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User Manual Building Systems Design, Inc.

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1. Create using AE Project Template View f Uniformat il NoWBS MasterFormat MasterFormat Large Icons Project Project Tem 2004 Projec Project Tem Template with C Small Icons Models MPJ C List View Details Browse New dialog box For more information on creating new projects and choosing templates see chapter 4 2 Click the template called Uniformat II Project Template with Models mpj and then click the New button The Save New AE Project Database As dialog box opens BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 2 Tutorial FE Save New AE Project Database As e CON gt Computer Local Disk C CostLink AE projects ts Search projects REZ ls Organize New folder EE Desktop m Fire Station Sample Project MPJ T Downloads gt nj Sample School Project MPI E Recent Places E Desktop 3 Libraries B Documents a Music E Pictures B Videos a Homegroup P BETH JE Computer Gia Network w normi inten File name Save as type AE Project Database MP Hide Folders Save New AE Project Database As dialog box 3 Inthe File name field type Model Project NOTE For later estimates you can use the Save in drop down box to save your project in any folder on your computer or network 4 Click Save BSD CostLink AE creates the new Project Database using the template When the Save operation is finished the
2. cccceceeseeteseseseeteeeeseseeeeeeeeeeeaeeteeesees 39 Icons On the Tree and Sheet Panels 40 Tree Panel Icons ee a eae 40 Sheet Panel Icons ss 41 Working with the Tree Panel 41 Expanding and Collapsing the Tree 41 Working With the Sheet Panel ss 42 Online Helpisto ed ARR ANR a nn Awhile bail 44 Contents Tab s ts csaaiin nt NN 44 INDEX TD ne nr ia Ata Ake AG ALAR 45 RS Means Abbreviations and Symbols cceeseteeeeteeeeees 46 Search Tab eee Asai A RA as 46 Chapter 4 Projects Models Tasks amp Markups seeeeeeeeeeeeen 47 Working with Projects 48 Opening 4 Project sssrsusmsnmmnntinanman tintin ni 48 Opening a Recently Used Project 48 Creating a New Project ss 49 Summary Info Dialog Box ss 50 General Tab raain t aaia aa a sin it nine 50 Cost Summary TaD griinerite asa naiaiae iaoeiaiai 52 Project Notes Tab 52 Cost Models TaD sa ti aniatra nina 53 Model Additives Tab 55 Folder Menty POM 2 saticciestectatio danse nn nas asia Wise tiation 56 Task lem Form 58 Buttons on the Task Item Form 61 Adding Direct Costs to the Estimate ccccsesscseceseseeteseeeseeteeeeteeeeaeeteeesees 61 About the Supplied Assemblies and Line ltems 61 Working With Resource Windows 62 About Assembli S 5255 enrhanrtntnshnnaninshnnnmntnntimss 64 iv BSD CostLink AE User Manual Contents About Line Nemi orationi hiini 66 Cost Adjustmen
3. 14 Referring to steps 4 7 above as necessary use Find to locate the folder Spread Footings which contains the assembly with the following description a spread footings 3000 PSI concrete load 50K soil bearing capacity 3 KSF 4 6 square x 12 deep NOTE You will probably need to scroll to the left in the Assemblies resource window Sheet panel to see the name of the assembly Drag assemblies with the right mouse button instead of the left or drag from the gray box to the left of the assembly in the Sheet panel so that the Sheet panel will not scroll BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 2 Tutorial 15 Referring to step 9 above drag the assembly to the Spread Footings folder in your project 16 Referring to steps 10 11 above enter a quantity of 20 for the Spread figs assembly 17 Inthe Assemblies resource window find the assembly with the following description it should be in the same folder as the last assembly you copied ad spread footings 3000 PSI concrete load 50K soil bearing capacity 6 KSF 3 0 square x 12 deep 18 Drag the assembly to the Spread Footings folder in the Sample Project 19 Enter a quantity of 35 for the assembly Reviewing Adding Folders and Copying Assemblies The following exercise contains less step by step directions than the previous exercises As necessary refer to the exercises on Adding Folders and Copying Assemblies to create the following folders and copy the Assemblies
4. Chapter 4 Projects Models Tasks amp Markups Opening Resource Windows In order to copy assemblies or line items into your project you will need to open the desired resource window To open a resource window first open your project and then use one of the following methods e Click the appropriate button on the toolbar ES Open Assemblies resource window Open Unit Prices resource window e Or from the File menu choose Open and then choose the appropriate resource window The resource window will open in a separate window Depending on whether or not your project window is maximized the resource window may cover up your project window In order to view both windows at the same time which makes it easier to copy tasks from the resource window to the project tile the windows side by side using one of the following methods e Click the Tile windows vertically button on the toolbar E e Or from the Window menu choose Tile Vertically The resource window and the project window will display side by side NOTE You can also tile the windows horizontally or cascade the windows however in most cases it is easier to copy tasks with the windows tiled vertically If more than two windows are open the extra windows will also be tiled If you do not need the extra windows close them by clicking their close buttons EX If you do not want to close the extra windows minimize them and Tile Vertically again Copying T
5. Cost Summary Unit Cost Extended Base Cost 0 00 0 Cost To Prime 0 00 0 Cost To Owner 0 00 0 Project Cost 0 00 0 Insert Lock Back Next Close So E Item form for New Folder 5 Using tab to move from field to field enter the following information Tag 1 Title Strip Footings 6 Leaving the item form open click on the Standard Foundations folder NOTE If you cannot see the Standard Foundations folder move the folder form by dragging the title bar the bar across the top of the form that shows the name of the form with your mouse To drag the form instead of resizing the mouse pointer should be a white arrow not a double headed arrow The item form displays the information for the Standard Foundations folder 7 From the Insert menu choose Child Folder BSD CostLink AE User Manual 21 Chapter 2 Tutorial Anew folder appears in the Tree panel after the Strip Footings folder and the item form displays the information for the New Folder 8 Fill in the following information Tag 2 Title Spread Footings 9 Close the Form by clicking on the Close button sl File Edit View Tree Insert LinkMan Tools Window Help Ose SRE Mr Le xX FSR DAE th et eme e BUILDING siTEWORK Quantity UOM Cost To Prime Project Cost 1 BUILDING 18 555 00 SF 0 0 G A SUBSTRUCTURE 18 555 00 SF 0 0 B E A10 FOUNDATIONS 18 555 00 SF 0 0 4 1010 Sta
6. Escal Index Date The date of publication of the escalation index table used in the project Eff Pricing Date Date for which the pricing in the project is effective Est Const Time Estimated number of workdays to complete the project Cost Database This area displays the Title Filename and Path of the cost database being referenced by the project Project Information Project No Number to identify project Will be the folder tag on the level 0 folder visible only E are viewing the project with E3 single tab turned on L On reports this number appears on the left side of the footer and as a folder tag for the top level folder in summary reports Project Size and The estimated size and unit of measure of the project that is UOM being estimated This displays a unit cost for the project on the top level folder in the tree panel on the Cost Summary tab and on the bottom line of the reports Project Description A description of the project Can be up to 255 characters BSD CostLink AE User Manual 51 52 Chapter 4 Projects Models Tasks amp Markups Designed By The architect s or engineer s name or the firm s name Estimated By The estimator s name or firm s name Prepared By The estimator s firm or consulting firm and location Cost Summary Tab The fields on the Cost Summary tab and how to enter the markups are explained in the last section of this chapter under Applying Markups Project Notes Tab
7. ci Summary info for Fire Station Sample Project xj General Cost Summary Project Notes m Fire Station Sample Project COST PER UNIT State City kannt EWE ATLANTA 71040 x 119 454 6 58 SF SalesT ax 700 Est Matl Cost 466 328 32 643 1 80 SF Construction Priced Locally 18 155 SF 934 310 51 46 SF Cost to Contractor 1 996 093 109 95 SF Contractor Contractor s Gen Requirements 10 000 199 609 10 99 SF Fees Contractor s Overhead 5 000 109 785 6 05 SF Contractor s Profit 10 000 230 549 12 70 5F Construction Contract 2 536 036 139 69 SF Other Costs Architect s Fees 6 500 164 842 9 08 5F Contingency 5 000 135 044 7 44 SF Other 0 000 0 0 00 SF Estimated Project Cost 2 835 922 156 21 SF OK Cancel Apply Summary Info dialog box Cost Summary tab 3 Enter the desired information See below for an explanation of the fields and tips on entering information 4 Click Apply to update the Cost and Cost per Unit fields BSD CostLink AE User Manual 67 Chapter 4 Projects Models Tasks amp Markups 5 Click OK to close the Summary Info dialog box 6 If necessary recalculate the estimate El to update the information in the Tree Panel About the Cost Summary Tab The following provides a description of the fields on the Cost Summary tab tips for entering information into the fields and an explanation of how th
8. Turns on and off the display of the status bar at the bottom of the BSD CostLink AE main window Highlights the folder above the currently selected folder in the Tree Panel If not already showing displays the next lowest level of the folder hierarchy in the tree panel and highlights the first folder below the current folder BSD CostLink AE User Manual 123 Appendix A Go to Folder Use Single Tab Show Hierarchy Expand Branch Expand All Show Folder Tags Show Data in Tree Insert Menu Toolbar and Menu Reference Displays a flyout menu for you to choose different folders to select in the tree panel Choices are the first and last folders and the next and previous folders relative to the currently selected one Displays all folders in the project on a single tab rather than one tab for each top level folder Not available when a resource window is the active window Displays a flyout menu for you to choose different levels of the folder hierarchy to display 1 2 3 or 4 levels Expands the display in the tree panel to show all folders below the current folder Expands the display in the tree panel to show all folders Shows the tags of each folder in the tree panel Caution If you insert a new folder with Show Folder Tags turned on and if you type the name in the Tree panel rather than the Folder Form then the first characters you enter up to the first space character become the Source Tag f
