MacNail Estimating Basics

Before you start to modify MacNail estimating worksheets, it helps to know a little about how they work, and how they are put together.

Types of estimating worksheets

Estimating worksheets come in two types-- estimates and estimators. Structurally they are exactly the same, but you will use them for different purposes.

An estimate is used to come up with a price for just one construction project. Normally you will use it for one job, then throw it out when you're done. Changes made to an estimate affect only that one project. An estimate always has 'estimate' in its file name.

An estimator is a blank template that you'll use to make estimates. Changes that you make to an estimator affect all future estimates that you make from it. An estimator always has 'estimator' in its file name.

All of the MacNail Customizing commands work on both estimates and estimators. However, most of the time you will want to customize estimators, since changing them will change many future projects, instead of just one.

You can use any number of MacNail estimators and estimates. The quantity you can store on your hard disk is limited only by available disk space, and the quantity you can have open at one time is limited only by the amount of RAM available for use by Excel in the MacNail construction management software.