Specpoint Help for A/E Users

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`Specpoint` Terms and Definitions

Use this resource to learn about the common terms used in Specpoint and their definitions.

Term	Definition
A/E Firm	In `Specpoint`, an architectural and engineering professional firm, or simply an `A/E firm`, is an organization of engineers, architects, and design professionals that use the platform to create, update, and deliver project specifications.
Assembly	In `UniFormat`, an assembly is a content level or a project element that manages the contents and associations in your project specifications.
Division	In `MasterFormat`, a division is a content level that organizes construction and structural requirements and holds section elements in your project.
`e-SPECS`	`e-SPECS` is a specification tool that utilizes `MasterSpec` content and integrates with `Revit`. This is a legacy tool by `Deltek`.
Family	In `UniFormat`, a `family` is a content level or a project element that contains required content and `family`-level properties in your project specifications.
Manufacturer	A manufacturer, also referred to as a `building product manufacturer` (`BPM`), is an organization that creates products for use in buildings and construction projects. In `Specpoint`, `BPM`s manage product listings that integrate respective product type properties with the project specifications of `A/E firm`s and public users.
`MasterSpec`	`MasterSpec` is a master guide specification library that design professionals use as a base for their project specifications and edit to convey work results expected in the construction of a project.
`MasterWorks` and Paragraph Builder	`MasterWorks` and Paragraph Builder are Word add-ons provided by `Deltek` to enable specifiers to easily edit the `MasterSpec` documents and include lists of acceptable manufacturers.
`Office Master`	An `office master` is a custom section/`family` written to a firm's standard practices. This enables design professionals to use firm-level custom content as the baseline content for their `A/E firm`'s projects, instead of content from the `AIA` `MasterSpec` library.
Product Type	A `product type` is a specifiable grouping of products, included in a `MasterSpec` section, with clearly defined attributes and a hyperlink to the `SpecAgent` database. Use this `product type` element to define a product requirement in your `Specpoint` project under a family or section.
Section	In `MasterFormat`, a section is a content level or a project element that contains required content and section-level properties in your project specifications.
`SpecAgent`	`SpecAgent` is a database that houses all manufacturer data and populates manufacturer listings in `MasterSpec` for Word and `SpecBuilder Cloud` versions.
`SpecBuilder Cloud` (SBC)	`SpecBuilder Cloud` (SBC) is a cloud-based application, utilizing the `MasterSpec` library with Q&A global editing functionality, which design professionals use for creating, editing, and collaborating on project specifications. This is a legacy tool by `Deltek`.
`SpecText`	`SpecText` is a master guide specification library with a focus more toward infrastructure (civil projects, such as water treatment facilities) than typical vertical construction.
Supporting Documents	Supporting documents are resources that accompany each `MasterSpec` section to provide additional information to the specifier, including what is and is not included in the section. These documents provide design professionals at any level with guidance, research, and coordination checklists to help them develop project information more effectively.

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`Specpoint` Terms and Definitions

Use this resource to learn about the common terms used in Specpoint and their definitions.

Term	Definition
A/E Firm	In `Specpoint`, an architectural and engineering professional firm, or simply an `A/E firm`, is an organization of engineers, architects, and design professionals that use the platform to create, update, and deliver project specifications.
Assembly	In `UniFormat`, an assembly is a content level or a project element that manages the contents and associations in your project specifications.
Division	In `MasterFormat`, a division is a content level that organizes construction and structural requirements and holds section elements in your project.
`e-SPECS`	`e-SPECS` is a specification tool that utilizes `MasterSpec` content and integrates with `Revit`. This is a legacy tool by `Deltek`.
Family	In `UniFormat`, a `family` is a content level or a project element that contains required content and `family`-level properties in your project specifications.
Manufacturer	A manufacturer, also referred to as a `building product manufacturer` (`BPM`), is an organization that creates products for use in buildings and construction projects. In `Specpoint`, `BPM`s manage product listings that integrate respective product type properties with the project specifications of `A/E firm`s and public users.
`MasterSpec`	`MasterSpec` is a master guide specification library that design professionals use as a base for their project specifications and edit to convey work results expected in the construction of a project.
`MasterWorks` and Paragraph Builder	`MasterWorks` and Paragraph Builder are Word add-ons provided by `Deltek` to enable specifiers to easily edit the `MasterSpec` documents and include lists of acceptable manufacturers.
`Office Master`	An `office master` is a custom section/`family` written to a firm's standard practices. This enables design professionals to use firm-level custom content as the baseline content for their `A/E firm`'s projects, instead of content from the `AIA` `MasterSpec` library.
Product Type	A `product type` is a specifiable grouping of products, included in a `MasterSpec` section, with clearly defined attributes and a hyperlink to the `SpecAgent` database. Use this `product type` element to define a product requirement in your `Specpoint` project under a family or section.
Section	In `MasterFormat`, a section is a content level or a project element that contains required content and section-level properties in your project specifications.
`SpecAgent`	`SpecAgent` is a database that houses all manufacturer data and populates manufacturer listings in `MasterSpec` for Word and `SpecBuilder Cloud` versions.
`SpecBuilder Cloud` (SBC)	`SpecBuilder Cloud` (SBC) is a cloud-based application, utilizing the `MasterSpec` library with Q&A global editing functionality, which design professionals use for creating, editing, and collaborating on project specifications. This is a legacy tool by `Deltek`.
`SpecText`	`SpecText` is a master guide specification library with a focus more toward infrastructure (civil projects, such as water treatment facilities) than typical vertical construction.
Supporting Documents	Supporting documents are resources that accompany each `MasterSpec` section to provide additional information to the specifier, including what is and is not included in the section. These documents provide design professionals at any level with guidance, research, and coordination checklists to help them develop project information more effectively.