Addition to Software Suggestions

[Cameron Anderson]

Hmmm...   it's giving me a "Could not create the Java virtual machine" error.

I didn't have HIP open, but I did have Turbo Tax open.  I've restarted, java was already updated, I've uninstalled (after making a copy of the HIP folder with my docs, footer, etc.), but even a new copy on the machine isn't working.  Maybe I've damaged java somehow.

[Dominic Maricic]

That's interesting! That's the reason I changed how HIP was handling free system memory. I had the first guy in 6 years to have that error last week and the change I made fixed it for him. Looks like it could cause other people to have an issue so I'll change it back. Are you using XP SP3 by any chance? Give me a few minutes to cook up an update.

[Dominic Maricic]

Ok, download and run the update again Cameron

[Cameron Anderson]

Hey Dom, I wasn't on here to see your post so I didn't yet try your changed update.  I did get everything working again so don't change that memory upgrade if you don't have to, I like computer speed.   I uninstalled Java (I had both update 7 and 24 on the computer, Win 7 BTW) and then downloaded Java from the Oracle website and re-installed.  I'm betting Turbo Tax uses Java and I messed it up when I did the HIP update with it still open.  Anyway, all's well.

So I took a look at the update and  oooooohhh...  the possibilities...   

Of course now I have to completely rethink my damage panels.  Here's how I'm thinking of using the new "Macy Merge" feature:

Write out several standard(but custom to their section) recommendations using the same all-caps convention and indentation.  Only now, I can mix and match my observations and recommendations without having to write out every possible combination I could come across.  I could even have multiple recommendations, each indented to show they correspond to the comment above them. For example, this:

There is a major deterioration of the brick foundation wall at the South side of the house.  EVALUATE: Recommend further evaluation by a structural engineer and recommend all necessary repairs be performed to prevent potential movement.¹ ² REPAIR: Moisture buildup at the exterior walls must be corrected to prevent potential movement by redirecting drainage of gutters and grading away from the structure.*

 ...is not as clean (to me) as this:

There is a major deterioration of the brick foundation wall at the South side of the house.¹ ²
       EVALUATE: Recommend further evaluation by a structural engineer and recommend all
       necessary repairs be performed to correct existing movement.¹ ²
       REPAIR: Moisture buildup at the exterior walls must be corrected to prevent potential
       movement by redirecting drainage of gutters and grading away from the structure.*

The second example is really easy to do with the Macy Merge. And if there is related mold-like bio growth at a different house with a similar foundation problem, I can join those comments and recommendations together just as easily.

I can even see grabbing FYI links and similar resource comments and placing them in a paragraph just below the observations, almost like a resource footnote at the bottom of that sub-section.  It will be interesting to see how people use this.  Seems like it has a lot of potential, not just for how comments are made, but also for the layout of those comments on the final report.   And I love the blank list item too.  Two really simple ideas with great results.

And I'm going to start another post with a couple small ideas relating to what Dave mentioned about the list titles.  Thanks again Dom for all your work. Kudos to Dave and Serge for the good discussion too.

[David Macy]

The Macy Merge, I like it.

I have my 2.9.2 loaded, my new line and bullet selector selected, My Q1 is loaded and I am off to try out the Macy Merge.

I will let you know how it goes, very excited!!

[Cameron Anderson]

If you select a few comments, hold CTRL and click Black/Red the comments selected will be merged into one, but separated by a comma in the black/red area. If you hold the SHIFT key then a period will separate them. If you hold ALT then there will only be a space.

Hey Dom, is is possible to make these instructions in shorter form appear when you hover over the "Black" or "Red" buttons?  Thought that might be helpful for guys getting use to the feature in the future.

[Dominic Maricic]

Yup, good idea. I was also thinking of adding an option that could be turned on to add 4 radio buttons under Black/Red

None
Comma
Sentence
Space

That way you click the comments, select sentence, hit black/red and you're done. I just need to make sure more people would use the feature. Otherwise it becomes something that crowds the program in too much.

[David Macy]

Just thought I would share my first inspection with the new feature.

The house was only 23 years old but I took 140 pics, at least 100 had defects.

This was the perfect home to try this on. The piece of crap, numerous issue home.

It moved great through the report. The Ctrl red/black is awesome, this is my best looking report by far.
I need to work with my template a bit for grammar and I do not need so many lists now.

Also I have speed keys and I may make one the CTRL,  as the button is so small on the Q.

Thanks Dom, this is what I needed. I really like this feature. This is better than any other feature including the lists.

Now one downside and this does not affect me is that for picture captions it would not work as well as there is an entire comment and not just individual comments. I go through pics at end and edit, comment.

This house was about 3500 sq ft and report was about 1 1/2 hours but the house was a piece of crap. I also did the utility data at home, house was infested with rodents and I was starting to feel sick!!

Thanks so much, can I post about this feature over at INachi/ASHI?

THANKS, THANKS, A MILLION!!!

[Dominic Maricic]

Hi Dave,

Sure, go ahead and post about it wherever you want. 90 minutes for the first report with that feature and most at home sounds good. With some more practice I'm sure you'll speed that up quite a bit. Don't forget to share a copy of the report so we can check it out.

[Cameron Anderson]

Dave,

I looked over the report you posted, and I see now why you have posted about how it takes you a longer time to write your report...  it's because you WRITE A BOOK! 

Seriously, I am not going to post a full sample of my HIP reports on here until I have at least 1/4 of the information you include in yours.  I'm just embarrassed by my anemic, size-of-a-nickel reports.

