Assembly Worksheets

NOTE-- We retired the MacNail estimating program in 2000, and replaced it with Goldenseal construction estimating software. There are still a significant number of die-hard MacNail users, so we keep the manuals online for them! Goldenseal is an integrated program that also includes accounting, scheduling and contract writing. It includes Assembly records, which are similar to the MacNail Assemblies file, but much easier to understand!

Construction Assembly Files

A MacNail Assemblies worksheet stores a list of the material items that are used in each unit price line item from a MacNail estimating worksheet or Price Master.

To open an Assembly worksheet, choose Material Assemblies from the MacNail (McN) menu. You can also choose Open File from the File menu, then click on Assemblies.

The item code column (col. A) shows the item number for a unit price line item. This code number will match the item code shown in a Price Master or in the Specifications portion of an estimate or estimator in the MacNail construction estimating software.

NOTE: There may be more than one line showing the same item code, since some unit price items are 'built up' of more than one material item.

The material used column (col. B) shows the material code for an item from the Price Sheet corresponding to the Assemblies file. For example, if poly 4 mil is shown as a material item in the MacNail Assemblies file, then it should also be found under the exact same name in the MacNail Price Sheet. Case (capitalization) doesn't need to match exactly, but the text (including punctuation) must be otherwise identical.

HINT: To make sure that there is an identical text match between the Price Sheet and the Assemblies file, you can Copy the text from the Price Sheet and then Paste it into the Assemblies file, when you are creating new assemblies.
The quantity column (col. C) lists the amount of material that will be used in one unit of the unit price item. For example, if you figure it takes 10.5 lineal feet of 2x4 to frame one lineal foot of 16" on center 8' wall framing (3/4 of a stud plus 3 feet of plates), then you'd type 10.5 into this column.

The waste column (col. D) lets you throw in some extra material for trimming loss, breakage, over-ordering, and other waste. This waste percentage can be different for each material item used in the MacNail construction management software.

NOTE: You might even have negative waste for a few items such as forms or temporary utilities-- to account for salvage or re-use.

For more information about working with material assemblies, see pages 117-122.