Columns in selection and defect area?

[Randy Mayo]

Can you restrict the columns to one and use the vertical scroll bars to view items? The horizontal scroll method and multiple columns is not a normal way of selecting items. Maybe in future upgrades these could be replaced with a multi-selection comboboxes. 

[Bob Elliott]

Hi Randy
I just asked Dom about this last night .

Go to report settings/////options/////then items options.
At the bottom you can pick default columns and pick "one" if you so wish.
just remember to save template for that choice to stick.

[Randy Mayo]

Thanks Bob

That works for the damage panel but does not work on the upper selection panels. I set both to one and save the template and close out the program and restart. Not sure wht the selection is not responding....

[Bob Elliott]

Randy make sure you have version 2.7.
Just click on about box in the upper right and check.

[Randy Mayo]

Bob

I am using the trial version 2.6.6.8

I am trying to develop a template I like well enough to abandon my current forms before I make the leap to purchase the software. I have a "Type A" personality and not just any template will do.... Is the 2.7 available in a trial version?

[Bob Elliott]

Try this Randy


http://www.homeinspectorpro.com/dmdocuments/HomeInspectorPro-2_7-Update.exe

[Dominic Maricic]

Randy the selection panels should be working fine, I just double checked with mine at it's working okay. You might see a little bit of the next column, just let me know.

We scroll left to right on purpose. With one click of the right arrow you can see 30-50 new narratives. Since sometimes people have panels stacked in a window, scrolling downwards didn't look right visually and isn't as clean. If enough guys wanted it though we could make it an option. Post it in the beta section as a suggestion after using the software for awhile if you still feel it's needed. There's quite a few things that aren't conventional. We designed the program from the ground up to be as easy to use by inspectors in the field as possible which of course makes it easy at home too.

[Dominic Maricic]

Oh, and combo boxes are almost done

[Randy Mayo]

Dominic

Are there any future plans to incorporate the ability to manage inspection descriptions & comments as a separate text file and import them into HIP?

[Dominic Maricic]

You can import from InspectVue software and we'll be working on other importers in the future. I'm not sure I understand why you'd be importing from a straight text file? Can you explain that a bit more?

[Bob Elliott]

I often import them myself,though not en-mass.That is not needed as you can set up as many templates as you wish.
I often import individual comments not used as often to eliminate logjam of too many to scroll through.

I do it three ways.
Side by side PDF,clipboard program ,and Active Words software which adds short cuts by allowing you to key words and letters as whole sheets of information to be pasted.

[Randy Mayo]

Dominic

I would find it much easier to manage all the comments in a separate editable file and upload them at one time. Currently in building a template it is basically a cut & past or type each description in one at a time.  Let me back track here I am referring to building and maintaining a template file not the inspection report once its entered.

[Bob Elliott]

Right now you could select all your comments and view them in a PDF.
That is far as it goes with exporting .

The text comments are in Java,which is what makes the software so fast and easy to use.

Other wise it would be a typical word processor like document.

[Dominic Maricic]

Randy, you can copy/paste many comments at once. Just click on as many as you want, or CTRL-A for all, then copy & paste. You can also click on the Add Another comment when adding to add over and over. The problem with an import from a flat text file is how would the program decide where the comments are supposed to go? Open up HIP and another program side by side if you're looking for speed and moving info across. Otherwise, I'm still not exactly sure what you're talking about. Are your comments currently in another program? Or are you wanting to type them all up in a document then import them into a section?

[Randy Mayo]

Bob

I am referring to importing  data to create the template not exporting an existing template. What would be nice is while in the Edit Comment mode along the left column next to the "ADD" and "DELETE" buttons there would be an "IMPORT" button to allow me to import all the selection panel or damage panel data as a group not one at a time.

[Dominic Maricic]

Hi Randy,

Import from where? Where is it that you'd like to type your comments and then import them?

[Bob Elliott]

Bob

I am referring to importing  data to create the template not exporting an existing template. What would be nice is while in the Edit Comment mode along the left column next to the "ADD" and "DELETE" buttons there would be an "IMPORT" button to allow me to import all the selection panel or damage panel data as a group not one at a time.

I have the same question as Dominic.

Lets say you had a spread sheet full of comments on defects or even a Word pad full of material comments.

To know which sections they need to be in takes manual input ,by doing as Dom said.
You must hit the add comments box for each group of comments to know where it will appear.

To make multiple exterior originated software mesh with HIP I am guessing would take a staff the size of Google. (though Dom would know better than I)lol


Personally I have no idea how his import of "Inspect View "works,unless the templates were compatible  and from the same code to begin with.

[Randy Mayo]

Dominic

A simple text file will be file. I am not a Java programmer, I have written several programs in Visual Basic and I am familiar with that language but I am not up to speed on how Java reads a text file. Your program when I paste multi-line text into the box that pops up, when the ADD button is pushed, does not recognize a line return. The individual lines are read in as one long comment. If talking to me directly would clarify the issue email and I will give you my phone number.

[Dominic Maricic]

Hi Randy,

The paste feature definitely recognizes line returns! What program are you typing the original comments in? What operating system are you on? Let me know when you're online, sounds like we need to do a  quick remote session.

The problem with reading from a txt file is that many people's narratives have multiple paragraphs so I can't use something like a new line to tell the program that a new comment is starting.