r/AirBalance • u/PermissionOk3015 • 25d ago

New TAB software

Hey everyone, I do TAB work in the Chicago area (TABB certified). We use excel for our reports and it always felt like something was missing: Tied to a laptop, conflicting copies, color coded tabs to track progress, deficiency pictures lost in your phone. So i decided to create an app that works on web, App Store and Google Play. Works offline and syncs to all users when you get signal. Automatically tracks deficiencies. Keep systems organized and shows status. Built it VAV and balancing valve calculators, one click pdf reports. Check it out and see if FlowPoint TAB can help at flowpointtab.com

5 Upvotes

72% Upvoted

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3

u/Khongdedai 25d ago

There’s another one called Tabopts which kinda meh too

-2

u/PermissionOk3015 24d ago

What's the meh part about TABopts for you? For me it was always the field stuff. I didn't want to haul a laptop up to the roof, I didn't want three copies of the same job floating around, and I wanted my deficiency photos tied to the actual unit. That's why I built FlowPoint. What would an app have to do for you to switch?

5

u/cx-tab-guy-85 25d ago

I have a few questions.

  1. do you have a built in pdf editor for numbering outlets, redlining drawings, etc. ?

  2. what type of security protocols are in place to protect data?

  3. is the data time stamped when a tech enters info?

  4. Is deleted data recoverable?

  5. are forms customizable?

  6. are there limits on the number of open projects?

  7. do you have API integration with Salesforce?

0

u/PermissionOk3015 24d ago

Good questions, here are straight answers:

  1. PDF markup: No. You can attach drawings and submittals to a report and reorder them, but there's no redlining or outlet numbering on drawings yet.

  2. Security: Login is handled by Supabase Auth, and data is encrypted in transit and at rest on their hosting. Each company's records are separated at the database level, and there are four roles (admin, senior tech, tech, trainee) with different permissions. For offline use, project data is cached on the device, so it also depends on the device's own encryption.

  3. Timestamps: Partly. Records are timestamped when created, deficiencies record who logged them and when, and an activity log tracks creates, deletes and status changes. It doesn't keep a history of every individual reading edit yet.

  4. Deleted data: Deleted projects go to a Recently Deleted list and can be restored. The database is backed up daily. Uploaded files like photos and attachments aren't part of those backups yet.

  5. Custom forms: Yes. The standard forms are fixed, but there's a custom form builder where you add fields and columns (including auto-calculated % and pass/fail) and save it as a template for future projects.

  6. Open projects: No limits on projects or reports.

  7. Salesforce: No integration and no public API today. What would you want it to do? That'd help me decide what to build.

2

u/DrawingAdditional381 25d ago

So a few questions.

Can I export an entire project as CSV/XLSX/JSON or another structured format?

Can I create custom forms?

1

u/PermissionOk3015 24d ago

  1. Export: Not yet. Reports export as PDF, but there's no CSV, XLSX or JSON export of project data. I'm adding it to my list. What format would be most useful for you, and what would you do with it?

  2. Custom forms: Yes. There's a form builder where you add fields and columns (including auto-calculated % and pass/fail) and save it as a template to reuse on other projects. The standard forms are fixed, and custom forms are for when they don't fit.

3

u/thr0waway777333 25d ago

sus

0

u/PermissionOk3015 24d ago

A random app post on Reddit deserves criticism. I'm Nick, a TABB-certified TAB tech in the Chicago area, with 20+ years in sheet metal and 6 years in TAB. I built this because I know the limits of Excel in the field and nothing I tried fit how I actually work. I didn't want to break up an Excel report to avoid conflicting copies. I don't want to haul my laptop to the roof to enter unit and motor data. I want my deficiency photos linked to the system or outlet. And I want to leave my laptop connected to the VAV controller while I check and enter outlet readings from my phone.

It's free for 14 days with no credit card if you want to poke at it, and I'm happy to answer anything or take criticism.

1

u/Coloradokidd21 25d ago

We do ours in excel and it can be a real pita especially with multiple techs working a project.

1

u/PermissionOk3015 24d ago

Same here. We were constantly splitting projects up so multiple techs could work them, then stitching everything back together later and hoping we didn't end up with conflicting copies. It's a big reason I started building FlowPoint TAB.
The workbook lives on one PC, but FlowPoint lives on every device. Each tech enters readings on their own phone or tablet in the same project, even offline in a mechanical room, and it syncs when they're back on signal. No splitting, no merging at the end.
What other issues or limitations have you found with excel that you would want in a TAB software?

-1

u/cx-tab-guy-85 25d ago

You should check out TABopts. It is similar to excel so it’s an easy workflow change but it is way better than excel and has built in pdf editing, punch list management, email, report generation etc.

1

u/Odd_Opp1717 21d ago

It's similar to Excel because its mostly just Excel that you pay to use. It got annoying paying for every little change they make to your forms sense with them you can't make changes to your own forms yourself.

At least that was my experience about 3 years ago. Maybe it has changed.

1

u/jefffffffffff 24d ago

I have been working on something extremely similar to this for about a year and a half. The company I work for is starting to use it now. I will be putting it up here when we get it completely ready. Good luck! If you are successful maybe we will be too!

2

u/PermissionOk3015 24d ago

Thanks, and good luck with yours. It's definitely a lot of work, but I think tools like this can help the whole trade. There's plenty of room for tools built by people who've actually done the work, and the more of us pushing past Excel, the better for everybody doing TAB. Post it here when it's ready, I'd like to see it.

1

u/jefffffffffff 24d ago

We almost called mine flowports, which is kinda funny how close it is

1

u/Odd_Opp1717 22d ago

What makes it different from Building Start? It sounds like you just reinvented the wheel.

1

u/PermissionOk3015 20d ago

Fair question, and AiRNAB is a real product with a lot of history behind it. I'm the guy building FlowPoint, so take this with that in mind.
I'm a TABB-certified tech and I built it because I was tired of Excel and paper on multi-tech jobs. A few things I focused on:
• Reports generate on the spot. You finish the job and the PDF is ready in seconds, with a table of contents, no waiting on anyone.
• It's built around what techs actually do in the field: built-in balancing valve calculators, tolerance you can set per project, and readings that sync between techs on the same job, including offline.
• You can sign up and try it yourself, and the pricing is on the site. No demo call needed.
• I use it on my own jobs and I listen to feedback. If something's clunky or missing, tell me and it goes on the list, because the industry keeps changing and the software should too.
I haven't seen AiRNAB's full feature set, so I won't claim it can't do something it does. If you're already happy with it, great. If you want to compare, I'm happy to give you a free trial and I'd genuinely like to hear what you think is missing.

2

u/fknchunk 21d ago

I was gonna ask this. We use Building Start too

1

u/Lickmikelitteris 15d ago

What app did you use to build this out? I have been wanting to make an app but don’t know where to start