ARCAT Specification Information

FILE FORMAT SECTIONS

• What to do after downloading
• Instructions for Microsoft Word
• Instructions for WordPerfect
• Instructions for Unformatted ASCII Text files
• Instructions for Formatted ASCII Text files
• Return to Specifications Library

INSTRUCTIONS FOR MICROSOFT WORD
2000, 97, 6.0/95 FOR WINDOWS

• Start Microsoft Word.
• Open the section you wish to edit.
• After editing the section, save it to another directory or file name to avoid over-writing the master file.

Hidden Notes to Specifier: The Arcat Specifications Word files have a feature designed to make editing for projects easier -- editor's notes as hidden text. These notes are developed to assist in the decision making process and help minimize the potential for improper product selection and specification. To make the most of this feature, and reduce word-processing time, follow the instructions below.

• To View Hidden Text (Word 97-2003) - In the Word Toolbar, click the TOOLS menu followed by OPTIONS and select the VIEW tab. Make sure the "Hidden Text" box is checked.
• To View Hidden Text (Word 2007)- Click the "Office Button" in the upper left corner of the Word screen. At the bottom left corner of the dialogue box, click "Word Options" Select the "Display" button and make sure the "Hidden Text" box is checked.
• To Print Hidden Text (Word 97-2003) - In the Word Toolbar, click the TOOLS menu followed by OPTIONS and select the PRINT tab. Make sure the "Hidden Text" box is checked.
• To Print Hidden Text (Word 2007) - Click the "Office Button" in the upper left corner of the Word screen. At the bottom left corner of the dialogue box, click "Word Options" Select the "Display" button and make sure the "Print Hidden Text" box is checked.
• Editor's notes appear as hidden text. Hidden text is marked with a dotted underline. It is not necessary to delete the hidden text -- simply print the file normally and they will not be printed.

Paragraph Numbering:The Arcat Specifications Word files include a standardized set of styles that renumber Parts, Articles, paragraphs and sub-paragraphs when they are added or deleted.

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INSTRUCTIONS FOR WORDPERFECT

• Start WordPerfect.
• Retrieve the section you wish to edit.
• After editing the section, save it to another directory or file name to avoid over-writing the master file.

Notes to Specifier In Arcat Specs WordPerfect files editor's notes are WordPerfect "Comments", a special type of text. It is not necessary to delete these comments -- simply print the file normally and the editor's notes will not be printed.

• In WordPerfect 5.1 for DOS these notes appear on screen in double-outlined boxes.
• In WordPerfect for Windows, the presence of a comment is indicated by the comment marker in the left-hand margin -- click on it to read the note.

Automatic Paragraph Numbering: The numbering scheme in each section follows the CSI convention for a hierarchical numbering scheme. The numbers are inserted into the file using WordPerfect's "Para Num" function, which uses a code instead of the actual number. When "Reveal Codes" is turned on, the paragraph number codes are visible.

• When a paragraph is deleted, all the following paragraphs are renumbered; it is not necessary to renumber manually.
• To number new paragraphs, insert the paragraph number code at the beginning of the paragraph. To do this, press Shift-F5, select option 5, and specify the appropriate hierarchical level -- each paragraph number code indicates the appropriate level. Use indents (F4) to align the new paragraph with corresponding paragraphs in the section.

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INSTRUCTIONS FOR UNFORMATTED ASCII TEXT FILES

• Start your word processor. (It is possible to use a text editor, such as Notepad, but the lines will be too long to print unless you manually "wrap" them.)
• Open or retrieve the section you wish to edit.
• Set the left and right document margins and the font.
• Make the edits required.
• Delete the editor's notes (text preceded and followed by a full line of asterisks).
• Save to a different directory or file name.

Editing Unformatted ASCII Text Files:

• These text files do not contain word processing codes such as indents, centering, right justification, underlines, or hidden text. Instead, indentation and spacing requirements are maintained by the use of Tabs. For example, a paragraph numbered "A." will be preceded and followed by a Tab character. The second and subsequent lines of a multi-line paragraph will begin at the left margin.
• Paragraph numbers are "hard" text, not codes that will renumber automatically.
• Each paragraph ends with a "hard return" character.
• If you wish paragraphs to be indented (a hanging indent), replace the Tab characters with indent codes if your software supports them. Otherwise, change the format of each paragraph to have a hanging indent. (Text editors usually do not support either of these options.)

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FORMATTED ASCII TEXT FILES

These files are those that are displayed when you click the "View Spec" link. The use of these files for editing should be a "last resort" because they are so difficult to make extensive changes to.

• Start your word processor or text editor.
• Open or retrieve the section you wish to edit.
• Make the edits required.
• Delete the editor's notes (text preceded and followed by a full line of asterisks).
• Save to a different directory or file name.

Editing Formatted ASCII Text Files:

• These text files do not contain word processing codes such as indents, centering, right justification, underlines, or hidden text. Instead, indentation and spacing requirements are maintained by the use of hard spaces. For example, the left margin will be a series of spaces rather than a tab. Spaces after the paragraph numbers will be spaces not tabs.
• Paragraph numbers are "hard" text, not codes that will renumber automatically.
• Each line ends with a "hard return" character.

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