as "spec sheets" or “specs on drawings.”
  • Generally no more than 10 “pages” (print or electronic).

While the practice has existed for years, sheet specifications are growing in popularity for certain types of commercial construction projects – primarily small projects or renovation jobs that don’t require a full project manual.

Who uses Sheet Specs?

Owners, architects and other firms needing to produce a limited scope “sheet spec” for clients, which are becoming a growing trend in the industry, as an alternative to full project manuals.

Definitions

print_menu_sheet_specs_tab.png

Documents vs. Document Drafts vs. Sheet Specs

  • Documents are the final output file for your project manual. Documents will include all formatting selected for the project.  Click here to review the article detailing printing and exporting documents.
  • Document drafts are section-only PDF files that include a "DRAFT" watermark. The options of all-text and active-text drafts are available. Click here to review the article detailing printing and exporting documents drafts.
  • Sheet Specs are PDF documents intended to be incorporated into the drawings.

Printing vs. Exporting

  • Print provides a preview of the sheet spec PDF displayed in a new tab of the current browser.
  • Export provides the ability to create and download the sheet spec PDF.  Sheet specs are exclusively PDF files.

The Print Menu - Sheet Specs

The Print Menu - Sheet Specs has 4 areas to review and make selections:

Sheet_Specs_Print.png

Scope of Report Options

The Scope of Report options allow for the selection of which parts of the project will be printed or exported.

  • Project: All sections activated within the project will be displayed when printed or exported. 
  • Division: A pull-down checklist menu will appear providing access to the activated Divisions within the current project. (i.e., 08 – Openings). All of the activated sections within the selected Division folder will be displayed when printed or exported. 
  • Section: A pull-down checklist menu will appear providing access to the activated Sections within the current project. Selecting any number of sections will add them to the print/export list. 

Advanced Settings

adv_settings.png

Advanced_Settings_SheetSpecs.png

  • Include Hyperlink: If hyperlinks have been created within the sections text, they will be active in the exported files.
  • Widow/Orphan: Checking this box keeps all paragraph text on the same page and does not allow for a paragraph to be split between pages.
  • Include End of Section: Selecting this option will display the text "End of Section" at the end of every section in the exported PDF file.
  • Include Division Name and Number: Selecting this option will display the division name and number before the first section of the division in the exported PDF file.
  • Include End of Section ID: When this option is selected, the Section ID will appear next to the END OF SECTION in the PDF.
  • Include Attached Documents: If available, this will ensure that the print/export will include any associated attached documents with the printed selection.

Track Changes Options

track_changes_options.png

Track Changes Options will allow for the selection of how Track Changes will be displayed, if the tool was used while editing.

  • None: No Track Changes Markup

Sheet Specs Page Setup Options

page_setup.png

Clicking the Page Setup button will access the Project Settings which provides access to the Header/Footer, Page Setup. and Sheet Specs Page Setup.

Sheet Specs are landscape in orientation.

When printing or exporting a Spec Sheet document, the page setup options provide the following settings:

Paper Format Settings

The paper format settings include:

ss_pagesetup_page_format_settings.png

  • Paper Size: Paper size options are industry standard 22in x 30in, 32in x 40in, and 30in x 42in, as well as ARCH A-E and ANSI A-E sizing options. Custom options allow for the manual setting of the width and Height. The default setting is 30in x 42in.
  • Title block: Click the red text "Import title block" to import a PDF of your organization's title block to manage the dimensions and margins in order to fit the sheet spec inside the appropriate area. 
    Note: SpecLink Cloud does not attach the title block to the Sheet Spec export. This tool is for sizing assistance.
  • Width: When the paper size option is set to Custom, select a custom width by using the up/down arrows.
  • Height: When the paper size option is set to Custom, select a custom height by using the up/down arrows.
  • Number of columns: Select the number of columns that will appear on the PDF.  The default setting is 3 columns.
  • Margin: top, bottom, left, and right margin settings. The default setting is 1" for all margins.

The preview window in the top right corner of the sheet specs page setup window displays a preview of the page setup as changes are made.

Column Format Settings

Column format settings include:

  • Equal column width: Ensures the number of columns selected are the same size.
  • Line between: Places a line between each column for better readability.
  • Width and Spacing: Select width and spacing for each column if "equal column width" is not selected.

Creating a Sheet Specs Document

Follow the steps below to create a Sheet Specs PDF:

  1. Access the Print Menu in one of the following ways:

    a. From the SpecLink Cloud Dashboard, using the options menu (3 dot icon) and clicking "Print Project" from the dropdown list. 

    Print_Menu_Dashboard_Dropdown.png

    b. By clicking the print icon on the Quick Access Toolbar from the Sections List within a project.

    Print_Menu_Dashboard_Icon.png

    c. By clicking the print icon from the SpecLink Cloud Toolbar from within a specification section.

    Locate_Print_Icon.png



  2. From the Print menu, choose Sheet Specs as pictured below.

    print_menu_sheet_specs_tab.png

  3. Select Project, Division, or Section from the Scope of Report area.

    Project_Division_orSection.png

  4. If selecting Division or Section, a selection menu will appear. Select from the available active Divisions or Sections from the pull-down menu.

    Sheet_Spec_Section_Scope.png

  5. Review and select the appropriate desired options from the Advanced Settings area. 
  6. Review the Spec Sheet Page Setup options.

  7. Click Print to create and open the PDF in another tab of your current browser, or click Export to download the PDF to your specified downloads folder.

Selecting Print creates and opens the PDF in another tab of your current browser. Selecting Export creates and downloads the PDF to your specified downloads folder.

Tables & Images

Sheet Specs exports support both tables and images in all sections.

Note: In Specification Sections, large tables and images may not fit properly with smaller paper sizes or column widths. Equal column widths are recommended.

Watch the video below to see the Sheet Specs in action:

Sheet Specs can be inserted into Revit and AutoCAD. Review the articles below for step by step instructions and videos:

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