Bid4Build Construction Estimating Software: FAQ

The Bid4Build Program does not start after it has been installed and there is an error which mentions that the "MDE" file is not a valid file type. What does this mean?

This is usually caused by not having MS Access 2000 installed on your computer or the MS Access Runtime. Even if you have MS Office installed or use the Microsoft Operating System, this does not mean that you automatically have Microsoft Access installed. You must have either MS Access 2000 or greater installed or download the free MS Access 2000 Runtime directly from our website. You can download MS Access Runtime 2000 directly from our website.

Note: If you are using MS Access 97, there are special instructions which must be followed to load the MS Access Runtime 2000 with MS Access 97. You can review this information directly from the Access information section of our website.

I have installed MS Access Runtime but it seems that when I try to run the Bid4Build Program I get an error stating "Couldn't find file system.mdw. This file is required for startup". Why?

The system.mdw file is a security workgroup configuration file which is used to control user access to MS Access based programs. This feature is not currently used with the Bid4Build Program so this indicates that there is a problem with the MS Access Runtime installation. The suggestion would be to run the repair option for the MS Access Runtime and this should correct the problem. The repair option can be run by selecting the Setup program in the c:\Art2Kmin_setup installation directory.

We recommend that you regularly perform a back up of your Bid4Build and Takeoff Live data and software to protect the information that you enter and the software settings after your initial installation. To simplify this critical insurance procedure to just 1 step we recommend that you save ALL estimates, costbooks and other saved files in the C:/Program Files/Bid4Build folder where the software is installed. Backing up is recommended as often as you use Bid4Build as well as confirming the reliability of your backup method and device/drive. This is especially important whenever you make any changes to your computer or update your Bid4Build software.

I am using MS Access Runtime 2000 and am not able to import my company logo into the Bid4Build program or import digital images into the Bid4Build Photo Library. Why?

Answer:

The MS Access Runtime 2000 program does not include the Microsoft graphics filters which are installed with the full version of MS Access.

You can either install MS Access Runtime 2007 or follow the instructions to resolve this with MS Access 2000 Runtime by clicking on the following URL:

Where do I find the Bid4Build help documentation? When I press [F1] I do not get any help information?

You can find the help documentation for both the demo and the licensed version of Bid4Build in the drop-down and user-form menus. If you have the full version of MS Access installed, then the context sensitive help will work by pressing [F1]. This will provide the full HTML version of help for the selected command.

If you have MS Access 2000 Runtime installed, then the built-in forms [F1] key may not be active, however you will notice a Gold Question Mark displayed at the top right drop-down menu section of the Bid4Build program. Click on the question mark to display context-sensitive help for the current screen or form.

I am not able to import Customers from my version of Quickbooks into the Bid4Build Program. What could be the problem?

First, you must make sure that you have correctly selected the type of export you want from Quickbooks. This would be the "Customer List" selection. This selection box is located in Quickbooks under File-> Utilities -> Export. This will create a customer export file with an "IIF" file extension. Intuit should keep the same file format (same field assignments) for the exported Customer List IIF file. If they decide to change this for a future version, then you may have a problem importing the customer records into Bid4Build.

The other possibility is that you must have information completed for each of your Quickbooks customers for the following fields: Last Name, First Name and Address. If this information is not completed for a customer record, then the Bid4Build system will not import that customer record. These fields can be viewed in the IIF file by opening the Customer List IIF file using a spreadsheet such as Excel. You will find these fields in the Customer information section of the file. The fields are labeled [BADDR2] for Address, [LASTNAME] for Last Name and [FIRSTNAME] for First Name.

I have an older version of MS Access installed on my XP system. It is version 2000. Can I install the new Runtime 2007?

You should not install MS Access Runtime (2000 or 2007) if you already have a licensed copy of MS Access 2000 or greater installed on your computer. If you do, you may run into problems using your existing licensed copy of MS Access. Microsoft to our knowledge has not designed compatibility capabilities which would enable you to run a licensed and Runtime version of MS Access together. We have tested MS Access Runtime 2007 installed and running on a computer with a licensed version of MS Access 2000 or greater installed, and it appears to work correctly. However, provisions whould have to be made to enable the Bid4Build program to point to the desired version of Access. Note: You should not install MS Access 2007 Runtime on a computer which does not have Windows XP with at least Service Pack 2 installed.

