Construction Industry Forums

RSMeans and Vista

2008-05-02T15:00:02-05:00

Peter wrote:

I have installed Means CostWorks 2007 and am operating with Windows Vista. Each time I shut down my computer and re-enter CostWorks it asks for my serial number and auth code. I enter the numbers but it won’t accept them (error message). The only way around it is to uninstall CostWorks and reinstall.

Peter,

Below are two possible solutions to your problem. If you have administrative privileges on your computer, then try the first one. If your account is limited, try the second one. I believe this may solve your problem.

Administrator account (admin privileges): Right-click on the Costworks icon on your desktop and choose Properties. Then, choose the tab labeled “Compatability”. Put a check in the box that is labeled “Run this program in compatability mode for...” and from the drop-down list, select “Windows XP (Service Pack 2). Then put a check in the box labeled “Run this program as an administrator”. Then click Apply or OK. Launch the program.

User Account (limited permissions): Right-click on the Costworks icon on your desktop and choose Properties. Then, choose the tab labeled “Compatability”. Put a check in the box that is labeled “Run this program in compatability mode for...” and from the drop-down list, select “Windows XP (Service Pack 2). Then click Apply or OK. Then, right click on the CostWorks shortcut icon, and select “Run as Administrator”. Then a window will appear requesting the administrator’s password. Enter that password. The program will launch now.

Unit Cost Summary Report on CostWorks online

2008-05-02T14:55:09-05:00

Ericpaul2 wrote:

I’ve noticed that when attempting to use the Unit Cost Summary Report in CostWorks Online, the subcontractor markup is applied to all line items regardless of whether they have been marked as “subcontracted” or not. Is this an error or do the “global” markups assume the GC subcontracts everything?

Eric,

Although the CWOnline program does allow the user to “mark-as-subcontracted” or “un-mark-subcontracted”, and does put an S next to the lines chosen to be subcontracted, the program does not apply the “global” percentage for “GC Markup on Subs” to those lines only. As you suspected, the global percentages apply to the entire estimate subtotal, and NOT just the sub’d lines.

Also, unlike the Costworks CD product, the info on the sub’d lines (like material, equipment, and labor costs) is not “hidden” from view. All info is displayed on the Advanced view.

The detail report, however, only shows the totals.

Canadian currency vs US

2008-05-02T14:49:49-05:00

JLx wrote:

What is the rate used in 2008 Metric construction cost data for canadian $?

The Metric Construction Cost Data has US national average pricing.

The City Cost Indexes for Canadian cities located in the back of the book or the references section of CostWorks are calculated using the Canadian material and equipment prices and labor rates, in Canadian dollars.

Therefore, indexes for Canadian cities can be used to convert U.S. National Average prices to local costs in Canadian dollars.

Estimate Default Markup Percentage

2008-05-02T14:47:51-05:00

tidesign wrote:

The markup percentage esitmates do not appear as a seperate line item and would like to determine how the dollar values can be listed raw and then values for each perspective percentage?

If you are adding a percentage line to an estimate at http://www.meanscostworks.com , once you click ADD, a separate window will open and ask you which items to apply the selected percentage to. Once the percentage has been added, the affected line will be followed immediately by a line with the same line number. This additional line will have a not indicating the adjustment, and the dollar value of the 2nd line will be the additional amount.
So if five adjustment (percentage) lines were applied to an estimate with 2 lines of data, then that estimate would have 12 lines total. The first line would be the first data line, followed by 5 adjustment lines for that line number, followed by the 2nd data line, followed by the 5 adjustments for the 2nd data line.

Please let me know if this is what you were driving at, you may need to call on the toll free.

Labor Type

2008-05-02T14:41:20-05:00

tidesign wrote:

How do I change the Labor Type from Standard Union to Repair and Remodel?

I already have an estimate prepared and double clicking the cell doesn’t do anything…

In the header bar above your costbook information there are two drop down options for CostBook & Labor type which you can change.

INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION COST - SQ FT

2008-05-02T14:37:09-05:00

java08 wrote:

What is a good way to get Interior Construction Costs , say for Educational College Lab interior spaces..

- We have Interior Construction & Facilities Construction Book

That depends. Are you looking for unit price information (meaning that you required costs at a very detailed level) or are you looking for more general costs?

For unit prices, you can use the books you have. They will have line items for all types of flooring, wall and ceiling finishes along with electrical and HVAC components.

For more general information, you may need to look at our square foot cost data. There is a college laboratory model that has a breakdown of costs in more general terms.

Export or Report Advanced View

2008-05-02T14:36:12-05:00

Midwest Modern wrote:

Is it possible to export or report the Advanced view? I am interested in reporting percentages of different columns for analysis.

Are you talking about Costworks.com ? If you are in the Unit Prices, you can export your estimate to a spreadsheet, reports can only be printed or email a pdf version of it. In the Advanced view, click on Estimate Action and choose Export to Excel.

Combining Data types

2008-05-02T14:34:58-05:00

Tom Pelatt wrote:

I often start an estimate with assemblies data and would like to add lines from unit data later. can this be done within the same estimate?

If you are using Costworks.com, no you cannot. If you are using Costworks CD product, when you are done with both estimates you can then import them into the “Estimator” and combine them.