Comparison Formulas

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 features. In Goldenseal, you use Markup Systems to calculate pricing for estimates.

Estimating Comparison Formulas

Choose *Comparison Formulas to change the method of calculating prices in a Comparisons file from the MacNail construction estimating software.

Click a radio button to select a calculation method. Choose lowest cost to take the minimum of the different supplier prices in the Comparisons file, choose average cost to take the average of the supplier prices, or choose (lowest+average)/2 to figure prices halfway between the minimum and average of the supplier prices.

NOTE: In our construction experience, we found the last method to be the most realistic way to calculate prices for construction estimating. We usually shopped around and got a better-than-average price for materials, but were not always able to get the absolute minimum price all the time.

Put a check next to apply to selected range only to change the computation method only in the selected row or rows. Leave it unchecked if you'd like to change the method of computation in the entire Comparisons file.

When you add new rows to a Comparisons file with the Add Rows Here or Add Rows at Bottom commands, they will use the most recently selected computation method from the dialog box.