Question:

I am using MS Office 2007 trial version which has MS Access included and when I install Bid4Build, I get a read error when I try to open the program. I have also installed Runtime 2007 but still get the same error. I also have a computer with XP and MS Office trial installed with Runtime but have the same issues.

Answer:

When MS Office trial version expires, this prevents any MS Access based application from running correctly, even if the MS Access Runtime 2007 has been installed in addition to the trial version. This is the case on Vista, Windows 7 as well as XP. If the trial version is installed for the primary reason to run the Bid4Build application, then the trial version should be uninstalled. The Runtime should then be installed rather than using the MS Office 2007 trial version. If the Runtime has already been installed, then removing MS Office trial version will enable the Runtime to work correctly.

When I install Bid4Build and try to open the program, it states it is not able to located "c:\program files\bid4build\master.mdb".

With some newer Vista and Windows 7 64 bit OS versions, the OS will have 2 "program files" directories. One will be "c:\program files" and the other will be "c:\program files (x86)\. Vista and Windows 7 may make a decision to install the Bid4Build application in the x86 PF directory as a 32 bit program and therefore the Bid4Build program file is looking in the program files (64 bit directory).

The solution is to use Windows Explorer (Start then selecte [Computer]) to navigate to the program files (x86) directory and copy the Bid4Build directory to the regular program files directory. Use the copy command so that you can still keep the program directory and files in the (x86) PF directory so that updates which will install in this location can still be made to the Bid4Build application.

My computer uses the Windows Vista or Windows 7 operating systems. I do not have MS Access installed on my computer. Can I install MS Access Runtime on my computer?

I am using the Vista or Windows 7 operating system. When I install a program update, it seems that the MS Access is not opening up the new program update.

Vista may be storing the Bid4Build older program version in Vista's VirtualStore location. If this is the case, once the old program has been removed, Vista will allow the new program update to be used. Follow the instructions from the Secrutiy Permissions document below to open Windows Explorer and display your file folders on your PC.

Vista or Winidows 7 Security Permissions modification instructions

Navigate to -> C:\Users\<userid>\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files\Bid4Build, where <userid> is the name given to your compter. If the "Program Files\Bid4Build" exists, then locate the Bid4Build.mde file, right click on the file and select "delete". Once you restart the program, the new program update will be used.

I am using the Vista or Windows 7 operating system. When try I try to run the Bid4Build program I get a read-only error message.

With some customer installations, Vista or Windows 7 may not set "full control" on the "owners" security permissions for the Bid4Build directory installed in the "C:\Program files" folder. This is due to new security features in Vista and Windows 7 which impose more controls on system related directories such as "Program Files". The resolution to this issue is to use "Windows Explorer" to manually change the security permissions for the Bid4Build directory once the program has been installed. Instructions for this process are available below:

I have installed the Bid4Build program and the MS Access 2007 Runtime on my Vista or Windows 7 computer. When I open the Bid4Build program I get a message which indicates that my computer does not know how to run the Bid4Build program.

Some customers have reported problems with the installation of Runtime 2007 where the Runtime does not register with the Vista or Windows 7 operating system. This means that any Microsoft Application is not able to run because the required program associations have not been created. This can be corrected by performing the following steps:

Connect MS Access Runtime to the Bid4Build program

What costbooks do I get when I purchase the Bid4Build program and what options are available in this area?

When you purchase the Bid4Build system, you will automatically get the Bid4Build standard costbook. This contains 3000 items and 60 categories. This is a residential oriented costbook and many of the prices are based on subcontractor costs. These prices are not updated on a periodic basis.

You can upgrade the standard costbook to our Craftsman Costbook databases. These databases cover General Construction, Insurance Repair and Remodeling, and Home Improvement. The National General Construction Costbook database as an example contains over 30,000 items and 600 categories which are broken down between residential and commercial (CSI) items. This is updated every year and contains the latest prices for items across the cost categories of material, labor, subcontract and equipment. This costbook also has average productivity hours defined for many items based upon various crew compositions. You can obtain more information about the costbooks directly from the Bid4Build website.