I also saw a few features in your report that I haven't uncovered in HIP:

1. How do you have bullets in every line of your water heater descriptions?  It looks like you have 5-6 selection panels on one page of your template.

2. How did you get a photo into your document just before your Grounds section?  I would LOVE to start each section off with a diagram of all the parts that section would cover.  Also, where do you get most of your diagrams?

3. How do you make your basement diagram?  Is it a program made just for that?


Just one negative, the diagram for the CSST bonding isn't very legible.  I've noticed HIP scales down the resolution of photos a bit.  Clients might not know what they're looking at.

I can tell you really put that Macy Merge to work.  I used it a few times today as well, but my comments will have to be modified a little to get the full benefit of it.  Nice report, very informative, that's one feature I need to increase in my reports as I get my template more refined.

[Bob Elliott]

I am trying to get Billy B to start posting over here, he is a young, energenic inspector with good ideas. I sent him a sample.

Also were is Bob E, he always has something to say!!

The sample is about 4K.

OK let me have it, good, bad or ugly!!

See attached.

Dom, this feature will help me big time. I can not thank you enough.

Why do I feel insulted here? as I am the bright ,energetic go to guy IMHO.

OK ,you want an opinion?
If anything ,you know I always speak my real opinion.

I think repair or replace,that you did a repair or replace,great job,repair or replace ,with that report,repair or replace.

[Bob Elliott]

Dave,

I looked over the report you posted, and I see now why you have posted about how it takes you a longer time to write your report...  it's because you WRITE A BOOK! 

Seriously, I am not going to post a full sample of my HIP reports on here until I have at least 1/4 of the information you include in yours.  I'm just embarrassed by my anemic, size-of-a-nickel reports.

I also saw a few features in your report that I haven't uncovered in HIP:

1. How do you have bullets in every line of your water heater descriptions?  It looks like you have 5-6 selection panels on one page of your template.

2. How did you get a photo into your document just before your Grounds section?  I would LOVE to start each section off with a diagram of all the parts that section would cover.  Also, where do you get most of your diagrams?

3. How do you make your basement diagram?  Is it a program made just for that?


Just one negative, the diagram for the CSST bonding isn't very legible.  I've noticed HIP scales down the resolution of photos a bit.  Clients might not know what they're looking at.

I can tell you really put that Macy Merge to work.  I used it a few times today as well, but my comments will have to be modified a little to get the full benefit of it.  Nice report, very informative, that's one feature I need to increase in my reports as I get my template more refined.

Cameron there is no reason to be embarrassed as some feel minimal is the way to go.
Short and sweet can do it.
I add a ton of pictures use canned comments for materials` and general tips or standards. Then do narrative for most issues.

To each their own with no one right way if it follows SOP.
You can create large pictures for illustration in the report if you follow my tip to use (4) 400x300 res pics in a row in photo edit.Just store a regular picture by dividing it into four equal parts of 400x300 size then batch add all four together.
You can create folders in your picture section on your computer to store them by title to retrieve them easily into the report.
Wish there was a way to have them added automatically as part of a template but  am ahead of myself.

Remember the template for HIP is fast to customize so just add a system or section name with the word illustration after it and place that section above the section title with the same name.
Your illustration will be clear and page size as that resolution size of 400x300 will make each picture blend with the other three with the tiniest of seams.

Hope you figure that explanation out as I have posted this info once about a year ago here.
I am attaching an example in case it helps.

[David Macy]

Cameron

Please post what you have, the sample you did on an earlier post is great, no need to be embarrassed.

1. How do you have bullets in every line of your water heater descriptions?  It looks like you have 5-6 selection panels on one page of your template.

This was before the lists and I like the look. It is all made in one selection panel. You need to make a space after each line.

2. How did you get a photo into your document just before your Grounds section?  I would LOVE to start each section off with a diagram of all the parts that section would cover.  Also, where do you get most of your diagrams?

There is a secret HTML button in the document section and I had to have Dom help me as HTML is hard for me.

3. How do you make your basement diagram?  Is it a program made just for that?

The county auditor sites have sketches that I save and then insert like any pic and then edit with the program.

Bob good to here from you my friend!!

[Bob Elliott]

What ! that's it?
No commentary on my opinion?

[David Macy]

What ! that's it?
No commentary on my opinion?

Your merge comment was pretty clever.

Would you use this feature?  It is something I have been looking for and I am so appreciative of Doms work.

I am going to post over at Inachi and my HIP expirience so all other users know about how much above and Beyon Dom and HIP are!!

Sorry about the spelling sometimes spell check works sometimes it does not.

[Bob Elliott]

Dave ,why were you looking for that feature?
Hope you understood my sarcastic comment and took it into concentration.

[David Macy]

Dave ,why were you looking for that feature?
Hope you understood my sarcastic comment and took it into concentration.

I like the look of the bullet and new line seperator like Russ posted.

I kept meesing with my template trying to get this look without success.

With my template before the feature it would look like this

*Repair or Replade
*damaged concrete
*upheavel
*trip hazard
*located
*front entrance
* recommend a qualified professional
*before closing

Now it is all on one line and I can use the bullet, new line seperator. Makes it so much easier in the field on my Q1.

I realy like it, I hope others find it useful.

[Bob Elliott]

Yeah ,OK I 'm glad your happy but it looks awfully auto script.

[David Macy]

Yeah ,OK I 'm glad your happy but it looks awfully auto script.

What does that mean??

[Bob Elliott]

David look at my above original reply.
There is to much repetition.