Making an Icon (Windows 3.1 & Earlier)

NOTE-- We retired the MacNail estimating program in 2000, and replaced it with Goldenseal construction estimating software. We keep these instructions online for our die-hard MacNail users! Goldenseal is an integrated program that also includes accounting, scheduling and contract writing.

An icon makes it easy to start the MacNail construction software. When you double-click on the icon, it will open Excel and MacNail. Icons are made and used in the Program Manager. You can make an icon for the MacNail Manager, the Estimating Manager, the Accounting Manager, or any of the other Managers.

NOTE: for more information about the use of icons and program items, see the Working with Groups chapter of the Microsoft Windows User’s Guide. The instructions below apply to Windows version 3.1. If you are using a different version of Windows, your screens may look a little different from those pictured below.

To make an icon for MacNail construction software:

1. In the Program Manager, Choose New from the File menu. A New Program Object dialog box will appear.
2. Select “Program Group”, then click OK. A Program Group Properties dialog box will appear. Type “MacNail” into the Description Field, then click OK. This will create a new empty program group window for all your MacNail icons.
3. Choose New from the File menu once again. Select “Program Item”, then click OK. A Program Item Properties dialog box will appear.
4. Type a brief name for the new icon into the Description field. If you are making an icon that will open the latest MacNail Manager (macnail@.xlm) file, for example, you might want to type “MacNail Manager 3.4”. You can ignore the Working Directory Field.
5. Type the complete path name of the file to be opened into the Command Line field, then click OK. For example, you might enter C:\MACNAIL\MACNAIL@.XLM to open the latest MacNail Manager.

HINT: If you don't know the path name of the file, use the Browse button to locate it. Windows will then put the correct path into the Command Line field for you.

For more details, click here.