HELP

Quick answers for frequently asked questions

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Use any of the tools available in this section or e-mail customer service.

CADdetails Contact Information
Call CADdetails Toll Free: 1-800-363-6644
Contact Title Phone Fax
 James P. Ballantyne
jim@caddetails.com
President /
Director of Corporate Sales & Strategic Alliances
(519) 672-4451 x 22 (519) 660-1322
Rebecca Lorusso
rebecca@caddetails.com
Senior Account Manager (519) 672-4451 x 21 (519) 660-1322
Steve Trotter
steve@caddetails.com
Website Performance Manager  (519) 672-4451 x 25 (519) 660-1322
sales@caddetails.com Sales (519) 672-4451 x 22 (519) 660-1322
Humberto Rodriguez
humberto@caddetails.com
CAD Manager (519) 672-4451 x 23 (519) 660-1322 
Ana Braunstajn
ana@caddetails.com
CAD Technician (519) 672-4451 x 23 (519) 660-1322 
Kathy Geris
accounting@caddetails.com
Office Manager (519) 672-4451 x 27 (519) 660-1322 
Mary Anne Ballantyne
maryanne@caddetails.com
Public Relations /
Privacy Officer
(519) 672-4451 (519) 660-1322 
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CADdetails Registration

WINDOWS XP SERVICE PACK 2 UPDATE
If you are having trouble logging in to www.CADdetails.com, and have recently installed Windows XP Service Pack 2, you can try temporarily turning off the Windows Pop-up blocker, or adding UserHelp.htm to your "Allow List".

Please be assured, CADdetails uses a legitimate pop-up window as part of the login process, not to display unwanted Pop-Up Advertisements.

Note: By default, the Pop-up Blocker is turned on.

Turn Off the Pop-up Blocker

  1. Click Start, point to All Programs, and then click Internet Explorer.
  2. On the Tools menu, point to Pop-up Blocker, and then click Turn Off Pop-up Blocker.

or....

Add www.CADdetails.com to you "Allow List"

  1. Click Start, point to All Programs, and then click Internet Explorer.
  2. On the Tools menu, point to Pop-up Blocker, and then click Pop-up Blocker Settings.
  3. In the Address of Web site to allow box, type www.CADdetails.com , and then click Add.
  4. Click Close.

How much does it cost to register?
Use of the CADdetails website is absolutely free for design professionals and grants you access to thousands of manufacturer-approved, i-drop enabled CAD drawings, product photographs, CSI specifications, PDF product brochures and more.  

I'm being prompted to login... 
For unlimited access to all the content of the CADdetails website, you need to enter a valid business email address in the login box and click on the login button.  

 If this is your first time visiting the site, you will be asked to complete our new user registration form.  All areas with an asterix (*) must be filled out in order to register.  Your business phone and fax number are optional.  If you're interested in learning about the latest additions to the CADdetails website as well as creative design solutions, be sure to sign up for our free monthly e-mail newsletter using the drop box at the bottom of the registration page.

If you've already registered, simply provide your e-mail address and password (if selected) on the login page.

What does the 'keep me logged in' option do?
By checking the 'keep me logged in on this computer unless I log out' option, CADdetails.com will save your login information so you don't have to login every time you visit.  Your login information will be stored until you log off, even if you disconnect from the Internet, close your web browser, or turn off your computer.  To log off, click the green SignOut tab near the top of your screen.

Tip: If you are using a public or shared computer, you should not choose the 'keep me logged in' option because it will enable other users of the computer to access your information.

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dotnetbookmark
I entered my business email address but I still can't access the site . . .
If after entering your email address and clicking on the login button, you are returned to the Login box please....

Check Your Business Registration Information
Ensure that the information you are submitting on our registration page contains only letters and numbers, and no special characters, such as  apostrophes ('), and quotes (").

Enable Your Browser to Accept All Cookies

Internet Explorer 6.x Users 

  1. Select Tools > Internet Options from the main menu. 
  2. Change to the "Privacy" tab. 
  3. Move the slider to "Accept All Cookies"
  4. Click "OK"

Netscape 6x Users

  1. Select Edit  | Preferences  from the main menu.
  2. Select "Advanced"
  3. Select "Accept all cookies"
  4. Click "OK"

 Netscape 7x Users

  1. Select Edit  | Preferences  from the main menu.
  2. Select "Privacy & Security"  > "Cookies"
  3. Select "Enable all cookies"
  4. Click "OK"

For other browser version not listed above, please refer to your browser help section.  If you continue to experience difficulty setting cookies, e-mail CADdetails customer service.  Please specify your browser version so we may better assist you.

