Estimating Glossary

Multifinder: Type of finder that allows more than one application to be open at one time-- so you can use other programs at the same time as the MacNail construction estimating software. Generally only runs well on machine with greater than one megabyte of RAM.

NOTE-- Newer Mac and Windows computers automatically allow multiple software programs to run at the same time.

Overhead: Costs that cannot be assigned directly to any job category (for example, office, vehicles, tools).

Profit: What you get to keep at the end of the job. It is equal to the amount received, minus costs assigned to the job, minus a portion of general office overhead.

Project List: A list of construction items that will be included in a bid.

RAM: The memory in your computer that is used for the system and currently running applications (see also, RAM, Hard Drive).

ROM: The memory hardwired into your computer. It is what makes the Macintosh 'operating system' work.

Row: One line of cells running across the document. See also column.

Select: On a document this means to click on the item. For a menu item, drag to the item so that it is highlighted and then release the mouse button. For a dialog box, do either of the above and then click OK.

Scroll bar: A sliding navigation bar that lets you move different sections of a document into view. A part of some dialog box lists.

Specifications: Details of construction used on a job (for example, tile flooring in the bathroom). You will find them as notes to the blueprint, or on a separate 'spec sheet '.

Specifications list: The section of an estimate that contains detailed construction specification options. This is where you will include certain specifications in the bid.

Specs: see Specifications.

Spreadsheet: We will sometimes use the term spreadsheet interchangeably with 'worksheet'.

Summation: The section of an estimator that shows the final bid price, broken down into the main categories. See it in the lower right window in four window display.