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Contractor's Estimating System Version 1.00 COPYRIGHT (c) 1987 COSTON DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION =============================================================================== CONEST1.EXE and it's data files (PRICEFL. JOBFILE.) and this document file are all Copyright (c) 1987 by COSTON DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. These programs are distributed under the SHAREWARE concept. This means that you may use and freely distribute these files to your friends or up load them to BBS's. The only restrictions are; 1. You may not CHANGE or MODIFY these programs. 2. You may not sell or charge a fee for these programs. 3. You hold Coston Development harmless for any losses, real or imagined, that may result from the use or inablity to use this program. =============================================================================== Version 1.0 is a limited version of our more powerful Version 2.00. This version is distributed in the hope that you will be able to use it for small estimating tasks, and to allow you to see a preview of our more powerful system If you like this software, and would like the latest version, you can obtain it by sending your check for $40.00 to COSTON DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. Our address is; COSTON DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION 8340 Ulmerton Rd #103A Largo, Fl 33541 Please indicate which program you are requesting (we have several). Version 2.xx (currently 2.00 but upgrades are being planned) contains many features that are not supported by Version 1.0. These include; 1. The elimination of the SHAREWARE NOTICE upon startup. 2. Greatly increased databank capacity (999 items) 3. Double the amount of takeoff items (400 items) 4. User definable Tax rates/Categories 5. Harddisk support 6. Larger, more complete manual, with examples of factors Version 1.00 provides 1. A limited price databank of 200 items 2. 180 line items (10 categories) per estimate 3. Floppy disk support (aprox. 30 takeoffs/per disk) 4. 10 predefined categories Pg 2 Contractors Estimating System =============================================================================== WHAT IS CONEST? CONEST (CONstruction ESTimator) was designed by a professional estimator who has used it on major projects. It is designed to be used by both General Con- tractors and Subcontractors, and by anyone else who needs to make accurate takeoffs on almost any type of job. Program Design CONEST1 has two major components. First and foremost is the price database file. Here the user will set up as many as 200 different items (ver. 2.xx has 999 items) of materials and labor used in estimating. The user will assign a three (3) character code for the item (ie. 001 or A67), a 16 character des- cription (ie. 8x16x16 Conc Blk), a unit of measurement (ie. SF, LF, EA), a unit of purchase (ie. EA, CY, MO)m whether the item is taxable (Y/N), a multi- plication factor for computing quantity (see the section on Factors),and a unit price. All items of labor or material cost must first be input into the price data file before an estimate can be made. The second major part of CONEST1 is the Takeoff file. Here you will setup the items to takeoff in any of 10 categories (20 in ver. 2.xx). Each category provides for up to 18 line items of takeoff, make for a total of 180 lines per estimate. Standard takeoff templates may be designed in advance, called up, modified to a specific job, and saved under a new name, enabling the building up of a library of takeoff templates. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS CONEST is was written in BASIC and then Compiled. This program should run on any IBM or Compatible MS-DOS machine, running DOS 2.XX or higher, and a single Floppy disk. A hard drive version is available for registered users. 256 K of memory is required for version 1.0. Each estimate file requires (version 1.00) aprox. 