Autodesk® Constructware®
2012
What’s New in Autodesk®
Constructware® – February Release
Figure 1. Autodesk® Constructware® 2012
Autodesk® Constructware® web-based project management software enables
construction firms and owners to standardize and optimize business processes in order
to deliver projects more efficiently.
Constructware connects people, information, and processes to help streamline
operations, manage change, and optimize execution in the field. Greater project
transparency and accountability improve insight across projects of all sizes.
Gain more accurate near time cost visibility with the ability to exchange project data with
accounting systems. And the configurable web-based software as a service (SaaS)
platform can help to reduce costs associated with implementing and managing an IT
infrastructure.
www.autodesk.com/constructware
AUTODESK® CONSTRUCTWARE® 2012 WHAT’S NEW
RFI Module – Creation of RFIs via API
In a previous release, Constructware added the ability to exchange files within the File Director module via the
WebDAV API (application programming interface). Continuing this theme of enabling integration between desktop,
mobile, or other applications, the RFI module now has been enabled with an API.
General Constructware RFI API Functions
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View
Create
Respond
Edit
Copy
Attach external file to RFI
Notify
Open API Documentation
Note: Constructware API documentation is stored here for your reference:
•
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https://secure.constructware.com/web/help/ConstructwareAPI.htm
https://secure.constructware.com/web/help/Errors.htm
It will be updated as additional interfaces are added.
RFI Module – Creation of Attached Files
As mentioned in the previous section,
Constructware has added the ability to
attach a file to an RFI via the API. The
ability to quickly add an attached file has
also been added to the standard user
interface within Constructware. An
attached file can only associated or
attached to a singular document and
cannot reside anywhere else within the
application. Previously if a user wanted to
add a file to an RFI they would have
uploaded the file into File Director or the
Documents modules as a supporting
document.
Figure 1: Attached Files in RFIs
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AUTODESK® CONSTRUCTWARE® 2012 WHAT’S NEW
To add an attached file
the user selects the
browse button. This
opens a window allowing
the user to select the file
they wish to attach. The
Figure 2: Maximum Number of Attached Files per Save
user can add up to five
(5) attached files per save. If the user needs to add more than 5 attached files, they will need to save the RFI first
and then continue adding the necessary files.
Many times, a file attached to an RFI will need to be associated to another document within Constructware. To carry
out this function the process button will be utilized.
Here are 2 use cases.
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The user wants to have the attached files on an
RFI also in File Director. First click Process.
Once the process wizard window opens, select
File Director in the “Process Into” section. Then
select which attached to be added to File
Director. Lastly, select the folder within File
Director that the file(s) will reside in.
Figure 3: Processing Attached Files into File Director
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The user wants to create a new document by
using the process function and at the same time
associated the attached file(s) to the new
document. First click Process. Once the
process wizard window opens, select which
module to process the RFI into. At the same
time select “Save Files into File Director” option,
select the “Link selected file(s) to Module” option,
and select the folder within File Director that the
file(s) will reside in. The attached files will now
be associated to the newly created document as
supporting documents.
Figure 4: Processing Attached Files into File Director
and Creating New Issue from RFI Module
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AUTODESK® CONSTRUCTWARE® 2012 WHAT’S NEW
Attachments Module Improvements
With the February release, the Attachment Module feature has received the following enhancements:
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Renaming the Attachments Module to Binders
New permission, View – Suppress Module, to the Binders module
Renamed Attachments Module to Binders
With the ability to create attached files in the RFI module, it was necessary to rename the Attachments module to
better reflect its intended purpose which is to ability to Link or Bind a document to another document in multiple
locations. In most applications an attached file is typically understood to be only associated or attached to a singular
document and cannot reside anywhere else within the application.
New permission, View – Suppress Module, to the Binders module
Many administrators have commented on wanting the
ability to be able to hide the Binders module from users.
The reason is the Bind function is utilized as a
byproduct of the Process function. Due to this, a new
permission was created, View – Suppress Module,
which hides the Binders module from the Document
Management drop down list. A user with this
permission will still be able to:
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Create Binders between documents by using
the Process function.
Ability see binders created on individual
documents by clicking the paper clip icon next
to the document.
Ability to run reports on Binders.
Figure 5: Suppressing the View of Binders Module
Figure 6: New permission, View-Suppress Module, in Binders
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AUTODESK® CONSTRUCTWARE® 2012 WHAT’S NEW
Administrator Permission to Unlock Cost Items
In a previous release, a user who has administrator permissions could unlock documents in
the following modules; Correspondence, RFIs, and Submittals. With this release we have
added this ability to Cost Items. Cost Items are locked as a byproduct of the routing process.
After a cost item has been locked via a route, an administrator can unlock the cost item(s) by
going to the cost item module. This allows an administrator to unlock a cost item without
having to recall the entire route. Once a cost item has been unlocked the routing icon will
Figure 7: Unlock Icon
change from “Approved, Locked” to “Routed”.
Figure 9: Cost Item with Approved, Lock Icon
Figure 10: Cost Item with Routed Icon
Autodesk® Constructware® [and other products] are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in
the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right
to alter product and services offerings, and specifications and pricing at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical
errors that may appear in this document.
© 2012 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.
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