Item Code -
The Item Code identifies an item in the Price Book or Bid.
You may enter up to 99 Divisions (01 to 99) followed by
a decimal. Then enter a Subdivision Code from 01 to 99
followed by a four digit Item Code between 0000 to 9999;
for instance, Code 8.330010 belongs in Division Code 8,
Subdivision Code 8.33 and 0010 is the Item within that Subdivision.
Division - 8.
Subdivision - 8.33
Item Code - 8.330010
The Item Code identifies an item in the Price Book or Bid.
You may enter up to 99 Divisions (01 to 99) followed by
a decimal. Then enter a Subdivision Code from 01 to 99
followed by a four digit Item Code between 0000 to 9999;
for instance, Code 8.330010 belongs in Division Code 8,
Subdivision Code 8.33 and 0010 is the Item within that Subdivision.
Division - 8.
Subdivision - 8.33
Item Code - 8.330010
Part # -
Use for anything you want - will be able to
group items in your bid by this value with
a sub-total for the group.
Use for anything you want - will be able to
group items in your bid by this value with
a sub-total for the group.
CAD/Drawing Interface -
Since most plans are now in a PDF format and you
will be using an on-screen takeoff program these
fields will be use Plan and page identification.
The CAD/Drawing Interface was originally used
with drawing CAD software and a digitizer and
we still will work with them.
The CAD/Drawing Interface allows you to transfer Item
information from a CAD or drawing program into
the current Bid.
Since most plans are now in a PDF format and you
will be using an on-screen takeoff program these
fields will be use Plan and page identification.
The CAD/Drawing Interface was originally used
with drawing CAD software and a digitizer and
we still will work with them.
The CAD/Drawing Interface allows you to transfer Item
information from a CAD or drawing program into
the current Bid.
Question List -
The Question List is a very powerful feature which allows
you to set up quantities for many standard questions
(think of them as calculator memories with names).
When a Question Code is placed in a Price Book or
Bid Item, the value associated with the Question will
be placed in that Item's Bid Item Quantity.
The Question List is a very powerful feature which allows
you to set up quantities for many standard questions
(think of them as calculator memories with names).
When a Question Code is placed in a Price Book or
Bid Item, the value associated with the Question will
be placed in that Item's Bid Item Quantity.
Cost Modified -
Cost Modified in Bid - Yes"Y"- Means you
have changed the PriceBook raw cost for
this bid item only and ONLY for this Bid,
Cost Modified in Bid - Yes"Y"- Means you
have changed the PriceBook raw cost for
this bid item only and ONLY for this Bid,
Item Description -
The Item is the basic element of a Bid. It can a part which
needs to be ordered or a task that needs to have a cost.
It has costs attached to it and is the basis for all costing
work in the system.
The Item is the basic element of a Bid. It can a part which
needs to be ordered or a task that needs to have a cost.
It has costs attached to it and is the basis for all costing
work in the system.
Miscellaneous Field -
The Item’s Miscellaneous (Misc.) column can be used
in many ways: custom sorting, summarizing costs of
only those found, and by marking your place by
entering a bookmark (any character) and then using
"Find". For instance, as you are doing your Bid there
may be some Items you have questions about. Why
not put a "?" in this column? Then Find and Show only
items with a "?" by moving to the Misc. column and
pressing the Help (Right Mouse Button) and selecting Find.
The Misc. Column can be entered in the Price Book
Items, and can be customized in the Bid Item.
The Item’s Miscellaneous (Misc.) column can be used
in many ways: custom sorting, summarizing costs of
only those found, and by marking your place by
entering a bookmark (any character) and then using
"Find". For instance, as you are doing your Bid there
may be some Items you have questions about. Why
not put a "?" in this column? Then Find and Show only
items with a "?" by moving to the Misc. column and
pressing the Help (Right Mouse Button) and selecting Find.
The Misc. Column can be entered in the Price Book
Items, and can be customized in the Bid Item.
Waste Percent -
For Material Cost Type (mat class) only.
Below you can add a waste % just for the bid on the Bid Item Form.
For Material Cost Type (mat class) only.
Below you can add a waste % just for the bid on the Bid Item Form.