9000 bytes. STARTUP Boot your machine with DOS and place the CONEST1 diskette in drive A: Type CONEST1 [Return] The Shareware notice will appear, press any key to continue. The program will prompt you for the current tax rate (Version 2.00 stores this information in a setup file), and then display the main menu UPDATE/CHANGE PRICE FILE CREATE A NEW TAKEOFF UPDATE EXISTING TAKEOFF UPDATE JOB PRICES PRINT REPORTS EXIT SYSTEM Pg 3 CONTRACTORS ESTIMATING SYSTEM =============================================================================== To select a menu item, use your [DOWN ARROW] key to position the arrow next to the item desired and press [RETURN]. UPDATE CHANGE PRICE FILE This is the first item on the menu, and the first task before you. Here you will set up your labor and material items for future reference. The screen that you will be working with will look like; N/B/I/M/Q PRICE DATA BASE Pg 1 # Code Description Unit/Meas Unit/Pur Tax Factor Price =============================================================================== 1 ___ ________________ __ __ _ _._____ _.___ 2 ___ ________________ __ __ _ _._____ _.___ 3 ___ ________________ __ __ _ _._____ _.___ 4 ___ ________________ __ __ _ _._____ _.___ . . . 19 ___ ________________ __ __ _ _._____ _.___ 20 ___ ________________ __ __ _ _._____ _.___ This is the first of 10 screens where you can enter your price data. MAKE CERTAIN THAT YOUR CAPS LOCK IS ON. You can page forware to the NEXT page by pressing the [N] key. To move back a page press the [B] key. To INSERT data press the [I] key. To QUIT and save changes press the [Q] key. When you press the [I] key to INSERT data, a marker will appear next to the first line on the page. This tells you what line you are on. To move down use your [DOWN ARROW] key. If you miss the line you desired the marker will go back to the top of the page and begin again. It can be advantagous to input your data in logical groups, allowing a few blank lines between groups for future growth. YOU SHOULD NEVER REUSE A CODE, OTHERWISE THE COMPUTER WILL FIND ONLY THE FIRST OCCURANCE! When you select a line to input on, press [RETURN] and the cursor jumps to CODE Column. Input a UNIQUE 3 digit code. Press [RETURN] to skip to the next field (DESCRIPTION) where you may enter a 16 char. description. Press [RETURN] again to skip to the UNIT/MEAS field. Here you may input a 2 char. U/M. Typical units of measurement are; SF -SQUARE FOOT LF -LINEAL FOOT MO -MONTH WK -WEEK Press [RETURN] to skip to the UNIT OF PURCHASE field. Here you will enter a two character U/P. Typical U/P's are; EA - EACH PC - PIECES CY - CUBIC YARDS BF - BOARD FEET NOTE: UNITS OF MEASUREMENT AND PURCHASE ARE INFORMATIONAL FIELDS ONLY. THEY DO NOT AFFECT ANY CALCULATIONS. Page 4 CONTRACTORS ESTIMATING SYSTEM =============================================================================== Press [RETURN] to skip to the Tax field. The default is NO TAX. IF this is correct then press [RETURN]. If you wish tax figured, enter a `Y' and press [RETURN]/ You are now in the FACTOR field. Here you will input the multiplication factor that will calcuate the quantity requied, and thus the total cost. A Complete description of these factors is found under the heading FACTORS. Please review this section before actually entering data. The last field is the Price Field, reached by pressing [RETURN] after enter- ing the FACTOR. Here you must enter the UNIT PRICE THAT APPLIES. Be very care- ful that you use the correct price. If, for example, you are having the com- puter calculate concrete by the HALF YARD, enter the HALF YARD PRICE. Pressing [RETURN] once more places you back at the beging marker on the next line. You can skip withe the down arrow or enter the next line by hitting [RETURN] and following th above procedure. In order to change pages or to save your changes you must press the [M] MENU key. This re-activates the N/B/I/Q keys. REMEMBER: This program does not save your price file entries until you exe- cute the [Q] QUIT function. FACTORS Conversion factors are the heart of this estimating system. They allow YOU to determine how much or how little waste to figure. The simplest factor is 1.000 This is used when you are doing a one by one count of items. An example would be for windows or doors. You would count the number of 3'0" doors and enter it in your takeoff. The computer would use a factor of 1.000 and thereby not change your entry. A little more complicated factor would be for rebar (steel reinforcing bars) that are typicaly used in foundations. REBAR comes in 20' lengths, but they are overlapped when installed, so the effective lenght is only 18 feet. 1 piece = 18 feet divide 1 by 18 = .055 We now know that for every foot of foundation it requires .055 of one bar. If a foundation is 100' long the number of bars required is 5.50. For Double