Q: How do I move AutoBid Mechanical from one server to another?

A: For detailed instructions, including database backup and license transfer, please see the How to Move AutoBid Mechanical to a New Server document.

Q: When I double click on the AutoBid icon nothing happens.

A: If you are trying to run AutoBid Mechanical on a computer with Windows NT 4.0, then the "temp" or temporary path for AutoBid may not have been created correctly in the Windows Registry. To verify that the temp path has been properly entered into the registry, perform the following steps:

1. On the Windows Desktop, click Start.
2. Select Run, and in the space provided, type regedit and click OK.
3. By clicking the plus sign next to each option on the left-hand side of the screen, open HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, then Software, QuickPen, Pipe, and Path.
4. If there is no "temp" path listed on the right-hand side of the screen, right mouse-click anywhere on the right side of the screen. Select New, then select String Value.
5. As the name of the string value, type temp. This is not case sensitive.
6. After typing this in, hit Enter on your keyboard.
7. Double-click on the temp name you just typed in. This will open the Edit String window. Under Value Data type in the following path: C:\winnt\qpilocal\qp_pipe\temp
8. Click OK.

You should now be able to access AutoBid Mechanical.

Q: How do I customize the Final Estimate Summary in AutoBid Mechanical?

A: You can customize your Final Estimate Summary in Microsoft Excel.
CAUTION: We recommend that you be familiar with Microsoft Excel? software before beginning this procedure.

Follow these simple steps to customize your final estimate summary

1. From the Windows Desktop screen, open Excel.
2. Click File in the top menu bar, and then choose Open.
3. In the Open window, click on the pull down arrow beside the Look in field.
4. Choose the letter of the drive on which you have installed AutoBid Mechanical and then browse to the following path: \Program Files\QuickPen\QP_Pipe\Rpt\. If you have installed AutoBid in a different folder or on a network, you will need to know the location and browse out to the Rpt folder.
5. Select the FinalEst file and click Open.
6. Now make the desired changes to your Final Estimate Summary template. Do not make any changes to the Data tab.
7. When you are finished customizing your template, while holding down the Ctrl key press Home.
8. Click File in the top menu bar, and then choose Save As.
9. If the Look in field does not show the Rpt folder, Browse to it as in step 4.
10. Select the Finalest template and click Save. When asked "Do you want to replace the existing file", click Yes.
11. Close Excel.

Your new customized Final Estimate Summary template will be used any time the Excel Report Generator and the Final Estimate Summary are run.

General

Q: Does AutoBid Mechanical include default assemblies?

A: Yes. See the Mechanical Assemblies document for a complete listing

Q: I am missing piping items in my material specifications. What happened?

A: Your current view allows you to view only the items that you have selected. To modify this setting, click on the Piping Items tab and choose View > All Piping Items.

Q: What do all the AutoBid Mechanical piping system abbreviations stand for?

A: AutoBid Mechanical has abbreviations for seventeen different types of piping systems. See the complete list below:

TakeOff and Calculations

Q: How does AutoBid Mechanical generate hangers?

A: For detailed information on hanger generation, see AutoBid Mechanical Hanger Calculations document.