Architosh Staff (info@architosh.com)

18 Jan 2001

 

Macworld SF 2001 - AEC Report - p3

• What AEC document tools were shown at the Macworld Expo?

• How do I print my AEC documents?

• How do I print my CAD/3D documents in large format?

• How do I work with my AEC documents in the field?

• How do I photo-document my AEC projects? New!

• What tools can I use for digital photo editing? New!

• How do I manage my digital media files? New!

• How do I showcase/promote/publish my AEC work? New!

• How do I work with my AEC documents in the field?

This is a very good question! And it depends on what you want to do and what type of document it is. In all cases on the Mac platform the mobile handheld solution of choice is the Palm OS platform, the market leading (near 90%) PDA platform. We are going to deal with this in two parts (A and B). Part A will cover only those companies that showed at Macworld. Part B will expand a little on companies that were not there. In truth, this is a large topic that is growing in importance.

Part A

AEC Software was on hand at Macworld this year. The company's flagship product, FastTrack Schedule 7 now has a Palm version so that all your important AEC schedule data can go with you...out into the field or just to home. AEC Software also makes Details for project information management. FileMaker Inc. was naturally at Macworld showing their new FileMaker Mobile. With this new product it's possible to bring your custom databases with you wherever you go. It may also be possible to bring many of the FileMaker Pro vertical market solutions with you as well. Here is a table of links to various FileMaker solution products for AEC:

• Architect's Office

• fmPLUS

• Project Center for Construction Administration (PORTFOLIO)

• Project Center for Correspondence (PORTFOLIO)

• Change Order Log and Form (PORTFOLIO)

• Contact Manager (PORTFOLIO)

• Project Database (PORTFOLIO)

• ProposalMaker (MarketEdge)

• ContactManager (MarketEdge)

• PDM-Architect (SolutionMakers Inc.)

 

• Construction Manager (Group Three)

• Advanced Building Database - Master File

• Expert Estimator for Painting Contractors

• The Hardware Scheduler (Small Company)

• PDM - Contractor (SolutionMakers Inc.)

• FacTrack (Visual Facilities Management)

• PDM - Engineer (SolutionMakers Inc.)

Meeting Maker's award-winning group scheduler also supports Palm OS handhelds. This amazing product can handle everything from small businesses of a few employees to large-scale organizations like Apple Computer Inc., with thousands of employees worldwide. Meeting Maker also announced recently their teaming up with Meteor to connect online scheduling and Web-meeting solutions, offering a complete Web-meeting solution for Meeting Maker customers. While not cross-platform, Chronos's award-winning Mac OS - only PIM and now group organizer, Chronos Group Organizer is also Palm OS enabled.

Palm Computing was at the show. Besides showing their various handheld Palm computers software was showcased. MultiMail Conduit Macintosh Edition is a new mail syncronization software which works with the email program built into the Palm OS and your emailer on your Macintosh. In terms of syncing your PIM with your Palm OS handheld Palm Computing has a table of available software conduits from third parties here. On the Mac you have MS Outlook Express, MS Office, Meeting Maker, Now Up-to-Date, Netscape Communicator, Lotus Notes, and Chronos

Handspring Palm OS handhelds are offering the cutting edge on the Palm platform with their innovative Springboard Modules technology. Handspring PDA's cost as little as $149 and go up to the Visor Prism (color model) at $449.

Sony also makes a beautiful Palm OS PDA but alas...it doesn't yet work with the Macintosh. Darn!

To go to the very helpful Part B click here.