What options do I have if I don't want to use all the items which are in the Craftsman costbook, or if I want to create my own items based upon relationships with my local subs, suppliers and distributors?

Many of our customers like to further customize their costbooks with item additions from local suppliers, distributors or subcontractors. The Bid4Build system has the unique ability to export the entire costbook (standard, Craftsman or customized) to an Excel spreadsheet. Once these items have been exported, customers can then slice and dice the information any way they like. You can delete items, add items, create new categories and change or update prices. Once you have made all your changes, you can simply import the information from the spreadsheet back into Bid4Build program with a click of a button.

You can easily create multiple costbooks by simply creating multiple spreadsheets. Many of our customers will create customized costbooks for different purposes and import the costbook they like when they are doing a particular estimate.

Some customers create variations of the costbook based upon the geography of where they do the work; or costbooks based upon residential or commercial work. You can even mix and match various costbooks on the same estimate. There are very few programs on the market which allow you to have this much flexibility in costbook management.

I am located in the United Kingdom and I use Sterling for currency instead of dollars, and metric instead of feet and inch measurements. Can I still use the Bid4Build program?

Yes. The Bid4Build system will allow you to enter area dimension information using decimal rather than forcing you to use feet and inches. You can also customize your costbook database so that the UOM is based upon metric rather than SF or LF type measurements. You can enter a decimal number for quantities you assign to estimate items as well. This will enable you to generate estimates based upon the metric system.

A sample international costbook database in Excel format which you can import into the Demo or Licensed versions of the Bid4Build program is available.

Regarding currency, you can customize the Bid4Build costbook so that prices are based upon the conversion of US dollars to a foreign currency. For example, if you are working with Sterling, you could simply modify the costbook information so that all item prices are changed by applying the latest conversion rate for the target currency. In the case of Sterling, this might be an exchange rate of 1.8110 as an example.

New with version 3.5 is the ability to display the local currency in reports based upon the regional settings of the user's PC.

I am located in Puerto Rico and most of my customers would prefer to have reports in Spanish as opposed to English. Is this possible using the Bid4Build system?

Yes. Although you are not able to convert the English screens which are in the Bid4Build system to another language, you can generate reports which are in Spanish for your customers.

First, you can customize the report information by applying Spanish text to the information which is stored in the Project record for each estimate. This will print the required Spanish text on key sections of the report where customer signatures, warranty and other information is displayed.

Second, you can define the report titles and your company information displayed at the top of reports by entering this information into the Bid4Build report title and company information screens in Spanish.

Third, you can modify the Item Costbook so that every category is in Spanish and every item is in Spanish. When you create an estimate, you will be including items which are then defined in Spanish.

By following these three steps, you will be able to create reports in any language you prefer as long as the specific alphanumeric characters can be entered by your keyboard. If you have a language specific keyboard, then you have that much more flexibility to create the specific language character sets you require.

Networking

I do not have a an actual network, but I have several computers which I would like to update and keep consistent. I have one at work and one at home. Is there a way I can update both systems?

Yes, there are several ways to update one or more systems which are not in a network. If the Bid4Build program is loaded onto multiple machines (requires the license approval for this configuration), then you can update the costbook, estimates and even customer and project information.

If you just want to synchronize costbook information, you can export the updated costbook from one system and import it into the other. This can be done via email, network or memory stick as example options.

Since estimates are saved to disk, you can update estimates by copying estimates from one computer and loading them on another. Note: You will need to update your customer and project information if you want to have the exact estimate from one computer loaded onto another.

You also have the ability to copy the program and data files from one computer to another. Note: You must first install the Bid4Build system on each computer to insure this process will work correctly.

Yes. The Bid4Build system has been designed so that it can operate and perform in a network environment. The Bid4Build program is sold as a stand-alone application, but if you have a network environment, we provide several network configurations which are available. This is sold and priced based upon the specific network configuration you have and the number of users allocated to the network. A typical network configuration will require an assigned drive and directory designation.