9. Bell and Spigot Black and White Body centered Cubic Bank Cubic Yards Bevel End Board Feet Bag of Cement Boiler Horsepower Brake Horsepower Black Iron bidirectional Bituminous Bituminous Concrete Backed Breakers Building Block Beam Boilermaker Blows per Minute Bedroom Bearing Bricklayer Helper Bricklayer Brk brk brkt Brng Brs Brz Bsn Cale Cap CB C CA C CE cd cd sf CD CDX Cefi Cem CF CE CFM CFRP c g CHW CL CI CLP CIP Cire CL CL Clab Clam C LE CLF CLP cm CMP CMU CN Col CO Comb comm Compr Conc Cont cont Corr Cos Cot Cov C P CPA Cplg CPM CPVC CPr CRC Creos Crpt CRT CS Brick Bracket Bearing Brass Bronze Basin Better British Thermal Unit BTU per Hour bushels Built up Roofing Interlocked Armored Cable degree centegrade Conductivity Copper Sweat Hundred Centigrade Center to Center Cedar on Cedar Center to Center Cabinet Air Tool Laborer caliper Calculated Capacity Carpenter Circuit Breaker Chromate Copper Arsenate Hundred Cubic Feet Candela Candela per Square Foot Grade of Plywood Face amp Back Plywood Grade C amp D exterior glue Cement Finisher Cement Hundred Feet Cubic Feet Cubic Feet per Minute Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic Center of Gravity Chilled Water Commercial Hot Water Cast Iron Cast in Place Circuit Carload Lot Chain Link Common Labo
10. Customizing the Toolbars ss 94 Customizing the Tools Menu cceesecseseceseseeseseeeseeeseeeseeeaseeeteeseeaeeteeneees 96 EX IMPIG iii E E E E AEA 98 About Updating to the Current RS Means Database cccccccseeeeeeeees 98 Updating Options ss 99 Chapter 7 EKIN Es nan a ne 2 101 Quantity Options aes dee ann anna 102 Linking to the Parent Quantity ss 103 EXaMpl it ARR nine 103 Linking Estimates to Excel Workbooks ceeeeteseteteteteieteteteieteneieneteeees 104 One Time Set Up In Excel 105 About Parameter Workbooks in Excel 110 About aecLinkMan 111 Excel Features Used in Linking 111 Directions for Linking to Excel eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees 112 Tips For Linking ss 113 Commands For Linking un 113 PDO CICK A sr mme 117 Toolbar and Menu Reference 117 BSD CostLink AE Toolbar ss 118 MENUS easiest Giantess ea eae 120 BSD CostLink AE User Manual Preface About This Manual This manual is an introduction to CostLink AE and an aid to learning its use Each chapter provides detailed information about the functions of the software Step by step instructions guide you through using the features and a tutorial walks you through creating a small estimate NOTE For installation instructions directions for mo
11. a context menu opens From the context menu choose Copy All Here The EXTERIOR CLOSURE folder and all its subfolders and tasks are copied under the SHELL folder in your project BSD CostLink AE User Manual 31 Chapter 2 Tutorial 18 19 20 21 NOTE Additional options in the context menu were Copy Folders Here and Copy Tasks Here Copy Folders Here copies only folders not tasks Copy Tasks Here copies all tasks assemblies and line items These options can only be accessed by dragging with the right mouse button Using the same technique copy the ROOFING folder from the Fire Station Sample project to the SHELL folder in your project Sample Project Using the same technique copy the following folders to the BUILDING folder INTERIORS SERVICES Copy the SITEWORK folder to the Sample Project folder at the top of your project Close the Fire Station Sample project Maximize your project by clicking the Maximize button on the project s title bar IE Click the Show folder data in tree button on the toolbar E or choose the same command from the Tree menu Your project will look something like the following picture Your project will have different costs due to the Location Adjustment you selected 32 BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 2 Tutorial E BSD CostLink AE Sample Project 3 ES l File Edit View Tree Insert LinkMan Tools Window Help 8 x Ose 620 Ms 1e x FeSO DS tmiagia
12. file 121 help 127 insert 124 LinkMan 125 right click 127 tools 125 tree 123 view 123 window 126 Microsoft Excel See linking to Excel minus sign icon 40 model disconnecting from 60 model building parameters 54 model costs about the RS Means cost data 4 Model Estimate applying additives 15 cost models tab 15 model estimate creating 15 model project file creating 12 model workbooks See linking to Excel models Uniformat II project template with models 53 55 move how to move folders and tasks 88 moving the software where to find instructions vii N navigation 41 new project command in file menu 121 new window command on window menu 126 notes 86 blue icon on folders or tasks 40 printing on reports 76 87 spell check 53 viewing 87 notes window 138 BSD CostLink AE User Manual command in view menu 123 O O amp P about the RS Means cost data 5 open command in file menu 121 open assemblies resource window button on toolbar 120 open help to contents button on toolbar 120 open item form on the Sheet panel button on toolbar 119 open item form on the Tree panel button on toolbar 119 open recently used projects dialog button on toolbar 118 open the notes form button on toolbar 119 open the summary info dialog button on toolbar 119 open unit prices resource window button on toolbar 120 open windows list in window menu 127 opening a project 48 opening an
13. A hr A H U AHU ALA AIC Allow alt alt Alum a m Amp Anod ANSI APA Approx Apt Asb AS B C Asbe ASCE AS HR AE ASME ASTM Attchmt Avg Ave AWG AWWA Bbl B amp B BB B amp S B amp W b c c B CY BE B E Bg cem BHP BL bidir Bit Bitum Bit Conc Bk Bkrs Bldg bldg Blk Bm Boil bpm BR Brg Brhe Bric Area Square Feet Ampere Army and Air Force Exchange Service Acrylonitrile Butadiene Stryrene Asbestos Bonded Steel Alternating Current Air Conditioning Asbestos Cement Plywood Grade A amp C American Concrete Institute Air Conditioning Refrigeration Americans with Disabilities Act Plywood Grade A amp D Additional Adjustable Audio frequency Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency American Gas Association Aggregate Ampere Hours Ampere hour Air Handling Unit American Institute of Architects Ampere Interrupting Capacity Allowance Alternate Aluminum Ante Meridiem Ampere Anodized American National Standards Institute American Plywood Association Approximate Apartment Asbestos American Standard Building Code Asbestos Worker American Society of Civil Engineers American Society of Heating Refrig amp AC Engineers American Society of Mechanical Engineers American Society for Testing and Materials Attachment Average American Wire Gauge American Water Works Assoc Barrel Grade B and Better Balled amp Burlapped
14. ADD 59 adding commands 96 adding costs user defined 67 adjustments 67 Adobe Acrobat format export reports to 81 aecLinkMan 111 arrange icons command on window menu 126 arranging windows See windows ASM 59 assemblies 64 about estimating with 8 example 64 identifying members of 61 item form 58 65 Assemblies resource window See resource windows auto recalculate markups command on tools menu 125 base cost 57 60 blue icon on folders or tasks 40 building perimeter 54 building size 54 C calculator open from Tools menu 98 cascade windows command on window menu 126 change Excel links source 125 change RS Means database command on tools menu 126 chapter summary BSD CostLink AE User Manual Index user manual vii child folder command on insert menu 125 close button on toolbar 118 command in file menu 121 compact command on file menu 92 compact database command in file menu 121 company logo insert on reports 72 81 construction priced from R S Means 68 contents command in help menu 127 context menus 127 contingencies about the RS Means cost data 7 contractor fees 70 how calculated 70 copy button on toolbar 119 command in edit menu 122 command in file menu 121 how to copy projects 90 copy and paste how to 64 cost cost to owner 60 cost to prime 60 project cost 61 Cost Estimate without models 18 cost estimates no model 18 cost model addit
15. AE Assemblies Filename 2014 Means AE Assemblies MAS Path C CostLink AE System Project Information Project No 2014 16 Project Size 18 155 SF Project Single Story Municipal Complex with Fire Station Description Designed By Building Systems Design Inc iti SCS Ok Estimated By Building Systems Design Inc Prepared By Building Systems Design Inc Summary Info dialog box General tab BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 4 Projects Models Tasks amp Markups NOTE The tabs available on the Summary Info dialog box will vary depending on the project template used If the Uniformat Il Project Template with Models is selected the Summary Info dialog box will have two tabs in addition to those shown on the preceding page All other templates will open a Summary Info dialog box with the three tabs shown Estimate Identification File Name File name for the project that was entered when you created the project This cannot be changed here To change the filename of a project close the project and change the name in Windows Explorer File Path Drive and directory where the project is stored This cannot be changed here To change the File Path close the project and use Windows Explorer to move the project Project Title Name of the project that appears on reports and on the folder at the top level of the tree panel Estimate Timeline Preparation Date Date of preparation of the estimate
16. AE User Manual Chapter 2 Tutorial This chapter contains a tutorial that will walk you through creating a small estimate in CostLink AE Where helpful references to later chapters in this manual are made so that you can look up information that is more detailed Tasks you will perform include e Creating a project using one of the RS Means building models e Creating another project copying costs from the RS Means Assemblies and Line Items databases e Adding assemblies and line items to your estimate e Adding folders e Creating a new line item in your estimate e Copying costs from another estimate e Applying markups e Printing reports NOTE For installation instructions directions for moving the software and system requirements information see the Installation document available in the Download Center at www bsdsoftlink com BSD CostLink AE User Manual 11 Chapter 2 Tutorial Creating an Estimate Using a Model 12 To create the estimate open CostLink AE from the Windows Start menu choose Programs then BSD SoftLink Products then CostLink AE An empty CostLink AE screen opens Do not open any projects Create the Model Project File To create a model estimate in CostLink AE you create a new project using the following steps 1 Choose File gt New Project or click the Create New Project toolbar button D The New dialog box opens showing the available project templates ie Projects
17. Applied Load Projection Page Paperhanger Powered Air Purifying Respirator Parabolic Reflector Push Button Piece Pieces Portland Cement Power Connector Pounds per Cubic Foot Phase Contrast Microscopy PDCA PE PE PE CI Perf PEX Ph PI Pile Pkg Pl Plah Plas plf Pluh Plum Ply p m Pntd Pord pp PP PPL PPM PES B Prefab Prefin Prop PSE psf PSI psi PSIG PSP Pspr Psst P amp T Ptd Ptns PVC Pvmt PRV Pwr Qt Quan Qty QC R C P Rect recpt Reg Reinf Req d Res Resi RFID Rgh RGS rms Rodm Rofc Rofp Rohe Rots R O W RS Rsr SBS Painting and Decorating Contractors of America Professional Engineer Porcelain Enamel Polyethylene Plain End Porcelain Enamel on Cast Iron Perforated Cross linked polyethylene Phase Pressure Injected Pile Driver Package Plate Plasterer Helper Plasterer Pounds Per Linear Foot Plumbers Helper Plumber Plywood Post Meridiem Painted Painter Ordinary Pages Polypropylene Parts per Million Pair Pre engineered Steel Building Prefabricated Prefinished Propelled Pounds per Square Foot Pounds per Square Inch Pounds per Square Inch Gauge Plastic Sewer Pipe Painter Spray Painter Structural Steel Potential Transformer Pressure amp Temperature Painted Partitions Ultimate Load Polyvinyl Chloride Pavement Pressure Relief Valve Power Quantity Heat Flow
