Installing-- Windows

NOTE-- We retired MacNail Spec Writer and the rest of the MacNail construction software, back in 2000. It has been replaced with Goldenseal, a complete software package for Macintosh and Windows that handles contract writing, plus accounting, construction estimating, and project management, Goldenseal has greatly improved construction spec writing features that are much easier to use than MacNail.

Installing Spec Writer

Please check the installation instructions that accompany this manual for help in getting Spec Writer installed onto your hard drive.

Directory Setup

All of the Spec Writer files are contained within the SPECWRIT directory.

We recommend that you put all your MacNail project management software files into a directory named MACNAIL (or something similar). It should look something like this illustration when you view it in the Windows File Manager.

The SPECWRIT directory should always be located within the same directory as the ESTIMATE, BIDMAGIC and/or SCHEDULE directories, so it will be able to find project estimates in them.

NOTE: Check the appropriate program manuals for the specific files and directories that should be inside the ESTIMATE, BIDMAGIC and/or SCHEDULE directories.

When you open the SPECWRIT directory, you should always see the SPECWRIT.XLM file, along with the CONTRACT directory, the HEADFOOT directory, and the SPECFILE directory. Except for the SPECWRIT.XLM file, all Spec Writer files should be located inside one of the three directories that are inside the SPECWRIT directory.

WARNING: Do not rename the SPECWRIT directory, or any of the directories within the SPECWRIT directory! MacNail Spec Writer will not be able to function if it doesn't recognize its subdirectories.