Frequently Asked Questions
General Information
Who can use Specifi®?
Specifi® offers tailored solutions for every role involved in the specification, design, installation, and quoting of a commercial foodservice facility. Sales representatives can use Specifi® Cloud and planning tools to capture customer ideas and requirements. Once a plan is created, Designers, Project Managers, Manufacturing representatives, and sales agents can leverage Specifi® Design and Quote to produce architectural designs, installation plans, mechanical schedules, and 3D renderings. Sales agents can then use these designs to automatically generate quotes, bids, or tenders, with all changes kept fully synchronized. The entire Specifi® platform is built on accurate, flexible architectural symbols and content, maintained for over 300 food and catering equipment manufacturers worldwide.
What is Specifi®?
Specifi® is a suite of software tools and services designed specifically for the commercial foodservice industry. It enables professionals to plan, design, quote, and install commercial foodservice and catering facilities in a fraction of the usual time.
Can I try Specifi® before purchasing?
Absolutely! We recommend trying Specifi® before making a purchase. You can request a trial for the product you’re interested in:
- Specifi® Design: https://en.specifiglobal.com/products/specifi-design/
- Specifi® Quote: https://en.specifiglobal.com/products/specifi-quote/
- Specifi® eCatalog: https://en.specifiglobal.com/products/specifi-ecatalog/
Minimum Requirements
Can I use the Specifi® Design Plugin on a Mac?
To run the Specifi® Design Plugin on an Apple Macintosh, you need to install a Windows virtualisation application (e.g., Parallels) along with a compatible Windows operating system.
Which operating systems are supported by the Specifi® Design Plugin?
The Specifi® Design Plugin is compatible with the following operating systems:
- Windows 11 (64-bit)
- Windows 10 (64-bit)
What are the minimum requirements to install and run the Specifi® Design Plugin?
The minimum PC requirements for the Specifi® Design Plugin align with Autodesk® product standards:
- CPU: Intel® i7 or i9
- RAM: 16 GB or more
- GPU: Dedicated Direct3D graphics card with at least 4 GB (recommended: GPU compatible with AutoCAD®/Revit®)
- Display: 1280 x 1024 resolution, 32-bit color (True Color)
- Storage: 2 GB of free hard disk space (excluding library installations)
These requirements also apply to the Specifi® Design CAD engine.
Can I install the Specifi® Design Plugin without an AutoCAD®-compatible version on my PC?
Yes. The Specifi® Design Plugin can be installed with the Specifi® Design CAD engine. If you don’t have an AutoCAD® license compatible with Specifi®, you can first install the Specifi® Design OEM CAD engine and then add the Specifi® Design Plugin.
Do I need an internet connection to use Specifi®?
Specifi® Quote Cloud is web-based and requires an internet connection. The Specifi® Design Plugin, installed locally on your PC, does not need a constant connection. Internet access is only required at startup (for login), when inserting equipment from the online catalog, or when synchronizing the drawing with the quote, since the Quote module is web-based. Specifi® Design and Quote Legacy also do not require continuous internet access—connection is only needed for installation and to run Specifi® LiveUpdate to download official manufacturer library updates.
Can I continue working on projects using my standard AutoCAD® settings without running Specifi®?
Yes. AutoCAD® uses profiles for configuration, so you can create a custom AutoCAD® profile and set up a desktop shortcut to launch AutoCAD® with that profile.
For guidance on creating a custom profile in AutoCAD®, see: Autodesk Help Guide.
To create the shortcut: right-click the AutoCAD® icon, select Properties, and ensure the Target field includes /p [profile name] immediately after the AutoCAD® executable path.
Example:"C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 20??\acad.exe" /p [profile name] /product ACAD /language "en-US"
Software Management
How can I get support if I encounter issues with Specifi®?
For Specifi® Cloud products, you can open a support ticket via the Help menu by selecting “Send Feedback”. Alternatively, you can submit a support request using this form: https://en.specifiglobal.com/support/. Your request will be sent to our Technical Assistance Department, and they will contact you as soon as possible.
Can I use my Specifi® subscription on multiple computers?
Specifi® Design and Quote Desktop use a per-user license, allowing the software to be installed and run on one PC at a time. If you need to transfer the software and license to a new PC, please contact our Technical Support.
Specifi® Design Plugin Cloud and Quote Cloud allow the same user credentials to be used on up to two PCs, but not simultaneously.
For additional Specifi® licenses, please reach out to our Sales Department.
Can I share projects and libraries created with Specifi® with my colleagues?
Yes. For Specifi® Desktop products, a Client/Server configuration allows you to store the Specifi® database, libraries, projects, drawings, and offers on a local server and share them with client PCs where Specifi® Design or Quote is installed.
For Specifi® Cloud products, the database, libraries, and projects are stored on a dedicated Specifi® web server, enabling users within the same company to share their data.
Can I integrate Specifi® with my internal management system?
