Using a Project Schedule

NOTE-- MacNail construction software is now retired-- in 2000, we replaced it with Goldenseal construction software. Goldenseal is an integrated program that handles simple construction project scheduling, plus accounting, construction estimating, and project management features. It's very easy to use a schedule in Goldenseal-- just look at the Start Date column for each line item in an Estimate. It tells you when you will start work on that item, based on unit labor calculations.

Using Project Schedules

A MacNail schedule is a "time line" of construction activities, arranged in roughly chronological order. Each line of the schedule is one item of work.

The date immediately next to each work item is its predicted start date. To see when a project task begins, scroll through the list until you find it, then check its predicted date.

To see the final completion date, look at the small "completion" window at the bottom of the screen.

Schedules in the MacNail construction scheduling software will help you to give an accurate estimate of project completion to the client. It also will help you to coordinate your subcontractors, since you'll be able to see approximately when you'll need them in advance.

Because the schedule stores very detailed information about all the work that will go into the project, you can also use it to make material takeoffs and tool lists, and to send reminders to the Job Reminder List. These operations will be described later on in this tutorial.