Navigating in Estimates

NOTE-- In 2000 we retired MacNail and BidMagic (our previous estimating programs), and introduced Goldenseal construction estimating software to replace them. There are still quite a few die-hard MacNail users, so we keep the manuals online for them! Goldenseal also includes accounting, job costing and project management features. In Goldenseal, an Estimate is a record with a database, rather than a separate spreadsheet file.

Navigating in Estimate Worksheets

MacNail estimating worksheets are very large--the MacNail Estimator includes more than 15,000 cells, and over 1,400 rows. If you print out the whole worksheet, you'll find it takes up a good chunk of wall space!

To make it easier to find what you want in such a large area, we include a few 'navigational aids'.
* The MacNail menu--use the MacNail menu (abbreviated to McN) to get to each of the major sections of the worksheet--Fixed Costs, Dimensions, Specifications, Clearinghouse, and Summation. For more about this menu, see page 138.
* Go To Category--you can jump quickly to any Specifications construction category--choose *Go To Category from the MacNail menu, and double-click on the desired category in the scrolling list (see page 138).
* Multiple windows--set up MacNail with multiple windows when running the MacNail construction estimating software without the custom menus, when doing 'what-ifs', or if you have plenty of room on your screen. Choose *Reset Windows from the FORMAT menu to change the window display (see page 126).
NOTE: MacNail version 2.2 always used the multiple window display.

* Scrolling controls--scroll up and down, right and left to see different parts of the worksheet. For more on the use of Excel's scrolling controls, see page 170.