TOPIC: Addition to Software Suggestions

Ok, download and run the update again Cameron

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...  ;D

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.

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!!

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.

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.

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!!!