Standardization News

ASTM Compass

"One Platform. All of Your Content."
BY:
Cicely Enright

This describes the core of ASTM Compass®. The platform provides a single access point to your ASTM information subscription for standards, Digital Library, training, translations and more.

If you have access to one or more virtual volumes of the Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Compass can be a good alternative if you need even more information. If your company has more than one office that use several volumes in the Book of Standards, or you also use content in the Digital Library, Compass can be more a cost-effective option.

Compass content options include three broad categories of standards, the Digital Library and training.

Your individual subscription determines what you can use. Within the three categories a subscription may include:

  • Standards (with collaboration tools, version comparison (many pdf redlines are now available too) and historical versions), translated standards and third-party content;
  • Digital Library journals, Special Technical Publications, manuals/monographs, Data Series; older versions of the ASTM member magazine from 1911 to 1972, which include many technical papers), and proceedings (ASTM committee reports and technical papers dating from about 1909 to 1965);
  • Metals and Alloys in the Unified Numbering System, 13th Edition, which allows you to correlate many internationally used numbering systems for metals and alloys;
  • Digital adjuncts and documents that supplement standards but are not included in their texts due to size, volume, physical makeup or nature;
  • Related materials that technical committees feel need to be included with standards;
  • Research reports, which support the Precision and Bias statements found in standards;
  • Online training courses for construction technicians, petroleum technicians, the environment and more;
  • AASHTO, UOP, ISO and ANSI specifications; and
  • The ASTM Terminology Dictionary.

Compass also offers several productivity and workflow tools for use with your content. One example is version comparison, which shows the current standard and the most recent previous version with highlighting. An additional dynamic comparison tool that will enable you to compare the current version with any older available version of a standard, is coming soon.

 Another tool allows you to link to a standard (either current or historical or both) within a company document. Still another gives you the ability to annotate a standard; shareable notes are stamped with author name and date.

 Additional tools include:

  • My Bookmarks, to keep a list of the standards or digital library papers you refer to most;
  • My Groups, to communicate with other Compass users without leaving the platform;
  • The ability to track standards and/or publications shared with you;
  • Customizable alerts for newly approved standards, new work items or both.
  • Filtered search in several languages (Arabic, English, Canadian French, Chinese, French, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish).

You can view a video about Compass.

Compass customers will find help online at compass.astm.org/SUPPORT. Links on the page go to information about the tools, video tutorials, frequently asked questions and more. Additional help for Compass subscribers is available from ASTM Support (tel +1.877.909.2786).

For more information about how your organization can leverage Compass and SpecBuilder® (see sidebar for more about SpecBuilder), contact ASTM Sales (tel +1.877.909.ASTM).

Coming Soon to Compass

Compass will soon include the ASTM SpecBuilder® product (there will be an additional cost for the program). This new online collaboration tool will help you develop your internal specifications, test methods and procedures. Features include the ability to:

  • Upload draft documents and files,
  • Create task groups to develop your specifications,
  • Discuss and share comments within your group,
  • Track discussions and use balloting system to vote on revisions, and
  • Reference and hyperlink pertinent ASTM standards. 

 


Issue Month
March/April
Issue Year
2016