RIB SpecLink

Pros: The ease of use to select and remove the spec sections you need or do not need. I also like how everything is created and the sections that can be edited are highlighted and clear.

Cons: The learning curve is probably what I liked the least. There are still a lot of things that I am not familiar with and how to do. Wish it was a bit more intuitive to use.

Pros: Really easy to use overall. The built-in references and content are super helpful, and it’s quick to put sections together without much effort. It also makes it easier to coordinate across different disciplines, which is a big plus. The included products and manufacturers are great too—even if they don’t always fit every project perfectly, they’re a solid starting point and definitely better than starting from scratch.

Cons: Glitches with table of contents section; Content is somewhat limited for specialty systems/products.

Pros: Fairly easy to use and I like the team comment feature. It has worked well for one spec I wrote. A read me function screen for linked team members would be helpful so they know how the program works and they do not need to comment on every line in the spec, even the ones that are not selected.

Cons: Export and Print features are a little rough and importing sections has limitations that are not fully explained, including features that do not work unless the file is "named correctly" but this is not explained.

Pros: Complete specification sections and relatively easy to use, if you know the materials being used. I'd say not for someone that doesn't know the products.

Cons: Inconsistency between sections, such as spelling, grammar, and formatting. Weirdness as never printing the end of section Odd Page for the last section in a project print. Allowing the manufacturer to put their name in the section title. Big issue with that. Issue with updates not finishing, shows multiple pending but unable to complete. The updates can be extremely tedious for existing Office Templates. You have to transfer any changes to a new file or view each line item change to make sure it doesn't write over something included in the Template section.

Pros: The ease at which valued information is literally at our fingertips. Straight-forward, no complicated means by which to obtain this information. Quick and genuinely helpful customer service. Always makes our day!

Cons: All the "likes" are in my PROS bucket! I guess it would have to be the harsh reality that with RIB SpecLink we don't have the benefits as with a Project Lead Service, which really would be the icing on the cake!

Pros: Team Collaboration is a great feature and using the comments function allows you to track the comments or questions with ease.

Cons: the ease of creating project types with specific standards. lack of detail with the 3D model being linked in. lack of editing for cover sheets.

Pros: Ease of switching paragraphs on or off compared to word where I would be deleting things. Also, being notified of updates to references rather than having to do research myself or finding out about errors after the fact.

Cons: I have not been able to add manufacturer 'tracked' content to my company's master specification sections. This would be a great benefit to other design team members that are referencing this material, so that outdated manufacturer information does not enter current sections.

Pros: The ease of use. If you are paying attention, even the most inexperienced person can start writing a specification. I also like the 'road map' you get when you start a Section and it promts you to items you should have in the spec (green), and the items to consider (yellow).

Cons: Occasionally it is hard to add Manufacturers to a Division. I also detest the 'blanks' that show up when you print or save. I know that's on me, but is it possible to have those empty spaces change color (like Red) so it is even easer to spot them?

Pros: I've tried many Architectural specification writing applications, and RIB SpecLink is by far the most intuitive and accurate tool that I have found for producing specifications. I also like how the program constantly updates products. It also seems to be competitive in cost to others available.

Cons: While intuitive once you get into the program, there is a bit of a learning curve to understanding selections, input, etc. There are adequate tools to help you learn if you take the time to utilize them.

Pros: Ease of use, good technical program which updates itself to maintain being current. Good assistance and lots of tutorial videos.

Cons: Difficult to import specification sections from the manufacturer's Word files because the file's structure needs to be almost perfect.

Pros: I like the ability to review questions and options, comparing them against a defined direction, as well as the links to manufacturers' information, when necessary.

Cons: Moving back and forth between sections can be tedious - it's not possible to leave one section open to compare something against another section without the first one closing.

Pros: Most features fairly closely mimic MSWord which makes it simple to use. Easy to remove sections and paragraphs from specs/documents.

Cons: Editor notes are difficult to recognize. Not intuitive to be able to copy and paste Word content into SpecLink documents. Printing documents could be more user friendly.

Pros: The ability to edit with customized prompts and recommendations highlighted making it easy to skip over unneeded paragraphs. It's easy to use and increase my speed and accuracy in spec writing.

Cons: The program seems to lag in making paragraph selections, especially as you select paragraphs rapidly without stopping to make edits.

Pros: Automatic Updates Consistent Header/Footer info Takes more time Too many options Vendor specs need removed from sections

Cons: Too many options within each section that give you a headache after editing each section. Manufacturers sections should not be placed within a general category. (i.e. - Access control has Brivo inside of the general section. That should be a sub section under the General section) Div 27 1000 has too much inside of that one section. It should follow the CSI Master Spec sections with each of those a subsection under 271000. Some clients require that their entire spec be inserted into the documents. No easy way to bring it in with all of the formatting so that all of the paragraphs align to their masterspec.

Pros: It has allowed our firm to abandon the outdated, cumbersome, and risky process of "leapfrogging" word processor spec documents from one project to the next. Critical content is being updated constantly, so we don't miss out on the latest industry trends and changes.

Cons: There's very little to "not like" but the learning curve can be steep and sometimes overwhelming for new users. That settles down with repetition and using the fantastic help documentation.

Pros: I have been using Speclink for the past 10 years and find it easy to use and easy to modify to meet my company's needs. I appreciate the appropriately restrained level of detail in the content making it more user-friendly, the linking between parts and sections which reduces conflicts and ensures a higher level of coordination throughout our documents and formatting and printing features which greatly reduce time. It truly makes the documentation process more efficient, which allows us to spend our time on the things that matter - sharing our knowledge and contributing to a project's success.

Cons: I wish I could search the whole database for a specific product I've used before, that isn't in my master, but I want to find again. I also wish I could export directly into my project folder, rather than a download folder.

Pros: Our company appreciates the wide variety of spec sections readily available, the constant updates to reference standards, manufacturers, etc., and the use friendly interface.

Cons: There is a learning curve for new users, but most catch on quickly. Sometimes the software doesn't save for some reason.

Pros: Overall support provided by RIB has always been constant and prompt. Live humans always responding.

Cons: Somewhat complex functions in the pulldown menus which are not always logical requiring additional support.

Pros: Increased workload production and project management. Ease of uploading and changing specifications.

Cons: Lack of help, efficient training, and easy answers to questions. Past experiences have taught me that Speclink help doesn't know the product.

Pros: Relatively easy to use when generating specifications, with all paragraphs visible throughout each section.

Cons: Some aspects are difficult to use, such as creating page footers, or editing global terms. We have also seen a few glitches with choice fields displaying the wrong information, or duplicate information.

Pros: In concept, it includes unique tools for creating guide spec and project specs. Tech support super responsive

Cons: Not all of the tools work as advertised. slow page loading times consistently for all users. we think a few additional features could be added to make it ideal for our agency of 200 plus users.

Pros: Everything especially the cloud product supporting multi‑user workflows, comment-only access, and linking between specs and Revit models for coordination. Good for distributed teams

Cons: Subscription pricing, per‑seat and module fees can be expensive for small practices. Improving the cost would make it more affordable to more people