How to use the iSPC

The Interactive Standard Provisions for Construction Contracts (iSPC) is designed for use as an online reference only. It is not designed to be printed, or extracted to a local file in formats such as Adobe PDF or Microsoft Word.

It is expected that there may be an occasional need to print individual pages of the iSPC for use in situations where online access is not available, such as field use in areas with no cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. To facilitate this occasional printing, a Print button has been included in the standard menu bar (see Print Button, below). The iSPC Print button must be used to print iSPC pages. Using a web browser’s Print button, Print Preview button, or pressing Ctrl+P, will result in incomplete pages.

The iSPC screen consists of several main components: the button bar, the left pane, and the Content pane. These components can appear in one of three pre-configured layouts. The iSPC automatically selects one of the three layouts based on the size of the user’s browser window:

· PC Layout - A two-pane layout (shown above) with a button bar at the top, a Table of Contents/Index/Glossary pane on the left, and a Content pane on the right

· Tablet Layout - A single-pane layout with a button bar on the left and a Content pane on the right

· Phone Layout – A single-pane layout with a button bar at the bottom and a Content pane above

On devices with resizable browser windows, the iSPC will switch layouts automatically when the window reaches the minimum or maximum size for each layout.

iSPC Screen (PC Layout)

iSPC Screen (Tablet layout)

iSPC Screen (Phone layout)

The button bar contains the controls needed to navigate the iSPC and find content within it. Depending on the layout, the button bar will appear at either the top, left, or bottom edge of the iSPC screen.

The ToC button causes the iSPC Table of Contents to appear. In PC layout, the ToC will appear in the left-hand pane; in Tablet or Phone layout, the ToC will appear in the Content pane.

The Table of Contents is an expandable tree. Chapter titles expand when clicked to reveal all of the subsections contained within the chapter. Clicking a subsection title brings the subsection into the Content pane. After expanding multiple chapters, the user may find the length of the ToC to be cumbersome. In this event, chapters may be returned to their collapsed state by clicking their titles a second time.

The Index button causes the iSPC Index to appear. In PC layout, the Index will appear in the left-hand pane; in Tablet or Phone layout, the Index will appear in the Content pane. Each of the common terms, acronyms, and abbreviations in the Index can be clicked to display a clickable menu of all locations where the term appears in the iSPC. Clicking one of these menu items will cause the corresponding chapter or section to appear in the Content pane. If no menu item is selected, the user may choose to return to the ToC by clicking the ToC button; switch to the Glossary by clicking the Glossary button; or use their web browser’s Back button to return to the previous page.

The Glossary button causes the iSPC Glossary to appear. In PC layout, the Glossary will appear in the left hand pane; in Tablet or Phone layout, the Glossary will appear in the Content pane. Each of the common terms, acronyms, and abbreviations in the Glossary can be clicked to display an expansion or definition of the term. The user may return to the ToC after a definition is checked by clicking the ToC button; switch to the Index by clicking the Index button; or use their web browser’s Back button to return to the previous page.

The Home button causes the Content pane to return to the Home page and the ToC to return to its top entry. The Home button is only visible in PC Layout; in the other layouts, the user may click the Home entry at the top of the ToC to return to the Home screen.

The Print button sends the page currently displayed in the Content pane to the user’s default printer. Like the Home button, the Print button is visible only in the PC Layout. Printing is not available in Tablet or Phone layouts.

The iSPC includes a keyword Search capability, enabling the user to search for specified keywords and/or phrases. In PC Layout, the Search capability is accessed by entering user-specified keywords or phrases directly into the Search box. In Tablet and Phone layouts, the Search box is replaced by a Search button; clicking the Search button displays a Search box in the Content pane. Once keywords and/or phrases are entered into the Search box, the search is activated the search by pressing Enter on the keyboard, or by clicking the magnifying glass symbol on the right side of the Search box.

Search terms may include multiple individual words, such as pavement and markings, or whole phrases, such as “pavement markings”. Phrases must be surrounded by double quotes, or else the words which make up the phrase will be treated as separate individual words, and the search return will be less exact. In the preceding example, searching for pavement markings without the quotes will return any pages in the iSPC which contain both words, but not necessarily together, or in any specific order. Searching for the phrase “pavement markings” with the quotes included, however, returns only those pages which include the entire phrase, in order. Search terms are automatically highlighted on the returned pages.

The iSPC is composed in HTML format, much like any conventional web site. It is accessed through a web browser application, and can be accessed on most web-capable devices, such as PCs, laptops, tablets, and phones.

Navigating among the chapters and sections of the iSPC is accomplished by three primary methods:

· By clicking the Back and Forward navigation buttons on the user’s web browser

· By saving the URL of an iSPC chapter or section in a web browser’s Favorites or Bookmarks