Problem
is it possible to share information between BidMagic estimating software and database programs
like FileMaker?
Diagnosis
it IS possible. Anything that BidMagic imports--unit prices, assemblies--can also be exported,
and can be exported to and imported from a database. The steps below show how to get the BidMagic price book into
a database, and vice versa.
Solution
- When you export the prices from BidMagic
construction estimating software,
make sure you choose the "all
prices" option,
rather than just material or labor prices.
- When
you set up the fields in the target database,
make sure there are at least as many fields in
the database as there are columns in the BidMagic
export file
(16). The database fields should
furthermore be
listed in the same order in FileMaker's
Define Fields window (item name, code, skilled,
etc.), as the columns
in the export file.
- After you import
the prices, the first two records in
the database will correspond to the first two lines
of text in the import file.
Do not delete these records.
They are required.
When you re-export to BidMagic,
export ALL fields to a tab-delimited
text file.
- If you follow these steps correctly, BidMagic will read
(using the
Import Unit Prices command
in the Data menu) the tab-delimited file created by FileMaker
without a
hitch.
Comments
Please stress: while Turtle Creek can provide guidelines for doing this sort of thing, we cannot
support their FileMaker databases, or teach them how to use FileMaker.
Entered 1/16/95 by Vinay. Updated 10/20/2010.
NOTE-- We retired BidMagic estimating software back
in 2002, and replaced with Goldenseal-- which is integrated estimating
software and project
management software (plus optional accounting
software).
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