News:   RCtool 2.3 is now available. The name for the new app RCtool stands for Review Comments tool, making the previously used name REtool obsolete. I chose to rename the tool since the new name reflects better what the software actually does. It serves authors in responding to review comments as well as review editors (REs) in annotating the authors responses. It is no longer just a review editor tool (REtool). The ability of the new RCtool to support the management of review comments through all phases and stages of reviewing IPCC products makes it useful for every author team and every RE team. Also any other IPCC person, e.g. co-chairs or TSU staff members, can profit from its flexible functions to manage review comments from the moment they are collected by the IPCC secretariat until publication of the review comments with the author responses.

The new version RCtool 2.3 has also been substantially overhauled and improved in comparison with its predecessors. Many bugs were removed, yet the user interface simplified. Depending on your role, i.e. RE, Author, or Other (e.g. co-chair, TSU), you see only the commands that matter to you. As I promised to offer RCtool 2.0 in spring 2021, I have done so, despite two open issues: Firstly, the documentation contains still screenshots from the predecessor. As I am busy with lots of IPCC work, I still require more time to replace the old screen shots with the ones from the current version. Fortunately all previous functions have been retained and only new ones added, while changes were kept to a minimum. Therefore the documentation should nevertheless help you well if you simply replace mentally every occurrence in pictures of 'REtool' by 'RCtool'. Thanks for your understanding! Secondly, under Windows only the FileMaker version is available. The license free runtime solution version, i.e. RCtool for Windows, is not yet released. Anyone keen to get it, let me know and we can probably help each other.

Downloads

What is RCtool?

RCtool supports the management of review comments that accrue during the preparation of IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) reports. It is highly specialised and designed for internal use by IPCC only.

It was originally designed to support only the IPCC Review Editors (REs) in their work. This lead to the original name of the tool, 'REtool'. However, in its latest version 'RCtool' is designed such that it is also useful for anyone handling IPCC review comments, notably for TSUs (Technical Support Units), chapter scientists, CLAs (Coordinating Lead Authors) and other IPCC authors. Thus the name of the tool is changed from 'REtool' (Review Editor's tool) to 'RCtool' (Review Comments tool).

What is included?

The set of files provided above includes everything you need for using RCtool. Note, if you work with several IPCC reports, you should use a separate copy of RCtool for every report.

Pleae consult the 'RCtool User Guide' for further details.

Background information

'REtool' was developed first during the AR5 assessment cycle by Philippe Marbaix from Université catholique de Louvain. For the AR6 assessment cycle 'REtool' now called 'RCtool' is developed by Andreas Fischlin, IPCC Vice-chair WGII, from ETH Zurich. Find more on this here: RCtool Credits.

RCtool is based on the proprietary software FileMaker. RCtool itself is a tool based on the run time system of FileMaker only and can hereby be used freely, i.e. no license is required and RCtool runs independtly from FileMaker. However, any modifications of the design can only be made with the licensed software FileMaker. The part that is made freely available to users contains the full structure of the database, the GUI design as made by the author of RCtool, and the numerous scripts used within the tool. No restrictions apply to the functionality of those elements within RCtool. Only if a user wishes to customize RCtool further, i.e. change the data base design or a layout or wishes to change the programming of scripts, a licensed FileMaker is required. Users are free to do so, but may wish to contact the author first for optimal coordination within IPCC report preparation.

Support

Somme support was available during the preparation of AR5, WGII. As the report was finalized, this is now closed (see links below for contacts).

Some support is available now for the preparation of AR6. Please write an e-mail to andreas.fischlin@env.ethz.ch and please follow the instructions below.

If you encounter any difficulties with RCtool, please provide always precise information on the version of RCtool, the operating system, the version of the PDF reader in use and try to describe the circumstances under which you encountered the problem as precisely as possible.

Links

TAT (Text Analysis Tools)