18. Compressed The Select Compressed File Path dialog box opens with a name automatically assigned in the File Name field Select Compressed File Path al x Savein Projects e ck History Desktop ZN My Documents My Computer My Network Pe File name BE version of Fire Station Sample Project ZIP Save as type zP Compressed Files ZIP Cancel LA Select Compressed File Path dialog box BSD CostLink AE User Manual 93 Chapter 6 Tools and Techniques If desired change the file name and or select a different folder to save the file to Click Save BSD CostLink AE saves a copy of the project in compressed format and informs you when processing is complete To extract a compressed project 1 Choose File gt Load from Compressed The Select Compressed File Path dialog box opens 2 Use the dialog box to select the compressed project you want to extract Click Open The Select Project Database File Path dialog box opens 3 Use the dialog box to navigate to the drive and path where the file should be placed and then click Save BSD CosiLink AE extracts the compressed database to the selected drive and path and then opens it NOTE If a project of the same name exists in the folder BSD CostLink AE prompts you to confirm overwriting it You can overwrite the file place the new file in a new location or Cancel Customizing the Toolbars 94 Use the Customize dial
19. Copying and Moving 88 Tips and techniques for copying and moving tasks and folders in BSD CostLink AE are described below Much of this information involves standard mouse and keyboard operations for the Microsoft Windows operating systems Using the Standard Windows Cut Copy and Paste Commands To move or copy tasks or folders from one location to another use the standard Windows Cut Copy and Paste commands These commands are available as buttons on the toolbar in the Edit menu and in context menus when you right click You can also cut copy or paste text in fields in item forms or while in edit mode on the name of a folder or task To enter edit mode in the Tree Panel click once on the name of a folder and then click again In the Sheet Panel click once on the name of a task or folder When in edit mode the background of the text is blocked and a right click results in a context menu that contains only Cut Copy Paste and Delete When cutting or copying tasks not just the description text in the Sheet Panel first select a task by clicking the selector box to the left of the item in the Sheet Panel so that the whole record is selected before using the commands from the Edit menu or the toolbar You can select all the tasks in the Sheet Panel using Edit gt Select All Tasks Or you can select multiple tasks using CTRL and Shift as described later You can move and copy tasks and folders by dragging them with your mouse If yo
20. Default OK Cancel Reports dialog box Custom Reports tab To modify the existing reports or to create new reports you will need to use Crystal Reports version 8 5 Once the reports have been modified and or created they can be run from the Custom Reports tab To print a custom report 1 Open the Reports Setup window from the File menu Click on the Custom Reports tab 2 3 Click on the Add button 4 Navigate to the report that you have modified or created highlight it and then click on the Open button It will be added to the Custom Reports window 5 To print it click on the Print or Preview button Once you have printed a report it will stay in the Custom Reports window so you will need only to open the Custom Report tab and print the report If you click on the Remove button in this window the report is simply removed from the window it is not deleted Report Preview The report preview window shows the currently selected reports as they will look when printed on the selected printer BSD CostLink AE User Manual 77 78 Chapter 5 Reports NOTE You must have a printer driver installed on your computer in order to preview reports Displaying the Window You display the preview window by clicking Preview on the Reports dialog box NOTE If the preview is too small maximize the preview window using the Maximize button in the upper right E and or zoom in using the zoom selector E
21. Icostlink AE ser Manua Di Building Systems Design Inc Acknowledgments BSD CostLink AE Software 2014 Building Systems Design Inc BSD CostLink BSD SpecLink and BSD SoftLink are registered trademarks of Building Systems Design Inc All other names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners BSD CostLink AE User Manual 2014 Building Systems Design Inc Revised February 2014 Information in this document is subject to change without notice Companies names and data used in examples herein are fictitious unless otherwise noted No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical for any purpose without the express written permission of Building Systems Design Inc All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America Contents Table of Contents PE ClACG oor ee dee eek vii About This Manual vii Chapter 1 Introduction To BSD CostLink AE 1 BSD CostLink AE Overview 2 About the RS Means Cost Data cccccecesesecsesesesesteseeeseseseeteeeeeeeeeeeeaeaeeees 3 The Development of Cost Data 4 Factors Affecting Costs 5 Final Checklist ccccesecesesesesesesesesesesesesesescscacscseacacacacacanacacseacananaes 7 Assemblies Estimating cscscecscecsssesssseseseseseseseseseseseseseseseseseseseseneneneneesees 8 What Is Assembli
22. On alterations or repair jobs 20 is not an unreasonable allowance to make If drawings are final and only field contingencies are being considered 2 to 3 is probably sufficient and often nothing need be added As far as the contract is concerned future changes in plans can be covered by extras The contractor should consider inflationary price trends and possible material shortages during the course of the job Escalation factors are dependent upon both economic conditions and the anticipated time between the estimate and actual construction If drawings are not complete or approved or if a budget is required before proceeding with a project it is wise to add 5 to 10 Contingencies are a matter of judgment Final Checklist Estimating can be a straightforward process provided you remember the basics Here is a checklist of some of the items you should remember to do before completing your estimate BSD CostLink AE User Manual 7 Chapter 1 Introduction To BSD CostLink AE Did you remember to e factor in the City Cost Index Location Adjustment for your locale e take into consideration which items have been marked up and by how much e mark up the entire estimate sufficiently for your purposes e read the background information on techniques and technical matters that could impact your project time span and cost e include all components of your project in the final estimate e double check your figures to be sure of your accu
23. Quart Quantity Quick Coupling Radius of Gyration Resistance Reinforced Concrete Pipe Rectangle receptacle Regular Reinforced Required Resistant Residential Radio Frequency Radio frequency identification Rough Rigid Galvanized Steel Rubber Heat amp Water Resistant Residential Hot Water Root Mean Square Round Rodman Roofer Composition Roofer Precast Roofer Helpers Composition Roofer Tile amp Slate Right of Way Revolutions per Minute Rapid Start Riser Round Trip Suction Single Entrance South Styrene Butadiere Styrene SC SCFM Scaf Sch Sched S CR S D SDR S E Sel SER SEU S E S EC A S E Flr S EG S E Hor SFR S E Shif S4s Shee Sin Skwk SL S L Sldr SLH S N SO S OL sp SP Spri spwg S PD T SPF S PS T SPT Sq Sq Hd Sq In SS S S B sst SS Sswk Sswl St Stl STC Std Stg STK STP Stpi Str Strd Struct Sty Subj Subs Surf Sw Swbd S Y Syn S YP Sys t Tan T C T amp C Tdd temp TFFN Screw Cover Standard Cubic Feet per Minute Scaffold Schedule Modular Brick Sound Deadening Standard Dimension Ratio Surfaced Edge Select Service Entrance Cable Square Foot Square Foot Contact Area Square Foot of Floor Square Foot of Ground Square Foot Horizontal Square Feet of Radiation Square Foot of Shelf Surface 4 Sides Sheet Metal Worker Sine Skilled Worker Saran Lined Sl
24. R S Means 11 000 SF 0 0 00 5F State City Adjctment ied None 000 x 0 0 00 5F SalesTax 000 Est Matl Cost 0 0 0 00 SF Construction Priced Locally 11 000 SF 0 0 00 SF Cost to Contractor nr 7 0 00 SF Contractor Contractor s Gen Requirements 10 000 0 0 00 SF Fees PF Contractors Overhead 5 000 0 0 00 SF Contractor s Profit 10 000 0 0 00 SF Construction Contract p 0 00 SF Other Costs Architect s Fees 6 500 0 0 00 SF Contingency 3 000 0 0 00 SF Po Other 8 000 0 0 00 SF Estimated Project Cost D p 7 0 00 5F OK Cancel Apply Summary Info dialog box Cost Summary tab for Model project 2 Next to the State field click the pull down arrow and choose PA for Pennsylvania BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 2 Tutorial NOTE Instead of scrolling through entire list of states after clicking the pull down arrow type the first letter of the state or province The list will scroll to the first state or province with that letter The City field updates to list cities in Pennsylvania To the right of the City field click the pull down arrow and choose Pittsburgh Using the RS Means Location Adjustment factors the software calculates a location adjustment for that location and will adjust all of the RS Means costs by that percentage Click in the percent field for Sales Tax Change the sales tax to 7 00 Change the Architect s Fees to 8
25. Search The Search tab is used to conduct a full text search of all Help topics Use the Search tab if you cannot find the Help you need using the Contents or Index tabs About BSD Displays information on the BSD CostLink AE version along with CostLink AE diagnostic information on your computer Context Menus Context menus are a quick way to access key BSD CostLink AE functions You display context menus by positioning the cursor in a particular location and clicking the right mouse button Which options are displayed depend on your location the context The commands available on the context menus are equivalent to commands on the Toolbars and Pulldown menus The following is an example of a context menu Cut Ctri x Copy Ctrl C Paste Ctrl Delete Find Ctrl F Insert Folder Insert Child Folder Edit Folder Expand Branch Show Folder Tags v Show Data in Tree Example of a context menu BSD CostLink AE User Manual 127 Appendix Toolbar and Menu Reference 128 BSD CostLink AE User Manual Appendix B Appendix B R S Means Abbreviations This chapter provides a list of the abbreviations used in the R S Means databases viewed in the Assemblies and Unit Prices resource windows BSD CostLink AE User Manual 129 Appendix B R S Means Abbreviations 130 BSD CostLink AE User Manual Abbreviations A AAFES ABS A C AC ACI ACR ADA AD Addit Adj af AFUE AGA Agg AH Ah
26. Summary Info dialog box opens BSD CostLink AE User Manual 13 14 Chapter 2 Tutorial E Summary info for Project Title General Cost Summary Cost Models Model Additives Project Notes Project Title Estimate Timeline Estimate Identification Preparation Date File Name Model Project MPJ Escalindes Date DU File Path C CostLink AE projects Eff Pricing Date sid Project Title Project Title Est Const Time 0 Days RS Means Database Title 2014 Means AE Assemblies Filename 2014 Means AE Assemblies MAS Path C COSTLINK AE System Project Information Project No TEMP 0001 Project Size 0 SF Project Template provides R S Means Uniformat II project hierarchy and is linked to the R S Means 2014 Description Assemblies database Designed By Estimated By Prepared By Summary Info dialog box The General tab is used to display and edit general information about the estimate For more information on the Summary Info dialog box see chapter 4 5 Inthe Project Title field type Model Project The Project Title can be different from the File Name The Project Title prints in the reports whereas the File Name does not 6 Using the Tab key to go from field to field fill in the following fields Preparation Date Today s Date Escalation Index Date 1 1 2014 Effective Pricing Date 1 1 2014 Estimated Construction 240 Days Time Project No 2014 5 10 Project Size and UOM 11000 SF Pro
