Material Unit Cost Files

NOTE-- We retired the MacNail estimating program in 2000, and replaced it with Goldenseal construction estimating software. There are still die-hard MacNail users, so we keep the manuals online for them! Goldenseal also includes accounting, job costing and payroll, plus some project management features. It stores all of your estimating data in one place, so you don't have to worry about all the multiple sets of files used in MacNail.

Using one Set of Material Price Files

Most construction businesses will need just one set of Material Price files. If that is the case, choose Customizing Options from the Options menu, and turn on Just one set of Material Price files.

You'll store all material prices in the MacNail Price Sheet, the MacNail Comparisons file, and the MacNail Assemblies file.

Using Several Sets of Material Price Files

If you do extremely different types of work in your business (for example, both plumbing and general contracting), you may find that one set of Material price files is not sufficient for your needs. To use multiple Material price files, choose Customizing Options from the Options menu, and turn off Just one set of Material Price files.

To make additional Material Price files, choose New Customizing File from the File menu, then click on Material Price files (see page 202). Each set of Material Price files will be a 'matched set' of three files within the MacNail construction management software. For example, you might have a Plumbing Price Sheet along with Plumbing Comparisons and Plumbing Assemblies files.

When you use any commands that refer to any of the Material Price files, you'll be asked which ones to use.