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HVACiSpec™ News and Updates
Please be sure to check back here often for the latest important information regarding the HVACiSpec™ program. You may also register to be notified of new information and updates.

Index:
Important information about saving and back ups
Password information and Deleting Records
When in doubt, "Continue"
Printing from HVACiSpec™
Installing on multiple machines or locations using the same Customer ID
Updates and Corrections

Prevent Data Loss- Back Up Daily! 5/20/02
Because of the way the database operates, information is updated as you type- there is no "Save" command in the sense that most users are accustom to. Because of this, it is crucial that you make regular back ups, not only in case of a hardware failure, but also in case records are accidentally deleted or corrupted. The two most important files to back up are the Submittals and Projects. In addition, you should also back up the Project_notes database.

To back up your data only, select the file to back up from the "Window" menu, or open the file from the main HVACiSpec™ screen. (Note: Project_Notes is only opened once you've viewed a project in "Detail" mode). Hold down the "Ctrl" key and press "J" to find all records (alternatively you may choose "Find All" from the "Select" menu). Select "Save a copy as..." from the "File" menu. At the next dialog box, select a location to save the file, and choose "compressed copy (smaller)" from the bottom pull-down menu, then click the "Save" button. Repeat these steps for "Submittal.ACI", "Projects.ACI" and "Project_Notes.ACI".

To completely back up your HVACiSpec™ program and related PDF files, simply copy the HVACiSpec™ directory (located in "Program Files" on your hard drive) to tape, another drive or CDr.

HVACiSpec™ Passwords 5/20/02
The general password for using HVACiSpec™ is "aci" without the quote marks, in all lower-case. Although leaving the password field blank will allow the same access, by entering "aci" you will only be prompted for the password once each time you run the program. If you leave the password blank, you will be prompted for each file that is opened (up to 5 times).

HVACiSpec™ has been designed to prevent the accidental deletion of records, primarily because once deleted, they are gone forever unless restored from a back up- there is no "Revert" command. However, we understand that there may be circumstances when you may need to delete a record. To have access to the delete record commands, use the password "delete" when opening the file.

When in doubt, click "Continue" 5/20/02
Many of the commands in HVACiSpec™ are scripts designed to automate common tasks. If a script stops unexpectedly, you will be prompted to "Cancel" or "Continue". Generally speaking, it is always best to click "Continue". This will most likely occur if you perform a search and no records are found. In this case, if you click "Cancel", you may be left at the wrong screen or in the wrong "mode". If you run into trouble, you can always quit the program and reopen it, which will return you to the main screen in the proper mode.

Printing 5/20/02
Within the HVACiSpec™ program, the "Print" command is located under the "File" menu. For the most part, printing is the same as for any other program. However, there is an additional pull-down menu selection that is crucial when printing from HVACiSpec™. When you select "Print" from the "File" menu (or press "Ctrl" - P), in most cases you should select "Current Record" from the pull-down menu. You should only select "Records Being Browsed" if you are printing from a "list" screen. Because submittals for different products have their own specific layouts, submittals should be printed individually. The next version of HVACiSpec™ will include new features for simplified printing.

Note on printing PDF files: The HVAC catalog for browsing that is on the HVACiSpec™ 1.0 CD-ROM and installed with HVACiSpec™ has the printing function disabled. There is a separate, high-quality version of the PDF specifically designed for printing. You may access the printable version from the HVACiSpec™ PDF Files Menu, or from the bookmark in the version for browsing.

Using the same Customer ID with multiple installations 5/20/02
You may install HVACiSpec™ on multiple machines at the same company; however, using the same Customer ID for multiple installations may cause problems especially with submittal tracking. If you are installing HVACiSpec™ on multiple machines under the same Customer ID, we recommend adding a unique letter to the end of your ID for each machine. For example, if your Customer ID is 1234567, when prompted for the Customer ID enter "1234567a" on the first machine, "1234567b" on the second, etc.

Here's why: Each submittal and project you create is assigned a hidden "serial number" for tracking purposes. This number is used to create the "Submittal Number", which is comprised of the Customer ID, a dash, the serial number, starting with 000001. As a result, if you install HVACiSpec™ on 2 or more machines with the same Customer ID, you will most likely have 2 different submittals with identical submittal numbers. By adding the unique letter to your Customer ID, you will not only avoid this, but you will also be able to tell at a glance which machine a printed submittal was created on.

Updates and Corrections 5/20/02
Be sure to visit the Support area of our site for the latest updates and corrections. You'll find a list of updates, corrections and releases under "Revision History" in the Support area.

About HVACiSpec™ | News / Updates | Downloads | Support | Register | Contact / CD Request
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