Estimates window

This pane displays a "tree-view" list of estimates available for use with Sage Estimating.

Estimates in this pane are organized according to "branches" and sub-branches that appear under the All Estimates folder icon. You can create or specify a branch at the time you create an estimate. Click the arrow key to the left of any branch name to display its sub-branches and estimates.

• Select any estimate in the list to display the corresponding estimate cover page in the detail pane (to the right of the navigation pane).

• Right-click any branch (folder icon), sub-branch, or on the estimate database, and then select Show all estimates in grid to display a grid of available estimates associated with the branch, sub-branch, or estimate database. You can filter the grid contents to find a specific estimate. See Searching for estimates for instructions.

  To view information about an estimate, right-click it, and then click Show estimate information.

  To open an estimate in the Estimating program, either double-click it or right-click it, and then click Launch Estimating from the menu.

• Right-click the estimate database, and then select Retrieve estimate database info to open the Estimate Database Summary window.

You can add a branch or sub-branch, delete a branch, and rename an existing branch by right-clicking on its corresponding folder icon and selecting the appropriate option from the shortcut menu.

You can also delete, rename, or copy any estimate in the pane by right-clicking on it and selecting the appropriate option from the shortcut menu.

Click to create a new estimate by duplicating data in an existing estimate.

Use this feature when you want to use an existing estimate as the starting point for a new estimate.

Click to import estimates that have been saved previously in extensible markup language (XML) format.

Importing estimate data allows you to restore one or more estimates from backup. Sage Estimating automatically locks an estimate during the import, but the estimate is unlocked when the import is complete.

The Sage Estimating phase code suffix.

The phase suffix formats the phase code by setting aside part of that 9-character code for a suffix. The suffix determines how many digits are to the right of the decimal point.

Displays a brief description for the project.

The project name appears in the title bar of the Spreadsheet window. It also appears on the heading of every page when you print an estimate report or a report cover page.

The name of the person responsible for this estimate. 

Displays the default factor table for this estimate.

During takeoff, Sage Estimating uses your entry to adjust the prices in the spreadsheet. For a new estimate, this field is blank. When no factor table has been specified, Sage Estimating uses the Base Price, (the original item prices stored in the database).

The amount of time the project will take to complete. You can use the duration in formulas and as a basis for addons.

The standard number of working hours in a day.

Person hours are calculated using this number for items with a day-based order unit (Day, Person Day, and—for Estimating Extended only–Crew day). This value is used to calculate the labor and equipment hours for items with certain time-based order units.

The totals appear in the spreadsheet, Totals window, and reports.

The standard number of working hours in a week.

Person hours are calculated using this number for items with a week-based order unit (Week, Person Week, and—for Estimating Extended only—Crew week). This value is used to calculate the labor and equipment hours for items with certain time-based order units.

The totals appear in the spreadsheet, Totals window, and reports.

The standard number of working hours in a month.

Person hours are calculated using this number for items with a month-based order unit (Month, Person Month, and—for Estimating Extended only—Crew month). This value is used to calculate the labor and equipment hours for items with certain time-based order units.

The totals appear in the spreadsheet, Totals window, and reports.

Displays the method for calculating the labor/equipment crew price for items with these generic time-based order units: Hour, Day, Week, Month.

• Average cost per person – uses the average cost of all members of the crew to calculate labor and equipment costs.
• Total cost of crew – calculates the pricing based on the total cost of the crew.

Displays the selected method for calculating the labor and equipment hours for items with crews on reports.

• Person hours multiplies the number of crew members by the crew hours.
• Crew hours shows the total number of hours it takes the crew to complete a task.

The name of the rate table that you want to use for labor calculations. The rate table you select is automatically assigned to the estimate.

A rate table provides the hourly and benefit rates used to calculate the cost of the resources in crews. You can set up an unlimited number of rate tables. For instance, you might set up separate rate tables by region or to handle regular and overtime pay.

You can set up rate tables in Sage Estimating (Data tab > Crews group > Crews > Rate Tables, or in classic view, Database menu > Crews > Rate Tables).

The size of the job (up to 8 digits).

As soon as there are actual currency amounts in the spreadsheet, Sage Estimating calculates the cost per unit for the entire job by dividing the total cost of the estimate by the job size. The cost per unit displays in the Totals window.

You can also use the job size in formulas and as a basis for addons in the Sage Estimating software. 

The amount of the contract (14 digits), if known. You can use this amount as the basis for addons in the Sage Estimating software.

The unit of measure (up to 4 characters) associated with the job.

You can clear your selection at any time by clicking [Clear].

Note: Clearing your selection does not clear the unit of measure from the list.

Displays the job cost software that you use with the estimate.

If you do not use a job cost application, the None setting omits all job cost boxes from the estimate in the Sage Estimating software.

This box displays when you select a job cost system in the Job cost system name box.

Displays the number (up to 20 characters) of the job associated with the estimate.

This box is available if you selected Sage 300 Construction and Real Estate or Sage 100 Contractor in the Job cost system name box. It displays the company associated with the estimate in the job cost program.

Displays the client company associated with the estimate.

Companies in the list are set up in the address book.

The contact person associated with the estimate.

People in the list are set up in the address book.

Displays the architecture company associated with the estimate. You can click [Clear] at any time to clear your selection.

Companies in the list are set up in the address book.

The architect associated with the estimate.

People in the list are set up in the address book.

The engineering company associated with the estimate.

Companies in the list are set up in the address book.

The engineer associated with the estimate.

People in the list are set up in the address book.

The date (in mm/dd/yyyy format) and time (in h:mm format) when the bid is due.