BHSestimator
The Greatest Discovery Since
Electricity
Hopefully there is an answer to your question in
the items below. If not please send us an email and we will get right back
with you.
Table
of Contents
- How do I ... ?
- Where can I find ... ?
- Why does/doesn't ... ?
- What is ... ?
- When is ... ?
- Revision History
How do
I ... ?
Q. How do I schedule a training session?
A. If you have recently purchased a system, it is
very likely that we can train you at your site. If it's been awhile, we might
ask you pay expenses for us to do so. Send us an email and ask and we will get back
to you.
Q. How do I delete a range of lines on an
estimate worksheet?
A. Let say you have a 50 line estimate and you
want to delete lines 10 through 15. Click anywhere on line 10. Then either hold
the Shift key and arrow down to line 15 or click and hold the left mouse button
and drag down to line 15 and release the button. Either way a column or
multiple columns in rows 10-15 will now be selected (in blue typically). Click
the Cut Speed Button, Press Ctrl-X or Click Edit|Cut to remove the lines.
Q. How do I apply a hidden markup to
Material or Labor for the entire estimate?
A. Fudge Factors - On a worksheet grid, click the right
mouse button. Then click on Fudge Factors. You will be taken to two hidden
fields on the Title Page.
Q. How do I edit my database in the grid
mode. When I type it ignores me.
A. By default when you first enter the database,
it is not in edit mode. This helps keep you from making accidental editing
changes like the DOS version use to do. You can go to the edit mode by clicking
Edit|Grid in Edit Mode (or you can do a Ctrl-A). If you want to edit some
existing text (like the description), press Enter first and then arrow to the
character where you want to edit.
Q. How do I update my Material Pricing?
A. BHS provides a Material Pricing Update as often
as quarterly. You can be placed on a schedule to receive updates quarterly,
semi-annually, annually or you may just call in and request an update when you
want one. The cost for each update is $50.00. BHS updates the entire database
each time we send out an update so you do not have to worry about missed
issues. You can block certain items from being updated or you can apply various
factors to the update value. We can also work with your local supply house to
allow them to provide you with a file in our format so you can update direct
from them. There is a one-time set-up fee of $100.00
BHS can also update from various national pricing
services such as ERI (EPS Plus), Trade Service (TRA-SER) and Vision InfoSoft
(EPIC). See link.
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Where
can I find ... ?
Q. How do I locate items in the Database?
A. Click the Search button and enter some short
description of what you are looking for. For example: HUBS for Meyer hubs or N1
for Nema 1 items. You can also use the Quick Reference Card supplied with your
system to get an idea of Description Codes and items that they may contain. Use
the Goto button to go to a certain Description Code.
Q. Where are the Fudge Factors?
A. Right click on the Worksheet Grid. In fact
right-clicking is always a good idea in Windows 95 and up. Usually there will
be a popup menu containing all of the functions available at that location. On
grids you should usually left click on the line that you want to affect first,
and then right click. That way you can be sure the program knows what you want
to do.
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Why
does/doesn't ... ?
Q. Why doesn’t my Help File work in
Windows Vista or 7?
A. This problem was corrected in V6.0.6.9a. A
download of the correct help file is store on our download
page. You will need to have the latest version of the BHSestimator. Please contact us if your
Annual Site Service Contract is up to date, or if you would like to renew. Copy
this file to the c:\program files\bhs, inc/bhs5 folder. If, when you open the
Help (on a W7 or Vista machine) there is no data and it tells you to navigate
to another web address, you are experiencing a Windows security “feature.” If you navigate to c:\program files\bhs,
inc\bhs5 and double-click on the bhs6.chm file, Windows will come up and ask if
you want to run the file. There is a checkbox for “Always Check Before Running
This File.” Uncheck it. It should work fine from within, or without the program
then. If installed with the rest of the system, this would probably not happen,
but since it came from the a web download, Windows flags it until you tell it
that the file is ok.
Q. When I try to type numbers into a field
on a worksheet, the cursor keeps jumping to a different cell. What’s up with
that?
A. Press the Num Lock key on your keyboard and try
again.
Q. I can't see everything on the screen at
once.
A. The BHSestimator is best viewed in 800x600
resolution. 640x480 will clip some items to the right or bottom.
Q. Why when I select a single item to add
to a worksheet do I get several items added at once?
A. This is one of the data entry modes. If you
right click on the Worksheet Grid, Notice the first three choices:
- Chaining Enabled - The BHSestimator uses the
chaining defined in the Material/Assembly databases to bring up the next
logical item.
- Prompt for each item in chain - If selected, you will
be ask for a quantity for each item before it is placed on the page. If
not selected, all the items in the chain will be added at once and the
cursor will be located in the Quantity Field on the first item waiting for
you to enter a value or delete the line. This is especially useful for new
users who aren't sure of the chaining and what items they can expect to
come up next.
- Close Window after One Chain - If checked and you call
up an Item by Description Code, the Item Selection Windows will then
close. If not checked the window will stay open waiting for your to make
further selections. You then click the Close Button to close the window.
Q. Why, if I add all the numbers up for
cost or labor on a page, doesn't it match the total at the bottom?
A. First on a page: They are typically items
priced per 100 and per 1000 (e.g., 10 * $2.37/100 =.237 which rounds to 24
cents displayed on a line.) However we still do all the math with .237
Now if you have 10 items that round this way on each line. The screen would
look like the total ought to be 10*.24 = $2.40 but since we are doing the math
with the real numbers the page total is 10*.237= $2.37
The same rounding procedure holds true from estimate pages through the estimate
total. We only show cents on the estimate pages but the actual numbers we
compute the estimate total with are out to several decimal places. Thus after
all the actual numbers are added together, and the markup, profit, overhead,
etc., are applied, the estimate total ends up being a few cents different.
It doesn't matter how big the estimate is, it just matter how the total of
things rounds off at the end. The estimate total is the most exact number.
Q. Why does the wrong name always come up
in the Estimator's Name field on a New Estimate?
A. If you have a "Master Estimate"
defined, edit the Master Estimate and put the correct name in that field. (You
can also set all the other defaults for a New Estimate in Master Estimate). If
you do not have a Master Estimate defined, check your Owner Setup under the
Options menu choice.
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What is
... ?
Q. The Tools Needed Database?
A. From the Material Database Editor click
Edit|Tools Needed. You will be taken to a screen that allows you to associate
tools from our tool list to items in the database. One of the new Phase reports
gives you a list of tools needed and Phase of Construction.
Q. The Phase Database?
A. Items in the Material Database are assigned to
a "Phase of Construction". For example, Feeders, Branch Circuits, Fiber,
etc... The Phase database defines these phase and sets the labor markup for
items placed in this phase. Phases of Construction are also used to better
manage the job after you win the bid. If you find out that you are running over
early in the job (lower Phase of Construction) you can adjust the operation to
compensate.
Q. The Type of Construction Database?
A. The Type of Construction Database is a simple
tool that allows you to Square-Foot-Estimate a job assuming you know your base
labor rate and the cost per square foot for the type of job in question. As you
have success with certain types of jobs you can build this database to reflect
your business/geographical area.
Q. What is the Security Key?
A. The BHSestimator is not copy
protected. You can put it on as many machines as you like. The key is your
license to use copies of the BHSestimator. You must have the key
attached to the parallel port of the machine that you want to estimate on or
the software will work in view mode only.
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When
is ... ?
Q. The next BHS User Group/Training
Seminar
A. Typically in October: See
the Seminar Page
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Revision
History
See Downloads Page
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Incorporated]. All rights reserved.