Integrating Sage 100 Contractor with Estimating: overview

Sage 100 Contractor integration with Estimating provides a new level of estimating sophistication, as well as built-in integration with the accounting applications of Sage 100 Contractor. Integration is accomplished through the Sage 100 Contractor application program interface (API), which acts as a bridge between the two programs allowing you to integrate Sage Estimating (SQL) data into Sage 100 Contractor proposals, budgets, and change orders. In addition, Sage 100 Contractor vendor and cost code information flows into the Estimating database.

Why integrate Sage Estimating (SQL) with Sage 100 Contractor?

By using these programs together to create proposals, budgets, and change orders, you can take advantage of the robust power of Sage Estimating and the fully integrated accounting system in Sage 100 Contractor.

Basic integration steps for Sage 100 Contractor

You must complete the following basic tasks before you can integrate Sage Estimating (SQL) information with a Sage 100 Contractor company to create proposals, budgets, and change orders. (On the Advanced Settings tab

In Database Administration for Sage 100 Contractor, allow Sage Estimating (SQL) to connect to your Sage 100 Contractor database.
1. Click Advanced Settings > Advanced SQL Server Settings.
2. Select the Limit access to this SQL Server instance to approved applications checkbox, and then click [Edit Approvals].
3. In the Enable Access from Other Applications window, select Sage Estimating.
4. Click [OK]
In Sage 100 Contractor, set up a user group named API, and then assign the group to Sage Estimating users:
1. In the 7-2-1 Security Groups window, set up a user group named API.
2. In the 7-2-2 User List, create user IDs for Sage Estimating (SQL) users, assigning the API group to those users.
  
  Note: You must be a company administrator to set up security in Sage 100 Contractor. For more information, see the help for Sage 100 Contractor.
In the Estimating Management Console, set up the Sage Estimating (SQL) standard database to interface with Sage 100 Contractor:
1. In the Estimating Management Console, click Standard DB.
2. From the catalog, select the database you want to integrate with Sage 100 Contractor.
3. In the information window, scroll down to the Job Cost Information section, and then select Sage 100 Contractor as the Job Cost Interface Type.
Select the Sage 100 Contractor company you want to integrate with the database:
1. In the Job Cost Information section, click the Setup button to open the Job Cost Integrator window.
2. Select the SQL Server instance where the Sage 100 Contractor database is located.
3. Enter the API user's User Name and Password.
  
  Note: If Integrated Security (Windows authentication) is turned on for the user in the Sage 100 Contractor company, enter the domain together with the user name in the form Domain\user name, and do not enter a password.
4. Select default categories from the Sage 100 Contractor company.
5. (optional) Select Add categories to items if you want to add the categories to items in your Estimating database.
6. If you want to import Sage 100 Contractor vendors into your Sage Estimating (SQL) Address Book, select the Import vendors into Address Book checkbox.
  
  If you check this option, the program imports Sage 100 Contractor vendors that do not already exist for the same company in the Address Book,
After this step, Sage 100 Contractor cost codes, cost types, job numbers, and vendors are available in Estimating.
In Sage Estimating (SQL), assign the imported Sage 100 Contractor cost codes and cost types to items, phases, and addons .
In Sage Estimating (SQL), export estimating data to Sage 100 Contractor to create proposals, budgets, and change orders. On the Interface menu, use Proposal, or Budget, or Change Order.

Note: Exclusive access to the Sage 100 Contractor company must be turned off when exporting data to create a proposal, budget, or change order.