Newforma

BIM could be better: Ask for links!

2010-07-30T15:02:52Z

If you work with project information such as email decision trails, RFIs, submittals and action items - and you know you do! - could you gain by being able to link it to specific locations in the model?

Newforma CEO Ian Howell and Vice-President Bob Batcheler show why it’s in your best interests to ask your BIM software vendor for such links in “BIM could be better: Ask for links,” in the BIM Channel newsletter. Read it here:

http://www.bimchannel.com/article-bim_could_be_better__ask_for_links-11.html

Asking your BIM software companies to implement the bi-directional linking outlined in this article will help not just Newforma, but other software developers and applications, as well.

Thanks!

Multiple projects under one Newforma project

2010-07-28T14:17:33Z

I have a Newforma project set up that includes multiple projects within it. For example it has aproximately 11 different construction document packages being issued for bid and construcion. Therefore, once everying is in construction, managing the construction administration will be challenging. Is there a way to set up a single Newforma project with multiple sub-projects so that I can track the information separately? It would be great to be able to do this with email and information but especially important for all the C.A. activities (submittals, RFI’s, etc.).

Newforma “Expected Submittal” option - case study/best practice

2010-07-16T13:04:53Z

Can someone point me to or respond with the experience of the Newforma expected submittal option, and how their firm uses it? The pros,cons, successful, worth it/recommend it?

My background: in general, we haven’t used a list of expected submittals in our CA process - we basically wait for the GC to submit (via email), and input new submittal. If it’s email, we copy provided number and paste into both submittal ID and sender ID.

In my experience, the GC’s submittal number rarely matches up with our spec #, and to take the time to match them up is onerous.

Secondly, when processing an email by “file as new submittal”, when would one choose the second option “Schedule an Expected Submittal”?

Again, looking for how your firm uses Newforma in this regard.

Thanks!

Repeating Events are fouling up in Project Timeline

2009-07-30T19:29:12Z

I have an extremely frustrating issue: I set up recurring client meetings (every Friday). I typically add the agenda and meeting minutes to the event. However, all of the sudden, when I open the meeting event for, say July 31 it shows the agenda and minutes for July 17. Curious, I checked and ALL the Friday event backwards and forwards are showing the same July 17 agenda and minutes. SO… I went to the July 31 event and deleted the July 17 files and added the agenda for July 31. Guess what happened?? You guessed it, now ALL the Friday events now have only the July 31 agenda!

The more I dig into this program, the less useful (well, more “challenging") I’m finding it. Stuff like the above Just Shouldn’t Happen.

E-mail file as submittal

2010-07-27T08:52:17Z

This works just fine, but was wondering if there is an option to have the e-mail deleted from Outlook when you “File as New Submittal”. Thanks.

Changing Employees Location

2010-07-26T15:52:48Z

Our company has 2 locations, NJ and PA. When the NJ employees open Newforma, there is a drop down menu that defaults to the NJ office server. Same for PA employees.

We had an employee switch from the PA office to the NJ office, but when he opens Newforma, it is still defaulting to the PA server.

How do I update this?

Thanks

How do you handle phone calls?

2010-04-13T15:57:07Z

We just installed Newforma and are starting to use it soon. How do you log incoming calls? Also, if someone calls and needs information from someone how do you handle it?

Thanks from a newbie who is trying to learn his way!

Default columns and timeline

2010-07-26T10:05:35Z

The ability to save column settings in 7e is cool, but does anybody know if it’s possible to set a default column view?

On a similar note, the project timeline defaulted to calendar view in 6e. In 7e, it defaults to journal view. Anybody know if it is possible to set the default timeline view?

Thx-Sam

Project Team Reports

2009-06-25T14:34:41Z

Is there a way to customize your project team reports to have them show by groups?
If there isn’t, is there a way to get the groups they belong to on the project team report?

Excel, open with double-click issue

2010-07-18T13:46:47Z

I’ve noticed that sometimes Excel files fail to open with double-click from within the NPC interface.

The ‘Open with Microsoft Excel’ task link works, but double-clicking on the file produces no result whatsoever.

Has anyone else encountered this?

I haven’t had it happen since my machine was upgraded to NPC 7 and Office 2010.

Thx -Sam