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2 stars
Version: Steel-Link.com Suite 1.0.61
"If you don't have a ft/inch calculator, this MIGHT suffice..."
Pros: If you get this for anything (and it doesn't slow your system to a crawl), do it for the Shapes Viewer. THIS appears to work well, and it is intuitive to use. However, with all the other issues, can I trust the numbers in their database? I don't have the desire to check all these numbers... there's a chart on my wall that I can access with a lot fewer keystrokes, and I trust the source (AISC).
Cons: Wow... where to start. First, let me point out that this software is no longer on my system, because it slowed my computer to a crawl due to some background task that wanted to run in my system tray. I routinely run AutoCAD, OpenOffice programs, and numerous other programs simultaneously without a hitch. Why is a calculator causing a strain on resources?
Now, the specifics: Good luck figuring out the correct format for using your keypad to input fractions of an inch. There are no help files, and I had to go to Finch's website and look at screenshots to figure it out (took about 12 minutes). After about 25 minutes, I still couldn't figure out a way to use the calculator without alternating between the mouse and keyboard... I'll stick with my desktop Construction Master for speed.
On to the Toolbox: I only had to try it twice to determine it was useless. Put in a floor-to-floor height, and look for the number of treads... but it won't do that, it wants you to use the calculator and figure it out. Ok, so I put in the number of treads, based on a max riser height of 7". It comes back with a riser height of 7 5/16", and a first riser height of 6 9/16, then gives me a red box warning me that the difference is between the first riser and the others is 3/4"? I have a spreadsheet, made in under 10 minutes, that lets me put in a floor-to-floor height and a max riser height, and sets all the risers EQUAL and gives me accurate figures. I'll go back to it before I'll mess with this "tool".
I didn't bother with the circle tool, because in my world, a detailer knows how to spell "circumference".
The triangle solver has the same problem that a lot of these "tools" have... you can't input the dimension, you have to "calculate" it first, then "get" it from the calculator. Why the multiple steps? Some programmer has a lot more time than I do.
One last security issue: Why does a calculator/toolbox need to access the internet during installation? Thank goodness I run a software firewall.
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5 stars
Version: Steel-Link.com Suite 1.0.61
Pros: It is a quick and easy way to get the measurments that i need when i need them.
Cons: There is nothing about the product that i don't like it gets the job done.
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