27. Total Cost GENERAL REQUIREMENTS 1 00 240 57270 SALLE 73 240 673 BUILDING 18 555 00 1 759 755 SITEWORK 5 09 276 778 Sheet contains 0 Tasks CAPS NUM INS CostLink AE default display To change the display of the panels use the following commands e To arrange the panels side by side choose View gt with Vertical Panels e To return to the default display choose View gt with Horizontal Panels Configuring Multiple Windows You will often have multiple windows displayed in BSD CostLink AE to show your estimate and resource windows at the same time or to show multiple estimates at the same time This allows you to copy folders and tasks into your project from resource windows and other projects BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 3 About the CostLink AE Display When you have more than one window displayed use the following menu and toolbar commands to arrange the windows e To tile windows vertically click the Tile windows vertically toolbar button or choose Window gt Tile Vertically e To tile windows horizontally click the Tile windows horizontally toolbar button El or choose Window gt Tile Horizontally e To cascade the open windows click the Stack windows in cascade toolbar button B or choose Window gt Cascade Windows Tips For Using Tile and Cascade e When you choose one of the Tile or Cascade options the currently active window will be on the left
28. Use this tab to enter any project level descriptive notes that you want to include with the estimate Project Notes can be printed on reports E Summary info for Fire Station Sample Project x General Cost Summary m Fire Station Sample Project PROJECT DESCRIPTION This is 4 sample project and should not be used for anything other than demonstration purposes Below is an example of what might be included in your project notes The project consists of a new 1 story 18 155 SF Fire Facility Facility shall accommodate approximately 10 fire fighters per shift with kitchen shower and bunk room facilities Facility shall include necessary site work to develop 5 0 acres and provide approximately 65 parking spaces BASIS OF ESTIMATE This estimate was prepared from documents received from Architects as well as conversations with members of the design team Any design and engineering changes and or additions produced subsequent to these documents are not included in this estimate BASIS FOR PRICING Pricing shown reflects probable construction costs obtainable in this area on the date of this statement of probable costs The intention of this estimate is to reflect fair market value for the construction of this project It is not a prediction of low bid Pricing is based upon costs obtained from the 2002 R S Means Assemblies database and Building Construction Cost Data database CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE AND ESCALATION The schedul
29. and Techniques Working with Notes and Pictures 86 You can attach text notes and pictures to any folders and tasks in a project When a folder or task has a note or picture attached a cyan indicator is added to the bottom left of the folder or task icon FE or r NOTE See Chapter 4 for entering project wide notes using the Summary Info dialog box Attaching Notes or Pictures to a Folder or Task Within a project use the Notes form to attach text notes or pictures to individual tasks or folders The text notes can be printed on the detail report The pictures are for display in CositLink AE only and cannot be printed To attach text notes to a task or folder 1 Click on the task or folder in the sheet panel 2 Choose View gt Notes Window or click the Open the Notes form button on the toolbar The Notes form opens The name of the folder or task that you clicked on is displayed above the white note area Notes for Firestation Sample Project lol x Notes Pictures r SUPERSTRUCTURE Use Right Mouse menu to edit or use hotkeys Ctrl x Cut Ctrl C Copy Ctrl Paste or Ctrl Z Undo Notes form Notes tab 3 Onthe Notes tab type the Notes you want to attach or use CTRL V to paste text from the Windows clipboard BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 6 Tools and Techniques 4 Click on another task or folder to enter another note You do not need to Apply or Close before clicking on
30. and resource windows and exits CostLink AE Removes the currently highlighted folder or task assembly or line item and places it on the Windows Clipboard Can also be used to remove highlighted text and place it on the Windows Clipboard This is used in conjunction with Paste as a way to move assemblies or line items within your project If you want to permanently remove a folder task or text use Delete Only use Cut if you want to Paste the folder task or text in a different location Refer to Chapter 6 for more information on Cut Copy and Paste Copies the currently highlighted folder task or text to the Windows Clipboard CostLink AE permits you to Copy but not Cut in some cases For example you can Copy but not Cut tasks or folders in the Assemblies resource window Paste Delete Places the current contents of the Windows Clipboard into the location of the cursor Deletes the selected task or folder BSD CostLink AE prompts you to confirm the deletion Available in project windows only When you delete a folder with subordinate folders or tasks CostLink AE prompts you to specify whether to move the subordinate tasks to the Unassigned folder This allows you to assign the tasks to another folder rather than deleting them BSD CostLink AE User Manual Find Select All Tasks View Menu with Horizontal Panels with Vertical Panels Tree Items Form Sheet Items Form Notes Window
31. estimate 48 organization name on reports 73 other costs 70 overhead and profit about the RS Means cost data 5 overtime about the RS Means cost data 6 P panels arranging 38 parameter workbooks See linking to Excel parameters adjustable 55 model building 54 parameters fixed 54 parent quantity linking to 103 paste button on toolbar 119 command in edit menu 122 paste link from source command on LinkMan menu 125 pdf export reports to 81 permissions command in file menu 122 pictures 86 supported graphics file types 87 viewing 87 plus sign icon 40 preferences tab reports dialog box 75 preparation date 51 preview buttons in window 79 reports 78 print command in file menu 121 print percent of parent to level 76 print preview command in file menu 121 print selected report button on toolbar 118 print selected report to preview window button on toolbar 118 print setup command in file menu 121 productivity about the RS Means cost data 6 project delete empty folders 90 project cost 58 project description 51 project notes 19 project tasks See tasks project title 51 projects 48 archiving 93 compacting 92 copying 90 cost models 53 cost models tab in summary information dialog box 53 creating 49 emailing to one who has CostLink AE 93 model additives 55 model additives tab in summary information dialog box 55 notes 52 notes tab in summary information dialog box 52 ope
32. folders or both Folders Find First Click this button to find the first item matching your criteria based on your selection in the Search field Find Next Click this button to find the next item after finding the first Close Closes the Find dialog box To search using the Find dialog box 1 If you have more than one window open click in the window that you want to search 2 From the Edit menu choose Find or click the Find toolbar button El The Find In dialog box opens 3 Fill in the fields as described above NOTE Find searches for exact words If you misspell a word Find probably will not find it 4 Click the Find First button if the Search option is set to All Other wise click Find Next BSD CostLink AE performs the search and highlights the first found item in the sheet panel by placing an arrow to the lett of it D if it is a task If the first found item is a folder on the tree it opens the folder NOTE If a message opens reporting that The search item was not found check the following e Verify the Find title bar says it is searching the correct window e Verify that the Find What field has no typos e Verify that Field is set correctly e Verify that Tasks or Folders is set correctly If all is correct try different words in the Find What field 5 If the correct item is located click Close If it is not the correct item click Find Next BSD CostLink AE User Manual 85 Chapter 6 Tools
33. for all these cost items are driven by a small number of parameters such as the total square footage and the number of floors For more information on Models see chapter 4 In the following steps you will open the Assemblies resource window use Find to locate a particular assembly and use drag and drop to copy the assembly to your project NOTE Assemblies contain all the line items required to perform a particular piece of the job For example an assembly representing 6 inch concrete slab on grade includes all the tasks required to prepare for form pour and finish the slab The assembly unit of measure is square feet The Assemblies resource window stores the unit costs Labor Equipment Material and Total and quantities of each task required to construct one square foot of 6 inch slab After copying the assembly into the Project enter the quantity of square feet of slab needed for the estimate CostLink AE then computes the total quantities and resulting costs of all items required for slab on grade construction For more information on Assemblies see chapter 4 1 Click the Open Assemblies resource window button on the toolbar The Assemblies resource window opens in a separate database window within BSD CostLink AE 2 Click the Tile windows vertically button on the toolbar E The Project and Assemblies resource windows appear side by side It is easier to copy assemblies if the windows are positioned side by s
34. for the task Use Quantity Select this option the default to enter a quantity in the Qty Entered field to calculate the Extended Cost BSD CostLink AE User Manual 59 60 Chapter 4 Projects Models Tasks amp Markups Use MS Excel Value Times Use Parent Quantity Times Use Formula Value Times Model Building Parameter Select this option to link the quantity to a value in an MS Excel spreadsheet When selected the grayed out times field becomes available and turns white The default value is 1 For more information on linking see Chapter 7 Select this option to link the quantity to the quantity of the folder that contains the current folder When selected the grayed out times field becomes available and turns white The default value is 1 Enter a different factor if necessary to calculate the quantity As the quantity is changed on the folder the quantity on this task will change For more information on linking see Chapter 7 This is the default option for any project that uses a model as the basis for the project estimate and does not appear if any of the other templates are used You can select one of the other options to establish a quantity but in so doing you will disconnect the assembly or item from the model after receiving a warning message NOTE Be absolutely certain you want to disconnect the task from the model before choosing one of the other options because you will not be able t
