National Estimator Quick Start | Estimating with National Estimator

Adding Text and Estimate Lines

Some of your estimates will require descriptions (text) and costs that can’t be found in any of the National Estimator costbooks. What then? With National Estimator it’s easy to add descriptions and costs of your choice anywhere in the estimate. For practice, let’s add an estimate for four reinforced corners to Estimate One.

Click on the (Estimate Window) button to be sure the estimate window is maximized. We can add lines anywHere on the estimate. But in this case, let’s make the addition at the end. Press the arrow key to move the cursor down until it’s just above the horizontal line that separates estimate detail lines from estimate totals. To open a blank line, either:

• Press , -or-
• Click on the (Insert Text) button on the toolbar, -or-
• Click on Edit on the menu bar. Then click on Insert a Text Line.

Type “Reinforced corners” and press .

Adding "Reinforced corners"

Adding a Cost Estimate Line
Now let’s add a cost for “Reinforced corners” to your estimate. Begin by opening the Enter Cost Information dialog box. Either:

• Click on the (Insert Cost) button on the toolbar, -or-
• Click on Edit on the menu bar. Then click on Insert a Cost Line.

Unit and extended costs for four reinforced corners.

1. The cursor is in the Quantity box. Type the number of units (4 in this case) and press .
2. The cursor moves to the next box, Measurement.
3. In the Measurement box, type Each and press .
4. Press twice to leave the Craft Code blank and Hourly Wage at zero.
5. Since these corners will be installed by a subcontractor, there’s no material, labor or equipment cost. So press four times to skip over the Man-Hours, Material, Labor and Equipment boxes.
6. In the Total box, type 20.00. That’s the cost per corner quoted by your supplier.
7. Press once more to advance to OK.
8. Press and the cost of four reinforced corners is written to your estimate.
   
   Note: The sum of material, labor and equipment costs appears automatically in the Total box. If there’s no cost entered in the Material, Labor or Equipment boxes (such as for a subcontracted item), you can enter any figure in the Total box.

Adding Lines to the Costbook
Add lines or make changes in the costbook the same way you add lines or make changes in an estimate. The additions and changes you make become part of the user costbook. For more information on user costbooks, press F1. Click on the key icon (Index). Type “user” and press .