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NBS Perspective
NBS Perspective is a new document management and collaboration system designed to make it easier for you and your teams to view, organise and share information and project documentation.
View
NBS Perspective has a powerful document viewer that enables you to view and print hundreds of document types, without taking time to launch or using a licence of the native software. Document types (link to full list) include NBS specifications, AutoCAD and MicroStation drawings, PDFs and Microsoft Office files.
The Viewer also contains an intuitive tool bar that synchronises to the document type being viewed. For example when viewing a AutoCAD drawing the Viewer toolbar synchronises to provide tools relevant to AutoCAD drawings.
This is great news for those in your office and wider project teams that only need to view and print these documents. They don't need to worry about having the right software or understanding how to use often complex software systems just to view and print documents.
It's also good news for you. You don't need to spend time converting files to other formats before issuing them. When you send documents in their original format from NBS Perspective the recipient, whether internal or external to your office, will have access to the NBS Perspective Viewer too.
Organise
NBS Perspective can help you to quickly organise information and project documentation to suit your individual or office style without the risk of deleting or losing original files.
It recreates existing project folder structures with virtual links back to those folders and their contents. You can then add, remove, rename, and change the structure of the folders without changing the existing project folders or their original locations.
So for example if your company has hundreds of ongoing projects but you are only involved in a few of them, you can change your view to only show the folders and information in those folders relevant to you.
NBS Perspective can also be used to manage documents received and produced throughout the project timeline.
Share
NBS Perspective enables you to quickly put together a set of documents for issue. It takes a copy of the documents sent for future reference and records information relating to that issue.
You can then choose the NBS web courier service to send a complete issue of documents that is too big for email, without spending time splitting the pack into several emails or delaying the issue by sending it by post.
Also there is no need to spend time converting files to other formats before you send it. When issuing documents using the NBS web courier service or by email, your recipients can have free access to the NBS Perspective viewer too.
NBS Perspective is based on Columbus by Oasys Ltd, the software house of Arup.
Viewer
The powerful document Viewer enables you to view and print hundreds of document types (link to full list) including NBS specifications and preliminaries, AutoCAD, MicroStation, Plot, Microsoft Office, Adobe, JPEG, Bitmap and HTML. The NBS Perspective Viewer does not need or use a licence of the native software, usually associated with that document type.
The Viewer also contains an intuitive tool bar that synchronises to the document type being viewed. For example when viewing a AutoCAD drawing the Viewer toolbar synchronises to provide tools relevant to AutoCAD drawings.
The NBS Perspective Viewer also enables you to mark-up AutoCAD and MicroStation drawings. Mark-up tools include: drawing tools, rectangular tool, freehand pen, measure tool, text, notes and stamps.
Document information
The document information pane displays an instant preview of particular documents types as well as any meta data associated with that document. This will save you time when trying to find a drawing when you don’t know its name. Rather than spending time opening drawings up in CAD software the instant preview or metadata could help you to recognise the drawing you are looking for.
Perspectives, Projects and Views
NBS Perspective can help you to quickly organise information and documentation. What this means is that you can create your own view of the information and documentation you have access to without changing the location or structure of it.
NBS Perspective does this by creating Projects and Views within individual and company Perspectives.
A Perspective is a file that can be saved to a personal or shared location. It holds the information about how you have organised your projects and views. You can have more then one Perspective but to get you started we have given you a Perspective called My Perspective.
To quickly get organised and create you own view of your information and documentation you can either add a Project by importing an existing folder structure or set up a new Project using our suggested structure. Either way you can then customise the structure of your Project by adding, removing, renaming, and change the hierarchy of the folders within it, without changing the existing project folders or their original locations.
In NBS Perspective your Projects contain Views. These are virtual links that display the contents of existing folders. The properties of a View can also be customised to display either all or selected content of the folder it points to. You can also add, remove, rename, and change the structure of Views without changing the documents they link to or their original locations.
Example Perspectives
Some example Perspectives have been included to demonstrate how you may like to organise and manage your project and office information and documentation.
Example project perspectives are designed to manage documents throughout a project timeline. These are based upon: the CIC/Services 2007 Stages, with a secondary structure geared to the roles of the authors of the documents; and the RIBA Outline Plan for Work 2007 with secondary structure based upon the concept of input ad output documents. Guidance is provided on creating tertiary folders within these example project structures.
The example office perspective suggests how you could manage general office administration, library information and project administration.
Document templates
NBS Perspective also includes a collection of document templates for the administration of projects. These are based on those included in the Architect's Job Book (Seventh Edition). They include agendas, checklists, data sheets, letters, records and reports.
Document issuing
With NBS Perspective you can quickly prepare a set of documents for issue, record information about that issue and send it via email, on CD on the post or using the NBS web courier service.
Creating a pack of documents to issue is easy. Documents can be dragged into the issue, then information can be added such as the name of the project, reason for issue and details of the recipients. NBS Perspective takes a copy of the documents and creates a view of the issue which can be found within your Perspective for future reference.
You can then choose how you want to issue your documents: The NBS web courier service is recommended for the secure transfer of issues of any size; your email, which will be suitable for small issues; and post, by sending your issue on a CD.
When sending via the NBS web courier service or email NBS Perspective generates an email for you that you send to your recipient(s). This email contains a link to the free downloadable Project Edition of NBS Perspective. The Project Edition has less functionality than the full Professional Edition, but includes the powerful document Viewer. This means that you don't need to spend time converting files to other formats before you send your issue. Your recipients can download the free Project Edition of NBS Perspective to view and print your documents.
