John Dirks Jr Posted March 10, 2014 Report Share Posted March 10, 2014 In my comments library I have a title for a category called Main Panel. As you all know, we find all kinds of problems inside electrical panels. As a result, the number of comments has grown to the point I find myself spending time hunting through to find what I want. I want to create some sub categories for problems found with main panels so I can spread out the stored comments better. What titles would you suggest to subdivide main panel problems? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neal Lewis Posted March 10, 2014 Report Share Posted March 10, 2014 John, I have two categories for that. One is the condition of the panel box. The other is for the wiring. Missing knockouts, cable clamps, rust, too many breakers, lack of access, sump pump pits, etc all goes into Condition. All wiring related stuff goes into the Wiring section. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted March 11, 2014 Report Share Posted March 11, 2014 How many comments are we talking about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nolan Kienitz Posted March 11, 2014 Report Share Posted March 11, 2014 JD, Here is a screen shot of my RapidRemark panel of basic 'folders' under each folder are many specific comments or "RapidRemarks" as they are called in my report generation application. I periodically create other folders as I find I have too many RRs to sort through. Kind of like what you are in the process of now. Click to Enlarge 29.65 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted March 11, 2014 Report Share Posted March 11, 2014 I'm curious. Aren't folks comment libraries word or phrase searchable? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nolan Kienitz Posted March 11, 2014 Report Share Posted March 11, 2014 I'm curious. Aren't folks comment libraries word or phrase searchable? Yes they are ... at least in the application I use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted March 11, 2014 Report Share Posted March 11, 2014 I'd think so. Why are folders necessary? All my comments are in one big pile. I can sort them in an instant with a couple pull down menu commands, or a specific word/phrase search. Someday, I'd like to teach a course in database techniques. All the goofy report generation software seems to make work, not reduce it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Kibbel Posted March 11, 2014 Report Share Posted March 11, 2014 All the goofy report generation software seems to make work, not reduce it. Amen Jeebus! Makes work for the folks reading and trying to extract the important bits of info out of it too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dirks Jr Posted March 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2014 How many comments are we talking about? So far I have 30 under the main panel title. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted March 11, 2014 Report Share Posted March 11, 2014 How many comments are we talking about? So far I have 30 under the main panel title. How about breakers, wiring, and enclosure? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nolan Kienitz Posted March 11, 2014 Report Share Posted March 11, 2014 Clients don't see the folders ... they are for me and how I've always kept data points sorted. Other users of this application utilize their comments in a far different way than I do. The great capability of a database driven s/w like Kurt's method. The folders and the way I sort and use the comments is quite easy for me anyway. I'm just anal and old-fashioned that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neal Lewis Posted March 11, 2014 Report Share Posted March 11, 2014 The 3D library of comments isn't searchable, as far as I know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dirks Jr Posted March 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2014 The 3D library of comments isn't searchable, as far as I know. I use Palm Tech. To my knowledge, it's not searchable either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dirks Jr Posted March 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2014 How many comments are we talking about? So far I have 30 under the main panel title. How about breakers, wiring, and enclosure? I already have a separate breaker category. But you suggestion of panel enclosure and panel wiring is what I had been thinking of also. When I get a chance, I'll sort and post back how well the lot was divided. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dirks Jr Posted March 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2014 Which inspection report softwares have searchable comment libraries? When did those softwares first show up on the market? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nolan Kienitz Posted March 12, 2014 Report Share Posted March 12, 2014 Which inspection report softwares have searchable comment libraries? When did those softwares first show up on the market? The application I'm using has always been able to do such. Send me a message direct to my email if you want to know the app I'm using. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottpat Posted March 12, 2014 Report Share Posted March 12, 2014 When I used 3D you were able to search all of the boilerplate comments, I think the last version I had was something like 10.2? Anyway, I now use HIP and the comments are all imbedded into your template and you just select the one you want or write a new one. HIP is not searchable either from what I have seen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Raymond Posted March 12, 2014 Report Share Posted March 12, 2014 How long does it take to search for the right comment? Longer than it takes to write one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Fabry Posted March 12, 2014 Report Share Posted March 12, 2014 I use Inspect Express. The comments are arranged by category. I scroll the list and click the comments. I insert all my canned comments for any section within 5 minutes. Then I write my custom comments. As I edit the report, I change any canned comments to exactly match the conditions and add photos. How does it get easier than that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Simon Posted March 12, 2014 Report Share Posted March 12, 2014 How long does it take to search for the right comment? Longer than it takes to write one? Well said. And that's why typing classes would be some of the best money ever invested for those that still hunt & peck. About the only class in HS I truly enjoyed and never fell asleep in; benefits me more in this job than just about anything else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted March 12, 2014 Report Share Posted March 12, 2014 That's exactly right. I only fiddle around with boilerplate when it's filling in a lot of spaces, like FPE panels, or EIFS, my blurb on smoke alarms, or other issues that require a paragraph. Most of my stuff is a short single sentence, sometimes a couple. It's often easier to simply type. Fabry said....."How does it get easier than that?" It can get easier, sometimes a lot easier. Easier involves rethinking report format and interface options. When you're in Word, you need to think like Microsoft needs you to think. There are better ways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlparham Posted March 12, 2014 Report Share Posted March 12, 2014 How long does it take to search for the right comment? Longer than it takes to write one? Well said. And that's why typing classes would be some of the best money ever invested for those that still hunt & peck. About the only class in HS I truly enjoyed and never fell asleep in; benefits me more in this job than just about anything else. My mother would not let me take typing in high school. She was afraid that I would end up being a typist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted March 12, 2014 Report Share Posted March 12, 2014 I use Inspect Express. The comments are arranged by category. I scroll the list and click the comments. I insert all my canned comments for any section within 5 minutes. Then I write my custom comments. As I edit the report, I change any canned comments to exactly match the conditions and add photos. How does it get easier than that? Can IE do double columns? Download Attachment: Excerpt.pdf 127.28 KB Marc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted March 12, 2014 Report Share Posted March 12, 2014 I thought any Word based program could do columns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hausdok Posted March 12, 2014 Report Share Posted March 12, 2014 I just think of something I would have written about such a topic, type those few words into the search box that pops up when I click on the windows start program and it pulls up a long list of reports where I've used those words. Click on one of the reports, scroll to the section in question - in this case electrical - find the comment, copy it, close the report and then paste that comment into the report I'm working on and tweak it a little to fit that report. Don't need to categorize a thing; just be consistent about words and phrases I use in my reports. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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