ATLANTA, May 14, 2008 — Building Systems Design, Inc. (BSD) today announced the first beta release of its new BSD SpecLink-E (SLE) software and master database for preparing construction specifications. SpecLink-E is the successor to BSD's award-winning BSD SpecLink+ software currently being used by thousands of design professionals nationwide. SLE is client-server software that uses Microsoft's SQL Server database management system to support multi-user collaboration over a local area network or a wide area network between multiple offices. The SLE software is also easily installed on a single computer for standalone operation by a single user.
SpecLink-E will participate in the building information modeling (BIM) process through integration with CAD environments such as Revit Architecture 2009 via an integration manager called LinkMan-E(TM), also in development at BSD with a patent pending. LinkMan-E will enter the beta phase of its development following the first full release of SpecLink-E, currently scheduled for BSD's 2008-2009 winter quarter. With LinkMan-E and SpecLink-E in place on the same computer or the same network, relevant project data will be automatically transferred in both directions between the CAD environment and the specifications environment. Users will also be able to set SLE so that data from the drawings will inform the specifier about product choices, or the software can be set to automatically select appropriate sections and "pre-edit" the specifications, based on decisions made in CAD.
SpecLink-E has been designed to allow real-time updating of its master database over the Internet, eliminating the need for the current quarterly updating process. The master database updating can be scheduled in off hours with little or no disruption to the specification preparation process. Updates to the individual user's client software take advantage of new Microsoft technology called ClickOnce installation. This allows the client software to update itself automatically once a site manager decides to make the update available to the users at that site. It makes quarterly software updates that required individual attention at each user's workstation a thing of the past, because each user's computer updates itself from a central location on the network. As with the current SpecLink+ software, data updates to SLE will not overwrite user modifications in any existing projects, including so-called "office master" projects, because of the product's unique database structure. Project-specific information entered by a user is stored in a separate project overlay table that is automatically merged with the master database content when a project is viewed or printed.
The beta version of SLE will be publicly demonstrated for the first time at the AIA National Convention and Expo in Boston, Massachusetts, May 15-17, 2008.
About BSD: Building Systems Design, Inc. develops, maintains, and provides training and technical support for innovative cost estimating and specification writing software tools for the architecture, engineering, and construction markets of North America. The company was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Atlanta. Learn more at http://www.bsdsoftlink.com.
For more information, contact:
R. Dale Corley, Jr.; 888-BSD-SOFT
Building Systems Design, Inc.
Email