Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Convert A Word or PDF Document Into SpecsIntact?

Converting a Word document into SpecsIntact is a very time-consuming process, as you will see in the Instructions that follow below.  There are two ways to convert a non-SpecsIntact Section into SpecsIntact.

Managing Local or Unique Sections

Before you begin, you should create a Local Master that is unique to your company or organization.  The Local Master will be the source for any new or unique Sections that you create.  By having these Sections contained within a Local Master, you will be able to easily locate and add them to any future Jobs.

Create a Local Master 

1. Open SpecsIntact
2. In the SI Explorer's Toolbar, click the New Master button
3. Type the Master Name (e.g.,  Company/Organization Acronym or Company/Organization Name)
4. Type the Title (e.g., Unique Master Sections for 'Company/Organization Name'
5.  Select the Options tab and uncheck Use Revisions
6. Click OK

 Revisions are not required for new or unique Sections until they are added to a Job.

Method 1 - Novice Users

Once the Template has been added, depending on whether you have multiple monitors, From SpecsIntact open the Section Template on one display and the Word Document on the other.  If you only have one monitor, then open the SpecsIntact Template and resize the SI Editor's window to where it is on half the display, then open the Word Document and resize it to fit on the other half.

When both documents are visible you can begin to copy and paste the text into the correct tagged format.

Method 2 - Experienced Users

1. Open the Microsoft Word Document
2. Select File > Save As, and click Browse
3. In the Save As box, browse to your Working Directory (e.g., C:\Users\YourUserID\Documents\SpecsIntactWD) 
4. Double-click on the Masters Folder and then double-click on your Company/Organization's Local Master
5. Select the dropdown arrow next to Save as type, and choose Plain Text (.txt)
6. In the File name field, change the .txt extension to .sec (e.g., 02 32 10.txt to 02 32 10.sec)
7. Click Save

Note:  When the file is opened in the SI Editor, the Section file will contain all of the text, however, the only visible tag will be the beginning <SEC> and ending </SEC> Tags.  Also, please remember to Save the file often!

Insert Tags

1. From the SI Editor, select View > Tags or click the Toolbar's Show/Hide Tags button and View > Marks or the Toggle Marks View button
2. Place the cursor on the right of the beginning <SEC> tag, select Insert >Tags or  press the F4 Key
3. From the Insert Tag box, type 'M' until Meta Data appears
4. Click OK
5. Place the cursor on the right of <MTA/> tag and click Attributes, then choose New Submittal Descriptions
6. Repeat Step 3 and 4
7. Place the cursor on the right of <MTA/> tag and click Attributes, then choose Automatically Numbered Paragraphs

Now you are ready to apply all the tagging!  The best way to begin is to separate PART 1, PART 2, and PART 3.  Then apply the tagging to everything within PART 1 until it is done.  When saving the Section, you will be prompted that Validation errors were found.  You should click No until you have completely tagged the entire Section, then if the Validation Error box appears, click Yes and correct any remaining issues.

Note:  If you copied the Section (.sec) file into the Master folder through Windows File Explorer, you can refresh the Job by pressing the F5 key.

Helpful Hints

• Download the Unified Facilities Guide Specifications Format Standard (UFC 1-300-02) from the Whole Building Design Guide Website's Unified Facilities Criteria page. This document provides guidance for the preparation of Unified Facilities Guide Specifications (UFGS).  This UFC applies to all Tri-Service elements and Contractors preparing UFGS Sections.

• From the UFGS Master, choose a short Section that you can use as a reference for inserting specific tags.  Open the Section in the SI Editor.  Make sure to turn the tags on so they are visible and select File > Print Draft

• Remove the Words End of the Section.  Instead use the </END> tag preceded by five spaces (i.e. </SPT =3.5></PRT>.....</END>

• Every element within a Section must be double-spaced and tagged such as subparts, text, lists, items Formatted Tables, Metric and English Units, and specifier notes.

REFERENCE ARTICLE FORMATTING

• Use the Reference Wizard to re-build the Reference Article

• References that appear in the Reference Article, must also be used and tagged identically outside of the Reference Article within the Sections text.

• References are Case Sensitive

SUBMITTAL ARTICLE FORMATTING

Refer to the UFGS Format Standard UFC-1-300-02, paragraph entitled "Submittal Items"

Submittal Descriptions (SD Numbers and Titles)

Will have to be updated to recognize the Submittal Formatting.  Refer to the 01 33 00 Submittal Procedures Section and/or Web-Based Help.

Submittal Items

• Within the Submittal Article are double-spaced and use Title Case (capitalize the first letter of each word).

• Must be inserted and tagged identically (not case-sensitive) in ONE principal Subpart or paragraph, outside of the Submittal Article.

Lists (a., b., c., and 1., 2., 3):

• Lists should be formatted in accordance with UFC 1-300-02, Table A-1.

• If tables were in the document, refer to the Web-Based Help's Import Excel XML Spreadsheets topic, or create a new Formatted Table.

• Once you have completed the tagging, make sure you correct the errors that appear in the Validation Log.

Technical Support Information

Users are encouraged to visit the SpecsIntact Website's Support & Help Center for access to all of our User Tools, including eLearning (video tutorials), printable Guides, Knowledge Base containing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), Technical Notes and Release Notes, and Web-Based Help.

CONTACT US:
		256.895.5505
		SpecsIntact@usace.army.mil
		SpecsIntact.wbdg.org