Catalog Cuts that are Simply... A 'Cut' Above



Many detailing packages may offer some form of catalog cut feature.. but AVAproject has taken this popular feature to an entirely different level.



The addition of ‘catalog cuts’ to the hardware section of a ‘Submittal Package’, or to supplement a ‘Hardware Schedule’ is a staple in the architectural openings industry. In terms of a software feature, what could be simpler.. add some cut sheets to the end of the document. AVAproject’s treatment of ‘catalog cuts’ is a perfect example of how thoughtful design and brilliant execution can result in something extra special.

Delivering this seemingly “simple” feature is no simple matter, however. Certainly, not when done the AVAware way...


Collect and Organize


AVAware’s catalog development team constantly combs through product literature from hardware manufacturers as it comes available and selects the highest possible quality of sheets to add to the related catalog’s collection of cut sheets. Whenever possible, sheets using “vector-based” graphics and real “embedded text” are sought out, as they allow themselves to be rescaled to virtually any size without any loss in image quality.

Once the individual cut sheets are collected, they are individually “linked” to their corresponding product (or products) in the catalog file. This “linking” process allows AVAproject to automatically select and attach all the related ‘catalog cuts’ each time a product is added to a project.


PDF Files – The Technology Behind ‘Catalog Cuts’


This is a good time to discuss the underlying technology behind ‘catalog cuts’ and the innovative way that AVAproject is able to accommodate them. Cut sheets are created and distributed by the various hardware manufacturers in a format called “PDF” (Portable Document Format); this is a file format created by Adobe Systems to provide a consistent format in which to distribute documents – at a time when a computer’s ability to display a document was limited by the fonts that were currently installed. This made it virtually impossible to create a document that everyone could open and look the same from one PC to another. Enter the “PDF” file… These files use a consistent set of graphic routines as well as the ability to embed the required fonts right in the file itself.

NOTE: While there are many PDF “viewers” available, that allow users to view and print pages from these files, the original – and still the standard is ‘Adobe Acrobat’. Adobe offers a free “reader” package, but in order to create one’s own PDF files – the full retail “Acrobat” package is required.



After reviewing all the many choices of external PDF file readers, the AVAware development team decided that none offered the flexibility they wanted for ‘catalog cuts’ in AVAproject. As such, a full-featured PDF rendering engine was built right into AVAproject – one that even exceeds Adobe Acrobat in terms of resource requirements and rendering time.

By building PDF rendering technology right into the software, a number of powerful new features become possible. Unlike other systems that simply reproduce text and images from cut sheets as simple ‘bitmaps’, a common convention used by software developers – AVAware “renders” each page using a state-of-the-art, vector-based technique. The result is readily apparent. Even the most detailed images and CAD drawings are vivid and smooth, and the accompanying text is clear, sharp and easy to read.



Integrated ‘Catalog Cut’ Browser


The AVAware catalog development team pre-selects all the cut sheets that relate to each individual product and “link” them as part of creating the catalog file. At times, the team may select more sheets than some users would like to include. AVAware takes the position that we’re safer to include any pages that may be relevant rather than allowing AVAproject users to “miss” out on sheets they chose to omit.

Fortunately, AVAproject makes the task of selecting which cut sheets to include as convenient as possible – by featuring a lightning fast, built in ‘catalog cut’ browser. In seconds, each sheet that has been linked to a given product is displayed – offering the ability to include or omit any or all of the pages.




As simple as it is to add and remove pages as desired, AVAproject goes a step further by allowing those page selections to be retained and copied from one project to the next. A ‘virtual’ column in both the ‘Hardware List’ and the ‘Hardware Groups’ even provides instant information on which products have ‘catalog cuts’ attached and how many pages.


‘Catalog Cuts’ – Made Part of the Submittal, Not Just an Addon


Many people in the industry supplement ‘Hardware Schedules’ by inserting cut sheets into the document using software such as Acrobat. Although this will get the job done (after a great deal of effort), the “inserted” sheets never truly look like a part of the document… unless it was created with AVAproject.

Using the integrated rendering engine, AVAproject re-scales the PDF to appear perfectly inside the same page border used throughout the Submittal package – complete with optional page numbering and data blocks. Not only will cut sheets look like they belong to that document, but individually they can all include the submission company’s name, logo and address info.



Making the Submittal Even Easier for the Reader


If all this weren’t enough, AVAproject adds one more simple, but very useful feature to its ‘catalog cuts’ facility. One of AVAproject’s most prominent features is its “dynamic” Submittal package. The sections are created automatically, based on whatever information has been added to a project thus far. Even beyond that, the “live” print preview allows users to change various options – and see the effect of their changes immediately, “on-the-fly”. As part of this capability, entire sections are instantly renumbered, and the entire document is kept perfectly organized, with sections being able to reference each other.

One example of such “referencing” appears on the ‘Hardware Schedule’. At the user’s option, page number references can be displayed next to each hardware item, indicating exactly where the related ‘catalog cuts’ can be found.




AVAware has received a great deal of feedback from users and readers of these documents, commenting on how incredibly useful this “simple” addition is – and how much time is saved searching through a stack of cut sheets. Only AVAproject, with its ability to embed cut sheets on numbered pages within the submittal can deliver this.

All great software begins with thoughtful and innovative design. AVAproject’s treatment of this relatively common and “simple” feature is an indicator of the kinds of improvements that are possible when thoughtful design meets precise execution.


We welcome any questions, comments or suggestions about any topic mentioned in this edition of AVAwire. Please visit our website for more information, or contact us directly at (416) 239-9099.