What is a "cookie"?
Temporary "cookies"  are used only to help you navigate the site. CADdetails.com does not gather any information on you from any cookies, nor can we gather or change any information on your computer from our cookies.  The cookie on your browser ensures that you are a registered user attempting to access registered user-only areas.

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Privacy & Security

Introduction
This Privacy Policy is designed to tell you about our practices regarding collection, use, and disclosure of information that you may provide to CADdetails.com.  Please be sure to read this entire Privacy Policy before using or submitting information to this site.   By submitting information via this site, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of that information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

How do you use my corporate registration information?
CADdetails.com is committed to providing design professionals with accurate, up-to-date, manufacturer-approved drawings and specifications, at no cost to business professionals. Only business related information should be submitted to CADdetails.com.  You will be informed what information is required and what information is optional. If your business address (including email, phone and fax) is the same as your home address then CADdetails.com will treat all information collected as business in nature.  All providers of information to this site are considered to be employees of commercial enterprises.

Your business registration allows us to bring you new features and services through this site, and to respond to your needs more effectively.  By providing us with your business information, we can keep you informed about new products and notify you about modifications  to the products and specifications contained in our digital library.  Providing your complete and accurate business contact information also allows you to take advantage of our convenient  'Request for Information' form. To instantly request additional information, such as material samples, prices, a follow up call or email from a sales rep., or a job quote, click on the request info. button ( )at the top of the product search results screen.  Your business contact information will automatically be provided to the manufacturer, saving you time.

When you register at CADdetails.com, your business e-mail address and contact information is added to our user database. CADdetails makes available detailed log files to show manufacturers who has viewed and downloaded their product literature, details and specifications. It  is necessary to maintain these log files so that manufacturers may inform product specifiers of important changes to product lines or changes in  federal, state, provincial or municipal standards that may affect the compliance of a product. For your security, this information is provided exclusively to our manufacturer representative through our password protected, manufacturer's only area.  From time to time, members of the CADdetails Community may send you information or newsletters about news, new products, and product line changes. Many of our professional subscribers find these promotions valuable, whether they are purchasing a product, or simply gathering information in order to make an informed decision about a product or service they may be considering for future projects.   We require all product manufacturer's to agree to treat the information you provide in accordance with this Privacy Policy and use it for the same purposes.

We take your privacy very seriously.   If you do not wish to have your business contact information shared with CADdetails participating manufacturers, to report any abuse of the CADdetails system, or if you have questions, comments, requests, or concerns related to this Privacy Policy or the information practices of this site, please contact us as follows: privacy@caddetails.com

Changes to this Privacy Policy
If this Privacy Policy changes, the revised policy will be posted on this site. Please check back periodically. This Privacy Policy was last updated on January 23, 2007.

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I can login, but I'm still not getting anywhere....
Check your browsers Internet Settings or Preferences.  

Internet Explorer 6.x Users 

  1. Select Tools | Internet Options from the main menu. 
  2. Click the "General" tab.
  3. In the middle of the menu in the "Temporary Internet Files" section, you will see a button marked "Settings", click it.
  4. On the settings  menu beneath "Check for newer versions of stored pages" make sure that "each and every time" is selected.

Netscape 6x Users

  1. Select Edit  | Preferences  from the main menu.
  2. Select "Advanced"
  3. Highlight "Cache" and under "Document in cache is compared to network:" make sure that "every time" is selected.
  4. Click "OK"

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How do I view/update my corporate registration information?
If you have successfully registered your business contact information with CADdetails in the past, but would like to update or change your corporate email address, mailing address, phone or fax number, first login to the site with your previously registered email address.  Once inside the site, click on the Preferences link at the top of your screen to view the contact information we currently have in our database.  Edit the information as required and click the 'update' button. 

Tip:  Click on your email address to edit it.

