Abstract: In a communications network having at least one server, a plurality of distributed databases communicatively linked to the server, and the distributed databases having installation documents related to power plant equipment stored therein, a plurality of users communicatively linked to the server, a method for providing access to installation documents for assisting at least one user in installing power-plant equipment includes providing at the server an installation software tool for use by the user. The also includes supplying a list correlating source locations of installation documents stored in the plurality of distributed databases with installation software tool destination locations. The installation software tool is populated with links to the installation documents using information from the list, and installation documents are retrieved from the plurality of distributed databases in response to user selection of links using the installation software tool.