Understanding the Library Specification Groups User Interface

Understanding the Library Specification Groups User Interface

This article summarizes the Library Specification Groups User Interface. 

For specific information regarding an aspect of Library Specification Groups, see one of the following articles:

Understanding the Project Wizard, Global Variables, Material Files, and Door Wizard Interfaces

Copying, Renaming, and Deleting Specification Group Collections

Copying, Renaming, Assigning, and Deleting Specification Group Components


To access the Library Specification Groups, click on the Toolbox Setup menu, and select Library Specification Groups.


The Library (or Template) Specification Groups interface has a very noticeable red header; this is an indicator that you are working at the library level.

If you are working within a configuration that is using a SQL Server database, changes at this level will be company-wide.

The interface is broken into two sections. The section on the left contains specification group collections. The section on the right contains specification group components. Specification group collections are setup using combinations of different components. The ability to set up different combinations of components allows you to create templates to handle specific scenarios you may come across often. The icons directly above the left section will enable you to copy, rename, and delete collections. They will also allow you to access the component files tied to a collection and change the properties within each component. The icons directly above the right section will enable you to copy, rename, and delete components.

The green checkmark indicates which specification group collection has been selected, and controls which components will be accessed when clicking on the different icons.

Icons pertaining to the left section (specification group collections):


  1. Workbook Designer – Allows you to access prompts and variables to control specific settings for a specification group.
  2. Project Wizard – Allows you to access prompts and variables to control specific settings for a specification group.
  3. Global Variables – Allows you to access prompts and variables to control a broader range of settings for a specification group.
  4. Material File – Allows you to access the material setup of the cut parts, edgebanding, and hardware for a specification group.
  5. Material File Wizards – This is for advanced users who wish to create and utilize formula-driven materials (advanced training is required).
  6. Door Wizard – Allows you to access prompts and variables that control door/drawer front settings for a specification group.
  7. Copy – Allows you to copy a specification group collection.
  8. Rename – Allows you to rename a specification group collection.
  9. Delete – Allows you to delete a specification group collection.
  10. Sync from Database - Forces materials to sync from the database to the spreadsheet. Any names, or properties that do not match are updated in the spreadsheet. Any new materials that don't exist in the spreadsheet are added. Any materials marked as "deleted" are cleaned out of the spreadsheet. All formula-driven materials are updated. 

Icons pertaining to the right section (specification group components):


  1. Copy – Allows you to copy a specification group component.
  2. Rename – Allows you to rename a specification group component.
  3. Delete – Allows you to delete a specification group component.

The arrow between the two sections allows you to assign components to a collection.


In the right section of the interface, there are two font colors, orange and black. Black indicates that a component has been assigned to a collection. Orange indicates an unused, or unassigned, component.

The specification group collections and the components that have been assigned will be imported when a new project is created. Unused, or unassigned, components can be imported into a project manually.

By selecting a component, in the left or right section, you change the text color to blue. The blue color helps identify which collection is using this component. If more than one collection is sharing a component, they will also appear blue.


If a component is being shared, any changes made in another collection will apply to all the shared components. If those settings need to apply to just one, or a smaller group of collections, a new component will need to be added.

    • Related Articles

    • Understanding the Project Specification Groups User Interface

      This article summarizes the Project Specification Groups User Interface. For specific information regarding an aspect of Library Specification Groups, see one of the following articles: Understanding the Project Wizard, Global Variables, Material ...
    • Overview: Specification Group Interface

      This brief article provides an overview of the Specification Group interface in Toolbox.  Click the menu commands "Toolbox Setup > Project Specification Groups." It is no longer just a list of spec groups. Now the interface displays a visual ...
    • Copying, Renaming, and Deleting Specification Group Collections

      This article summarizes working with Specification Group Collections. For a summary of the Library Specification Group Interface, see: Understanding the Library Specification Group Interface For a summary of working within the Project Wizard, Global ...
    • How to Make a Project Level Specification Group for Multiple Materials

      The purpose of this article is to explain how to create an additional Project Specification Group to use multiple materials in a single project. For this article we will be using two different grained materials in one project. 1.      With Toolbox ...
    • Copying, Renaming, Assigning, and Deleting Specification Group Components

      This article summarizes working with Specification Group Components. For a summary of the Library Specifications Groups Interface, see: Understanding the Library Specifications Groups Interface For a summary of the Project Wizard, Global Variables, ...
    • Recent Articles

    • Microvellum Foundation Library Release Notes | Build 24.0322

      Additions Added the Master Angled Ends Cabinet. Added a Global prompt, "Hinge Plate Offset From Front" for easier control. Added “Double Division” option to Horizontal Designer Cabinets, 3 Door Cabinets, and other similar products. Added a new ...
    • Common Floating License Connectivity Issues

      This document lists common issues reported by users regarding the topic of Microvellum’s Floating License Activation (FLA) and the connectivity required for FLA to function. Firewall Blocking Activation of Floating License Some users have had an ...
    • Toolbox Release Notes | Build 24.1.0318.641

      The following release notes apply to Toolbox build 24.1.0318.641 Shadowline Fix Figure 1: Shadowline shaping issue (left) and fixed (right). There were reports of users experiencing issues with products having incorrectly shaped shadow lines when the ...
    • Toolbox Release Notes | Build 24.1.0312.641

      The following release notes apply to Toolbox build 24.1.0312.641 Processing Station IDs Processing stations will have IDs added to them as an option within the Toolbox UI, to better distinguish between different processing stations. Perfect Graining ...
    • Toolbox Release Notes | Build 24.1.0306.641

      The following release notes apply to Toolbox build 24.1.0306.641 Destroy Offal Fix Figure 1: Destroy Offal arc part issue. There was an issue reported by users utilizing nesting with the “Destroy Offal” setting applied during processing. ...