NetSPEX Frequently Asked Questions
- Why implement CAD standards?
- What is NetSPEX and how will it help my organization?
- How much does NetSPEX cost?
- What is the advantage of storing CAD standards in a database?
- Do you support SQL Server Express Edition?
- Will each NetSPEX user need access to the standards database?
- How large is the NetSPEX standards database?
- What is the AEC CAD Standard?
- Can I modify the AEC CAD Standard in NetSPEX?
- Can I define my own CAD standards in NetSPEX?
- Do NetSPEX mirror servers require a database installation?
- Do the NetSPEX Central Server and NetSPEX mirror server operating systems need to be the same?
- Can I use AutoCAD profiles with NetSPEX?
- What are the system requirements for NetSPEX?
1. Why implement CAD standards?
With the ever-increasing costs associated with engineering, design and construction, many organizations are looking for ways to reduce expenses and streamline production workflows in order to complete projects in a more timely and cost-effective manner. Millions of dollars are spent every year to make corrections to non-standard drawings, train new personnel in the approved techniques for creating construction drawings, coordinate the efforts of subcontractors and remote teams, and to solve problems related to plotting and drawing reproduction. For many organizations, these routine yet significant production impediments continue to plague profits. As a result, the development and implementation of CAD standards is increasingly viewed as one of the most effective ways to reduce operating costs and manage production.
2. What is NetSPEX and how will it help my organization?
NetSPEX is a proven CAD standards management software product that works with multiple platforms, including AutoCAD and MicroStation. It provides a comprehensive solution to the challenge of developing, managing, and deploying CAD standards across an enterprise with multiple sites, standards, and compliance checking requirements. NetSPEX can improve drawing production, quality and control, while reducing the demands on CAD administration and support.
3. How much does NetSPEX cost?
A typical NetSPEX installation consists of one copy of NetSPEX Central Server plus multiple copies of NetSPEX Designer, based on the maximum number of concurrent users. If the implementation involves multiple sites, then NetSPEX Mirror Server might also be installed on one or more remote servers. NetSPEX Designer sells for $300 per license. NetSPEX Central Server and Mirror Server will vary in cost depending on the configuration. Two or three days of installation, configuration, and training are usually recommended. NetSPEX can be purchased or leased, and is also offered under a unique licensing option known as deliverable workspaces, designed for sub-consultants and offline users who do not require CAD standards editing capabilities.
For purchasing information, please contact us.
4. What is the advantage of storing CAD standards in a database?
NetSPEX stores all standards information in a single standards database, centralizing development, management, documentation and deployment.
Removing standards information from the CAD software and placing it in a central repository where it can be readily accessed and easily maintained eliminates several administrative issues and costs. Additional advantages are:
- Standards are instantly available to AutoCAD and MicroStation
- Standards are developed and managed in a secure central location
- The same standards apply during production and compliance checking
- Updates are deployed and synchronized enterprise-wide automatically
- CAD standards documentation can be produced and updated automatically
- CAD standards are stored in a flexible, non-proprietary data format
5. Do you support SQL Server Express Edition?
Yes. While there are several SQL Server Purchasing Options listed on the Microsoft web site, if you are looking at a minimum requirement and don't anticipate using SQL Server for anything other than NetSPEX, then you should consider using SQL Server 2005 Express Edition. This free version of SQL Server is easy to set up and is fully compatible with NetSPEX. Please refer to the Microsoft SQL Server Licensing FAQ for more information.
6. Will each NetSPEX user need access to the standards database?
No. NetSPEX Server uses a single user name and password to connect to the SQL Server database. However, Microsoft SQL Server licensing is based on the number of users of the database, regardless of how they are connected. Please refer to the Microsoft SQL Server Licensing FAQ for more information.
7. How large is the NetSPEX standards database?
The NetSPEX standards database generally consists of custom standards created by you, your clients, or adopted from commercially available standards. The size of the database depends on the number of standards being maintained and the number of disciplines, drawing types, and components in each standard.
The complete AEC CAD Standard, which is bundled with NetSPEX, is approximately 100 MB, not including approximately 65 MB of previews, templates, seed files, blocks, cells, and other CAD resources for AutoCAD and MicroStation.
8. What is the AEC CAD Standard?
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers CAD/BIM Technology Center (this site may have an outdated certificate) developed the A/E/C CAD Standard in order to reduce redundant CAD standardization efforts among its federal partners. The Standard is part of an initiative to consolidate existing CAD drafting standards into a format generic enough to operate under various CAD software packages such as MicroStation and AutoCAD, and to incorporate existing industry and national standards.
Our interpretation of the AEC CAD Standard for NetSPEX includes 14 disciplines and 109 drawing types, plus thousands of pre-defined layer names, drawing components and CAD resource files for both AutoCAD and MicroStation.
9. Can I modify the AEC CAD Standard in NetSPEX?
Yes. However, we would recommend that instead of editing the AEC CAD Standard directly, you create a dependent standard of your own, based on the AEC CAD Standard. This way, whenever you load an update to the AEC CAD Standard, your dependent standard will synchronize automatically.
10. Can I define my own CAD standards in NetSPEX?
Absolutely. NetSPEX allows you to create and modify multiple standards within a single NetSPEX CAD standards database. With the click of one button, these standards can be made available for both AutoCAD and MicroStation users.
11. Do NetSPEX mirror servers require a database installation?
No. A snapshot of the NetSPEX CAD standards database is automatically synchronized from the Central Server to the Mirror Server using XML data.
12. Do the NetSPEX Central Server and NetSPEX mirror server operating systems need to be the same?
No. They can run on different operating systems as long as they are supported by NetSPEX.
13. Can I use AutoCAD profiles with NetSPEX?
Yes. Using an AutoCAD profile may be the best way to activate NetSPEX with AutoCAD. By defining specific configuration variables in your profiles, you can define both the NetSPEX standard and the location of its CAD resources.
14. What are the system requirements for NetSPEX?
Please see the NetSPEX System Requirements page for this information.
