Here is a link to my Public folder on MobileMe that contains a text file for an even pages macro that I found on another source and customized for my section format. It will probably work on any document. https://public.me.com/deloren
This file doesn’t need a password to download. I will leave it there for about 10 days since I may need the Public folder for another purpose by then.
It checks the number of pages, then adds a blank page if odd. Further, it removes the headers and footers on the blank page. It is heavily annotated to help in making modifications if necessary.
It doesn’t contain any code to run on every file in a folder. For that, you need a separate folder-processing macro that runs this macro inside of it. This should work well for Phil’s purpose, since he already knows which files are odd-numbered. I know that as well using my PDF Portfolio review.
As far as the blank page conundrum, how about “This page left blank, for the time being, in the event th at I accidentally (or intentionally) omitted pertinent and critical information.”??
My client is my employer (for now) and I assemble them into single PDF’s with “slip sheets” included. My biggest challenge with that is trying to get a couple of the M&E engineers we use to understand when you need to insert them and to make sure they are at the end of the section. rolling eyes
I have wondered how the Portfolio function works but haven’t had the time or energy to check it out. After reading some of the comments here I may move that up on the priority list…especially for some of the Construction Management jobs we have where the CM requests the individual sections so they can e-mail or post on their ftp sites for the subs.
I prefer to use the blank page for doodling during interminable boring meetings (which is most meetings). I’ve started working on drawings without using lines, using only dots to create edges. It’s challenging, but works well with a ball-point - and it’s quiet, too, as long as you have a good ball-point.
We use the PDF package or portfolio mentioned by Dave Lorenzini. Don’t need slip sheets with that, prints as it’s supposed to. (And no “this page left blank.” It’s a big waste of time.)
I also format pages with odd/even headers/footers. I never gave much thought to changing to a consistent header/footer arrangement until Dave Stutzman mentioned during the previous CSI Specifiers Practice Group Webinar that the alternating arrangement works best for bound project manuals and the consistent format works better for electronically published manuals.
Here in the office, most people use the bound manuals, and I believe this holds true for most field personnel. Im curious to know which header/footer arrangement others use when both printed and electronic copies are published.
We use the same page margins regardless of hardcopy or electronic copy. We have our own special header/footer formats and margins that are at variance with those Dave Stutzman showed in his webinar. We set gutter to 0.25" and mirrored. Our header is a table with two rows. Top row for project name, 3 lines centered; 2nd row with section number name, 1 line centered. Footer has section xxxxxx-# center tab, issued date 08/11/10 right justified tab. Space at left margin in footer is used for indicating the audit trail of changes for Addenda, RFI, etc. Sometimes spills onto 2nd line. Footer is not a table. We have macros to run header/footer changes for all sections in a folder.
I typically send one compiled pdf file of the entire spec or will break into volumes if the file size dictates it. For in-house network storage, I make a folder for just the combined pdf and a separate folder for individual pdf’s, which in turns out I access more during construction than the combined pdf file.
Before the advent of pdf files, I wouldn’t use the ‘This page intentionally left blank’ note because as stated above, I agree that ‘End of Section’ is sufficient. However, since I can’t control printing of the spec once the combined pdf file is sent, I’ve been inserting the page ‘This page intentionally left blank’. I don’t like it, but I feel it helps if anyone else prints it besides me.
I’ve bookmarked sections on only one occasion and would do it more if time permitted.