Page # -
If you want to relate this item to a page number in a
catalog then this is the place to do it. Or, you can
use it for any other purpose for searching.
This Page No. is use for all our Craftsman NCE
PriceBooks so you can reference there paper back books
If you want to relate this item to a page number in a
catalog then this is the place to do it. Or, you can
use it for any other purpose for searching.
This Page No. is use for all our Craftsman NCE
PriceBooks so you can reference there paper back books
Locations -
Locations allow to group and get the total cost
and price Items in a Bid by their location on the
Plan (floor, room, etc.) or phase of construction.
(You may use it for any information you want!)
Locations may be assigned in Item Selection,
and changed at any time in the Bid Item List or Form.
Locations allow to group and get the total cost
and price Items in a Bid by their location on the
Plan (floor, room, etc.) or phase of construction.
(You may use it for any information you want!)
Locations may be assigned in Item Selection,
and changed at any time in the Bid Item List or Form.
FlexEst has tree components:
The Flex-Bid that hold all the items needed for a particular
operation(note- these item do not have to be in your Price Book).
The Flex-Cost is produced from the Bid Information Form.
Here you mark the bid as a Flex Bid, enter the divide by
value and the Cost Type.
The Flex-Item, this can be any item in your Price Book
that you want to use. NOTE the field here will contain the
code of the Flex-Bid which supplies the raw cost for this item.
In order to fully understand FlexEst you must view the video below
AND experiment with the procedure yourself.
The Flex-Bid that hold all the items needed for a particular
operation(note- these item do not have to be in your Price Book).
The Flex-Cost is produced from the Bid Information Form.
Here you mark the bid as a Flex Bid, enter the divide by
value and the Cost Type.
The Flex-Item, this can be any item in your Price Book
that you want to use. NOTE the field here will contain the
code of the Flex-Bid which supplies the raw cost for this item.
In order to fully understand FlexEst you must view the video below
AND experiment with the procedure yourself.
Crew List -
Crews allow you to specify the combined cost for a group of laborers
(that is, a crew), and see the total cost and hours/days for all uses of
the Crew in the Bid Items.
Crews allow you to specify the combined cost for a group of laborers
(that is, a crew), and see the total cost and hours/days for all uses of
the Crew in the Bid Items.
Seq Column -
Used as an audit trail, it shows you the order you
added each item to the current bid. If you do not
need an audit trail you can re-sequence any time
to put each line in order. Also, when discussing
the bid with others you can use the line number as a
reference for discussion.
Used as an audit trail, it shows you the order you
added each item to the current bid. If you do not
need an audit trail you can re-sequence any time
to put each line in order. Also, when discussing
the bid with others you can use the line number as a
reference for discussion.
Merge Bid-Work Package -
With Estimating Merged Bid/WP option,
you can add all the Items from any Bid
into the current Bid. This can be useful
for handling large groups of related
Items, such as additions to Bids (such
as garages or swimming pools),
or alternative Bids.
This feature is also referred to a Work
Packages, because Bids can be used
much like Assemblies or Super
Assemblies, only better:
With Estimating Merged Bid/WP option,
you can add all the Items from any Bid
into the current Bid. This can be useful
for handling large groups of related
Items, such as additions to Bids (such
as garages or swimming pools),
or alternative Bids.
This feature is also referred to a Work
Packages, because Bids can be used
much like Assemblies or Super
Assemblies, only better:
Super Assemblies -
Super Assemblies makes Assemblies
even more powerful by grouping them
into larger, related systems. Super
Assemblies can be used to quickly
locate and select from a series of related
Assemblies and the Items associated
with those Assemblies.
Super Assemblies makes Assemblies
even more powerful by grouping them
into larger, related systems. Super
Assemblies can be used to quickly
locate and select from a series of related
Assemblies and the Items associated
with those Assemblies.
Assemblies -
Assemblies is a grouping of related Items
for convenient selection. The Items
assigned to a Assembly are from
anywhere in the Price Book Item list,
but are often from the same section of the
plans and form a single construction
system or Bid Item group (e.g., a slab
containing concrete, polyethylene,
wire mesh, and gravel; or a switch box
containing the box, plate, and switch, etc.).