35. logo save a copy of your logo in the CostLink AE System Reports folder with the name logo bmp logo gif or logo jpg 2 When you are ready to run reports select the reports to run and the level for your Summary report in the Reports dialog box Select Reports tab 3 Choose options for the reports on the Preferences tab NOTE Once you have established the report formats for an estimate CostLink AE remembers the last settings you used so that you can use the same formats repeatedly You can make adjustments at any time 4 Click the Preview button to look over your selections and click the Print button to print the reports The options reports and methods of producing paper and electronic copies of reports are described in this chapter Reports Dialog box Use the Reports dialog box to choose the reports you want to print and to define settings for those reports To open the Reports dialog box e With a project ial from the File menu choose Reports Setup or click the Select and format reports toolbar button Buttons on the Reports Dialog Box These buttons and controls appear at the bottom of dialog box Their actions apply regardless of the tab you have selected Print Prints the reports as currently selected and configured not available on Preferences tab Preview Opens a print preview window showing how the currently selected reports will look when printed on the default Windows printer not available on Prefere
36. mind When you click OK if you have the new Excel workbook open it will automatically update the links and open a message to confirm that the links were updated If you do not have the new Excel workbook open a message will open stating that you need to open the Excel workbook in order to update the links Once you open the new Excel workbook the links will update if you have the automatic update turned on or you can choose the Refresh All Links from Sources command to manually update the links This command is a toggle By default it is turned off links will update automatically as the link sources are edited When the command is selected a checkmark appears next to it in the menu indicating that it is on links will not update automatically as the link sources are edited To turn it off again choose the command again You may choose to turn this command on while you are editing so that you do not have to wait for links to update Use this command if you no longer want the estimate linked If you choose this command a message will open asking you to confirm that you want to remove the links You can choose Cancel if you have changed your mind When you click OK the links will be removed and a message will open stating that the links have been removed The quantity fields of the previously linked items will be white in the background indicating that you can edit the quantity and the note indicators and the green Excel link indicator
37. of release BSD has big plans for CostLink AE as the new vanguard of its cost estimating product line We know you will be pleased both with the initial release and the ongoing subscription updates that hallmark our other successful products We look forward to your productive use of CostLink AE and as always we welcome your feedback BSD CostLink AE User Manual 3 Chapter 1 Introduction To BSD CostLink AE About the RS Means Cost Data Your subscription to BSD CostLink AE includes the current RS Means cost data in the AE Assemblies database and the Building Construction Cost Data database The following is how RS Means explains what is behind their costs The Development of Cost Data The staff at RS Means continuously monitors developments in the construction industry in order to ensure reliable thorough and up to date cost information While overall construction costs may vary relative to general economic conditions price fluctuations within the industry are dependent upon many factors Individual price variations may in fact be opposite to overall economic trends Therefore costs are continually monitored and complete updates are published yearly Also new items are frequently added in response to changes in materials and methods Costs U S All costs represent U S national averages and are given in U S dollars The Means City Cost Indexes Location Adjustment should be used to adjust costs to a particular location
38. optional e Notes added to folders and or tasks optional Inserting Your Company Logo 80 Customize your reports by inserting a logo in the upper right corner of the reports When you do not have a logo the time that you printed the reports prints in the upper right To insert a logo save a copy of the logo in your CostLink AE System Reports folder with the name logo bmp logo gif or logo jpg and print the report s BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 5 Reports Creating Electronic Copies of Reports Reports can be Tal to a number of file formats using the Export button in the Print Preview window l Exported files can be emailed to individuals who do not have CostLink AE saved as archive copies of estimates published on websites or edited NOTE If someone wants you to email an electronic copy of the estimate and they have CostLink AE you can use the File gt Save to Compressed feature described in Chapter 6 to create a zipped file that you can attach to an email They can then open the estimate in CostLink AE make edits and send it back Some of the more popular export options include e Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format PDF can be opened and viewed in Acrobat Reader which can be downloaded for free from Adobe Acrobat s website www adobe com PDF files can be minimally edited in the full version of Adobe Acrobat which is available for purchase at the same website NOTE If you own the full versi
39. panel of the resource window click and hold your left or right mouse button on any field for that task and still holding down the mouse button drag to the folder in your project where that task belongs When the folder where you want to place the task becomes highlighted and your mouse pointer is a hand holding a sheet of paper release the mouse button If you use the left mouse button a confirmation message may open asking if you want to copy the task click OK to copy the task If you use the right mouse button a context menu will open click Copy Tasks Here to copy the task NOTE If the resource window is located on the left side of the screen and you drag the task with the left mouse button the sheet panel may scroll to the right as you drag Dragging with the right mouse button or dragging from the gray box to the left of the task does not cause the sheet panel to scroll e Copy and Paste In the sheet panel of the resource window copy the task as follows Left click anywhere on the task The current record indicator an arrow l will appear to the left of the task you clicked on Then either click the Copy button on the toolbar E or from the Edit menu choose Copy Then in the Tree Panel of the project paste the task using one of the following methods Left click on the folder in the Tree Panel where you want the task located Then either click the Paste button on the toolbar e or from the Edit menu c
40. project See the next section for instructions on modifying your model estimate by copying assemblies and line items from the RS Means databases included with BSD CostLink AE BSD CostLink AE User Manual 17 Chapter 2 Tutorial Creating an Estimate Without Using a Cost Model and Modifying Estimates of All Types Create the Sample Project File To create an estimate in CostLink AE without using a model create a new project using the following steps 1 Close any open projects Choose File gt New Project or click the Create New Project toolbar button D 2 The New dialog box opens showing the available project templates Projects Create using AE Project Template i Uniformatll NoWBS MasterFormat MasterFormat Large Icons Project Project Tem 2004 Projec Project Tem Template with i Models MPJ C List View View Small Icons C Details Browse New dialog box 3 Click the template called Uniformat II Project Template with Models mpj and then click the New button or double click on the template The Save New AE Project Database As dialog box opens 18 BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 2 Tutorial E Save New AE Project Database As OY Organize New folder 86 m Model Project MPJ m Fire Station Sample Project MPJ E Sample School Project MPJ Fr Favorites E Desktop ie Downloads E Recent Places HE Desktop Libraries Docum
41. projects made on the CostLink AE template When you edit the parameters in the model spreadsheet the changes are made in the linked project When you are finished editing you can suspend the links You can link a single cell in Excel to multiple items in an AE project as well as link a single worksheet to multiple AE projects When you change a cell in a linked worksheet and that change updates the values of other cells the corresponding values in AE change These changes will be made and saved even if the CostLink AE project is not open When the project is opened later you can choose whether or not to update the values This feature allows you to take advantage of model spreadsheets In a model spreadsheet you enter the overall size of a job and then list some or all the folders and tasks that are needed in an estimate for that type of job For the folders and tasks enter formulas that calculate their quantities based on the overall size of the job In CostLink AE you create all the folders and drag in all the tasks for your estimate However instead of typing in the quantities for the folders and tasks you can paste links from the corresponding values in Excel One Time Set Up In Excel Note that Linking to Excel is not available using Windows 7 or later In order to link a CositLink AE estimate to Excel you need to add a COM Add In to your Excel installation NOTE COM stands for Component Object Model Microsoft Excel s Help defi
42. same buttons as the folder item form as described earlier in this chapter with the Addition of the Apply button If you change the quantity or Base Cost you can click Apply to view the changes in the form Clicking Apply is not required You can just change the quantity or Base Cost and then click on a different task or close the form Your edits will be saved and applied whether you click Apply or not The Insert button will add a new user defined line item Adding Direct Costs to the Estimate BSD CositLink AE gives you four options for entering Direct Cost data in an estimate You can create an estimate using a cost model copy assemblies from the assemblies resource window copy line items from the unit prices resource window and insert user defined line items directly into the project NOTE Tasks may also be copied from another BSD CostLink AE project About the Supplied Assemblies and Line Items The assemblies and line items that come with your subscription are the current year s R S Means AE Assemblies and Building Construction Cost Data See Chapter 1 for R S Means explanation of what is included in the costs Working With Resource Windows Each project you create has two resource windows from which you copy assemblies and line items into your estimate The resource windows are e Assemblies resource window stores assemblies e Unit Prices resource window stores line items BSD CostLink AE User Manual 61 62
