Well, it may not be spring, but we've been doing our spring cleaning here at QuickPen over the last several weeks.  Our tech support group has moved offices, we're opening up a new training room, and shifting around some of our office space.  In doing so, we've found a few things that were squirreled away in a storage closet, that we don't need anymore.  But instead of just throwing them in trash, I thought we'd offer them up to our customers.  So, up for grabs, I have about 12 different custom smart menus from GTCO.  These are the "old" menus that QuickPen used to sell - these particular units were used in the Classroom.  They are serial port only.

Now, I have the actual boards, but I don't have the cables that it takes to hook them up to your computer or digitizer.  The cost of the cables to hook them up runs about $150 - $200.  If you'd like to purchase the cables, please let me know and I'll throw in the Mobile Menu at no cost.  You can reach me by e-mail by clicking This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

I can't believe it's that time already...but, yes, we are ready to do another Beta release of AutoBid SheetMetal.  This will be an extended Beta release to accomodate the upcoming holidays.  Beta for AutoBid SheetMetal 2011 v1 will run from November 29th - January 3rd. 
Are you game?  Here's what we've got included in AutoBid SheetMetal 2011 v1...

     - More OnScreen View (OSV) Enhancements including a multiple copy and improved TakeOff for counted items
     - Multi Add Drop / Rise for both OSV and Graphical TakeOff (GTO)
     - Ability to show the Assembly name instead of an "A" in GTO and OSV
     - Larger icons for the mouse menu and more user control over the size and appearance of the mouse menu
     - Ability to use up to 8 different labor books
     - New Power User view in Audit Trail TakeOff
 
If you are interested in participating, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

Happy Estimating!

We're back and mostly recovered from Trimble Dimensions 2010.  QuickPen participated and used the venue to conduct our third Educational Users' Conference.

While attendance was down, we received the best feedback ever on content.  We mixed it up this year and offered a hands-on lab class for AutoBid® Mechanial and Trimble MEP, wildy popular breakout sessions for AutoBid Mechanical and AutoBid SheetMetal, and external speakers from ISAT, SMACNA, and Lynn Allen from Autodesk.

We also announced two major announcements - Trimble Design Link, a CAD made for HVAC Sheet Metal Contractors that utilizes native AutoCAD MEP objects and our Bim to Field initiative.    

If you attended, please e-mail us and give us your comments and thoughts.  And, to all my new blog readers, "hi!".  Be sure to check back soon for more AutoBid related announcements.   

We are pleased to announce that AutoBid Mechanical 2010 v2 has been released to shipping.  Over the next few weeks, we'll be shipping this to all customers who are current on Customer Care as of October 1, 2010.

This release includes:
     - Copy and move functionality for OnScreen View Takeoff.  Box-in an area, and copy it or move it around your drawing.  This functionality also includes the ability to mirror or rotate the selected items.
    - A Power View for Audit Trail Takeoff.  This functionality allows users to use a floating menu in AuditTrail takeoff, and centralizes information for easier access.



    - The Mouse Menu can now be customized to use larger icons.  This version will also include two new QuickPen mouse menus - a vertical menu and a large format horizontal menu.
    - Piping Items can now be renamed in this version.  This new name will be used in all reports, takeoff, and the database.
    - A Modified Submitted Cost report that will allow our customers to apply factors to their labor and material costs.  
    - Additional PEX data has been added to the database.  This will allow our customers to run Value Engineering alternates between PEX and Wrot Copper.
    - The MCAA WebLEM has been incorporated into this release.  A link to the WebLEM data table is now included.

We'll highlight the new functionality at our 2010 Educational User's Conference at Trimble Dimensions, November 8th - 10th. 
Can't wait for this release?  Contact our Technical Support Group to be placed on the priority shipping list.

I've said it before and I stand by it - working with customers is the best part of my job.  And, I have even more fun when I actually get to go to their offices and see what is going on.  Recently, I had the opportunity to visit a customer's office in Chicago (Hi Lou!  Hi Glenn!).  These two guys had the most incredible set-ups that I've ever seen for On Screen Take Off.  They had 50" monitors moutned on the walls!  They were just converting to AutoBid's OnScreen View TakeOff, but commented that they got frustrated when they got to the edge of the drawing and had to stop takeoff.

[screech.....clatter]

Wait a second, if you're using AutoBid's OSV, you shouldn't have to stop takeoff at the edge of the screen.  You should be able to press in on the roller wheel on your mouse and pan around the drawing.  We designed it that way to speed up takeoff - and because most of us don't have 50" monitors!

We soon figured out that the fancy mouse he was using wasn't set-up to take advantage of this functionality in AutoBid.  So, if you're mouse can't pan through the drawing while doing OSV, try checking out how your mouse is set-up.  Your mouse should be set-up so that the Roller Wheel acts like a "Middle Button" (how and where you set this will vary based on your actual mouse).  We see this problem more often with wireless mouses.  Please let us know if you have questions.

Happy Estimating!