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Firefox (IE Tab) and Constructware, not such a great fit afterall

A few months back there was a post highlighting how Constructware could be run inside of Firefox using a plug-in called IETab.  You can read the original post here.  I recently made the switch myself as I really like the way that Firefox treated the Constructware windows as tabs.  But last week I discovered a flaw that has made me switch back to Internet Explorer. 

If you are using Firefox with IETab you may experience issues trying to download files from the File Director.  You can view just fine, but downloads don't seem to work properly.  Additionally, you may have found that in the Submittals module there is no scroll bar to scroll to the right. 

So my recommendation is that you continue to use Internet Explorer when accessing Constructware. 

Worried about taking your PC on the jobsite?

If you are looking for a computer for your GC or Superintendent to use on the jobsite you might want to look at this new offering.  Personally I'd opt for a laptop but if you are looking for a rugged desktop, this just might fit the bill:

Check it out

New Buzzsaw Release! 2008.2

I'm happy to report that a new release of Buzzsaw hit the servers over the weekend and was available to all clients as of yesterday.  This new release includes some nice enhancements in addition to correction of defects. 

The highlights are:

Document Register Enhancements:  We have address numerous usability and quality issues to better support construction industry document management processes.  Enhancements include attribute display control, required attribute entry, "quick add" attribute population during file upload, and linking a document register to a specific location in the project file hierarchy. 

Support for Autodesk 2009 Design applications:  Buzzsaw 2008.2 is now fully compatible with AutoCAD 2009 (including Save to Buzzsaw and Edit Lock functions from directly inside of AutoCAD).  We also support design review and redlining the latest versions of Autodesk design applications with full integration with Autodesk Design Review 2009 and DWG TrueView 2009.

Hidden Groups:  This was actually added in a point release earlier this year.  You can read my notes about this here.

Submittal Package Enhancements:  We have updated the Submittal Package feature to allow all reviewers to add attachments (at every step of the Submittal Package Review work flow). 

You can download the entire What's New document here.

Client Server to ASP to SaaS to Web OS?

Over the last five years I've seen a huge shift in the willingness of companies to accept web based applications.  Five years ago most organizations were reluctant to use a system that was hosted outside of their network.  Now I see the opposite, organizations are preferring web-based, hosted systems.

It's a pretty logical shift in thinking; organizations are realizing that they should focus on their core business, not IT infrastructure.  So this leads to the question, what's the next shift?  Well this article points to Web OS.  In other words, no more need to run Windows or Apple OS on your machine.  Just turn it on, connect to the web and that's where your OS and all applications reside.  Clearly this would require ubiquitous wireless net connections, but that doesn't seem very far off.  We already have very good coverage from systems like Verizon's EVDO network (which I use religiously).  But with the networks of the future like LTE coming in just three years, we may be there sooner than you think.

Check out the article on Mashable

Over 1000 flights canceled yesterday, still think travel is the best option?

In the past few weeks we've seen huge flight cancellations from Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, Midwest and others.  If you were one of the people directly affected then I'm probably preaching to the choir, but let's stop and think about the affect that this has on business.  Today's design and construction projects have gotten very complex and project teams have become more and more geographically dispersed.  In order to work together and as integrated team people are often flying around the country, rolls of drawings in hand.

What do you do if you suddenly find yourself stuck at ORD with the latest set of drawings slung over your shoulder?  Well, my best guess is that you'd ultimately find yourself trying to take advantage of the web to send the drawings electronically and and meet virtually.  So the question is, why not meet that way to start?  With today's technologies sharing design documents over the web is easy and then add to that the ability to meet virtually using web meeting systems and you've got very effective collaboration sans travel. 

Census Bureau: Back to Paper for Field Workers

According to the Associated Press (via Engadget), the U.S. Census Bureau did a big PDA project with Harris Corp. and HTC, and it hasn't gone too well. So they're ditching the PDAs, and going back to paper.

My own experience tells me that pencil and paper still outperforms digital tools in many situations. Voting, ticketing, inspections, punchlisting, etc. etc.

Now maybe that won't last forever. As the tools improve, perhaps this will change. But for now, I'm not surprised to see (another) high-profile field-handheld trial go up in flames. I just wish it wasn't taking $3 billion of taxpayer money with it...

On the importance of remaining calm...

You missed a deadline. You let an engineering error creep into your drawings. Maybe you made a mistake that cost an owner a couple thousand dollars, or more. The thought of most of those would send many designers or builders into a bit of a cold sweat, a nervous state, or even a panic.

But not this guy. He knows the real importance of remaining calm under pressure (so to speak).