Introduction
3D Inspection System software was introduced in 1987 as a DOS product by Carl Fowler, a 20 year veteran inspector and owner of Homebuyers Inspection Service in Fort Myers, FL, and Charles Cubbage, a professional software developer. Since inception, 3D has made tens of thousands of changes and improvements, most of which came directly from interaction with the inspection community. The founding partners are still active participants in the inspection industry and continue as the driving force behind the development of new software products for inspectors. Such is the case with the 3D School Edition, designed with all the forms and documents that a single man inspector needs to successfully produce inspections once initial training is complete.
Inspectors know it's important to begin building referrals from clients and real estate agents as soon as possible. The inspection report is the inspection company's product and its appearance and organization represent the inspector long after the inspection is over. Former clients are proud to show their friends a report when it speaks to their skill in choosing an inspector. Real estate agents are happy to take credit for inspector recommendations that impress clients. It's the impression from the report that starts the referral process, especially if a few extra business cards are included with every handshake. Over the last 20 years, 3D has proven time and again that producing well organized reports will produce instant referrals and top fees. The 3D School Edition will do the same for you!
The 3D School Edition software has the same System Requirements as our other products.
The Basics of 3D Inspection System's School Edition
3D School Edition Inspection software includes a Report Writer for creating inspection reports, a Document Editor for viewing and editing included documents, a Custom Form Studio for creating new forms, a basic Office Management module for maintaining a database of jobs, clients and agents, and Pocket3D software for Windows Mobile Pro or Pocket PC PDAs. The program also comes with a one year Subscription Plan, which provides automatic software updates for one year, unlimited free email support and two free live support calls. Additional live support during a subscription year is available at $15 per incident.
Upon initial startup, a wizard makes it easy to setup company information, primary inspector information and Inspection Fees. This information is utilized to automatically populate Office Management screens with information appropriate to the inspector's business, as well as to merge into report header, footers, invoices, and other documents.
The Opening 3D program screen consists of 3 sections, with the actions menu at the left, a listing of recent and upcoming inspections at the center and an information pane at the right. The information pane is periodically updated by 3D to provide user tips and notices about training opportunities and upcoming events.
Report Writer
The REPORT WRITER was designed for creating, modifying, and printing inspections and related documents. It provides automates the defect reporting process by utilizing a single screen interface that speeds entry of defect findings, explanations and recommendations. The entire outline of the currently loaded form is shown on screen with each component of the form having its own listing of inspection comments from which to select or edit. Insert multiple photos in reports, draw diagrams and schematics, mark significant findings for inclusion in a separate summary document, include an
index, cover page, or supplemental materials in reports. Annotate photos with arrows, text, shading, highlights, frames, etc. Reports format automatically and print their own letterheads. Print reports with attached documents to paper or PDF, email or upload reports to the free 3D FTP online Inspection Delivery System.
The 3D School Edition contains the following forms:
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Residential Checkstyle Inspection forms
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Condominium Inspection forms
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4 Point Insurance Inspection forms
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Download additional forms at no charge from our Bonus Downloads page.
Features
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Single screen interface: Move about inspection and enter data with fewer steps & clicks to save time
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Scroll an entire inspection form from top to bottom. No clumsy windows to obscure and confuse when picking comments
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Form Buttons along the top instantly jump to a main section
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List View Navigational option shows headings and subheadings in the current form for instant access
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Navigate toolbar allows you to quickly move a single field at a time or an entire screen of fields at once, through bookmarks, or inspected or un-inspected fields.
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Dock toolbars anywhere on the screen
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Pre-written narrative comments take the chore out of deciding what to say, and keep liability to a minimum
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Customizable abbreviations represent the full narratives. Hover to Preview, Click to select or deselect to instantly import into your inspection.
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Right click, tab or use a scroll wheel to advance to the next field to continue the inspection. Or click a field to move there.
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Add or edit a comment immediately by writing in the inspection field.
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Drag inspection fields larger or smaller for easier viewing
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Click a heading or subheading label to adjust its name if desired
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Add, delete or organize comment lists while writing a report- Save changes permanently whenever you desire.
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Print on letter, legal or A4 paper, or to PDF
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Inspection Page Setup Screens use styles that eliminate the need for manual formatting
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Customize the printed look of your reports. Change printed element margins, fonts, colors, borders
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Easily add your logo to print on the report
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Include a table of contents or report index
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Produce printed check sheets for any inspection form
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Automatically number subheadings on a report
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Image options for frames, captions, grids, other annotations
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Spell check in American or British English, Spanish, Dutch or French- Underlines misspelled words
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Spell Check the current line, entire inspection, or remainder of the inspection from the current line
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Rich text formatting- bold, italics, underline, colors, etc. to make comments stand out
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Group summary comments by 8 definable categories, such as Immediate repairs, maintenance, upgrades, etc
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Use Marked Summary Field, Summary Styles, or Ratings method of marking text for inclusion in a summary document
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Timed save of report every 2,4 or 6 minutes
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Auto Punctuation options, and special menu sentence building features.
