BidMagic Estimating Updating

Problem

DOS WINDOWS ONLY
numbers don't add up right on bottom line portion of BidMagic Construction Estimating Software
numbers have changed mysteriously
OLDER COPIES OF BMW ONLY

Diagnosis

have them click on the long bar at upper left, and choose Switch To. Then they should read off what's in the task list. If more than one copy of the bid, that's the problem. If more than one bidmagic file is open, there's also a good chance they've had more than one copy of the bid open.

Solution

No total cure aside from re-entering the bid into another template. Sometimes re-entering the number (or turn something off then on) will fix it, sometimes not.
Unless we can duplicate the problem here, it is almost certainly due to a mismatch between field and global, caused by two copies of the bid being open simultaneously. STRESS that they should check the Switch To command to see if a bid is open, before opening BidMagic construction estimating software from File or Program Manager.

Comments

NOTE: This was mostly fixed in late Spring 95-- in most cases BidMagic now prevents a 2nd file from opening. They can get version 1.5 which also adds a few features, $5, see also TA 530.

background: BM bid on the screen is in RAM. When they save, it writes changes from that file onto disk. If they have a 2nd copy also open in RAM, there will then be mis-matches from what originally came from the other copy. Things can get scrambled terribly if they switch between two RAM copies and write different things in different parts to disk.

Entered 4/7/95 by Dennis. Updated 10/23/2010.

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).