e-specs user wondering what is Deltek Specpoint?
https://www.deltek.com/en/learn/blogs/project-nation/2021/09/introducing-deltek-specpoint
Sounds like a cloud-based subscription only model?
e-SPECS will still be around for some time. no retirement dates set for it at this time. Of course all things change. but not for a while yet. Also basing software in the cloud simply makes sense in so many ways. the software folks can fix issues immediately. no downloading, no hardware compatibility problems etc. etc.
Specpoint is the new home of MasterSpec with a more active connection to products and manufacturers than our SpecAgent product. it will also contain the text and choice fields of MasterSpec. this will allow the highly iterative activity of design to work. (pick a product, have the designer change their mind, pick another product, have the owner change their mind, pick a product, have the contractor change their mind… and finally come back to the product the spec writer picked in the first place.) Also instead of architects narrative, throw it away, outline spec, throw it away, short form spec, throw it away. DD spec and finally CD spec! whew you can start in one place and just add criteria and choices as you go. And yes it will connect to Revit (but not in the initial release. another reason for keeping e-SPECS around for a while
So Marc, will the spec master reside in the database and be updated in the database? Will MasterSpec be able to incorporate changes in the short term without having to wait for the entire cycle like BSD is able to do? Will information be linked together so making one selection will trigger automatic edits to related content? Will we need to export to Word in order to work in Word? How does the SpecPoint database differ from e-Specs other than lack of Revit plug-in?
Thanks
Well Version 1 is version 1, PLEASE understand that. Also, please understand that I cannot layout our whole roadmap for development over the next several years..yes years. These things are not built over night. Trust me that there is a roadmap and that as an experienced specifier I want everything you mention below (and a lot more!) As to your very good questions:
- Will the spec master reside in the database and be updated in the database? YES, we are committed to that, but not in 1.0
- Will MasterSpec be able to incorporate changes in the short term without having to wait for the entire cycle like BSD is able to do? I’m not completely clear what you’re saying but will we update, as changes to our text is made not on a quarterly basis? The timing of updates is being discussed. The ability to “push updates” is, of course in the software, we just need to decide how best to update you. Do you want an update every Tuesday PM like Microsoft used to do? Also, we have to coordinate with our Word product which is quarterly.
- Will information be linked together so making one selection will trigger automatic edits to related content? YES a lot of that is in Ver 1. and more soon
- Will we need to export to Word in order to work in Word? Well of course as Word is a different program. But do you mean dump to Word? yes you can.
We are planning to do all the things we all want but many have not been programmed yet and these things take programmer time and money.
- How does the SpecPoint database differ from e-Specs other than lack of Revit plug-in? Humm there is a programmer answer to that, and I bet I’m not supposed to talk about that at this time but it is different. I’m probably talking too much as it is
- Revit connection will happen on several levels.
Thanks Marc.
So, for now, the traditional quarterly Word version will continue to be available?
absolutely!
Yay
Double Yay! Thanks for the intel Marc.
I sat through the Specpoint presentation by Gilles and while I’m sure there was more than what was presented, my biggest takeaway was a concern/interest over the assumed spec section writing process. What was presented was clearly a product first process to generating a spec and for 95% of any project spec that I write, that’s not the process that corresponds to my experience. Again, I’m sure I’m judging on limited and incomplete information, but that was the first thing that came to mind.
I’m an Ex-E-specs and current BSD user as well as a BIM manager, so I’m definetely onboard for a database driven, BIM integrated process, but I’m also very Office Master focused as it relates to process.
As much as I like Gilles and his software (he was one of the creators of eSpecs), his apparent concept of spec writing is off-base at best. We don’t design around products, manufacturers don’t know what their products can and cannot do (nor do Architects), and it would be LITERALLY impossible for MasterSpec to include every piece of information needed during the decision-making process or the production-process to even start doing what he’s claiming.
This ranks right down there with Elon Musk’s fictional self-driving vehicles. The technology doesn’t exist and even if it did, humans don’t have the capability to do this automatically. That’s why you need Architect, Engineers, and Specifiers; to flesh out thoughts, designs, and ideas.
