Expanding the submittals feature
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Eric Kalpakoff
I think the new submittals feature is pretty great so I wanted to provide some feedback on how this tool, or more specifically the framework of this tool, could be utilized to improve SI's feature set. There are a ton of docs that could be included in a submittals package that aren't BOM related. Shop Drawings, network coordination sheets, change narratives, etc. The list goes on and on. It would be nice if we could include additional categories from the project files list to be included in the submittals report.
Separately, it would be rad if this tool could be used as a document assembly tool. Specifically, a way to take several files and combine them all together into a master document. Like a proposal PDF paired with a sheets describing a custom service plan and a third warranty statement. Etc.
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Kevin Frye
Eric Kalpakoff You can add project files in the submittal. You want to be able to choose categories just like in the product files section? Makes perfect sense.
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Eric Kalpakoff
Kevin Frye After I made the original post, I figured out that you are right. I was initially looking for a file explorer where I could add from my PC vs. adding files already linked to my project. To elaborate more clearly on the second request, rather than list links to the files at the end of the submittals report, I want to see the files added to the PDF and renderer with it AND have the ability to control the order in which they are added/assembled.
We are often asked to provide a master PDF with all cutsheets or user manuals combined into a single PDF with an index sheet at the front. If the submittals feature was able to do this with not only the cutsheets, but add other attachments as well and build an index, it would be a tremendous time saver for us.
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Kevin Frye
Eric Kalpakoff I understand the desire to combine everything into one document. Unfortunately, this is a highly unpredictable exercise. Many PDFs have all sorts of issues that cause this to not work out well. I don't expect we will add a "combined submittal" enhancement.
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Doug Melaas
I would appreciate all of the improvements Eric has stated. Also, can we please add the ability to group by Manufacturer? I've customized the report, removing a lot of the white space and condensing things (when you have hundreds of products in a job the default report becomes quite unwieldy), so being able to group this would make things easier.
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Kevin Frye
Doug Melaas: You should be able to choose to group by manufacturer in a new report definition. If this is not available, you can add it in your customer report by adding Manufacturer to the grouping page in the Edit Report Information section.
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Doug Melaas
Kevin Frye I don't see that it is an option to group it automatically and this report is kind of restricted when you go into the report editor (not all the same fields and such are available to setup at filters/groups).
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Kevin Frye
Doug Melaas Very strange that the option to add grouping data fields is not available. Maybe there is something unique about these reports that led to this decision. I expect we can add this in an update.
Sandeep Panesar
Also, this can also serve as a tool to maybe combine files and reports at run time and not just limited to created submittal report configurations.