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Free Building Product Specifications - Arcat Specs are complete, accurate, and in the CSI 3-part format for building and construction professionals. Our building product and material specifications are free to view and download in DOC, RTF or Text. These long-form proprietary specifications are complete with technical data, astm standards, performance features and product attributes.
ARCAT Specs File Format Comparison Chart
| Microsoft Word | Word Perfect | ASCII Text | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Mac | Formatted | Unformatted | ||
| Word Processor Required | Word 2000/97, 7.0/95, 6.0, or 6.0 for Mac | Any version back to & including WP5.1 for DOS | Any text editor or word processor | Any text editor or word processor | |
| Windows | Windows 2000, NT, 98, or 95 | Windows 2000, NT, 98, or 95 | No | Yes | Yes |
| PC DOS | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Mac | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Editing Tips | Editing Tips | Editing Tips | Editing Tips | Editing Tips | |
| Benefits | Useful if Word97 or 2000 is not available. | Native WordPerfect files, not converted from Word. | Native WordPerfect files, not converted from Word. | Useful if word processor will not read any of the other formats. | No real benefit. Last resort. |
| CSI 3-Part Format | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Notes to Specifier | "Hidden" text, "normal" style | Non-printing comments | Notes easily distinguishable from text, will print unless deleted manually | Notes easily distinguishable from text, will print unless deleted manually | |
| Paragraph Styles | No, all paragraphs are "Normal" style | No | No | No | No |
| Paragraph Numbering | CSI-style, using field codes, semi-automatic renumbering | CSI-style, automatic renumbering | CSI-style, automatic renumbering | CSI-style hard numbers, no automatic renumbering | CSI-style hard numbers, no automatic renumbering |
| Comments | "Edit-by-deletion." No styles. Numbering uses field codes, not "bullets & numbering." | "Edit-by-deletion." Uses indent codes correctly, but few other WP features. | "Edit-by-deletion." Uses indent codes correctly, but few other WP features. |
"Edit-by-deletion." Does not have line breaks or carriage
returns in middle of paragraphs. Too wide for printing using text editor. | "Edit-by-deletion." Each line is ended with a line break/ carriage return. Will print ok, but editing is extremely time-consuming. |
| Compatibility with other word processors | Windows and Mac files are the same files. | Readable by Word but Word doesn't format as well. | Readable by virtually any word processor or text editor. Best format for Word for DOS. | Readable by virtually any word processor or text editor. | |
If you don't see your word processor or platform above, check the
documentation for your word processor.
It may indicate the types of files it can read and convert.