Spec, Notify, and the Commercial Interiors Library Warehouse

Manufacturer catalogs and the data for materials and symbols are contained in the Commercial Interiors Library Warehouse. Notify provides users with access to the warehouse. Here you can download the catalogs, data, and updates needed for your projects. Configura compiles and publishes any new data or catalogs received from manufacturers within 72 business hours, ensuring users have access to the most up to date information.

To Purchase a License

See the License Administration articles in the MyConfigura section of the Help Center to purchase and manage your licenses and access downloads. When viewing your Active licenses, please note that Spec will be found on the "Others" tab. When you receive a license of Spec, the download will automatically include Notify.

How to Open Notify

If you chose to create a desktop shortcut upon installation, you can open Notify by double clicking on the shortcut. Or, you can use the windows search tool to find and open the application.

After Notify has been opened, the CI Library Warehouse Service will remain running even if the Notify window is not open. When this is running Notify can be opened from the System Tray, also known as the hidden icons, on the bottom right corner of your screen. To open from this tray:

1. Click the up arrow.
2. Right click on the Notify icon.
3. Select Open Notify from the menu.

Additional menu selections are provided for the following:

View Recently Updated - Opens a dialog to display a list of recently updated catalogues.

Log Out - Logs user out of Notify.

CI Library Warehouse Service - Displays the status of Running when connected. An extended menu is provided to manually Stop, Restart, or Open Services. A Restart may fix minor connection issues. When you click the Restart selection, you will need to allow PMRunAs and a program window will open showing the process as this restarts.

Settings - Opens Data Path dialog.

Help - Extended menu of tools to be used exclusively by the Configura Support team.

About - Opens a dialog with information about the installed Spec version.

Close - Closes Notify in the System Tray stopping the CI Library Warehouse connection. This does not close the application window for Notify.

The Notify Window

When Notify opens, it will connect to the CI Library Warehouse. Depending on your internet connection, it may take a moment to connect and load the application. If the connection doesn't respond after 1 minute, a restart of the CI Library Warehouse Service may be required as described above.

Menus can be found at the top of the window for File, Home, View, and Help. Although the ribbon is hidden by default, the menu items can be accessed by clicking on each name. The username appears on the right side with the drop-down menu options to sign out or link to License Manager. The ribbon can also be expanded by clicking on the arrow.

File

The following options are found in this menu:

Settings - Opens the Settings dialog with the following options:

• Catalog Update Schedule - Enable or disable and set time every day to download updates automatically. Note your computer needs to be turned on and connected to the internet for the downloads to occur. If an update is missed due to disconnection, Notify will push the update to the following day at the specified time. 
• Catalog Version Cleanup - Set the number of versions to retain and set Exceptions. Keep in mind storage capacity when increasing this to more than 1 version.
• Download Limits - Enable or disable and set speed limit for downloads.
• Appearance - Enable or disable Dark Theme.
• Advanced - Additional advanced options to enable or disable.
• Cancel - Close the dialog without saving changes.
• Save - Close and save changes made to the dialog.

Set Data Path - Opens Data Path dialog.

Connection to CI Library Warehouse - Displays IP Address, Server Port, and Client Port for connection to CI Library Warehouse.

Recently Added - Shows a list of recently added/updated catalogues.

Exit Notify - Closes the application.

Home

These tools are typically not needed by the User but provide tools for Configura Support and IT administrators. 

View

These tools will allow the user to modify how the window is displayed.

Reset Default Size - Resets the Notify window to the default size.

Enterprises Group Alphabetical or By Installed - Modifies the way the manufacturer tiles are displayed.

Installed Catalogues Group By Version or By Catalogue - Modifies the way the installed manufactures are displayed.

Help

These tools provide information and links about Notify.

About Notify - Opens a dialog displaying the current version of Notify.

Logs - The tools in the Logs section are intended only for use by the Configura Support team.

License Agreement - Opens a dialog displaying the license agreement.

Video Tutorials - Link to video tutorials on the Help Center.

Contact Support - Links to the contact page for the Spec/CIL Support team within Configura.

Alphabetical Navigation

The letters listed below the menus allow users to quickly scroll to manufacturers not yet installed by clicking on the first letter of their name, referred to as the Alphabet ribbon.

Main Catalogue Area

Below the Alphabet ribbon, the main catalogue area is shown with a grey background. This displays catalogues both installed and available for download. By default, Installed catalogues are grouped at the top with other available catalogues below. The method by which the catalogues are grouped, both available and installed, can be modified in the View menu. To expand this area, hover your cursor over the purple dividing line. When you see the double headed arrow, click and drag your cursor to resize the area.

Tabs

In addition to the main catalogue area as seen on the Enterprises tab, tabs are provided for the following:

Installed - Displays only the catalogues currently installed sorted by manufacturer. From here, an individual (or multiple) catalogue(s) can be selected, and a button is provided at the bottom to Remove Catalog(s).

Data - Displays the list of current data files downloaded and their version numbers. A Repair Data button is provided at the bottom for use by the Configura Support team. 

Legacy Catalogues - Displays previous releases of catalogues available for download. See the Legacy Catalogues section below for more information and the Catalog Manager article for how to use these catalogues in Spec.

Recently Added - Displays a list of recently added catalogues.

Logging - Displays logs for use by Configura Support team.

Update Queue

This area displays pending updates or files to download. The Status column will show Not Installed for new manufacturer installations and Update Required for updates to manufacturers already installed. Click Update Now to begin the download or wait until the next scheduled update to run automatically. (as set in File > Settings). See below for more information on downloading catalogues.

Beside the Update Now button, the note icon provides a link to the Manufacturers Notes on the Help Center that provide information on catalogue versions.

Downloading Catalogues

In the main catalogue area, scroll through the manufacturer tiles or use letters above to find the catalogues you wish to download.

When you left click the tile to select a manufacturer, a check will show in the top right corner. The number of files to be downloaded is shown in yellow, which include the manufacturer catalogue and data files. These are then listed in the Update Queue below.

A yellow star indicates when Enhanced Data is available, such as option and material images and material mapping to preview images.

Click Update Now to download the catalogues immediately, or wait until the next scheduled update to run automatically. (as set in File > Settings) A warning will remind you that the speed of the download will depend on your network connection.

The manufacturer tile will update with the number of files installed when the download is complete. While you can add multiple manufacturers at a time, it's recommended not to download more than 3 at once as the files can be large.

The Notify window does not need to remain open while the files are downloading. However, any disruption in internet connection will affect the downloads.

When the downloads are complete, a dialog will open indicating the New Catalogues to Activate. From here you can click to view the Manufacturer Notes, Open the Catalogue Manager, Remind Me Later, or Activate to turn the new catalogues on in the Catalogue Manager.

If Spec is already open, it will need to be closed and reopened to refresh the catalogue updates. See the Catalogue Manager for more details.

Removing a Catalogue

In the main catalogue area, left click a manufacturer tile to remove it and delete the catalogue and data files. A pop-up message will ask you to confirm.

Legacy Catalogues

A Legacy Catalogue is a previous version of a catalogue with older pricing. These may need to be used to adhere to special contracts or pricing accommodations.

All available Legacy Catalogues can be selected for download on the Legacy Catalogues tab in the Notify window.

1. Scroll to the manufacturer in the alphabetized list.
2. Click the + to expand manufacturer section and versions to find the files needed.
3. Check the box to select. 
4. This is now shown in the Update Queue and can be downloaded with any other files in the Queue with the Update Now button.

See the Catalog Manager for more details on using these in Spec.