Estimate Dimensions Formulas

NOTE-- MacNail was retired in 2000, and replaced with Goldenseal construction estimating software. There are many die-hard MacNail users, so we still keep the manuals online for them! Goldenseal also includes accounting, job costing, and contract writing features.

Construction Estimating Dimensions

The Dimensions portion of a MacNail estimating worksheet in stores construction dimensions that will later be used to 'suggest' construction quantities in Specifications. You can add new defined names to Dimensions, or you can change the defined names or the mathematical operations used in any of the existing Dimensions formulas.

To add a new defined name, follow the same steps as described in the previous section.

To change an existing formula in the MacNail construction estimating software, click in its cell and edit its formula in the formula bar.

HINT: The formula bar is located near the top of the screen, immediately below the tool bar or the menu bar, depending on your Excel version and your workspace setup.

For example, to change the formula used to calculate roof area so it will also include the garage roof:
1. Open the estimating file you'd like to change.
NOTE: You may want to work on a copy of an existing estimator, so you'll still have a copy of the original file to fall back on if you make a mistake. To make a copy, choose New Estimator from the File menu, then click on 'From another Estimator'.
2. Choose Dimensions from the MacNail (McN) menu. If the worksheet is protected, choose Unprotect Document from the Options menu.
3. Scroll down to the roof dimensions, and click on the cell labeled 'roof area'. Look in the formula bar to see the cell's current formula.
4. Use standard text-editing techniques to change the cell's formula in the formula bar. In this case, you want to change the defined name maxarea to read (maxarea+garagearea) instead.
5. When you've finished editing the formula, type the Enter key, or click the mouse in the 'check-mark' box just to the left of the formula. NOTE: To restore the original formula, click the mouse in the X at the left of the formula. It's a good way to escape if Excel tells you 'Error in formula' and you can't figure out why!
6. When you are finished changing formulas and are sure you are happy with the changes, choose Protect Document from the Options menu, then choose Save from the File menu.

WARNING: It's your responsibility to make sure that any changes you make to MacNail construction estimating worksheets are logical!