Using Metric - ProEstimate

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Using Metric

There are a number of different ways that the Metric system has been incorporated into ProEstimate-HEAVY. The main focus of the Metric system within the program is to assist the estimator in converting between English and Metric units and to see the effects of the conversion on the prices.

In order for the system to monitor the units and conversion factors for all items, the system requires all unit descriptions be located in a metric conversion table. The system comes with a database of units and conversions (METRIC.DBF). Whenever the user is prompted to enter a unit description for a pay item or task, the list box will display a list of available unit descriptions. In the Pay Item Database, under the OPTIONS menu item, there is an option that allows you to edit the metric database. Selecting this option will display a list of each item in the metric database.

PROGRAM PREFERENCES

On the Program Preferences screen, there is a prompt to allow the user to select the default unit of measure type (English or Metric) for the program. This setting is used as the default setting when setting up a new estimate. The user can always override the default setting on the project settings screen.

PROJECT SETTINGS SCREEN

On the Project Settings Screen, the user can select the unit of measure type for the current project. Once selected, all of the units for pay items will be based upon the selected unit of measure type.

ADDING PAY ITEMS

When adding a pay item to the project (whether batch loading or adding one at a time), the system will automatically load the appropriate unit description. When loading pay items from a DOT disk or from a Letting Disk, the user should make sure the project settings have been properly set to use the proper unit of measure type.

MAIN ESTIMATE SCREEN

From the Main Estimate Screen, pressing METRIC will display a window on the screen showing both English and Metric unit prices for the current pay item.

METRIC CONVERSION REPORT

This report will print a cost/bid report showing the quantity, unit cost, and unit bid for each pay item, both in English and Metric units. See the Reports Chapter for more information on this report.

METRIC UNITS DATBASE

The metric units database, Figure 1, allows you to edit the units of measure that the system uses for pay items and tasks. You can edit the conversion factors and add new units of measure. This is a spreadsheet-style screen, and you can use either the menu or the right mouse button to add or delete new units of measure.

NOTE:If the unit of measure type for a project is changed after pay items have been entered, the system will attempt to convert all of the quantities and prices for the project. Due to rounding errors, some of the quantities and/or prices may not be exactly the same. The estimator MUST verify all quantities and prices after the change. Also, the system will automatically update any sub/supplier pricing sheets, what-if sheets, and custom quote sheets with the new units of measure type, quantities and prices.

NOTE: A conversion factor of 1, tells the system that the English and Metric units are the same.