Specs 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 can use different choices in the Cost Area column, to set the way each estimate line item is calculated.

Specs Formulas

Choose Specs Formulas to change the computation method of one or more line items in the Specifications portion of a MacNail Estimate or Estimator.

When you choose this command, you'll be shown a dialog box (see next page) that allows you to change the way the selected row or rows are handled.

To change the basic calculation method for the selected row or rows, choose one of the three choices.

Select Labor and Materials if you will do the work with your own crew, select Sub and Materials if you subcontract the labor but provide materials, and select Subcontracted if your subs provide their own materials.

To change the skilled wage rate used in labor calculations, choose one of the wage rates from the list. To keep the existing skilled wage rate in each line, choose 'Existing skilled wage '.

When you run this command for the first time on a construction estimating worksheet, the MacNail construction management software will check Fixed Costs and give you a list of all the wage rates it finds there. To save time, if you choose this command again for the same worksheet, the wage rates won't be looked at again. If by some chance you have added a new wage rate and it doesn't show up in the list, click 'Recheck Wages', and MacNail will check again for wage rates in Fixed Costs.