Can I use my Digitizer with the Bid4Build program? I happen to have a Scale Master II with the PC interface option.

Yes, you can use a digitizer with the Bid4Build program. With the Scale Master II example, this device will roll a measurement from a blueprint and then once accepted, insert the value into the Bid4Build program. Since the Bid4Build program use a Microsoft compliant keyboard interface, you can enter values from devices such as the Scale Master II. The Scale Master II will calculate values for Length, Width, Area, Volume etc. You can have these values entered into the Area file or a quantity values directly into the Bid4Build Estimating screen. Since the estimating screen of the Bid4Build application is in a spreadsheet format, it is quick and easy to enter quantity values from the takeoff values of you blueprint.

I am not directly involved in the construction business, but I would like to customize and use a costbook for my electronics business, landscaping, or even my side business of selling customized surfboards. Is that possible?

The only limitation to our package is your imagination. You can provide estimating capabilities for any business you like as long as you supply either one or more combinations of material, labor, equipment and subcontract costs. You can customize the database with any type of item description and category you might require. This enables you to use the Bid4Build system for non-construction related businesses.

If you are not using the Bid4Build system for construction, you can still create estimates, provide reports and even do scheduling without leveraging the specific benefits of our application for the construction business. This makes the Bid4Build system one of the most flexible estimating systems on the market...and certainly one of the best options for the price!

I see that you have the ability to track change orders. Is there a way I can better integrate the details of change orders into my estimate.

Due to feedback from our customers, you can define change orders as area definitions in your estimate so that a change order becomes a reporting level in one of multiple versions of an estimate. This way you can track the additions, deletions and modifications of items in your estimate and retain a complete audit trail of these changes which can be submitted to your customers. Contact Bid4Build support for further information on how to utilize this best practice approach.

I have contact information MS Outlook which I would like to import into the Bid4Build system. What would be the best way to do this since I do not see a direct MS Outlook import function?

When the Bid4Build system is installed, a spreadsheet called "Customer.xls" is also installed in the Bid4Build installation directory. This is used to load external contact information once entered into the spreadsheet, into the Bid4Build customer database.

In the case of MS Outlook, there is an export feature which will enable you to export your contacts to an Excel spreadsheet. This information can then be cut and pasted into the Customer.xls spreadsheet following these high-level steps:

1. In MS Outlook, click on the Contacts tab and then File->Import and Export->Export to a File
2. Select the "Microsoft Excel" file type and then select the "Contacts" folder
3. Give the spreadsheet a name and location (but different than Customer.xls in the Bid4Build directory)
4. Select "Map Custom Fields" then click on "Clear Map"
5. Select the appropriate fields which match the columns (from left to right) in the Customer.xls file
6. Field maps should be "First Name, Last Name, Company, etc..."
7. Click Finish to transfer the contact information from MS Outlook to the new spreadsheet
8. Open the new spreadsheet and copy the rows of contacts from row 2 down (exclude the header row)
9. Open the Customer.xls spreadsheet and copy in the contacts (starting from row 2, past the header)
10. Open the Bid4Build program and select from the drop down menu "Import/Export"
11. Select "Customers" then select "Import Customers from [Customers.xls] spreadsheet
12. Review the contact information, make any edits required, and then select "Import Customers"

Is the Bid4Build system integrated with the Web? I have a website which I use for my employees who are in the field and do estimating. l would like to make sure they have updated cost information. How could the Bid4Build program take advantage of the web for such a requirement?

We have a number of customers who have integrated the Bid4Build application into their website solutions, which they provide to customers and employees. For employees, one solution being implemented by several of our customers is to have their field personnel have individual copies of the Bid4Build program installed on their laptops. They then simply use the company website standard interaction capabilities to update their Bid4Build costbooks, real-time, 24 hrs a day.

In another situation, The Bid4Build system is being used to generate customer presentations and bid proposal information which is then available to customers directly from the company's website. This is done in a secured customer access zone. The customer can retrieve their specific estimate information or even scheduling information on a 24x7 basis.

Last updated: August, 2010

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