Lynn Allen, Cadalyst columnist and Autodesk Technical Evangelist, speaks to more than 30,000 users worldwide each year. For the past sixteen years she has written a monthly column in Cadalyst magazine called "Circles and Lines" and is the voice behind the popular Cadalyst videos –“Tips and Tricks Tuesday with Lynn Allen”.  Lynn started using AutoCAD® software with Release 1.4, over 20 years ago, and taught at the corporate and collegiate level for 13 years before joining Autodesk.  A sought-after public speaker with a unique comedic style, Lynn is always one of the highest rated speakers and host of Autodesk University®. The author of three AutoCAD books, her latest is entitled AutoCAD Professional Tips and Techniques.

Dimensions provides each visitor with access to more classes and exposure to new technology than ever provided in previous QuickPen user conferences so don't miss this opportunity to learn about products and practices that will help to make you and your company more productive.

So, I'm going to brag for a minute here.  Did you know that AutoBid is the most accurate system on the market place in regard to pipe joint counts?  Yep, it is.  If you are doing Connected TakeOff, then AutoBid knows which fittings / valves / pipes are connected to each other and we'll automatically calculate the correct number of joints.  Got 3 valves back-to-back?  No problem!  In AutoBid, we know they're grouped and we'll give you 4 joints - whereas most other systems will give you 6 joints.  That's a 50% difference, folks!  Accurate joint count is critical for many of our industrial piping contractors who estimate their labor by the pipe joint.

AutoBid Mechanical isn't set-up to labor by the joint out of the box.  Neither PHCC (Plumbing-Heating-Cooling-Contractors) nor MCA (Mechanical Contractors Association) currently offer labor estimating manuals that support the per joint labor method.  However, it's easy to apply labor on joints.

From the Main Menu of AutoBid Mechanical, select Tools --> Project Specifications --> Joint Parts.  Let's go down the list and select "CS Sch 40 Buttweld Joint" (Carbon Steel Schedule 40 Buttweld Joint).  This is from QuickPen Standard data - you may not have this exact one if you've modified your data.  The screen should look like this:



Notice the red arrow pointing to the Labor tab?  Click on that labor tab.  Here, you can select the labor tables that you want to apply to your joint.  I did this for all three of my labor tables, and it now looks like this:



Note:  Make sure that you click on another one of the Joint Parts in the Joint Parts Name list to make sure that the data is applied to the database.  That's all it takes to add labor to the joint.  When it reports, it will show up underneath the "Labor" section in both Crystal Reports and Rapid Reports:



 




Keep in mind, you'll want to decrease the labor on the individual items (since you're accounting for part of that labor now in the joint).  

Don't forget - this is a project specific setting - so if you want this to be "standard" for your company, you'll want to make this modification to your Default Project.

 Happy Estimating!

Do you get them on:

• Cardboard
• Sheetrock
• 2 X 4 or Plywood
• Scrap Paper

Well say goodbye, because it’s time to ditch the whole paper and pencil thing! Taking Vulcan to the field is easy with Field Fitting Input. This Vulcan productivity tool eliminates inter-operational issues between the field and the shop.

Many of our customers have piping systems that need Glycol, and they are often stuck manually estimating the cost of the glycol in their system.  Did you know that AutoBid can automatically add glycol to your piping estimate?

Yep, it's that time again!  Our User Conference will be featuring AutoBid Mechanical 2010 v2 - so it's time to get it out to Beta so that we can start shipping it prior to November.  What will be in AutoBid Mechanical 2010 v2?  Here's an abbreviated list:

• Move and copy for OnScreen View TakeOff
• The ability to edit TakeOff item names
• A new Rapid Reports interface that will allow users to update multiple Rapid Reports
• A submitted cost report that will allow users to modify their costs
• Improved material multipliers
• New and improved mouse menus and Smart Menu inserts

If you want to be a Beta tester, please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and I will send you all of the necessary paperwork.