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!

Please note, if you’re currently using the “Refrigeration / Gas”, your instructions will vary slightly from what I’m showing below.  Please contact me directly for assistance.   {12/06/2010 Editted to Add:  You can only use this function to generate one extra byproduct at at ime - you can either generate Refrigeration / Gas or Glycol.  This is a master setting.}

Let’s start with some background work.  We’re going to add Glycol into our libraries in AutoBid Mechanical.  This will allow us to calculate cost (and labor) if necessary. 

I’ve added this library item called Glycol (at all levels) with a description of Ethylene Glycol.  Note my catalog name (the item highlighted in the tree on the left hand side is “Glycol”.



Now, close clear out of AutoBid Mechanical and go into AutoBid Mechanical Utilities.  (From the Start Menu, All Programs, AutoBid Mechanical, select Mechanical Utilities).
Once in the AutoBid Mechanical Utilities, go to Tools --> Configure Extra Pipe Items.
 

This window controls what library item is generated and how it reports.  We’ll fill it in to look for the Library Catalog Name “Glycol” that we created above, we’re calling the System Name “Glycol”, we’re outputting gallons, and we’re going to create a new report category called (what else) “Glycol”.  You can change the names to whatever you feel is most appropriate.

We’re going to generate the glycol based on the volume of pipe, so make sure “Volume” is selected.  Close out of Mechanical Utilities.

Reopen the AutoBid Mechanical program.  Underneath Tools --> Company Settings, turn on:  “Generate Glycol/Glycol”.  (If you haven’t gone into the Mechanical Utilities above, this will say “Generate Refrigeration / Gas”).
 

We told the system to estimate the glycol in AutoBid Mechanical based on the volume of the pipe.  We want to generate our glycol in gallons based on multiple different %s of glycol used.  The formula looks something like this:
     Volume of pipe (ft3) x 7.48 (gallons / ft3) x __% = Gallons of glycol

To get the correct gallons /volume, I’ll need to use the following factors:
     10% - 0.748 (gallons/ft3)
     20% - 1.496
     30% - 2.244
     40% - 2.992
Cleary, you could keep going if you needed to…

Now, we're going to use those conversion factors to calculate how much glycol we need.  From the Main Menu, select Piping--> Definitions --> Systems for Glycol.

Let’s add 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% to our Systems.  We can’t use percent signs or spaces, so we’ll input them as 10Percent, 20Percent, 30Percent, and 40Percent respectively.




 Close that window.  Again, from the Main Menu, select Piping --> Definitions --> Conversion Factors for Glycol.  Here, I will add a type called Ethylene Glycol (my Description from the Library Catalog I created earlier), and then underneath my 10Percent, 20Percent, 30Percent, and 40Percent columns, I’ll put in my conversion factors from above.
 



Now, I've got Ethylene Glycol set up with different percentages.  All I have to do to generate this in my projects is to tell AutoBid which system(s) need glycol.

In my systems window, I can select a “Glycol Type” of Ethylene Glycol and the appropriate percentage for this system underneath “Glycol System”. 

 

Now, when I do my takeoff for that system, I’ll automatically generate Ethylene Glycol.  I can apply different percentages based on my systems, as well.  This is a master setting, so it will be availbe in all of your projects going forward.

This is just one example of how you could use this feature.  Other uses include painting the pipe or pipe markers.  If you've got other uses, please share them!

Happy estimating!

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.   

Shhh....be very very quiet...we're hunting wabbits... I'll let you in on what's going on with the User Conference.

We're finally nailing down the class content for the piping, plumbing, and sheet metal estimating tracks at the Educational User Conference.  I'm really excited about what we've got to offer this time around.  We're putting a bit of a spin on some of our classes - and I'll give you a sneak preview.

We're planning on setting up a Workshop in our space.  This workshop will be set-up with computers that will allow us to do some hands-on training on what's new in our piping estimating product, AutoBid® Mechanical.  We'll actually guide you through On-Screen View TakeOff, run calculations, create profiles (for value engineering), slice and dice with Rapid Reports, and then use SIP to dive deeper into details.  It will be a great way to show you the new features as well as give you some tips and tricks on how to use old favorites.  This is a small workshop environment - attendance will be by registration only and limited to only a handful of people during each session.  We encourage you to register early!

If you don't make the workshops, we've still got a lot of great classes.  Rapid Reports is contagious - and we'll spend time showing how to use them as well as go in depth on how to customize them.  We'll even be offering a class on how to create your own Pivot Tables.

And, this year, we'll be hosting Break Out sessions where you'll be divided into groups and learn from each other on how to apply AutoBid to everyday scenarios such as Design-Build activities or Change Orders.  This is just an expansion of the informal idea sharing that has occurred at the past Educational User's Conference.

You can check here for a list of all of the class names & brief descriptions.  Early Bird Registration expires August 15th and saves you $100 - so register now!

Did you miss me?  Boy - we've been busy around here.  So busy, I've neglected my blogging duties the last month.  We've got some fun stuff to share over the next several weeks.  First up - I'm excited to announce that AutoBid SheetMetal 2010 v1 shipped to our first wave of customers!  All customers who were current on their Customer Care package as of July 1, 2010 will receive this update.  We'll be shipping it out over the next 6 - 8 weeks.  

What's in this release?  I'm glad you asked!  We're continuing the upgrades and improvements for our OnScreen View (OSV) TakeOff module in the estimating products.  In this release, we've introduced Copy and Move functionality in OSV.  Now, you can box-in an area and copy or move - and then reconnect it back to a main. 

Are you involved in any LEED projects?  A typical requirement for LEED certified projects is to control indoor air quality.  One of the ways that this can be done is by requiring all ductwork shipped to a jobsite have the ends covered.  How do you currently account for that in your sheet metal estimate?  AutoBid SheetMetal 2010 v1 will now calculate the amount of polywrap required and allow you to labor it.



This release will also give you the ability to "Undo" something that you've done in TakeOff.  You can undo your last time - or you can undo a group of items.  This will allow users who do Search & Replaces or Box-Ins to undo a change that they may have made erroneously.  (This has been one of our most requested features over the years.)

There are lots of other nuggets in this release as well.  Be sure to check out the release notes and the videos once you receive the AutoBid SheetMetal 2010 v1 disk. 

And don't forget, we love feedback - so please let us know what you think of this release!