QuickPen Final Est Summary

[dcurrie]

Is there an easy way while in AB3.5 to stay in my Excel Final Estimate summary sheet and not be using a network license. (or can i set up AB to leave Excel open when I shut it down?

[mruiz]

In excel go to FILE > SAVE AS and save it where ever you want. then you can open and close AMBC as much as you want w/o affecting the FEST report.

[dcurrie]

If I do this will I still be able to alter the excel spreadsheet using QuickPen. Once I save it as a new name, QuickPen no longer can update it?

[mruiz]

Are you wanting to customize the Excel report?

[dcurrie]

We are quickly becoming quite fond of the ability to create the Final Estimate report before we are finished with our take-offs, G&A, etc. It is a nice feature allowing us the ability to start editing our final estimate summary, compiling our Sub-contractors, and building our Put & Take sheets before we have completed our take-offs, G&A, etc. Alot of the leg work can now be completed earlier in the bid so that we aren't completing (and missing) these tasks on bid day.

This being said, we do spend alot of time in Final Est. while not specifically using QuickPen. We would like to be able to forfeit our licenses so that others within the company can use them.

I have determined a way to go into the QP_Pipe>Jobs folder and locate the file in order to create a short cut to it, but this method proves to be a little involved for some of our lesser computer trained staff.

Any ideas that you have would be greatly appreciated.

[mruiz]

For the reports, what version of autobid do you have?

As for the shortcut to your jobs folder... I'm not exactly clear on what you are wanting to do.

[dcurrie]

We are running version 3.5.

We have recently converted to the networked version of Auto bid. I fear the potential for some headaches have arrived. We previously consisted of 11 fulltime QuickPen Estimators with 9 stand-alone licenses to 15 full/part-time QuickPen Estimators with 9 networked licenses, and the potential for more. So rather than purchasing additional licenses before I need to, I am attempting to determine exactly what QuickPen will allow us to perform without actively holding a QuickPen license.

One idea we had was that while we are using Excel (which is quite often) we do not need to be using a license. I have determined methods to use the Final Estimate Summary without using a license, but they prove to be tedious, and a little involved for some of our estimators who know pipe like a genius, but still have trouble finding the power switch on their computer (just kidding).

Any ideas that you could offer for the ability to forfeit our licenses earlier in the bidding process, or ways we could more efficiently use our licenses would be greatly appreciated.

[mruiz]

if you are in abmc then there is no way to give up the license.