Modifiers in an Estimator

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. Some of the assemblies in Goldenseal use the same modifiers that we had in MacNail estimating.

Labor/Material modifiers in an Estimator

To adjust labor or material modifiers in an estimate or estimator, select the row or rows you'd like to change, then choose Specs Formulas from the Formula menu. Change the cells to Labor and Materials, then click OK.

Next, click in the 'Calculated Cost' column for labor or materials, then look in the formula bar.
If there are no modifiers, an item in the labor column will have a formula similar to this:

While if there is a labor modifier, it will show up at the end, as *intcoat does in this formula:

The unmodified material formula looks like this:

While a material modifier appears behind the regular formula, as *intcoat does in this formula:

To change a formula modifier, click in the formula bar and use the keyboard to change the formula. For example, to create a 'deluxe' paint job with one more coat than usual, change intcoat to (intcoat+1).

To add a formula modifier to an unmodified formula, type it after the existing formula. To remove a formula modifier, delete the additional text from the formula.

WARNING: When directly editing formulas in The MacNail construction estimating software, you must be extremely careful not to change any of the text in the 'regular' part of the formula. In general, most MacNail formulas should not be changed, unless you are completely sure you know what you 're doing!

Once you have finished, choose Specs Formulas from the Formula menu to change the item back to Sub and Materials or Subcontracted, if you so desire.