Specifi® Design and Quote Desktop can be integrated with your internal management system by developing a custom application (available as an additional service upon request). Specifi® Cloud applications can be integrated using the Specifi® API. For more information, visit: https://en.specifiglobal.com/products/specifi-api/
Libraries
Where can I find the list of Specifi® partners?
The full, up-to-date list of our partners is available on our website in the Partner section: https://en.specifiglobal.com/specifi-partners/
How can I access a specific Specifi® manufacturer’s catalog?
Specifi® manufacturer partner libraries are available for free but require approval from each supplier. To request access, log in with your Specifi® credentials at: https://libraries.specifiglobal.com/partners/request-foodservice-equipment-libraries/ and submit your authorisation request for each library.
Why do I need to request access to a Specifi® manufacturer’s catalog?
The catalog is owned by the manufacturer, and Specifi® is contractually required to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines. While Specifi® encourages manufacturers to provide as much public access as possible, each manufacturer sets its own business rules. When you request access to a library, the manufacturer is notified immediately, and authorizations are typically granted within three days.
How much do Specifi® partners’ libraries cost?
All manufacturer libraries are available free of charge to all Specifi® users.
Into how many languages is each Specifi® partner’s library translated?
Each manufacturer decides which languages to support based on the markets they operate in. Specifi® is designed to accommodate all languages that a manufacturer chooses to publish in the system.
When do manufacturers release updates?
Each manufacturer has its own update schedule, but Specifi® ensures that any updates from the manufacturer are made available to users immediately.
How can I receive library updates from Specifi® manufacturer partners?
If you have been granted access to a specific library by the manufacturer, you can update it as follows:
- Specifi® Desktop: Use LiveUpdate, a synchronization tool installed with Specifi®, to ensure you have the latest pricing and product information.
- Specifi® Cloud: All library updates are automatically available and ready to use.
Can I import a manufacturer’s catalog that isn’t available in Specifi®?
Yes. Specifi® allows you to create and manage custom libraries. You can build your own personal library and include a subset of the manufacturer’s catalog, complete with symbols, technical information, and pricing—just like in a manufacturer-published catalog.
Can I modify the catalogs and data in official Specifi® libraries?
Officially published libraries and catalogs are controlled by the manufacturer and cannot be edited. While users cannot change the core data, it is possible to modify certain product information within the context of a single design or bid.
What if I use a manufacturer whose library isn’t available in the Specifi® database?
Specifi® recommends contacting both us and the manufacturer, and we can help facilitate getting their library published.
Specifi® Design
Can I change product information such as dimensions, descriptions, or prices?
Yes. Changes can be made within a specific offer or drawing, but they are not saved to the manufacturer’s base library.
Can I change the size of 2D and 3D models?
Yes. You can adjust model sizes within a drawing, but these changes are not saved to the manufacturer’s base library.
If I change product information in a drawing, will these changes appear in the offer?
Yes. Specifi® allows you to synchronise the drawing with the offer to keep all inserted products aligned.
Can I import my own blocks into a Specifi® drawing?
Yes, you can import your own 2D and/or 3D blocks. Specifi® recommends that these blocks meet Specifi® standards to fully leverage the software’s functionality.
Can I create separate technical legends (e.g., electrical, mechanical, plumbing)?
Yes. Specifi® allows you to choose which technical data to include in the schedule.
Do I need to re-enter all my product data into the technical legend?
No. Technical legends are generated automatically. Each item in the drawing already contains its technical and commercial information, which is automatically included in the schedule or exported to the offer.
Can I create a bid from an existing Specifi® drawing?
Yes, the Specifi® Design module allows you to automatically generate a quote from the drawing by exporting all product information using the Offer Synchronisation command.
Can I create professional rendering?
Specifi® enables you to create quick and easy renderings. The final quality depends on the CAD application you’re using, as well as factors like lighting, room size, and your level of experience.
What happens if a block is missing from the library?
If the library is incomplete and a block is missing, Specifi® will automatically create a block of the specified size. These blocks are simple cubes that represent the maximum volumetric footprint of the equipment.
Specifi® Quote
Can I create a drawing from an existing Specifi® offer?
Yes. With the Specifi® Design module, you can import item data from the offer using the Offer Synchronisation command. Specifi® will provide the sequence of blocks to place in the drawing, matching the order of the offer.
Can I create a custom bid layout?
Specifi® allows you to customise the offer layout with your company’s header and footer, as well as select which product information to include.
Can I add custom products?
Yes. Specifi® allows you to add empty rows that you can populate with your desired product information, and then save these items to your personal library.
Can I use my local currency?
Yes. Specifi® lets you set your local currency for offers and automatically converts prices based on the exchange rate you specify.
Can I change the product images?
Yes. You can replace the default product image with one of your choice if the manufacturer’s image is not suitable.
Can I export the offer?
Yes. Offers can be exported in various formats, including MS Word, MS Excel, .csv, and .pdf.