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Browser Requirements
CADdetails has been optimized for PC-use with Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher.  The site is best viewed at 1024 x 768 or higher screen resolution.  Download Explorer

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WINDOWS® XP SP2 SECURITY ALERT DISPLAYS WHEN VIEWING DWF FILES

In Windows® XP SP2, the following security alert is displayed each time you view an embedded DWF™ file using Autodesk® DWF™ Viewer or Autodesk® DWF™ Composer:

To help protect your security, Internet Explorer has restricted this file from showing active content that could access your computer. Click here for options.

Solution

For English, Japanese, and German versions of DWF Viewer 5, please download and install the latest build (521). For earlier versions of the DWF Viewer, please upgrade your viewer to DWF Viewer 5 build 521. You can download the latest DWF Viewer free of charge from www.Autodesk.com.

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How do I view a product's 3-Part Spec?
3-Part Specs are available for 1000's of products on CADdetails.com.  In order to view them, you must be registered and logged in. Access 3-Part Specs from the Available Product Info. screen.  Specifications are available whenever the blue SPEC. button () accompanies the product summary.   To view/print a 3-Part Spec for a product, double click the applicable spec. button.

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How do I view product pictures?
Product pictures are available for 1000's of products on CADdetails.com.  In order to view them, you must be registered and logged in. Access product pictures, as well as descriptions, color charts, and product features  from the Available Product Info. screen.  Product pictures are available whenever the white PIC. button () accompanies the product summary.   To view the picture and description for a product, double click the applicable PIC. button.

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How do I view PDF product brochures?
Additional information is available for many products on CADdetails.com in PDF format.  In order to view them, you must be registered and logged in. Access product brochures and spec-sheets in PDF format  product features  from the Available Product Info. screen.  PDF's  are available whenever the grey PDF button () accompanies the product summary.   To view the pdf file for a product, double click the applicable PDF button.  Click here to download your free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader.

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How do I request more information from a specific manufacturer?
To instantly request additional information, such as material samples, prices, a follow up call or email from a sales rep., or a job quote, click on the blue info button () in the Available Product info. screen.  In order to use this form, you must be registered and logged in.

How do I find similar products?
Want more options?  The Search Similar Product drop down list appears on the left hand side of your screen when a specific product is being viewed (i.e. in the GIF, SPEC., PIC. or PDF view).  Using this option you can can easily find alternative products similar to the currently selected product.

The Search Similar feature can help you find competitive information so you can make direct comparisons.  If you are interested in a specific type of product, Search Similar can help you find a large number of resources very quickly, without having to worry about selecting the right keywords.

Tip: Search Similar works well for the majority of products, however, the more specialized a product is, the fewer results CADdetails will be able to find for you.

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All About Scale

How do I scale CAD drawings downloaded from CADdetails.com?

AutoCAD Users

The CADdetails.com standard layout is an 8 ½” x 11” page drawn in millimeters (216mm x 280mm).  The file is in model space. While details are proportionally correct, they are not set to a specific scale unless otherwise noted, in order to fit the  8 ½” X 11” page format.  All details have true dimensioning to indicate actual size of components. Use this dimensioning to scale details to 1:1. Here's how:

  1. Insert the detail into an existing drawing or i-drop the drawing.
  2. Type Command:  Explode and select the detail you just inserted.
  3. Type Command: Scale
  4. Select Objects you would like to scale and press Enter
  5. Select a base point using the command line or mouse (Hint: usually the lower left hand corner)
  6. Specify scale factor or [Reference]: R     (Type R to choose reference points)
  7. Specify reference length <1>:     (Using mouse select one end of a dimensioned line on the inserted detail)
  8. Specify second point:  (Using mouse select the other end of the same dimensioned line)
  9. Specify new length:  (Type the true numeric length* of the dimension you have referenced.  i.e. Type '8' for 8 feet or '2400' for 2400 mm, depending on the units of your drawing)

*Drawing units must be the same units which you are scaling to.  To change drawing units in AutoCAD

  1. Type Command:  Units
  2. Select Length Type:  Architectural or Decimal (Select Architectural for Imperial feet & inches, or Decimal for Metric units).

How do I insert a CADdetail into a scaled detail sheet so it plots as an 8 ½ x 11 page?

