Frequently Asked Questions

Trinh Tools is a suite of six PDF workflow tools built for AEC firms that prepare construction drawings for submission again and again. They handle repetitive post-export PDF work such as merging by discipline, fixing Revit PDF coordinates so Bluebeam Batch Sign & Seal works correctly, building latest-revision sets, splitting permit packages by building, and batch renaming to sheet numbers. Every tool was built by a practicing MEP engineer to solve recurring problems on real projects.

All six tools are included with every license with no add-ons, no upsells, and no tiers: PDF Merger, Fix PDF Coordinates, General PDF Merger, Latest Full Set Builder, PDF Split Per Building, and Rename to Sheet Number.

Trinh Tools runs on Windows 10 and Windows 11 (64-bit). No additional software is required — each tool is a standalone executable. No Java, no .NET runtime, no browser plugin. You do not need admin rights to install or run the software.

Not at this time. Trinh Tools is Windows-only. If there is sufficient demand, other platforms may be considered in the future.

Download and double-click Install Trinh Tools.exe. All tools are bundled inside the single installer file — there is nothing else to download. It copies the tools to a local folder on your computer and creates Start Menu shortcuts so you can search "Trinh Tools" from Windows search. No admin rights are required and nothing is written to your Windows registry.

By default, the installer copies files to %LOCALAPPDATA%\TrinhTools, a user-level folder that does not require elevated permissions. You can choose a different location during installation.

No. The entire suite is portable. It does not modify system files, the Windows registry, or require admin access. Start Menu shortcuts are created in your user profile only.

Only for the one-time license activation on first use. After that, the tools run completely and permanently offline — no internet connection is ever needed to process files, generate output, or use any feature. There is no periodic check-in or revalidation requirement.

In most cases, yes — Trinh Tools does not use a traditional installer and does not modify system-level settings. Some organizations use endpoint management tools that block all new executables regardless of install method. If that's your situation, ask your IT team to whitelist the Trinh Tools install folder by path or file hash. We can provide hash values on request.

Yes. This is a Windows SmartScreen warning that appears for any newly released software that hasn't been seen by a large number of users yet. It is not a virus detection and does not mean the file is harmful — SmartScreen flags unfamiliar executables regardless of whether they are safe. To proceed: click "More info", then click "Run anyway".

Computers on the same company network often share SmartScreen reputation data. Once one machine on your network has trusted the file, others may skip the warning. Home computers and freshly imaged workstations are more likely to see it because they have no prior history with the file.

Yes. As more users download and run the software, SmartScreen builds reputation for the file and the warning stops appearing. A code signing certificate is planned for a future release, which eliminates the warning from day one.

Not yet. The product is still being prepared for launch while licensing and payment setup are finalized. Join the waitlist to hear when the planned 30-day free trial becomes available.

The software will prompt you to enter a license key. You will not be able to continue using the tools until a license is activated.

Trinh Tools uses a one-time lifetime license. You pay once and you own it — there are no annual renewals, no subscription fees, and no recurring charges of any kind. We believe AEC tools should be a permanent part of your kit, not a monthly expense. No subscriptions. No renewals. No surprises.

Visit the Pricing page for current pricing. Individual and Firm (5-seat) lifetime licenses are available for the current suite of six tools. A single one-time payment covers the suite and all its future updates.

Yes. I provide separate bespoke development services for AEC firms that need custom PDF processing or workflow automation tailored to their submission requirements. I can build entirely new tools from scratch or develop specialized automation based on your firm's naming standards, review steps, and deliverable process. Email support@trinhtools.com to inquire and request a quote.

After purchasing, you will receive a license key by email. Open any Trinh Tools application and enter your key when prompted. The key activates all six tools at once — you only need to enter it one time.

This depends on your license type. An Individual license covers one computer. A Firm license covers up to five computers within one organization. If you need more seats, contact support@trinhtools.com.

Your lifetime license key stays yours. Email support@trinhtools.com to transfer your activation to a new machine. There is no charge for this, ever.

Yes. Every update to the tools in the current suite — bug fixes, new features, and compatibility improvements — goes to all existing license holders at no charge. If we release entirely new tool suites in the future, those may be offered as separate add-ons, but you will never be charged for updates to the tools you already own.

Nothing happens — the tools keep working normally. License activation is a one-time event. After you activate, Trinh Tools operates entirely offline with no further network communication required, ever.

Only what is necessary for the one-time license activation: your license key and your computer name (used to manage per-seat activation limits). Nothing else is collected or transmitted — ever. Your PDF files are never read, never scanned, and never leave your computer.

No. All processing happens locally on your computer. Your PDF files, file names, folder paths, and project data are never transmitted anywhere. See our Privacy Policy Terms of Service for full details.

Yes. After activation, all tools run completely offline. No internet connection is required to process files, generate output, or use any feature of the software.

The 30-day free trial is your evaluation period — full access, no payment required, test on real projects before you commit. Because of that, there is no standard post-purchase refund window. If you experience a documented technical failure after purchase that we cannot resolve, contact support and we'll review your case. See the full Refund Policy.

Email support@trinhtools.com with the subject line "Technical Failure Review" and include your name, purchase email, license key, a description of the failure, and any steps already taken to resolve it. We respond within 2 business days.

Open the Trinh Tools Suite launcher and go to File → Manage Tools. You'll see a list of installed tools with a Remove button next to each one. This deletes the tool's executable and its Start Menu shortcut. You can re-run the installer at any time to get it back.

Open the launcher and go to File → Manage Tools, then click Uninstall Everything. This removes all tool executables, Start Menu shortcuts, and the Desktop shortcut. You'll be asked whether to keep your license data for a future reinstall.

Open the README.txt file in your install folder for step-by-step instructions. If you can't find your install folder, press Win+R, type %LOCALAPPDATA%\TrinhTools, and press Enter. Trinh Tools does not modify the Windows registry or install system services — there is nothing else to clean up.

Your antivirus may be quarantining the executable. Add an exclusion for the Trinh Tools install folder and try again. If the issue persists, email support@trinhtools.com with your Windows version and any error messages that appeared.

The tools detect sheet numbers from filenames using common AEC naming conventions (such as E2.11A, P6.07, M4.1.1). If your firm uses an unusual naming format, use Help → Export File List for Support from within the tool and email the exported .txt file to support@trinhtools.com. Support for new naming patterns can often be added quickly.

The PDF is most likely open in another application such as Adobe Acrobat or Bluebeam. Close the file in all other programs and try again.

If a tool crashes unexpectedly, a log file is saved to %APPDATA%\TrinhTools\. Press Win+R, paste that path, and look for crash log files. Attach the log to your support email so we can diagnose the issue faster.

Email support@trinhtools.com. For faster resolution, include your tool name, version (shown in Help → About), Windows version, and a description of what you were doing when the issue occurred. We respond to every email.

Yes. Each tool includes a Quick Start Guide accessible from the Help menu. Additional documentation is available on this website.