Assemblies speed up the bidding process
by enabling you to transfer many Items
by using Assemblies with a single quantity
entry instead of one-by-one. Assembly
can also function as a checklist, to help
prevent omissions.
Assemblies is a grouping of related Items
for convenient selection. The Items
assigned to a Assembly are from
anywhere in the Price Book Item list,
but are often from the same section of the
plans and form a single construction
system or Bid Item group (e.g., a slab
containing concrete, polyethylene,
wire mesh, and gravel; or a switch box
containing the box, plate, and switch, etc.).
Assemblies speed up the bidding process
by enabling you to transfer many Items
by using Assemblies with a single quantity
entry instead of one-by-one. Assembly
can also function as a checklist, to help
prevent omissions.
Markups -
Markups are additional amounts, such as tax,
overhead, and profit, you add to your raw
(catalog) costs to determine your true cost and
the price you need to charge your customer.
Markups are entered as percentage values in
the Markup List’s "Tax/Markup %" column,
and may be applied either to the cost (what you
pay for the item, such as tax), or the price
(what you need to charge your customer).
You may also mark down a cost by entering a
percent value in the Discount % column instead
of the Markup % column.
Markups are additional amounts, such as tax,
overhead, and profit, you add to your raw
(catalog) costs to determine your true cost and
the price you need to charge your customer.
Markups are entered as percentage values in
the Markup List’s "Tax/Markup %" column,
and may be applied either to the cost (what you
pay for the item, such as tax), or the price
(what you need to charge your customer).
You may also mark down a cost by entering a
percent value in the Discount % column instead
of the Markup % column.
Cost Types -
Cost Types represent specific summary of costs or
expenses associated with Items (e.g., types of material,
labor, equipment, etc.). Each Item can have 5 Cost Types
assigned to it under the Classes (a cost type can only be
used once per Item). Costs are calculated for each Cost
Type, so that you can get a summary total of the
different cost types for the Bid.
All Items in the bid use particular cost types and will be
calculated using the Class percentage which the Cost Type
is placed. If you want to see which Bid Items make up
this total then select Cross Reference from the Tools menu.
Code Enter a Code to identify the Cost Type. If, when
building an item, you did not enter a type code the
system will assign a "0".
Cost Types represent specific summary of costs or
expenses associated with Items (e.g., types of material,
labor, equipment, etc.). Each Item can have 5 Cost Types
assigned to it under the Classes (a cost type can only be
used once per Item). Costs are calculated for each Cost
Type, so that you can get a summary total of the
different cost types for the Bid.
All Items in the bid use particular cost types and will be
calculated using the Class percentage which the Cost Type
is placed. If you want to see which Bid Items make up
this total then select Cross Reference from the Tools menu.
Code Enter a Code to identify the Cost Type. If, when
building an item, you did not enter a type code the
system will assign a "0".
Conversion Operator-
Conversion Operator field is "*" (meaning "multiply").
If the Conversion Operator (Conversion Op.) is "/" instead of "*",
ths Bid Quantity is divided by the Conversion Factor, instead of multiplied.
This is the calculated result of the Bid Item Quantity and the Conversion
Factor and Rounding Factors. This is the quantity that will be multiplied
by the cost per order unit to determine the total cost.
It also provides a bill-of-material/labor ordering.
Conversion Operator field is "*" (meaning "multiply").
If the Conversion Operator (Conversion Op.) is "/" instead of "*",
ths Bid Quantity is divided by the Conversion Factor, instead of multiplied.
This is the calculated result of the Bid Item Quantity and the Conversion
Factor and Rounding Factors. This is the quantity that will be multiplied
by the cost per order unit to determine the total cost.
It also provides a bill-of-material/labor ordering.
Conversion Factor -
This factor uses the Bid Quantity and converts it to an
Order Quantity (measured in Order Unit):
Bid Qty x Conversion Factor = Order Qty.
qty of 188 x .1 = 18.8
Bid Qty / Conversion Factor = Order Qty.
qty of 188 / 10 = 18.8
This factor uses the Bid Quantity and converts it to an
Order Quantity (measured in Order Unit):
Bid Qty x Conversion Factor = Order Qty.
qty of 188 x .1 = 18.8
Bid Qty / Conversion Factor = Order Qty.
qty of 188 / 10 = 18.8
Rounding Factor -
This Factor is a multiplier of the Bid Item Quantity. It will be
delivered in the "whole" units you want. A factor of 1 rounds
to a whole unit and 12 to a full dozen. To round to a fraction
of a unit, put a / in front of the number; e.g., /2 rounds to a half,
/3 to a third, etc.
