Ranking SpecLink Skills

General
1

I am making a spreadsheet of SpecLink associated skills, and would love input form any SpecLink users out there.

I would love input on whether the skills I have included are appropriately assigned, and I would also love input on what you consider “Advanced” and “Master” level skills are for SpecLink.

Below is what I have so far:

Column 1 Column 2
BEGINNER Basic Specifications Editing
1. Novice • Can select a section; open, perform basic editing, and print a section. • Can select and deselect text. • Can type text and add new paragraphs. Knows the location of the main interfaces. • Understands the selection queue. • Can run the basic Spell Check tool.
2. Functional • Understands and can change project view options (All Section, Active Sections, Active Comments, etc.) • Can perform basic text formatting (bold, italic, underline, strike through, font size). • Can use the Control + Bracket for changing text hierarchy. • Can toggle autonumber as appropriate. • Can navigate sections using Document Map
INTERMEDIATE Specification Formatting and Data Integration
3. Competent • Can set up a new project, filling in project data, setting: Unit of measure, Date/Time format, Section ID format; Default Project View, and Track Changes Mode. • Can import section titles, reference standards, and global text utilizing Document Manager, • Can use Document Manager “Choices” tool for adding section names and number to text. • Can utilize Global Terms in Document Manger: Update and edit existing global terms; Can utilize Global Terms in documents. • Understands and can use the print menu: Scope, Advanced Settings, Track Changes Options, and File Name Format Settings.
4. Solid • Can set up sheet specs. • Can create and edit headers and footers for specification section and reports, using tables, global terms, and key words. Can apply appropriate font, text alignment, text style. • Can create section specific headers/footers; Know and understand header and footer layout options. • Can import a document and attach it to a section.
5. Proficient • Import Word documents for new sections: prepare Word documents applying correct styles; global text markers, and tables; assigning correct paragraph hierarchy. • Can create and edit new reference standards. • Can access report tags pane; understand relationship between tags and reports, add/remove report tags; create report tags;
ADVANCED Complex Specification Editing
6. Experience • Can plan and create new global terms for specific use in a project; Insert new global terms in section text. • Can create new notes in a section. • Create new sections from template.
7. High-Level • Can create and edit tables: Can create tables utilizing merging and splitting cells to establish column width and/or row height; can add or delete columns and rows; can add table header, split table, modify table and cell style, can delete table. Can format table. • Can create and assign new project templates.
8. Specialized • Can create paragraph, choice, and cross section links • Can understand, use, and export audit trail to track changes in sections.
EXPERT Complex Customization and Specification Mastery; Team management
9. Advanced • Can manage Team Members: add, edit, deactivate, delete uses; Can understand and assign role permissions.
10. Master
Thank you very much!!
1 Like
2

Hi Loretta,

Thanks for putting this together and sharing it! I recently joined a new firm that uses SpecLink, so it was encouraging to see that I’ve already hit some Level 6 skills within my first month and a half.

I really appreciate this list and will be referencing it. You’ve highlighted several features I wasn’t aware of yet, and I look forward to building those skills.

My only input would be moving “Can set up a new project, filling in project data, setting: Unit of measure, Date/Time format, Section ID format; Default Project View, and Track Changes Mode” from 3. Competent to 1. Novice. This was one of the first things I did when I created a sandbox project for myself. When I’ve done it for a real project, it was a plug-and-play input that a beginner can manage.

Appreciate you organizing this!

3

Some more advanced or expert things would include using tags and reports. I have seen some very useful, but advanced reporting features. Setting up checklists at the top of a section is also and advanced thing that is really nice time saver to have in place.

4

I don’t know if this is considered advanced, but Speclink has a fairly new function where you can create user division folders and sections.

I set up a “Project Notes” division before division 00 that includes a section for checklists. Then the checklist can trigger sections or articles on or off in the project manual. I haven’t fully vetted it yet, but the idea is one kick-off meeting with the project manager could activate necessary sections, and all those notes live in the Speclink project.

5

I did the same thing! It has been hugely helpful!

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