This should only be used by yourself (the process owner) or nominated Administrator User to upload the specification to the database. When you click on the button, a message box will appear asking you to confirm you would like to progress with this function. Clicking ‘No’ will cancel the procedure, and life will carry on as normal. If you click ‘Yes’, then you will be given another message box confirming what will happen next and any further instruction you need. Once you click “OK”, the procedure will commence.

The length of time taken can be anything from 10 seconds up to 40 seconds, depending on your computer processor speed. It is recommended not to have every program you own open at the same time (I often have my main programs running at the same time, so you don’t have to close everything…), but you have to give your computer a sporting chance!! When it is finished, you will have a message box appear as per the earlier instruction confirming the snapshot has been taken.

A new button will appear directly underneath the brown button you have just used, called “Details for manual transfer”. This will list any details (for example images) that need to be manually updated onto the database, so you don’t miss a thing.

Handy tip! You can tell if this process has been prematurely run, as the new button will be present on the main page of the document. Do not worry, CERT have considered this already. The system will still work if you continue filling in the document (as if nothing happened, but you can use it as an excuse to politely rebuke the downstream user for ignoring the “Internal Use Only” sign).

In fact, the Upload button can be used as many times as you wish. It has been carefully programmed to ensure that data cannot be accidentally duplicated onto the database.

The CPC document has been created to try and keep the size to a minimum, so that the document can readily be emailed to a supplier/prospect.

• Blank new document ~ 5.6mb
• Completed document with examples removed ~ 3.3mb
• Completed document with examples still there ~ 6.2mb

The completed document (3.3mb) is the average size and has low resolution examples for visual logos and product images where needed. It is encouraged to use low-resolution pictures to keep the document handleable and it is good practice to attach the document to the database for referral and you want to avoid bulking out the database.

That is correct. There is no need to print the main page as this is just supposed to be a dynamic summary of the data in the document. The Initial, Final Specification and Artwork Pack Copy are all printable if you need a hard copy.

If you are printing it, why not save it as a PDF and avoid using paper?

PLEASE DON’T!  CERT spent a long time getting the formula right in terms of what information to place where and so don’t want the information readily copied and inferior versions created. CERT take pride in making efficient systems that work and thank you for preserving it for this reason.

This is not readily changeable as we need to make sure that the document and the database are logging the details under the same terminology. We appreciate that every business has it’s own naming conventions and working styles. If you need to change the field names, this is possible. Please contact CERT, so we can make sure that any changes made on the document are changed throughout the system for you. This helps maintain your professional image and keeps your system working efficiently.

Well, if you find an action button on the same page that allows you to manually add an image. Click on it and it will unlock the feature that you need to access. Make the changes and then click on any ‘Apply’ button on the same page and it will lock the feature you just amended. This is an administrator right, so please do readily not pass on this information to downstream users, as this will dissolve your ability to control the process. A user should contact a nominated administrator if they need to make alterations to a locked feature.

Please note! This will also work with the feature to lock the set critical path dates available in the Sourcing Information area. If you have concern that this unlocking feature is being mis-used for changing these details, then you can do the following: (note this process cannot be undone)

1. Click on the “Manually paste an image” button on the same page.
2. Ensure all the details in section 7 are as you would like them.
3. Right button on the “Manually paste an image” button to select it, and press delete on the keyboard. This will remove the button.
4. Click on the ‘Apply’ button that should still be there below it and it will lock the relevant sections of the sheet.

If you need to amend a detail on a sheet that you have “locked and thrown away the key” – sorry – conducted this process for, then you will need to contact CERT for support. [email protected]

Yes, you can. If you need to add a new product that has very similar/same properties as a previous specification, you can just upload the document to the database. The database will recognise that it already exists and will prompt you for attention:

1. Replace existing specification.
2. Duplicate the specification and assign it a new database identification code.
3. Cancel the upload.

Selecting option 2 then gives you the opportunity to go into the specification and make the necessary changes that you need.

No worry, provided you are an Administrator user on the database, you can delete the duplicated record.

If you have not done any development work on the product on the database, do not fear, you can upload the product from the document again. If you have already been working on the product online already!! Well, you better have a really good chocolate and red wine supplier…

On a serious note, CERT have engineered in a roll-back process. However, this should be the last option and this will be a billable exercise.

The CPC Document has been engineered to provide more than enough rows where needed to allow for information and Pack Copy for artwork.

If a section does not have the option to add rows, this is because it has been designed to provide a top-line summary. It is best practice to add a comment with the summary, to refer to attached supporting information and to place in the information in the Supporting Documents section.

The Front Page of the CPC Document has functions that appear and dissapear depending on what stage of the Product Development you are at. In particular the information around the progress summary at the top of the page.

Forecast information changes to original target information when the goal has been achieved. If the user removes the examples to save space, the function removes the examples and links to the examples, to keep the document clear (note it does not move the guidance documentation, as this takes up minimal space and may need referring back to).

Other features are created for example if you activate the upload function in the Admin area, this will create an extra button for cross-checking what data has been updated. The document has been carefully engineered to give as much functionality as possible, while maintaining the simplicity in layout – the 90’s cockpit with 100’s of buttons luckily is no longer fashionable….

Etiquette on completing data fields.

When filling in the detail. It is very easy to type the data in the top navigation bar and then move onto the next field. This can result in the row not being adjusted to fit the text placed in. The ‘Wrap Text’ option is activated on the relevant data input cells, but is dependent on how you input your data. Wrap Text does not always capture spacing needed if you copy and paste data for example.

So by adding a full stop at the end of your data input, confirms that it is the end of your statement. It is also handy for yourself when adjusting the row, so you know you have not cropped off any information. The cropping does not affect the database as this will take all information (shown & hidden), but I am referring more to the Pack Copy/Artwork preview, or reviewing data on the CPC Document.

If the full stop must not be there i.e. it is a blue section that pulls directly to the Artwork Pack Copy, then don’t add one, but make sure the field is not cropped. It is recommended to encourage this as good working practice, as it reduces possible user error. The system has been designed to reduce user error as much as possible e.g. visual images in the pack copy for artork generation.

If the CPC Document is used to generate the artwork (exception rather than the normal route via the database), then if the user does not realise a field is cropped, the PDF generated for artwork generation will have a cropped field. Fortunately, the main route (database) does not have this problem.

Some data fields have more than 1 row merged together. This is because we anticipate you may need more space, than 1 row will allow for data.

If you click in the very left hand column (the row numbers), it highlights the whole row. Click on the top row of the area you want and with the mouse button depressed, move the mouse down to highlight all relevant rows. With the rows highlighted, move the mouse between two of the relevant numbers so you get the ‘double arrow’ spacing symbol. left-click and drag to the size you need. All the highlighted cells will adjust evenly to the same size as selected.

Placing a dash “-” in the field makes it clear to the readers  further in the development that you have reviewed the data field and it is not required in this instance.

To add a dash in excel, click in the cell, press the space bar and then add the dash. If you do not place the space before the dash mark, excel assumes you are trying to perform a calculation!

The space, then the dash indicates to Excel it is a text field.