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Adjust image size and positioning- specify a default setting or override for any image
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Import standard JPEG or GIF photos or graphics.
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Include unlimited images for any inspection item
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Use image time-stamping for automatic sorting of photos into reports. Filter images from today, yesterday, etc
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Edit photos. Add arrows, circles, rectangles, text to photos and resize each as needed.
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Change image object highlight color, transparency, reposition or resize, or remove. Other tools adjust image brightness, or Rotate, Flip, or Crop the area to import
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Advanced photo editing interface with your favorite image editing software.
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Draw diagrams in reports
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Bookmark areas to return and complete later or finish inspecting, or to indicate areas to include photos taken during the inspection. A great aid in sorting photos later.
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Inspector Notes- Add inspector notes to archive with report files, but not printed for clients
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Improve report readability by categorizing comments in one location on-screen to print elsewhere in the final report.
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Modify forms or reports on the fly for needs unique to each inspection
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Add new permanent narratives, modify and rearrange narrative listings
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Add new headings and subheadings; replicate existing headings and subheadings for extra items
The Document Editor
The pop-up DOCUMENT EDITOR serves to display, edit and attach specific documents used in the Report Writer, including your header, footer, Index, and other desired documents one may want to attach to an inspection. These might include a cover page, summary page, supplemental information, or other attachments. Various documents can be attached and printed with inspections and can automatically merge Office Management, inspection, and other data. Use the Report Writer lower pane to edit documents already attached to an inspection. An assortment of various useful documents are included.
Custom Form Studio
The CUSTOM FORM STUDIO makes it easy to create and customize form items and comments for use in the Report Writer for inspections. Additional inspection forms may be created from scratch or downloaded at no charge from the 3D Inspection System website. Other forms for additional tasks or specialized inspections are available through a network of 3D distributors across the country. The 3D School Edition contains three pre-populated forms ready for use that may be edited directly from Report Writer.
Office Management
BASIC OFFICE MANAGEMENT features handle the "office side" of your business. It allows you to maintain a database of your clients and agents and job information, invoice clients, produce office report printouts, and allows you merge job data into reports and documents. The School Edition also integrates with Radalink and RTCA OnGuard Radon monitoring services, and with online scheduling services such as The Schedule Center.
Each inspector has a different menu of services to offer and perhaps certain questions that need answering prior to accepting an inspection job. 3D Office Management allows setup of dynamic data field labels and a list of standard responses for selection. Fees and services can easily be added to Invoices, with automatic calculation.
Office Management Customizing Options
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Create product billing codes to add to invoices
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Setup questions or job criteria that must be collected when before accepting any job.
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Produce work orders, invoices and contracts with merged information. Edit as desired
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Customize labels for follow-up mailings to clients, salespeople
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Print or email invoices and work orders directly from Office Management.
Mobile Apps
Phone3D and Pocket3D apps are included for collecting field inspection information on a PDA or phone running Windows Phone 7 or Windows Mobile Professional, using forms from your School Edition. Inspection reports completed in mobile apps is sent back to the main Windows computer to open, finalize, and print or email the report. See our Mobile Apps page for more information.
Actions Pane
THE REPORT WRITER'S ACTIONS PANE ties everything together so a single click can produce big results. Click the appropriate Actions set up in the pane at the left side of the program screen to switch between major parts of the software such as the Report Writer, Document Editor, and Office Management. Each area has its own separate Help screens and documentation. Additional actions are included to:
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Offer guidance and a sample report- Getting Started Guide & Overview
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HelpDesk for support and web resources
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Edit and Print Inspection Agreements
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Customize master Documents- Letterhead, Summaries, Follow Up letters
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Insert included Flag-It warning graphics about common dangers.
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Attach Documents to a report- Attach a summary, or photo cover page, etc.
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Change the Screen Display for various tasks- Panes may be resized and new favorite configurations saved
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Insert recommendations for further evaluation, monitoring, or limitations anywhere in a report
Upgrade Pricing
You may later decide to upgrade from the School Edition to a more feature-rich 3D Inspection System edition at special school upgrade pricing. Contact sales for current pricing options.
Product Comparison
If you are trying to determine which version of the 3D Inspection software is right for you, please view our product comparison chart. The School Edition has a feature set equivalent to Focus editions.
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