To  insert a  CADdetail (drawn in mm) into a scaled detail sheet  so it appears and plots as an 8 ½" x 11" sheet in model space, follow the steps below:

  1. Insert the drawing into your existing AutoCAD detail sheet or i-drop the drawing.
  2. Specify an insertion point using the command line or mouse.
  3. Accounting for the scale of your existing drawing, determine the scale factor required so the CADdetail appears and plots as an 8.5" x 11" sheet, .   See the following examples:

Example 1

CADdetails Standard Sheet: 215.9mm X 279.4mm
CADdetails Sheet Scale: 1:1 i.e. 1mm = 1mm
Your Detail Sheet Scale: 1" = 10'
1" = 120"

X & Y Scale Factor

=

0.0394 x (Detail Sheet Scale)

 

=

0.0394 x 120
 

=

4.728

Scale the CADdetail up by a factor of 4.728 to appear as an 8.5 x 11
sheet at 1" = 10' scale.

Example 2

CADdetails Standard Sheet: 215.9mm X 279.4mm
CADdetails Sheet Scale: 1:1 i.e. 1mm = 1mm
Your Detail Sheet Scale: 3/4" = 1'
3/4" = 12"
1" = 16"

X & Y Scale Factor

=

0.0394 x (Detail Sheet Scale)

 

=

0.0394 x 16
 

=

0.630

Scale the CADdetail down by a factor of 0.630 to appear as an 8.5 x 11
sheet at 3/4" = 1' scale.

  1. Specify scale factor determined above for X & Y plane.
  2. Specify rotation angle <0> and press Enter

**If you are importing a CADdetail into a metric scaled drawing note whether the drawing units are in meters or millimeters.                       

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Free Software Tools

What is i-drop*?
Autodesk i-drop® technology allows users of i-drop aware Autodesk products to drag and drop  DWG files directly from our webstite into their design application.  If you are not sure if you have the i-drop indicator, or, if you would like to download the free i-drop plug-in, please click the icon, right.:

How does it work?
After completing the download and installation of the i-drop plug-in, you will see the i-drop indicator, left, whenever you preview an image in GIF view().   To invoke the i-drop drag-and-drop capability, left-click on the GIF image of the drawing, and hold, then drag that file from our web page into your opened Autodesk product.  Release the left mouse button to download the content into your design application.

Compatibility
i-drop will work on most, current Microsoft Windows platforms with Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5 or higher.  To download the latest version of Explorer, click here.  i-drop is not Netscape compatible.  Netscape users are welcome to do a standard download of our zipped DWG files by selecting "Download" () from the GIF view.

The i-drop capability functions with the following design applications:  Newer versions of the applications below also support i-drop.

3D Studio MAX 4
Architectural Desktop 2000i
AutoCAD* 2000i
AutoCAD LT 2000i
AutoCAD Mechanical 2000i
Autodesk VIZ 4
Inventor 4
Mechanical Desktop 5

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Where do I download AutoCAD DWF Viewer?
Autodesk® DWF Viewer is a small  application that you can use to preview, print and distribute files in DWF™ (Design Web Format™) without AutoCAD® software and is available available for download free of charge from www.Autodesk.com.

I am a Macintosh user.  Which browser should I use to best view CADdetails.com?
For Mac users, CADdetails.com is best viewed with Mozilla's Firefox web browser.  Firefox 1.0 is available for download free of charge from www.mozilla.org. Now available in 25 languages, for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.

Where do I download WinZip?
To reduce download times, all AutoCAD drawings on CADdetails.com are saved as Zip files.  WinZip is a straightforward, fast, and easy-to-use zipping and unzipping utility
available for download free of charge from www.winzip.com

Where do I download Adobe Acrobat Reader
With Adobe Acrobat Reader you can view and print Adobe PDF product brochures and spec-sheets across a broad range of hardware and operating systems.  Adobe Acrobat Reader is available for download free of charge from www.adobe.com.  
I am a Macintosh user.  Can I still open zip files?
Yes.  Mac users can download the free utility
StuffIt Expander.  Stuffit Expander easily  unzips zip files created by WinZip® and other zip utilities.  Expander works seamlessly with both Internet Explorer and Netscape.  Stuffit Expander is available for download free of charge from www.stuffit.com.

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Manufacturers

How can I include my company on CADdetails.com?
If you are a building product manufacturer and are interested in adding your product information to CADdetails.com free for 60 days please email sales@caddetails.com or call 1-800-363-6644 for details.

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