Someone needs to step away from the pipe.
Thanks for comments. (original unregistered guest)
Looking forward to more discussion.
With the end of support for Masterspec Word files on the horizon - any suggested alternatives outside of Deltek and Speclink? Would prefer not to create a Master and maintain - but we will if we must.
Dear Unregistered,
We resisted creating an office master for quite a few years. As our practice started to mature, we finally bit the bullet, starting with writing a master around our largest architectural client’s typical work (K-12 and HE), and then branching out (health care and multifamily). We are able to work in a very fruitful quality loop where we capture addendum, RFI, submittal, and change order information from our clients and feed it back into our masters to keep them up to date and responsive. We can also capture the varied experience of our writers. It has been worth the master creation effort many times over. As we have found the MasterSpec manufacturer/product information to be lagging in recent years in some sections, this has also made our masters more accurate and … most important … far faster to edit to help meet the crush of work.
We’re watching the evolution of MasterSpec with curiosity and some trepidation after 30 years of word processing. We’ll see where it goes and what is needed in the future to serve our clients.
Why not register and join in the fun here?
Phil
I’m curious if anyone has heard what is going to happen to Chalkline VisiSpecs if Deltek discontinues supporting MasterSpec in Word.
We have not yet had a chance to test drive Conspectus Cloud but hope to in the future. I certainly like how Dave Stutzman and company have put it together.
Discussion here as well - http://discus.4specs.com/discus/messages/23/9732.html?1659784676
For those concerned about custom office masters, you will have the ability to upload your custom office masters within Specpoint and maintain them. You will also have the ability to create custom office masters from the AIA MasterSpec as well within Specpoint.
We have some awesome features coming out and if anyone would like to chat further, please reach out. JeffreyPotter@deltek.com
As a specifier by trade, I understand the important of custom office masters AND also want everyone to understand that technology is opening new opportunities for specifications that haven’t been available in the past.
This is an awesome time for specifications, regardless of what software you currently use. If you look at the development of Drawings from hand drawn, to autocad, to Revit and now all the other development tools, it has been great for Architects. Specifications have been lost and now getting the attention they need. Technology, if done right, can help the specification process.
I sat through a demo of SpecPoint, and I think it has great potential. If you work with PPDs based on Uniformat, it doesn’t seem to be a stretch to use the SpecPoint system.
I also Sat through a demo of Conspectus Cloud, and really liked a lot of what I saw.
However…
As I recently (last fall) switched from MasterSpec to SpecLink, I am discovering things of which I am not overly fond, and for which the extended demo I sat through never prepared me. I’d like to go back to MasterSpec. Not to say that at some point SpecLink won’t fix the problems that I am finding I have with it. This was a long way of saying that I would really like to actually test drive SpecPoint or Conspectus Cloud before committing to either. A demo just doesn’t tell you what you need to know.
Chalkline VisiSpecs has a one month trial period which is great. Admittedly, it isn’t quite long enough but it is still so MUCH better than a just a demo. Especially a demo using a spec section you never write.
Anyhow, I don’t think the the Word documents are slated for the dust heap real soon. I think they will be with us for a few more years. I HOPE they will be with us for a few more years.
As for Chalkline VisiSpecs, I am using it in addition to SpecLink because we still get a lot of PDF files from consultants, and it is great at assembling the project manual. I haven’t quite figured out how to best leverage it for the BIM integration, but they tell me we can even with SpecLink. I am sure Seamus is keeping on eye on what Deltek is developing.
Deltek just announced the phase-out plan for Word DOCs, which is alarmingly soon: After the MasterSpec Q4 update (12-30-2022 release date) MasterSpec content will only be available via Specpoint. Their announcement indicates Word files will be available for download until “at least” 06-30-2023.
MasterWorks is now on “Maintenance Support” and will go to “Sustaining Support” 07-01-2024.
Those of us who use MasterSpec w/ Word for spec production should plan to identify an alternative by 2023 Q2. From initial investigation and comments I’ve heard, I don’t have much confidence that Specpoint will be a solution that works well for my practice.