Linking Cost Categories

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.

New Estimating Cost Categories

When you create a new category name in The MacNail construction management software, it is added in a new column in the Category Code Master (unless it is already there). The Category Code Master is a 'translator' that stores the inter-relationships between different cost category systems.

When a new category system is first added to the Category Code Master, the cells beneath it are blank. For each category item, type in the cost category that includes it. If your new cost system doesn't include a cost item at all for a line, simply leave that cell blank.

EXAMPLE: If your new category system uses category 2, subcategory 1 for 'temporaries', type 2.01 into the temporaries line.

If your cost system includes some items not already in the list, choose Add Rows at Bottom or Add Rows Here from the Edit menu, then type in the new items. For each new line you should also type in the closest matching category in each of the existing columns, if that is possible.