The NBS web courier service
The NBS web courier service is a free and easy way to electronically send a complete issue of documents that is too big for email, without spending time splitting the pack into several emails or delaying the issue by sending it by post.
Similar to an FTP site, the NBS web courier saves your document issue to a secure location. The recipient receives an email with a link to this location and can download the documents intended for them. If the recipient is already an NBS Perspective Professional or Project user they will also be notified within NBS Perspective that new documents have been sent to them. They can receive these documents and add them directly into the correct project in NBS Perspective.
The NBS web courier service will currently send a combined issue of up to 30MB.
The NBS web courier is secured by VeriSign.
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NBS Perspective is available in two Editions: Professional and Project. The differences between these Editions are outlined below:
NBS Perspective Professional Edition
The Professional Edition includes full features and functionality as described in the features section of this webpage. This includes being able to issue documents using the NBS web courier.
The Professional Edition is a subscription service that can be ordered from NBS and will be delivered on a CD.
Subscribers to NBS Building, NBS Landscape, NBS Engineering Services, NBS Scheduler and NBS Contract Administrator will receive at least one free of charge licence to the Professional Edition of NBS Perspective for a limited time. The number of free of charge licences depends upon your existing subscription(s).
NBS Perspective Project Edition
The Project Edition is a free of charge downloadable edition. It is designed to be used by others in your office and wider project teams.
The Project Edition does not include the full functionality offered by the Professional Edition; such as the ability to issue documents direct from NBS Perspective. It does include the powerful document viewer, organise function and document templates and guidance.
The Project Edition can also be used to receive documents sent to you using the NBS web courier service. When logged in to NBS Perspective Project you will be notified within NBS Perspective that new documents have been sent to you. You can receive these documents and add them directly into the correct project in NBS Perspective.
Sending the Project Edition to your wider project team
When you issue documents using the NBS Perspective Professional Edition
using the NBS web courier service or email, NBS Perspective generates an email
for you that you send to your recipient(s). This email contains a link to the
free Project Edition of NBS Perspective. This means that you don’t need to spend
time converting files to other formats before you send your issue. Your
recipients can download the free Project Edition of NBS Perspective to view and
print your documents.
Using the Project Edition in your office alongside the Professional
Edition
If you have Professional Edition licences but they are all in use,
others in your office can still use the Project Edition.
Downloading the Project Edition
You can choose to download the Project Edition to use without receiving
documents from a Professional Edition user and without also having Professional
Edition licences at your office. To do this you can click in the link below. You
will be asked to create an NBS website account before downloading it. This is so
that we can collect your email address to which will enable you to receive
documents sent to you using the NBS web courier service.
Future development
We plan to develop the Professional Edition to include additional features such as mail management. We currently do not plan to add additional functionality to the Project Edition.
NBS Perspective Professional Edition is a subscription service. As part of the subscription you will receive updates on CD ROM.
NBS Perspective Project Edition is now available to download free of charge.
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Download NBS Perspective Project
NBS Perspective requires the following components in order to run:
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 (IE6) or higher (download here)
- Microsoft .NET framework 2.0 (download here)
All products require a CD-ROM drive if installing the software from CD.
In addition the software will run on the following platforms:
- Windows Vista 32-bit and 64-bit (SP1)
- Windows XP Professional (SP3)
- Windows XP Home (SP3)
- Windows XP Pro x64 (SP2)
- Windows 2000 (SP4 with Update Rollup 1 – see MS kb891861)
- Windows 2000 Server and above (for Server PCs).
Full instructions for installation are contained in the Getting Started Guide and help files provided in the software. Our software support team also provide assistance, and you can contact them on 0845 456 9594 (+44 191 232 9594 from outside the UK) and at support@theNBS.com.
Please note that the speed of running any software application depends upon several factors. The following specification is an approximate guide only.
Recommended minimum requirements for all NBS software:
- Processor: Pentium III 1.0GHz
- Memory: 256 MB (For Windows 2000/XP) 512Mb (For Windows Vista)
- Free disk space: 1Gb
- Screen resolution: 1024 x 768 in 32 bit colour.
Apple Macintosh
We have recently tested the compatibility of NBS software with Apple Boot Camp. The specification of the machine tested on is as follows:
- iMac 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo
- 17-inch widescreen LCD with 1440x900 resolution
- 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo with 2MB shared L2 cache
- 2.0Gb 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
- 160GB Serial ATA hard drive
- Slot-load 8x double-layer SuperDrive
- ATI Radeon X1600 graphics with 128MB GDDR3 memory
- Built-in AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth 2.0
Please Note: In order to run NBS software using Apple Boot Camp users will require a bona fide full version of Microsoft Windows: XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 3, Windows Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, or Ultimate with Service Pack 1. (No upgrade or multi-disc versions).
NBS have tested the Specification Family portfolio software (NBS Building, NBS Landscape, NBS Engineering Services), NBS Contract Administrator and NBS Scheduler successfully for standalone and network installations and the platform appears to be very stable.
Although the software has been successfully tested on this platform we cannot guarantee that the software will react the same with another specification Mac. Therefore, we cannot guarantee performance of our software when using Windows on a Mac. Support will be limited for any customers using our software on Mac as we will not be able to determine that the encountered problems are due to our software or the system used.
Windows 95, 98, 98SE, ME and NT4
Microsoft has retired support for:
- Windows 95
- Windows 98
- Windows 98SE
- Windows ME
- Windows NT4
Microsoft state that these operating systems are outdated and can expose customers to security risks. NBS do not support these operating systems and recommend that customers who are still running the above upgrade to a newer, more secure Microsoft operating system, such as Windows XP (SP3), as soon as possible.
