Archive for September, 2009

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What’s the greenest thing you can do as an architect or designer?

September 30, 2009

I just saw this YouTube video (thanks to @arbiterofwords and @edcmagazine for sharing it!).

In this short video, the cameraman goes workstation to workstation and asks colleagues: “What’s the greenest thing you can do as an architect or designer?” There were a lot of great answers, and I was very excited to hear going paperless was mentioned four times!

If you read this blog frequently, you know that I talk a lot about how Bluebeam can help you go paperless. And it’s so great to see a video like this which demonstrates that architects and designers agree that paperless projects are green projects!

So, don’t just listen to me. Listen to your peers, too, and keep on PDF’ing!

Karen

PS – Incase you didn’t already know, I’m @Bluebeam on Twitter.


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Posted in green building, paperless, videos | Leave a Comment »

Why Bluebeam’s File Attachment Feature is Cool

September 30, 2009

A few days ago I had the chance to meet with an architect who uses Bluebeam. She gave me a lot of insight into how she uses Revu, and I spent the entire time feverishly typing notes. I may have even given myself a mild case of carpal tunnel. But no pain, no gain – right?

Anyways, one of the features she pointed out is File Attachments.  She uses this feature to attach PDF copies of RFIs onto her record sets.

Attach your RFIs to your PDF record set to keep track of where in your building there were questions.

Attach your RFIs to your PDF record set to keep track of where in your building there were questions.

You can use File Attachments to append any file type to a PDF, such as images taken on a jobsite. You can also choose what icon you want Bluebeam to use to represent your File Attachment: A file icon (which updates depending on the type of file attached), a graph, a paper clip, thumb tack or a tag.

When you hover over a File attachment, the file name will display in a pop-up. And, when you double-click the file will open either in Revu (if it’s a PDF) or the appropriate viewer for that file type (i.e. Excel for an .xls file attachment).

What a great way to keep track of project RFIs!

What a great way to keep track of project RFIs!

See, I told you File Attachments are cool! So go ahead and use them, and remember to keep on PDF’ing!

-Karen

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Posted in PDF editing, user stories | Leave a Comment »

Cool Trick for Highlighting Text in PDFs

September 28, 2009

If you use Revu to highlight text in your PDFs, you are going to love this trick.

The highlighter, by default, simply places highlight marks on your file. But of course, if you highlight text, it means that those words are pretty important. And they’re probably something you need to refer back to, and remember some time in the future, right? Well, there’s a very easy way to copy highlighted text into Revu’s Markups List so you can do just that.

First, go to Edit/Preferences/Markups. Check Copy Selected Text into Markups.

You’re on your way to making document review a whole lot easier!

You’re on your way to making document review a whole lot easier!

Once this preference is turned on, any text that I highlight will be copied into the “Comments” column of the Markups List.

What a nifty trick!

What a nifty trick!

Now I have a few options for working with these notes. First, I can use Bluebeam’s Search tool and run a filtered search – scanning only my markups for keywords.

Highlighter03

I can also create a PDF summary of my markups, basically making a “study sheet.”

Who doesn’t love a good shortcut?

Who doesn’t love a good shortcut?

The possibilities are endless! So go ahead, change that preference setting, grab that highlighter tool and keep on PDF’ing!

-Karen

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Posted in PDF markup | 9 Comments »

More people think we’re easy

September 24, 2009

Bluebeam has a reputation, and we just can’t shake it.

Last week I posted some comments from people who think we’re easy. This week, my coworkers in Account Services sent me some more easy feedback:

“Bluebeam is an easy program with ample features.”
-Bruce

“Bluebeam worked great. It was easy to load and everything went without a glitch.”
-Michael

“Bluebeam is very powerful software that becomes easier to use the more you play around with it.”
-Fred

What do you think? Let me know. And remember, to keep on PDF’ing!

-Karen

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Posted in Bluebeam fun, user stories | 1 Comment »

Bluebeam is the best thing since…

September 22, 2009

Sliced Bread

I kid you not, a few days ago my coworker Michelle forwarded me this comment from a Bluebeam user:

I have only just played with the program but I do think Bluebeam is the best thing since sliced bread.

- Mark

What do you think? Is Bluebeam to PDF editors as sliced bread is to baked goods? Let me know. And remember, to keep on PDF’ing!

-Karen

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Posted in Bluebeam fun, user stories | Leave a Comment »

Need some help marking up your PDFs?

September 21, 2009

Raise your hand if one of the following is true:

  1. You are new to Bluebeam.
  2. You aren’t new to Bluebeam, but you want to learn more about the software’s functionality.

Okay, well I guess you don’t really need to raise your hand. But if one of the following does apply to you, we have a new resource on our website that you might want to check out – the Bluebeam Help File.

From “add curve” to “zoom toolbar”, the Bluebeam Help File explains all of Revu’s features.