Assign a number, either by entering a number directly, or by
pressing the List key F7, moving to the one you want.
Then press the Use Key F8.
This Factor is a multiplier of the Bid Item Quantity. It will be
delivered in the "whole" units you want. A factor of 1 rounds
to a whole unit and 12 to a full dozen. To round to a fraction
of a unit, put a / in front of the number; e.g., /2 rounds to a half,
/3 to a third, etc.
Assign a number, either by entering a number directly, or by
pressing the List key F7, moving to the one you want.
Then press the Use Key F8.
Rounding Direction - Used to determine whole order units.
Up To next Multiple of Factor
Down To previous Multiple of Factor
Closest Multiple of Factor
None No Rounding Done
Type the first letter of the rounding method you want,
if up type U, if down D, etc. Or you can press the List key F7
and pull one back using the Use Key F8.
Up To next Multiple of Factor
Down To previous Multiple of Factor
Closest Multiple of Factor
None No Rounding Done
Type the first letter of the rounding method you want,
if up type U, if down D, etc. Or you can press the List key F7
and pull one back using the Use Key F8.
Order Unit -
The Order Unit is the unit of measure an Item is ordered and priced
(different from the Bid Unit); e.g., labor to build something measured
in linear feet may be taken off in LF but ordered and paid for in hours (HR).
The Order Unit is the unit of measure an Item is ordered and priced
(different from the Bid Unit); e.g., labor to build something measured
in linear feet may be taken off in LF but ordered and paid for in hours (HR).
Cost Table -
The Cost Table is a central list of your current costs, which
can be used in your Items. Because multiple Items can refer
to the same cost in the Cost Table, changing a single cost in
the Cost Table can update all the uses of the cost in the
Price Book Items, and even in the current Bid.
The Cost Table is especially useful for entering the cost of materials,
which are used in multiple Items. Like concrete cost per CY can be use for piers, slabs, footings etc. so changing the cost one place thakes care of many of item cost.
The Cost Table is a central list of your current costs, which
can be used in your Items. Because multiple Items can refer
to the same cost in the Cost Table, changing a single cost in
the Cost Table can update all the uses of the cost in the
Price Book Items, and even in the current Bid.
The Cost Table is especially useful for entering the cost of materials,
which are used in multiple Items. Like concrete cost per CY can be use for piers, slabs, footings etc. so changing the cost one place thakes care of many of item cost.
Item Raw (Base) Cost -
The raw cost or base cost is the most basic level of cost for
an Item. It should be based on the items unit so the quantity
will be used correctly. For instance, 100 Square Feet times
1.50 where 1.50 is the raw cost. Do not add taxes here as
you will want to add them in the Markup List for all similar items.
If you change this amount while in a bid, it will set the Modified
Cost Flag to "Yes". This very powerful feature is done so if you
later update this Item from the Price Book, you can choose to
keep the cost as it stands or update it from the Price Book.
The Total Raw Cost on the Form, is the sum of all the Raw costs.
The raw cost or base cost is the most basic level of cost for
an Item. It should be based on the items unit so the quantity
will be used correctly. For instance, 100 Square Feet times
1.50 where 1.50 is the raw cost. Do not add taxes here as
you will want to add them in the Markup List for all similar items.
If you change this amount while in a bid, it will set the Modified
Cost Flag to "Yes". This very powerful feature is done so if you
later update this Item from the Price Book, you can choose to
keep the cost as it stands or update it from the Price Book.
The Total Raw Cost on the Form, is the sum of all the Raw costs.
MODIFIERS -
Change the cost on a single item.
It does not effect any other item and is hidden
from view on all reports
Many times you may want to tweak the cost
of just a few items with out changing your
global cost type markups.
Change the cost on a single item.
It does not effect any other item and is hidden
from view on all reports
Many times you may want to tweak the cost
of just a few items with out changing your
global cost type markups.
