To access the Library Specification Groups, click on the Toolbox Setup menu, and select Library Specification Groups.
The Library (or Template) Specification Groups interface has a very noticeable red header; this is an indicator that you are working at the library level.
If you are working within a configuration that is using a SQL Server database, changes at this level will be company-wide.
The interface is broken into two sections. The section on the left contains specification group collections. The section on the right contains specification group components. Specification group collections are setup using combinations of different components. The ability to set up different combinations of components allows you to create templates to handle specific scenarios you may come across often. The icons directly above the left section will enable you to copy, rename, and delete collections. They will also allow you to access the component files tied to a collection and change the properties within each component. The icons directly above the right section will enable you to copy, rename, and delete components.
The green checkmark indicates which specification group collection has been selected, and controls which components will be accessed when clicking on the different icons.
Icons pertaining to the left section (specification group collections):
Workbook Designer – Allows you to access prompts and variables to control specific settings for a specification group.
Project Wizard – Allows you to access prompts and variables to control specific settings for a specification group.
Global Variables – Allows you to access prompts and variables to control a broader range of settings for a specification group.
Material File – Allows you to access the material setup of the cut parts, edgebanding, and hardware for a specification group.
Material File Wizards – This is for advanced users who wish to create and utilize formula-driven materials (advanced training is required).
Door Wizard – Allows you to access prompts and variables that control door/drawer front settings for a specification group.
Copy – Allows you to copy a specification group collection.
Rename – Allows you to rename a specification group collection.
Delete – Allows you to delete a specification group collection.
Sync from Database - Forces materials to sync from the database to the spreadsheet. Any names, or properties that do not match are updated in the spreadsheet. Any new materials that don't exist in the spreadsheet are added. Any materials marked as "deleted" are cleaned out of the spreadsheet. All formula-driven materials are updated.
Icons pertaining to the right section (specification group components):
Copy – Allows you to copy a specification group component.
Rename – Allows you to rename a specification group component.
Delete – Allows you to delete a specification group component.
The arrow between the two sections allows you to assign components to a collection.
In the right section of the interface, there are two font colors, orange and black. Black indicates that a component has been assigned to a collection. Orange indicates an unused, or unassigned, component.
The specification group collections and the components that have been assigned will be imported when a new project is created. Unused, or unassigned, components can be imported into a project manually.
By selecting a component, in the left or right section, you change the text color to blue. The blue color helps identify which collection is using this component. If more than one collection is sharing a component, they will also appear blue.
If a component is being shared, any changes made in another collection will apply to all the shared components. If those settings need to apply to just one, or a smaller group of collections, a new component will need to be added.