How NetSPEX Works

The purpose of NetSPEX is to manage and deploy CAD standards. This is accomplished by relying on a central database that stores standards-compliant drawing components and layer definitions. The database is published dynamically to all NetSPEX servers via XML, making it available enterprise-wide for drawing editing, compliance checking, and standards documentation.

A CAD Manager (or CAD management team) would normally begin by using NetSPEX Administrator to build a CAD standards database. This might involve copying and modifying a particular discipline or drawing type in the A/E/C CADD Standard that is delivered with NetSPEX, importing spreadsheets that define a new client standard, creating a dependent standard with live links to an existing standard, or building a new standard from scratch.

NetSPEX uses a unique file branding system to match each drawing type and discipline to the appropriate drawing components and layer definitions contained in the database. NetSPEX Designer reads the file branding and makes available the appropriate standards-compliant drawing components and layers. If a new drawing is opened, NetSPEX Designer automatically updates to the new set of standards-compliant components and layers based on the file branding. NetSPEX Designer allows components to be placed in AutoCAD and MicroStation.

NetSPEX Compliance Checker can be executed at any time to check and update drawings for CAD standards compliance. This is an interactive process by which non-compliant components can be graphically identified and repaired. NetSPEX Compliance Checker can also be used to bring legacy drawings into compliance with new or revised standards or to check incoming work from sub-consultants.

NetSPEX can be used to print a complete CAD Standards Manual at any time, using any CAD standard (or subset). Documentation is generated automatically from the CAD standards database, in either hardcopy or online format. Just like NetSPEX Designer and the Compliance Checker, the online standards manual is always dynamically linked to the most current version of the CAD standards database. When new clients or projects are added, or a new component is added to an existing standard, each of these applications always reflects the latest information.