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The book we know and love is now on disk....
v5 Review by Eric Wegerbauer
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A book into a CD what is at stake, what is gained, and what is lost if one translates the architects “bible” from its 66 year old printed version that has weighed heavily on so many desks, into the contemporary
digital? “Information age!” “Grand idea!” “Long awaited!”
“Finally, all my handicapped bathrooms will be really (GRAPHICS) standard…”
We loose some weight…begin to interact! The first impression is really bombastic! Every page of the old book ready to plug-in The 2.0 Version
offers most of the graphic information vectorized as DXF, DWG, or DGN (new!). With the hype read and navigation under way it is clear that too much information is still just a direct scan from the 66 year past.
Written information is saved out via the clip board…but the text that is TIF or PICT is only printable. Though not at 100%, the interaction with all major drafting, graphics and word processing programs is effective.
As my trackball cruises over, through and into the pages, the CD unfolds with simple clarity. The main page allows choices of: “topic”, building “system”, “interest”, “word” search, (CS)“index” the labyrinth of information allows me to take many paths in search of the needed information.
New features in Version 2.0 are the “Manufacturer” and “Industry” links. The new Partnership with Architects’ First Source (AFS) incorporates a list of Product Manufacturers and is conceptualized to
link the user directly to related web sites (look out Sweets). To date 90% of the links lead to AFS’s site but the concept seems promising.
On the wish list… The main part of the information surface is still based on straight scans from the book version and not “re-thought” for the new media. This keeps old friends on board during the transition, but AGS needs to explore the digital concept and find appropriate ways to ‘flip’ through their information. Some modern illustrations of the work (like the “system”diagrams) to go with the media would make it attractive to the new generation of ‘computer’ architects.
Would this software be helpful to me?…Yes
Is the software an improvement on the book?…Yes
Would I pay the asking price for the software?…No, the price is a bit too much for what is offered.
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The most respected professional reference
work in the design industry, Architectural
Graphic Standards, is now the complete
interactive reference for today's
architectural practice. Architectural Graphic
Standards, the design industry bible that has
defined the practice of architecture for over
seventy years, is now in its second release
on CD-ROM.
AGS CD-ROM allows design professionals to
search for, retrieve, and modify over 10,000
architectural elements. Data can be moved
from AGS CD-ROM to a variety of Windows
applications including CAD. The new Version
2.0 adds thousands of high quality vector
drawings and Industry Links that deliver
context sensitive, current information from
the web sites of over 2000 trade and
professional associations, product
manufacturers, and codes and standards
organizations.
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