Masonry Magazine April 1985 Page. 20
Beneficial Center
Peapak, New Jersey
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20 MASONRY-MARCH/APRIL, 1985
COMPUTER ESTIMATING
continued
flexibility and possible growth potential. It was recommended that in order to combine flexibility with low price, some sort of spreadsheet program is the best solution. In computer terminology, a spreadsheet is defined as an electronic representation of a typical ledger sheet, divided into rows and columns where labels, numbers, and formulas can be entered by the user.
Spreadsheets Can Be Tricky
The use of a spreadsheet, however, can be complex and difficult to learn. To assist contractors with the use of spreadsheet programs, Pope and Soderberg have developed a template containing a series of 24 formats for masonry estimating. (A template is defined as computer disk containing standard labels, numbers and formulas which can be used repeatedly in setting up a similar format-such as a man-day estimate.) The template can be used with Visicalc 1.1 as well as with a number of other spreadsheet programs.
Pope and Soderberg warned potential users of the template that, although they have made every reasonable effort to check the calculations and formulas they should check each one before using it for a proposal, to assure its accuracy. The template has no guarantee or warranty.
Use of the Basic Estimating Program, developed by my firm, was also presented. This program simplifies computer assisted estimating even further. It replaces the spreadsheet, and so the need to set up formulas. Using a menu-drive system, the program leads the user through the necessary entry of information to produce three basic estimating reports- crew cost, equipment rental cost, and final cost estimate. A production summary and a total estimate check are also available. In addition, the system maintains a material cost information file.
The Basic Estimating Program is intended to provide new computer users with an introduction to the benefits of the computer in masonry contracting. It requires no previous computer experience to produce basic estimating reports. As users become more experienced, the template and spreadsheet programs will offer greater flexibility and sophistication. Each participant at the seminar received both the template and the Basic Estimating Program.
Participants Operate Computers
During the second day of the seminar, participants were given the opportunity for hands-on computer demonstrations. A Panasonic and a Texas Instruments Professional computer were used to demonstrate the Visicalc 1.1 templates. Two more TI Professionals and a Compaq were used to demonstrate the IMS Basic Estimating Program.
In the morning session, each participant used the programs to modify an estimate for a typical office building job of about $1 million. In the afternoon, each person started from scratch to complete an estimate of a small building.
Anyone interested in obtaining the Basic Estimating Program, the Visicalc 1.1 template, and a copy of the manual used in the seminar may contact my firm in Colorado Springs.