43. subtotals for each folder Cost Columns Print Notes and Footer Project Level Prints the notes entered in the Summary Info dialog box on the Project Notes tab Folder Level Prints the notes entered on folders in the estimate This option is applicable to the Detail report only Task Level Prints the notes entered on tasks in the estimate This option is applicable to the Detail report only Footer Type text in the Footer field that should print at the bottom of every page NOTE The Project Number on the General Tab of the Summary Info dialog box prints on the left side of the footer If you do not want the Project Number in the footer leave that field blank in the Summary Info dialog box Print Detail Options These check boxes represent optional columns you can include on Detail reports Folder Tags Choose this option to print the tags or database IDs entered for each folder Source Tags Choose this option to print the source tags database IDs associated with each task 76 BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 5 Reports Custom Reports The Custom Reports tab is used to print custom reports Reports for Fire Station Sample Project x x Select Reports Preferences Custom Reports m Fire Station Sample Project Select Custom Report to Print or Preview View Large Icons Small lcons C List View C Details Add Remove Print Preview Setup IV Save as
44. that model cost estimate may not be accurate if area entered here is significantly greater or smaller than default baseline building area indicated under Model Building Parameters Enter total linear feet of building perimeter Note that model cost estimate may not be accurate if length entered here is significantly greater or smaller than default baseline building perimeter indicated under Model Building Parameters Select Exterior Closure and Framing Pull Down List Click on arrow to pull down list of six possible exterior closure and framing options available for specific model selected Click on option to select exterior closure and framing Model Building Parameters Fixed Parameters Default Baseline Building Area GSF is the gross area of the building on which the model is based Default Baseline Building Perimeter is the length of the perimeter of the building on which the model is based These two parameters are stated for informational purposes and cannot be adjusted here but alternative size and perimeter may be entered above in the same dialog box see Enter Dimensions above Suggested Architectural Fees also cannot be altered here but may be adjusted on the Cost Summary tab of the Summary Info dialog box BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 4 Projects Models Tasks amp Markups Adjustable The remaining building parameters Number of Floors Parameters Average Floor to Floor Height Partition Densit
45. the fly AE makes it easy to place project and data windows side by side assigning cost items to appropriate project folders Estimate Structure Adjustments and Markups Templates for Uniformat II MasterFormat and a User Defined hierarchy are provided along with a useful sample project A single tab on the Summary Info dialog box allows you to choose a location by selecting your state and city that automatically adjusts your estimate You can also add sales tax and modify the default prime contractor markups The same tab lets you assign percentage markups for other costs such as contingency escalation and A E design Modeling The commercial building cost models provided with the software provide a convenient way to build an estimate early in a project before any of the major systems have been selected This model estimate can then be refined as the project design is developed by adjusting quantities and by substituting assemblies and line items for those assumed by the model A single tab on the Summary Info dialog box allows you to select a model from the three available categories Commercial Institutional and Industrial You then enter the gross building area and the length of the building perimeter select one of six exterior closure and framing systems provided for each model and review or modify the main model building parameters that serve as the basis for all model cost computations Green Models 2 BSD CostLink AE User Ma
46. the same website create pdf files from CostLink AE reports adding costs adding direct costs to the estimate adding folders adding general project information adjustments Excel XLS can be opened and edited in Microsoft Excel Formulas do not export just text and dollars Rich Text Exact Format can be opened and edited in any word processor except WordPerfect 5 1 Su tab e Word for Windows Format can be opened and edited in overview Microsoft Word Adobe Acrobat create pdf files from CostLink AE reports aecLMDat mdb archiving files arranging the tree and sheet panels arranging windows assemblies about estimating with about the supplied attach notes to attach pictures to buttons on assemblies form If someone wants you to email an electronic copy of the estimate and they have CostLink E you can use the File gt Save to Compressed feature to create a zipped file that you can attach to an email They can then open the estimate in AE make edits and send it back If you own the full version of Adobe Acrobat you can choose Acrobat as your printer in the Print Setup dialog box available on the File menu Print to the Acrobat printer to generate pdf files instead of using the Export button in the Preview window x BSD CostLink AE Help Index Tab Index Tab The Index tab is used to search Help by keywords for each topic To acce
47. this off from the Tools menu by choosing Prompt before completing Drag When the option is turned on there is a checkmark next to the command BSD CostLink AE User Manual 89 Chapter 6 Tools and Techniques Deleting Empty Folders In your project use Delete Empty Folders to remove folders that have no tasks 1 Choose Tools gt Delete Empty Folders BSD CostLink AE prompts you to confirm the command 2 Click OK BSD CostLink AE deletes the empty folders in the project except those at Level 1 To delete any empty Level 1 folder right click on the folder and choose Delete Copying a Project Use the Copy command in the File menu to copy a project database to a different name or location To copy a project 1 Make sure the project you want to copy is nof open 2 Choose File gt Copy The Select Unopened File to be Copied dialog box opens Select Unopened file to be copied Look in a Projects 0ce B AE version of Fire Station Sample Project MPJ History a Desktop My Documents ca gt My Computer TAGI eis My Network P File name Files of type Project Databases MMP MPJ The Select Unopened File to be Copied dialog box 90 BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 6 Tools and Techniques 3 Locate the project to be copied Double click the project or click once and click Open The Enter Destination File Name dialog box opens immediately in the same location as t
48. to paste BSD CostLink AE User Manual 19 Chapter 2 Tutorial 3 Click OK to save all of your changes and close the Summary Info dialog box Your Project window should look similar to the following picture The Tree Panel is the top half of the screen where the folders are shown The bottom half of the screen is the Sheet Panel The Sheet Panel displays the contents of the folder you click on in the Tree Panel AE ESD CostLink AE Sam il File Edit View Tree Insert LinkMan Tools Window Help ID SR MA Ba xX FE SG OHA 2h 26 Smee BUILDING sITEWORK 31 BUILDING G9 A SUBSTRUCTURE 410 FOUNDATIONS C A20 BASEMENT CONSTRUCTION B SHELL CF C INTERIORS C D SERVICES CF E EQUIPMENT AND FURNISHINGS CF F SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION Unassigned Quantity UOM Cost To Prime 18 555 00 18 555 00 18 555 00 18 555 00 18 555 00 18 555 00 18 555 00 18 555 00 18 555 00 SF SF SF SF Project Cost 0 0 0 0 Tree Panel Sourc Description Quantity UOM Unit Cost Base Cost Cost To Prime Project C USR Standard Foundations 18 555 00 SF 0 00 0 0 18 555 00 SF 0 00 0 0 C USR Special Foundations E49 USR Slab on Grade 18 555 00 SF 0 00 0 0 _ Sheet contains 0 Tasks Sample Project window with Tree and Sheet Panels labeled Adding Folders She
49. 2700 Use Quantity Entered Assembly Members C Use MS Excel Value Times Description Quantity Units Total Cost D be Pas en res D gt Structural Steel 14 611 92 LB 13 876 94 z Open Web Joists K Series Horiz Bridging Up Use Formula Value Times To 30 Minimum 18 540 08 LB 1 352870 Average Floor Size E Metal Decking Open Galv 1 1 2 Deep 22 Ga Over 50 Sq 10 786 53 SF Sri 599 83 Task Cost Data Cost To Prime Cost To Owner Project Cost i 50 619 64 Insert Lock Back Next Apply Close A task item form NOTE In order to see more information on the form you can resize the form change the location of the splitter bar between Task Cost Data and Assembly Members and change the width of the fields Description Task Description Description of the task Quantity UOM Quantity and unit of measure associated with the task Task Type Indicates whether the task is an Assembly or a Line Item This corresponds with the icon in the first column of the Sheet panel ST for assembly E for line item Source Indicates the source of the task ADD Additive line item from model ASM Assembly copied from Assemblies resource window MDL An assembly or line item from the base model RSM Line item copied from Unit Prices resource window USR User added line item Source Tag Displays a code that is used as a unique identifier
50. 4 green icon on folders or tasks 40 green square Excel icon 102 H help contents tab 44 index 127 index tab 45 printing 45 search 127 search tab 46 searching 45 46 help menu 127 cut 88 paste 88 BSD CostLink AE User Manual Oo Chapter 1 Index icons list of and descriptions 40 index tab 127 help dialog box 45 insert menu 124 installation instructions where to find vii L labor costs about the RS Means cost data 5 launching other programs 96 line items 66 adding your own 67 item form 58 linking change Excel links source 115 delete link from source 114 disable updating from sources 115 parent quantity 103 paste link from source 114 refresh all links from sources 114 remove all links from sources 115 linking to Excel Excel comments 111 Excel features used 111 Excel icon on folders and tasks 40 overview of steps 112 parameter workbook characteristics 110 range names 111 setup 105 sheet names 110 software requirements 104 tips 113 LinkMan menu 125 load from compressed command in file menu 121 command on file menu 93 location adjustment about the RS Means cost data 6 Canada 69 how to enter 69 locking a form 58 logo insert on reports 72 81 M markups 67 137 Chapter 1 Index markups applying 16 MasterFormat 49 material costs about the RS Means cost data 4 MDL 59 Means Costs See RS Means Cost Data menus 120 context 127 edit 122
51. Contents tab opens 2 Select a book and double click it to view more topics 44 BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 3 About the CostLink AE Display To access a topic select any page icon To print a topic or range of topics select any book or page icon and click the Print button Windows Help displays the Print dialog box Click OK Windows Help prints the selected topic or the selected heading and all subtopics Print individual topics by viewing the topic clicking Options and choosing Print Ie eSDCostiink AE Help o amp Hide Back Options Contents Index Search Type in the keyword to find JAcrobat 16 divisions abbreviations meanings of in resource windows symbols about aecLinkMan about CostLink AE about linking to Excel about the supplied assemblies and line item Creating Electronic Copies of Reports Reports can be exported to a number of file formats using the Export button in the Print Preview window Exported files can be emailed to individuals who do not have CostLink SE saved as archive copies of estimates published on websites or edited Some of the more popular export options include e Acrobat Format PDF can be opened and viewed in Acrobat Reader which can be downloaded for free from Adobe Acrobat s website www adobe com PDF files can be minimally edited in the full version of Adobe Acrobat which is available for purchase at
