Print Estimate Structure
HCSS is slowly integrating the Plus report format. If you use parent-child relationships and especially when there are more than two levels this report gives a good visual of the bid item structure. HCSS even allows a short cut from the Tree View to print…
Autofill Productivity and Productivity Factor
A feature I did not notice is how HeavyBid now fills in the crew productivity and productivity factor if the estimator fills in one of the productivity information fields. I see estimators who have not come up through any formal estimating training just fill in…
What If Scenario- Activity Costs
An estimator might want to compare different activity production costs but doesn’t want to change the estimate. HeavyBid has a “what if” routine that performs this task. First be in the activity you want to do a “what if” and go to the third icon…
Simplify Your Crews and Activity Codebook
For companies involved in excavation, grading, pipe laying and other activities where number of equipment pieces vary with the project there is a tendency to make crews for each possible equipment combination. For example for excavating, load and haul you can have a crew for…
Adding Searchable Information to Estimates
There is information that you might want to add to estimates and this information can be searchable across all estimates. Or you just want this information available for review where it has been inputted by an estimator. These fields can be customized and is found…
Tracking Changes to Master Estimate(s)
I got this suggestion from a user I recently trained. If you want changes to the Master Estimate(s) to be documented and tracked, create a Word document and each time a revision is made summarize (or detail) the revision. Attach it in the Setup>Estimate Information…
Filtering on Activity Code(s)
Continuing on the compelling reasons why you need an activity codebook, there is in HeavyBid filters that are very useful in the Tree View. Recently I wanted to see only my pipe activities to make sure I had all my revisions completed. Sounds simple enough…
Setup Biditems-Customized Tab
Be sure to check out the options in the Customized Tab for setting up biditems. Some of the options are new and undocumented in 2015. There is a taxable biditem option now where the entire biditem can be taxed. Go to Setup Biditems>Customized View. As…
Using HeavyBid to Calculate Project’s Cost to Complete
HeavyBid is a good tool for calculating a project’s cost to complete and it gives you a snapshot of each succeeding month’s remaining work. Start with the conformed estimate and at the end of each month for each bid item (or you can do it at the…
Spreadsheet Gear – HeavyBid Internal Spreadsheet
The internal spreadsheet is probably the most under utilized feature in HeavyBid. It is actually a third party software called SpreadsheetGear. It is very “Excel” like and in HeavyBid Version 2015 the version of SpreadsheetGear has been updated to the latest version (2012). Here is…
HeavyBid – Basics and Beyond is devoted to everything HCSS HeavyBid and estimating. Updated regularly with helpful insights and tools of the trade, this blog is designed to make your estimating easier and more successful.