From “add curve” to “zoom toolbar”, the Bluebeam Help File explains all of Revu’s features.

The Bluebeam Help File is the “everything and the kitchen sink” explanation of Bluebeam PDF Revu, and it can be a very useful tool for learning Revu, especially advanced features. Simply browse through the table of contents, perform keyword searches or look for specific features in the index. It’s all in there!

The Help File is now posted on our Support page. It’s also accessible from the Help menu in Revu. So go ahead, check it out. And remember to keep on PDF’ing!

-Karen

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Posted in help | Leave a Comment »

The PDF Insider is a PRism Award Finalist!

September 18, 2009

Apparently, somebody thinks what we’re doing over here at The PDF Insider is cool. And no, I’m not talking about my Mom (although she is a fan).

The PDF Insider has been named a finalist in the 2009 PRism Awards! This contest is hosted by the Public Relations Society of America, Los Angeles Chapter (PRSA-LA). Every year, PRSA-LA hosts this event to recognize outstanding communication campaigns, including corporate blogs. Winners will be announced during an awards banquet on October 22nd in Hollywood, CA.

I’m very excited about this! The PDF Insider is so new – we just started in February – but it’s already become one of my favorite things to do here at Bluebeam. And it’s so great to see how many Bluebeam users check out this blog every single day!

So thanks for reading, and please cross your fingers for us. And remember, to keep on PDF’ing!

-Karen

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Posted in awards, news | 1 Comment »

Turn your favorite pens, highlighters and more into a Bluebeam tool set

September 17, 2009

One of my favorite features in Revu is the ability to create custom markups and save them in the Tool Chest. I know I talk about this feature a lot. Today I thought it’d be cool to show you step by step how to create digital versions of the tools I have sitting on my desk.

Let’s start by looking at what’s on my desk:

This really is a photo of my desk.

This really is a photo of my desk.

Okay, so I might have a bit of a hard time creating a magic wand markup. But the highlighters and pens are easy to recreate. For example, here’s how to create and save a green highlighter:

  1. Select the highlighter tool.
  2. Change the highlighter color to green from the toolbar.
  3. Make a highlight mark.
  4. Right-click and select Add to My ToolChest/My Tools
Just follow these steps.

Just follow these steps.

Now I just need to repeat this process to create a pink highlighter, blue pen and black pen.

Here are my tools!

Here are my tools!

When you add a markup to the Tool Chest, it is initially saved in drawing mode, which means that you can select it to replicate that exact same markup – some color, opacity, shape and size. You can double click on a markup to put it into properties mode.

Here are my tools in properties mode!

Here are my tools in properties mode!

Once in properties mode, you can select a saved markup, for example, the green highlighter, and make a green highlight mark of any shape or size.

If only it were this easy to improve my penmanship.

If only it were this easy to improve my penmanship.

Now that you know how easy it is to create and save custom markups, go ahead and make digital versions of your favorite tools! And remember, to keep on PDF’ing!

-Karen

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Posted in PDF markup, tool chest, tutorials | 3 Comments »

Cool Tablet PC Deals You Can Take Advantage Of (But I Can’t)

September 16, 2009

Have you heard the news? In our September Bluebeam Insider we announced that Bluebeam and Motion Computing have partnered together. You can now purchase a rugged Motion Computing J3400 tablet pc that comes pre-loaded with Bluebeam PDF Revu!

What could be better than that? A free – or significantly reduced – tablet, of course! Now through September 30th, Motion Computing is offering two generous deals:

  • Win a Motion J3400 tablet. Fill in the entry form here.
  • Save $550 off the Ultimate Field Mobility Bundle. Click here for product and purchasing details.

I was so excited when I heard about these offers, especially the free giveaway, because I have wanted a tablet for a long time. But alas, the Bossman told me I’m not eligible because I’m a Bluebeam employee. (For more proof that my life is unfair see exhibit A and exhibit B.)

But don’t let my misfortune stop you! Enter the contest today. And if you’re already in the market for a tablet, by all means take advantage of this discount. And remember to keep on PDF’ing!

-Karen

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Posted in tablet pc | 1 Comment »

People think we’re easy

September 15, 2009

It seems that Bluebeam has gotten itself quite the reputation…for being easy.  Just take a look at what our users have been emailing us:

“Bluebeam has made reviewing documents much easier without having to go back and forth between numerous programs.”
-James

“I didn’t think I could find something better than Adobe Acrobat, but Bluebeam is easier to use and fits my needs much better.”
-Teresa

“I am pleased with Bluebeam’s ease of use.”
-Roger

“Bluebeam is very easy to use…now all I need to do is convince my boss that I need it!”
-Jodi

Do you think Bluebeam’s the easiest PDF editor on the block? Let me know. And remember to keep on PDF’ing!

-Karen

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Posted in Bluebeam fun, user stories | 1 Comment »

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