52. Entered This is the default except for task quantities established by a cost model Select Use Quantity Entered to enter the quantity for this task in the Item Form or in the Sheet Panel e Use MS Excel Value Times This option is selected automatically when you link your quantities to an Excel spreadsheet You can multiply the value from the Excel spreadsheet by a number or decimal See Linking Estimates to Excel Workbooks in this chapter for directions e Use Parent Quantity Times Use this option to calculate the quantity for this item based on the quantity of the parent folder You can multiply the value of the quantity of the parent quantity by a number or decimal See Linking to the Parent Quantity in this chapter for directions e Use Formula Value Times This is the default for task quantities when a model is being used as the basis for the cost estimate You cannot select this option and when you choose one of the other quantity options for a particular task the task is permanently disconnected from the model and cannot be reconnected When Use MS Excel Value Times Use Parent Quantity Times or Use Formula Value Times is selected the task or folder icon will have a green square Excel symbol in the upper right corner When the Use MS Excel Quantity times option is selected the icon will also have a cyan note indicator in the bottom left since the link to Excel automatically adds a note as described later in this chapter The icon
53. Link AE from the File menu choose Exit You have now completed the BSD CosiLink AE tutorial See the other chapters in the User Manual or use the Help in the software for additional information on other options BSD CostLink AE User Manual 35 Chapter 2 Tutorial 36 BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 3 About the CostLink AE Display BSD CostLink AE provides some flexibility in how data is displayed You can configure the display of projects and resource views using multiple panels windows and tabs This chapter explains how to Configure panels and windows Recognize icons on the tree and sheet panel Control the information in the tree and sheet panel Customize the toolbars Use the online Help BSD CostLink AE User Manual 37 Chapter 3 About the CostLink AE Display Configuring Panels and Windows 38 BSD CostLink AE displays your estimates assembly resources and unit price resources in database windows within the main program window and in panels within these windows The default display for each window is with the Tree Panel on top and the Sheet Panel on the bottom BSD CostLink AE Firestation Sample Project 4 El ml x wal Fie Edit View Tree Insert LinkMan Tools Window Help e ajx D SROlMr t Bea x EE Firestation Sample Project wag Firestation Sample Project H E GENERAL REQUIREMENTS 2 BUILDING H E SITEWORK Unassigned Description Quantity UOM Unit Cost Bare Cost
54. Nailed S crd To Std 5 8 Thk On WIFire Res No Fin Back Next Apply Close Assemblies resource window task item form Description Task Description Description of the assembly Unit Cost The total cost of 1 unit of the assembly CostLink AE calculates this by adding together the Total Costs of the line items listed in the Assembly Members grid Unit of Measure Unit of measure relevant to the assembly as a whole Task Type These fields indicate the original source and type of the task In order from left to right the fields are as follows Source ASM for assembly Source Tag Displays a code that is used as a unique identifier for the assembly Assembly Members grid Description Description of the member task BSD CostLink AE User Manual 65 Chapter 4 Projects Models Tasks amp Markups Quantity The quantity of the member per unit of the assembly Units Unit of measure associated with the task Total cost Total cost of the member task per unit of the assembly Buttons on the Assembly Form The buttons on the Assembly form are the same as on the folder item form as described earlier in this chapter with the exception of the Insert button New assemblies cannot be added to the Assemblies resource window About Line Items To estimate a piece of the project that is smaller than an assembly use a line item How Line Items Are Stored Line items are stored in the Unit Prices resource window
55. No WBS template has no folders If you are creating an estimate for a client who requires a specific WBS that does not follow Uniformat Il or MasterFormat then create the new project using the No WBS Project Template and add folders that match the client s WBS The folders will be the major headings in the reports BSD CostLink AE User Manual 49 Chapter 4 Projects Models Tasks amp Markups Summary Info Dialog Box 50 Use the Summary Info dialog box to display and edit information about the project This includes descriptive information that will print on the report title page cost markup information cost models model additives and notes about the project as a whole The Summary Info dialog box opens automatically when you create a new project To display the Summary Info dialog box for the current project at any other time e Choose File gt Summary Info or click the Open the summary info dialog toolbar button General Tab Use the General tab to display and edit general information about the estimate E Summary info for Fire Station Sample Project General Cost Summary Project Notes Fire Station Sample Project Estimate Identification Preparation Date TAE File Name Fire Station Sample Project MPJ Escal Index Date File Path C Clean for AE Eff Pricing Date 01 01 14 Project Title Fire Station Sample Project Est Const Time 240 Days RS Means Database Title 2014 Means
56. Options M Folder Tags M Source Tags m Summary Report Options JV Print Folder Tags JV Print Quantity Columns JV Print Total Cost Columns Print Setup M Save as Default OK Cancel Reports dialog box Preferences tab Detail and Summary Report Options Print Folder Prints the title of each folder on both Detail and Summary Titles Reports Print Folder Prints the subtotals for each folder on both Detail and Totals Summary Reports Unit Cost Prints a column showing the Unit Cost for each task and Column folder on both Detail and Summary Reports BSD CostLink AE User Manual 75 Chapter 5 Reports Print Percent Prints a percent at the folder level to indicate what percent of Parent to this folder represents of its parent folder To leave the Level percentage off altogether set the Print Percent of Parent to Level field to 0 If you set it at level 1 then only the level one folders will display the percent field This option is for Summary reports only Summary Report Options These options represent additional columns that can be printed for each folder on Project Summary reports Check an option to include that column Print Folder Choose this option to print the Source Tags for the folders in Tags the Summary Reports Print Quantity Choose this option to print the Quantities for the folders in Columns the Summary Reports Print Total Choose this option to print the
57. Pole Single Throw Drive Dimension Ratio Drinking Double Strength Double Strength A Grade Double Strength B Grade Duty Drain Waste Vent Deluxe White Direct Expansion Dyne Eccentricity Equipment Only East emissivity Each Encased Burial Economy Embankment Cubic Yards Electronic Data Processing Exterior Insulation Finish System Equiv Direct Radiation Equation elevation Electrician Electrical Elevator Elevating Electrical Metallic Conduit Thin Wall Conduit Engine Engineered Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer Expanded Polystyrene Equip Oper Heavy Equip Oper Light Equip Oper Medium Equip Oper Master Mechanic Equip Oper Oilers Equipment Electric Resistance Welded Abbreviations ES Est esu E W EWT Excav excl Exp exp Ext ext Extru f F Fab fab FBGS EC fc c fc FE FEP EG EH A Fig Fin FIPS Fixt FJP FL Oz Fir FM Fmg FM UL Fdn ENPT Fori Foro Fount fpm FPT Fr ER FRK FSK FRP FS FSC Ft ft Ftng Ftg Ft lb Furn FVNR FVR FXM Fy 8 G Ga Gal gal gpm GPM Galv galv GC MS Gen GFI GFRC Glaz GPD gpf GPH GPM GR Gran Grnd GVW GWB Energy Saver Estimated Electrostatic Units Each Way Entering Water Temperature Excavation Excluding Expansion Exposure Exterior Extension Extrusion Fiber stress Fahrenheit Female Fill Fabricated fabric Fiberglass Footcandles Fac
58. The City Cost Indexes for Canada can be used to adjust U S national averages to local costs in Canadian dollars No exchange rate conversion is necessary For information on applying Location Adjustments see chapter 4 Model Costs The base building cost for each of the model buildings is computed from a small number of variables including total area perimeter number of floors and exterior wall and framing systems Each of these variables is linked by formulas to assemblies and line items that are added to compute the total base building cost A number of optional additives are provided for each building model allowing the user to select appropriate added items and insert required quantities Each model is based on specific parameters that cannot be varied significantly without invalidating the resulting cost estimate For example a building model of two stories cannot be used for a cost estimate of a similar building type of five stories since many of the systems used and some of the computations would be inappropriate for the taller building Material Costs The RS Means staff contacts manufacturers dealers distributors and contractors all across the U S and Canada to determine national average material costs Included within material costs are fasteners for a normal installation RS Means engineers use manufacturers recommendations written specifications and or standard construction practice for size and spacing of fasteners Adj
59. They are tasks and can be viewed in the Sheet Panel The first column of a line item in the Sheet Panel shows a line item icon B The unit price of the line item can be viewed in the Sheet Panel NOTE There are no item forms in the Unit Prices resource window Adding Your Own Line Items If the line item that you need cannot be found in the Unit Prices resource window add a new line item in your project Line items can be added for vendor or contractor lump sum quotes for pieces of the project To add your own line item 1 Inthe Tree Panel of your project click on the folder that should contain the new line item 2 From the Insert menu choose Task A New Item is added to the Sheet Panel 3 Open the item form for the New Item and Enter the Description Quantity Unit of Measure and Unit Cost 66 BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 4 Projects Models Tasks amp Markups Cost Adjustments and Markups Cost adjustments and markups are applied to your project using the Cost Summary tab of the Summary Info dialog box You can apply a Location Adjustment Sales Tax up to three types of Contractor Fees and up to three types of Other Costs Using the Cost Summary Tab Use the following steps to apply and edit markups in your project at any time 1 Open the Summary Info dialog box by choosing File gt Summary Info or by clicking the Open the database summary info dialog button on the toolbar fal 2 Click the Cost Summary tab
