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Free Building Product Specifications - Arcat Specs are complete, accurate, and in the CSI 3-part format for building and construction professionals. Our building product and material specifications are free to view and download in DOC, RTF or Text. These long-form proprietary specifications are complete with technical data, astm standards, performance features and product attributes.

ARCAT Specs File Format Comparison Chart

(Table scrolls left-right)
Microsoft Word Word Perfect ASCII Text
2000 Mac Formatted Unformatted
Word Processor Required Word 2000/97, 7.0/95, 6.0, or 6.0 for Mac Any version back to & including WP5.1 for DOS   Any text editor or word processor Any text editor or word processor
Windows Windows 2000, NT, 98, or 95 Windows 2000, NT, 98, or 95 No Yes Yes
PC DOS No Yes No Yes Yes
Mac Yes No Yes Yes Yes
  Editing Tips Editing Tips Editing Tips Editing Tips Editing Tips
Benefits Useful if Word97 or 2000 is not available. Native WordPerfect files, not converted from Word. Native WordPerfect files, not converted from Word. Useful if word processor will not read any of the other formats. No real benefit. Last resort.
CSI 3-Part Format Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Notes to Specifier "Hidden" text, "normal" style Non-printing comments   Notes easily distinguishable from text, will print unless deleted manually Notes easily distinguishable from text, will print unless deleted manually
Paragraph Styles No, all paragraphs are "Normal" style No No No No
Paragraph Numbering CSI-style, using field codes, semi-automatic renumbering CSI-style, automatic renumbering CSI-style, automatic renumbering CSI-style hard numbers, no automatic renumbering CSI-style hard numbers, no automatic renumbering
Comments "Edit-by-deletion." No styles. Numbering uses field codes, not "bullets & numbering." "Edit-by-deletion." Uses indent codes correctly, but few other WP features. "Edit-by-deletion." Uses indent codes correctly, but few other WP features. "Edit-by-deletion." Does not have line breaks or carriage returns
in middle of paragraphs. Too wide for printing using text editor.
"Edit-by-deletion." Each line is ended with a line break/ carriage return. Will print ok, but editing is extremely time-consuming.
Compatibility with other word processors Windows and Mac files are the same files. Readable by Word but Word doesn't format as well. Readable by virtually any word processor or text editor. Best format for Word for DOS. Readable by virtually any word processor or text editor.

If you don't see your word processor or platform above, check the documentation for your word processor.
It may indicate the types of files it can read and convert.