Adjustment Table -
The Adjustment Table is a Level 4 feature which allows
you to quickly adjust groups of your costs to accommodate
inflation rates, area modifiers, etc. For instance, you could
add 8% to the cost of all your concrete, regardless of strength.
This is much faster than changing each concrete-Item price one-at-a-time.
The Adjustment Table and the Adjustment Percentages in it are part
of the Price Book. Only the Total Cost and Total Price columns in
the Adjustment List reflect Bid-specific information.
The Adjustment Table is a Level 4 feature which allows
you to quickly adjust groups of your costs to accommodate
inflation rates, area modifiers, etc. For instance, you could
add 8% to the cost of all your concrete, regardless of strength.
This is much faster than changing each concrete-Item price one-at-a-time.
The Adjustment Table and the Adjustment Percentages in it are part
of the Price Book. Only the Total Cost and Total Price columns in
the Adjustment List reflect Bid-specific information.
How the System Calculates Costs and Prices -
You may calculate up to five different costs in each Item: Material, Labor, Equipment, Subcontractor and Other. Each cost is computed in a separate Cost Column, with it's own Cost Type and Budgets assigned. The above calculation is repeated for all Cost Columns (Labor, Equipment, etc.) which have a cost assigned to them (i.e., not $0). The result of each Cost Column's calculations (material, labor, etc.) are added together to get Item Totals.
You should ALWAYS select Recalculate off the Bid Menu before giving a quote. Check for any omissions and all calculations carefully. When you "back-compute" (entering a cost in a totals
column vs. in a Unit Cost column), you may find the results off by a few pennies because of dividing uneven numbers.
You may calculate up to five different costs in each Item: Material, Labor, Equipment, Subcontractor and Other. Each cost is computed in a separate Cost Column, with it's own Cost Type and Budgets assigned. The above calculation is repeated for all Cost Columns (Labor, Equipment, etc.) which have a cost assigned to them (i.e., not $0). The result of each Cost Column's calculations (material, labor, etc.) are added together to get Item Totals.
You should ALWAYS select Recalculate off the Bid Menu before giving a quote. Check for any omissions and all calculations carefully. When you "back-compute" (entering a cost in a totals
column vs. in a Unit Cost column), you may find the results off by a few pennies because of dividing uneven numbers.
Budget List and Budget Code -
Budgets are a set of item accumulators specially designed to provide a summary Report and to interface with accounting programs. Often you will want to set up Budgets to correspond to the checks you will need to write to pay suppliers and subcontractors, sometimes more than one check (at different times) to the same company.
This Code is used to place this item's cost into a "Budget bucket or group" to accumulate the cost of every item which have this number assigned to them. You may see the totals by going to the Budget List. Budgets are useful when you want to see or transfer their totals into a budget or job cost tracking program.
Assign a Code either by entering it directly or clicking the List icon, or the right mouse button and selecting "List" to display all the budgets. Then move to your selection, and press the
Use Key F8. or the Use icon to "pullback" the Code into the Item.
Budgets are a set of item accumulators specially designed to provide a summary Report and to interface with accounting programs. Often you will want to set up Budgets to correspond to the checks you will need to write to pay suppliers and subcontractors, sometimes more than one check (at different times) to the same company.
This Code is used to place this item's cost into a "Budget bucket or group" to accumulate the cost of every item which have this number assigned to them. You may see the totals by going to the Budget List. Budgets are useful when you want to see or transfer their totals into a budget or job cost tracking program.
Assign a Code either by entering it directly or clicking the List icon, or the right mouse button and selecting "List" to display all the budgets. Then move to your selection, and press the
Use Key F8. or the Use icon to "pullback" the Code into the Item.
Vendor or Subcontractor List -
The Vender List is primarily used to request material
or subcontractor quotes.
Since this list is just a list of suppliers and their
contact information this feature as only limited use.
The Vender List is primarily used to request material
or subcontractor quotes.
Since this list is just a list of suppliers and their
contact information this feature as only limited use.
Pictures -
There are times when bids with pictures of bid items
will clarify what you are proposing.
There are times when bids with pictures of bid items
will clarify what you are proposing.