EcoVantage Reprographics is very excited to announce their new online planroom.  Using this software Architects and Contractors can now have clients, subcontractors and any other interested party view their plans online, with the ability to markup the images.  In addition, notes and topics can be created using our system so that everyone can stay on the same page while looking at the same file.  This new system will allow control of the file to remain in your hands, while at the same time communicating the specifications, plans and any notes to the audience that you want to see the files.

LOGGING ON.

First, a couple of caveats...

1. You must use Internet Explorer on a computer running Windows. (Our software uses some Microsoft specific technology)
2. Any Pop-up blockers must be disabled. (at least for  this site)

3. Go to http://projectweb.ecovantage.com/main

The first time you log in, you system will ask if it can load a .chm file.  This is the ProjectWeb help file being loaded on to your system.

There you will see the log in screen-

Enter the email that your invitation was sent to, as well as the password.  (NOTE: The password field is case sensitive)

If your browser window disappears after a short delay, with no notion as to why, this is usually the result of the pop-up blocker shutting down the next screen, which is actually a pop up window.  Turning the pop up blocker off, and attempting to log in to the site again will usually resolve it.

Now you see the list of projects available to you--

Clicking on any of the names(i.e. Reyes Dental Center, Ocean Park Imaging, etc...)  under the Project heading will bring that project up--

On the left you can see the split into Plans, Specifications and Special Instructions.  On the right is the standard Project information, including contact information.  Clicking on the words on the left will bring up the appropriate folder.

If you click on the thumbnail, the viewer will load so that you can see the files. (The first time you do this, if your computer doesn't have a Java Virtual Machine installed it will let you know that you need to download one from www.java.com.  Once you have done that, you may have to restart your computer and re-login to the site to see the files properly)

VIEWING FILES


When you open up the viewer, you have two options.  The first is to open up the plan viewer in the frame on the right side of the window.  This will keep you desktop more organized, however the visible area of the image will be smaller.  The second option is to open the viewer outside of the frame,  which opens in a new window.  This window can be expanded to fill the entire display.  The option to choose between them is selected, before you open any files, in the file listing window.    The option on the left will open the plan viewer inside the frame.  The option on the right (with the green button selected)  will open the separate window to view the files.

In the viewer window, several buttons exist to help you format the image to your liking.  In the bottom right corner, 4 buttons control the display of the image.      The "90" button will rotate the drawing clockwise 90 degrees every time it is pushed.  The layer button, , will allow you to toggle through the various layers of a CAD drawing.  The monochrome button, , will allow you to change colored drawings to monochrome.  The background button, , allows the background color to be changed.  Pressing it repeatedly will cycle through all of the possible combinations of background and foreground color. 

In the toolbar at the top there are several tools that will allow you to markup, measure or print any drawings that you have permission to.   The markup button , ,  will allow you to create markup files that appear over the top of the image in  the ProjectWeb viewer.  (These don't change the underlying file)  The print button, , will allow you to print files. The measure button, , allows you to select a known distance on the drawing, and then plot area and distances based on that measurement.  The fitting buttons, , allow you to view the entire drawing on the screen, fit the width of the drawing to the screen or, using the number, some zoom factor that allows you to see the file at the magnification you desire.
The hand, , allows you to drag the drawing around the viewer to view a different part.    The zoom buttons, , allow you to zoom on a specific rectangle that you specify, zoom in and out by dragging the mouse, and view a specific zoom window.


UPLOADING FILES

Once your project has been created, the first thing you will want to do is upload your files.  After logging in, selecting your project and selecting the plans folder, you will be presented with the following image.

Select the upload files button, and you will see a file browsing window,



Once you have selected the files you wish to upload, select the Open button and you will be presented with four options.



By selecting the "Upload Now" option, your files will be transferred to your project folder.  Once the transfer is complete, hit the refresh button, ,  to see your files in the folder you wished to load them in.