Sometimes SonicSpec's preferred specification analysis method, CD&E View, is unavailable due to poor PDF file quality and/or an oddly formatted specification. In addition, there may be times--particularly for newer organizations--where the CD&E View does not offer as much help as you'd like due to an insufficient spec library.
In either case, SonicSpec's spec scan feature can still give you a second set of eyes for your spec review and help you collect quote considerations for your product analysis and quote flow.
If you'd prefer to watch a video on how to use the spec scan feature, you can follow along below (note: video playback speed can be adjusted at the bottom of the video player):
Step One: Click on the 'PDF View' tab while viewing a specification
Specification files may be viewed in CD&E View or PDF View. If not already selected, select 'PDF View'.
Step Two: Add a new product to your products list
If you haven't added a product to your products list yet, add at least one product that is relevant to the subject matter of the specification file (i.e. add an ATS product if you are analyzing an ATS spec).
Step Three: Click the 'Scan Spec for QCs' action button in the product QC list
Click the 'Scan Spec for QCs' action button to perform a spec scan. The AI will process the document (regardless of file quality) and look to extract as many relevant QCs as it can find.
Step Four: Click the 'Add QCs from spec scan' action button to view the results
Once the spec scan has completed, click the 'Add QCs from spec scan' action button to view the suggested QCs.
Step Five: Review the spec scan QCs and make any additions, deletions, or modifications
You can utilize the spec scan QCs as a helpful review to ensure no relevant QCs are missed from your review. Click on the suggested QC to navigate to the page the spec scan QC was found.
Note: this functionality is also available when the CD&E View is available. If used when CD&E View is available, clicking QC cards will navigate you to the spec phrase in the CD&E View, not the page in the PDF View.
Make any additions, deletions, or modifications necessary to ensure you have collected all the required QCs for this spec file.
Finally, click 'Add X QCs' when finished.
Step Six: Decide whether to add the same QCs to other similar products
As specifications are usually written generically to apply to all products of a certain product type (i.e. ATS specifications will apply to all ATSs on a project), you will be prompted whether you'd like to add these QCs to other products (if applicable) on your project.
Also, you can choose to automatically apply the same QC list to any future products of a certain type (i.e. any ATS product added to the project in the future).
