Scroll down to the following numbered topics:
  1. Receiving the Template
  2. Making a copy
  3. Using as a Template or a Library
  4. Blue and Grey Title Font
  5. Reminder Window Content
  6. Finding Narratives Quickly
  7. Transferring narratives, Items, or Sections between templates
  8. Custom Contractor Types

1. RECEIVING THE TEMPLATE

Look for INL Residential Template under “My Templates” in the Template Editor of your copy of Spectora.

Because of its size, the template is slow to open the first time. After that, it will open at normal speed.

If you Switch Software

For those who decide to change software, click for my Template Replacement and Substitution policy .

You have 90 days from the date of purchase for a free replacement.

2. MAKING  A COPY!

First, I suggest that you make a safety copy and give it a slightly different name. That way, if you have deleted something you later wish you hadn't, you'll still have it! Bear in mind that you can typically undelete Sections and Items (see #5 below).

Find instructions here!

3. USE as a TEMPLATE or a LIBRARY

You can use InterNACHI Narrative Library template as your working template, or you may wish to continue using a Spectora template that you have already developed or spent time editing, and use the InterNACHI Narrative Library template as a source template, transferring Sections, Items, or narratives from it into your working (destination) template.

You’ll find instructions on how to transfer narratives from a source template to a destination template here. 

 4. BLUE and GREY TITLE FONT

All Section titles with blue font will appear in the report. Quite a few Section and Item titles are in grey font so that the titles won't appear in the report with no information under them. Use the little pencil icon to the right of the title to open a selection box. In the upper right hand corner, select the down arrow and choose "Optional..." for grey font and "included..." for blue font.  Photo explanation here.

In the Items (middle column, only Item titles that contain narratives will appear, so it's not necessary to exclude items unless you find it speeds your inspection

5. REMINDER WINDOW CONTENT

In the Reminder windows (accessed using the pencil icons), this template has links to a large amount of reference material!

For example, in the Template Editor:

  1. in the SECTIONS (left) column, select Roof.
  2. In the ITEMS (middle) column, mouse over Asphalt Shingle and select the small pencil icon that appears just to the right of the Asphalt Shingle title.
  3. When you select a link, four icons will appear, choose the one on the left (box with an arrow pointing to the top right corner) and you'll be taken to that location in a separate window.

Photo explanation here.

Reference info

In a few Reminder windows, you’ll find information instead of links.

If in some Items (typically the REFERENCE Items) you find no narratives, check the pencil icon for Reminder notes.

6. USING THE SEARCH FEATURE

Using Spectora's search feature is key to finding narratives quickly!

  1. Search in the mobile version: The mobile version default is to search only comment titles. In oder to reduce title lengths I have written comments to be found most easily by changing the mobile search settings From "Titles" to "Titles and Text". To make this change, in the mobile app (V10), go to Settings > Reports > Search Comments On.
  2. Search in the desktop version: You’ll find the search feature available in the Report Writer (not in the template editor), but you can not change how it searches in the desktop version.
  3. Search by scrolling (slowest method): Narratives are generally in alphabetical order, so if you select Roof, Asphalt Shingles, the narratives under DEFICIENCIES will start with Batch problems, Biological growth, Blisters, Bonding, Cap shingles, etc.

Once you use the template a bit, you’ll be able to find narratives quickly.

BUT… you should use the search feature instead of scrolling.

7. TRANSFERRING NARRATIVES BETWEEN TEMPLATES

This is your "Source" template. You will move the information to your "Destination" template.

1. Select the narrative(s), Item, or Section you want to move. With narratives, you can use "Select All" and then unselect a few that you don't want, or you can select just a few (they can be scatter3d in teh column).

2. If you want the source template to retain the information, use the Duplicate icon and the information will be copied and sent to the destination template you choose.

Use the down arrows to lee a list from which to choose a template, section, or Item.

Select a destination template from the drop down list, and then do the same for the Section and Item rows.

8. CUSTOM CONTRACTOR TYPE RECOMMENDATIONS

The default recommendations are fairly basic and not really appropriate for some narratives. Along with your purchase is a list of over 160 custom recommendations that you can add to your list.

The Spectora software will not transfer this list (or edited default Contractor Type lists, or the customized Locations list) but using the list I provide will allow you to rapidly expand your Custom Contractor Type recommendations list to a more professional level. 

To install these recommendations, in your copy of Spectora go to:

  1. TEMPLATES (in the dark blue bar at the top)
  2. SETTINGS (in the dark blue bar at the top)
  3. Scroll down to REPORT OPTIONS
  4. Choose: Contractor Types for Repair Recommendations
  5. Choose: CUSTOM

If you’d like for Spectora to change this feature to allow the Custom Contractor Type recommendation list to be shared as part of the template, vote here:  

 

If you have questions about this template, please contact me and not Spectora.

 

kenton@internachi.org               (720) 646-8724