Bid4Build Product Details

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Features:

Customer Database

• Generate map of customer location (by assigned address).
• Get customer directions (from your location to customer).

Project Database

• Estimator information.
• Labor, Material, Subcontract & Equipment Markups & Taxes.
• Customized report defaults per project.
• Multi-Tax capability.
• Project Photo database.

Supplier Database

• Assign Suppliers to Items.

My Company Information database

• Setup Multiple Companies.
• Insert your digital logo for reports.

Area Database

• Automatic calculation of area dimensions.

Estimate Database

• Import/Export estimates to disk.
• Clone estimates and reassign to projects/customers.
• Estimate Wizards.
• Estimate Analysis Utility.

Item Assemblies

• Assembly Analysis Utility.
• Composite Assembly Creation.

Item Cost Database

• Appx. 3000 items and 60 item categories supplied.
• Import/Export of Item database to MS Excel.
• Internal backup and restore of Item database.
• Integration with Bid4Build Craftsman Costbook database.
• Craftsman Crew and Area Modification Factors/Analysis.

Built-in calculators and conversion programs

• Bid4Build Construction Calculator.
• Roofing Calculator.
• Studs Calculator.
• Concrete Calculator.

Dynamic and extensive reporting to screen and printer

• Estimate and Internal reports.
• Invoice reports.
• Supplier, Customer, Project reports.
• Subcontactor, Bid reports.
• Label reports.
• Scheduling reports.
• Job Costing reports.

Scheduling System

• Detail and Summary level scheduling.
• Gantt Charts and scheduling reports.
• Direct integration with MS Project & Excel.
• Direct integration with QuickGantt.

QuickBooks Interface

• Import Quickbooks customers to Bid4Build.
• Export Bid4Build customers to QuickBooks.
• Detail and Summary Estimates sent to QuickBooks.
• Detail and Summary Invoices sent to QuickBooks.
• Detail and Summary Invoices sent to QuickBooks.

General Utilities

• Customize colors.
• Screen print utility.
• Mail Merge.
• Office Links (MS Word and Excel).
• Password features.
• PDF Output Integration.
• Email Integration.
• Calendar.

System Requirements:

This system will run with Microsoft Vista.

The recommended system for MS Access is Windows 2000 Professional on a computer with a Pentium III processor and 128MB of RAM. Pentium 133 MHz or higher processor required.

RAM requirements for Microsoft Access depend upon the operating system used, plus an additional 8 MB of RAM for each Office application running simultaneously: for Windows 98 and Windows 98 Second Edition, 24 MB of RAM for the operating system; for Windows Me, Windows NT Workstation or Server 4.0, 32 MB of RAM for the operating system; for Windows 2000 Professional, 64 MB of RAM for the operating system.

Hard-disk space requirements will vary depending on configuration. 170 MB of available hard-disk space is required for the default configuration of Microsoft Access with 115 MB on the hard disk where the operating system is installed. Customers without Windows 2000, Windows Me or Office 2000 SR1 will require an extra 50 MB of hard-disk space for the System Files Update. Custom installation choices may require more or less hard-disk space. The Bid4Build application is relatively small. With all components considered, it only takes up a maximum of 5KB of hard-disk space.

CD-ROM Drive.

Super VGA (800x600) or higher-resolution monitor with 256 colors.

Microsoft Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows Me, Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pack 6 or greater, or Windows 2000 or greater. On systems running Windows NT 4.0, the version of Internet Explorer must be upgraded to at least 4.01 with Service Pack 1.

Other Products Available

Their current commercial version of the Bid4Build Construction Estimating System is version 2.3. They have a Standard version and a Lite version of release 2.3. Their Standard Edition is $179.00 and their Lite version is $59.00.

They are an authorized reseller of Craftsman Book Company products. Products include the line of Craftsman books and electronic cost data. They are currently providing a fully integrated electronic version of the Craftsman National General Construction 2004 Costbook for the Bid4Build version 2.3 system for $49.00. This represents over 20,000 individual construction items and 400 item cost categories with up-to-date costs for 2004.

New is their QuickGantt Bid4Build Installation Key. This will allow you to immediately export your Bid4Build Estimates and Jobs directly to a QuickGantt project schedule. You can then manage your estimates or jobs directly in QuickGantt®.

To insure a smooth transition from your current estimating process or software to Bid4Build, they offer an extended support contract. When you purchase the Bid4Build software, you will automatically receive email support. Their extended support package ($125.00 per year or $75.00 at the time of purchase) will assign you to a specific Bid4Build Customer Support Representative.

Screenshots:

A complete list of features and side-by-side comparisons are available on the Construction Estimating Software Review HomePage.

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