rebar the factor is .055 x 2 = .111 Triple rebar .055 x 3 = .165 A more complicated formula involves concrete. You wish to pour a 4" thick slab. This is best taken off by the SQUARE FOOT. You want your answer to be in CUBIC YARDS OF CONCRETE. The thought process is ; 1 cu. yrd = 27 cu. ft. 1 sq ft = .333 cu. ft. of concrete 27 cu ft / .333 cu. ft = 81 sq ft per yard 1 sf divided by 81 sf = .0123 To test this formula (VERY IMPORTANT, ALWAYS TEST A NEW FORMULA) multiply 81 x .0123 = .9963 cu. yrds (close enough for goverment work) Page 5 CONTRACTORS ESTIMATING SYSTEM =============================================================================== To add 5% waste factor multiply .0123 x 1.05 = .0129 NOTE: Included in the documentation of Version 2.xx are dozens of Prefigured Factors for your use. CREATING TAKEOFFS Before a takeoff can be made, the individual job file must be created. This is accomplished in one of two ways, both of which will be described below. Both methods are accessed through the second menu selection (CREATE A NEW TAKEOFF). When you select this menu item, a second menu will appear. This menu has three items on it. They are; 1. Create a Blank Takeoff file 2. Use a Template to make a new Takeoff 3. RETURN TO MAIN MENU You may choose your selection by entering the appropriate menu #(1-3) CREATE A BLANK TAKEOFF FILE Supplied with CONEST1 is a blank, formated datafile called JOBFILE. When you select this item, that file is loaded into memory and you are prompted to supply; 1. A NEW FILE NAME 2. A PROJECT NAME 3. A PROJECT LOCATION 4. THE ESTIMATORS NAME Note that all of these items are optional except #1. You must supply a filename (1-8 characters). IMPORTANT! If you specify the name of an existing file, IT WILL BE OVERWRITTEN. After entering the information the computer will save the data under the new file name (leaving JOBFILE intact to be used over again). You must use menu item #3 to input data. HELPFUL HINT: Develop a system for nameing files. One popular system in- volves using the last 2 digits of the year (ie. 87 for 1987) plus a job number. (ie. 87001 would indicate job #1 in 1987) USE A TEMPLATE TO MAKE A NEW TAKEOFF This option allows you to use a takeoff template containing your commonly used takeoff items (created by BLANK TAKEOFF above). You can then call up this takeoff format, rename it for a specific job, and save it. This will leave the original template intact, ready for your next job. THIS IS A MAJOR FEATURE OF THIS SYSTEM AND SHOULD BE USED OFTEN. You must use menu #3 to input data into these takeoff files. Pg 6 CONTRACTORS ESTIMATING SYSTEM ============================================================================== UDATING EXISTING TAKEOFF After a takeoff (jobfile) has been created you may then input the takeoff data required. You will be prompted to enter the jobfile name you wish to work on. After a few seconds a screen will appear ; N/B/I/S/M/Q File :filename Section :Category 1 Pg 1 Code Takeoff Description Factor Unit/$ Order TTL COST ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ___ 0 __ ________________ 0.0000 0.000 0.0 __ 0.00 ___ 0 __ ________________ 0.0000 0.000 0.0 __ 0.00 ___ 0 __ ________________ 0.0000 0.000 0.0 __ 0.00 The actual screen contains 18 lines and a section total at the bottom. As you can see it is simular to the PRICE DATA BASE screen. You have a com- mand line (N/B/I/S/M/Q) that is identical in appearance and operation to the command line used in the price database with the exception of the addition of the [S] SAVE Command. This allows you to periodicly save your work without exiting your estimate. To set up your estimate page to the category you desire and press [I] to INSERT data. In the Takeoff mode you only provide 2 imputs per line. The PRICE CODE and the QUANTITY. All other information is dredged up from the PRICE FILE. Dont worry about takeoff lines with no quantities. These will be ignored during all reports. UPDATE JOB PRICES After an estimate is made, it may be desirable to UPDATE the prices in that estimate. This IS NOT AN AUTOMATIC FUNCTION, and must be called up. You will be prompted for the estimate file to update. The computer will work a bit then return to the main menu. PRINT REPORTS Two reports are included with Version 1.0. A price listing (very useful in doing takeoffs), and a job estimate report. These reports will print on any standard 80 column printer (IBM/EPSON)