Setting Up Readers

     To view specs, blueprints and addenda, you need to download and install the appropriate readers. Specs and addenda require Acrobat Reader. Plans require the FastBid Reader.

Installing FastBid

     Click on the Construction Reports link at the top of the page. Then click on Current Projects Out for Bid. At the top of this page, you'll see Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view specs and addenda, and FastBid is required to view plans.
     Click on the word FastBid (you can also click here). You will be directed to the author's web site, where FastBid will check your system. If the FastBid viewer is not already installed on your system, or you have an older version installed, the viewer will begin to download to your computer. You may not see any obvious indicators that this is happening. However, it shouldn't take longer than about four minutes for the viewer to download. Once the download has been completed, a pop-up security box will be displayed, informing you that the FastBid control is about to be installed on your system. Click on the OK button to allow it to install. That's all there is to it!

Installing Acrobat Reader

     If you just finished installing FastBid, click on your Back button to go back to our web site. Now click on Get Acrobat Reader. This takes you to Adobe's web site, where you can download the latest version of Acrobat Reader. The specifics that follow are good as of 05/28/2003, but may change somewhat if Adobe revises their download page.
     You'll now see a grey box labeled Step 1 of 2. English is selected as the default language. Select your version of Windows from the drop-down box labeled Platform. Then select your connection speed from the box labeled Connection speed.
     Now you'll see a second grey box labeled Step 2 of 2 appear right below the first box. The checkbox labeled Download full version may or may not be selected depending on your connection speed choice. I recommend that you make sure this is checked off so you can search the spec books although this is not mandatory just for viewing them. Check off the box labeled Do not use Adobe Download Manager.
     Now click on the Download button. This will bring up another web page. Give it a little time, and you should then get the file download box. Select Open file from current location, then click on the OK button.
     Once the download is completed, the installation process will start automatically. You will see files being extracted and setup will start shortly after that. You may want to close, or at least minimize, any open programs, including your web browser.

General Installation Notes

     If you are installing either of these to Netscape Navigator, you should restart your computer before attempting to use the readers.
    Alternate Downloads: At times, members have told us that they're unable to download Acrobat Reader from Adobe's web site. For this reason, I'm making Acrobat Reader available from our web site also. I highly recommend that you first attempt to download the files using the method described in the first section of this page though, as we will not always have the latest version of the reader on our server. The file available for download here should work with Win95, Win98 and WinNT. If you have another operating system, you'll need to go to Adobe's web site to obtain a version for your OS.
     Click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0.

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