60. Tree Panel Sheet Panel Toolbars Status Bar Tree Menu Up One Level Down One Level Appendix Toolbar and Menu Reference Displays the Find in dialog box for finding information in the current project or resource window Refer to Chapter 6 for information on using Find Selects all of the tasks currently listed in the sheet panel You can use this command when you want to delete or copy all tasks beneath a certain folder Displays the data in the current Window with a tree panel on top and sheet panel on the bottom This is the default arrangement Displays the data in the current Window with a tree panel on the left and sheet panel on the right Opens the item form for the current folder in the tree panel Opens the item form for the current folder assembly or line item in the sheet panel Opens the Notes form for the current folder assembly or line item for adding notes or pictures See Chapter 6 for information on adding notes and pictures Tums on and off the display of the sheet panel in the current window making the Tree Panel the only panel visible Click Tree Panel again to make the sheet panel visible again Tums on and off the display of the tree panel in the current window making the Sheet Panel the only panel visible Click Sheet Panel again to make the tree panel visible again Displays a flyout menu for you to turn on or off the display of the different toolbars or to customize the toolbars
61. Unit Prices resource windows download Appendix B of the CostLink AE User Manual from Building Systems Design Inc s website Click on Support and then User Manuals See list is also available doc on the BSD SoftLink CD inthe 4E_Doc folder BSD CostLink AE Help Search Tab 46 BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 4 Projects Models Tasks amp Markups This chapter describes all of the components of projects that you see in the BSD CostLink AE interface It also provides explanations and instructions for working with projects adding tasks to your estimate and applying markups e Working with projects e Summary Info dialog box e Using cost models e Folder form e Task form e About the supplied cost data e About assemblies e About line items e Copying tasks into projects e Creating line items e Applying markups BSD CostLink AE User Manual 47 Chapter 4 Projects Models Tasks amp Markups Working with Projects 48 Project databases are used to build estimates Each estimate that you create in BSD CostLink AE is a separate project database which is a file with the extension mpj Opening a Project Use these instructions to open an existing estimate To open a project 1 Choose File gt Open gt Open Project Database The Open Database dialog box opens showing the projects in the Projects folder Select a project in the folder or use the dialog box to navigate to a diffe
62. and Summary Report Options Summary Report Options and Print Detail Options Make sure that no options are checked under Print Notes and Footer Notice that the Print and Preview buttons are grayed out on this tab Click the Select Reports tab Click Preview CostLink AE creates the reports and displays them in a Print Preview window Once the reports appear maximize the Print Preview window either by double clicking on the title bar of the window or click the Maximize button El BSD CostLink AE User Manual 13 14 18 Chapter 2 Tutorial 100 To zoom in click the arrow on the zoom selector and choose 100 Fox Click the Next Page button on the toolbar LI to view the report page by page To export your reports to Adobe Acrobat portable document a PDF Word or Excel file format click on the Envelope button on the toolbar E5 For more information on exporting your reports see chapter 5 To print the reports to your default Windows printer click the printer button in the Print Preview window 3 To close the Print Preview window click the Windows close button on the preview window s title bar EI Open the Reports Setup dialog box and select or deselect other options Preview to see how the options change the report For more information on reports and report options see chapter 5 When finished close the Sample Project by going to the File menu and choosing Close To close BSD Cost
63. another task or folder 5 Click Close when finished To attach pictures to a task or folder 1 Display the Notes form as above steps 1 and 2 Click the Pictures tab Click New BSD CostLink AE opens the Load New Picture dialog box 4 Use the dialog box to select the picture file and click Open The picture is displayed on the tab Use the field to the right to name the picture 5 Repeat step 3 4 to add more pictures to the same task or folder Use Back and Next to navigate through the pictures Click on another task or folder to enter a picture on a different folder or task 7 Click Close when finished Supported Graphics File Types BMP and JPG file types can be attached as pictures to a CostLink AE task or folder Viewing Notes and Pictures on Tasks or Folders When you see the cyan note icon on a task or folder click on the folder or task and then display the notes form as described above To view the note on another folder or task leave the form open and click on the folder or task Printing Notes with Reports You can choose to print text notes on the Detail Report of an estimate To print notes on reports 1 Choose File gt Reports Setup Click the Preferences tab In the Print Notes and Footer area select the types of Notes you want to print 5 D Click the Select Reports tab and click Print or Preview or click OK to exit BSD CostLink AE User Manual 87 Chapter 6 Tools and Techniques Techniques for
64. ans data see chapter 1 In the following exercise you will copy several line items from the Unit Prices resource window to the Sample Project adding new folders as necessary BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 2 Tutorial 1 Close the Assemblies resource window by clicking the Windows close button on the Assemblies window title bar EI 2 Use Find to locate the Floor Construction folder in the Sample Project 3 Click the Open Unit Prices resource window button on the toolbar K3 The Line Items from the Means AE Assemblies resource window opens in a separate window within CostLink AE 4 Click the Tile Windows Vertically button on the toolbar E The Line Items resource window displays side by side with your project 5 Inthe Line Items resource window use Find to locate the following line item B Column structural tubing heavy section 7 to 10 W incl shop primer cap amp base plate bolts HINT Search for Columns The first folder located will not be the correct folder Click Find Next to locate the next folder Continue to click on Find Next until you find the correct folder 6 Drag the line item to Floor Construction in your project and enter a quantity of 8600 Find the Roof Construction folder in your project 8 Inthe Line Items window find and copy the following line items B into the Roof Construction folder and input the following quantities B Structural steel project industrial buildings steel bearin
65. as handled the main factors affecting costs BSD CostLink AE User Manual 5 Chapter 1 Introduction To BSD CostLink AE Quality The prices for materials and the workmanship upon which productivity is based represent sound construction work They are also in line with U S government specifications Overtime RS Means has made no allowance for overtime If you anticipate premium time or work beyond normal working hours be sure to make an appropriate adjustment to your costs Productivity The productivities used in calculating labor costs are based on working an eight hour day in daylight hours in moderate temperatures For work that extends beyond normal work hours or is performed under adverse conditions productivity may decrease Size of Project The size scope of work and type of construction project will have a significant impact on cost Economies of scale can reduce costs for large projects Costs can often run higher for small projects Costs in this database are intended to represent costs for commercial and industrial projects costing 1 000 000 and up or large multi family projects Costs for projects of a significantly different size or type should be adjusted accordingly Location Material prices are for metropolitan areas However in dense urban areas traffic and site storage limitations may increase costs Beyond a 20 mile radius of large cities extra trucking or transportation charges may also increase the mate
66. asks From Resource Windows Into Projects Once you have both a resource window and your project open side by side copy the task into your project using the following steps 1 Use Find to locate the task you want to copy or if you Know where the desired task is located click the plus signs on the folders to navigate to it The assemblies and line items have many abbreviations in their descriptions Because of this it is usually easier to locate items by searching for the folder that would contain the task rather than for the description of the task To find out what the abbreviations stand for enter the abbreviation into the Index tab of the Help dialog box You can also enter a term in order to find out what its abbreviation is BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 4 Projects Models Tasks amp Markups For more information on using Find see Chapter 6 See Chapter 3 for information on using Help 2 Click on the folder that contains the task so you can see the task in the sheet panel NOTE Make sure the task you want to copy is a task not a folder Folders will show a folder icon ET or CB in the first column in the sheet panel and tasks will show an assembly 421 or line item B icon If you copy a folder you will not only be copying the folder into your project but also all of that folder s subfolders and tasks 3 Copy the task into your project using one the following methods e Drag and Drop In the sheet
67. ation on linking see Chapter 7 Use Parent Select this option to link the quantity to the quantity of the folder that Quantity contains the current folder When selected the grayed out times field times becomes available and turns white The default value is 1 Enter a different factor if necessary to calculate the quantity As the quantity is changed on the parent folder the quantity on this folder will change For more information on linking see Chapter 7 Cost Summary The grid shows the unit and extended costs for all tasks beneath this folder Base Cost Cost To Prime Cost To Owner The Base Cost is the Direct Cost Cost of the tasks beneath this folder before any of the adjustments or markups are applied from the Cost Summary tab of the Summary Info dialog box Cost To the Prime Contractor The Unit Cost plus the Location Adjustment and Sales Tax as set in the Summary Info dialog box on the Cost Summary tab for this element Cost To the Project Owner The Cost To Prime plus the Contractor Fees as set in the Summary Info dialog box on the Cost Summary tab for this element BSD CostLink AE User Manual 57 Chapter 4 Projects Models Tasks amp Markups Project Total Cost The Cost To Owner plus any Other Costs as set in the Cost Summary Info dialog box on the Cost Summary tab for this element Buttons on the Folder Form These buttons and controls appear at the bottom of the form Insert Clicking thi
68. ayed while you scroll right or left 1 Right click on any folder or task in the column of information that you want to freeze A context menu opens 2 From the context menu choose Freeze Columns to name of the column This command is a toggle Choose it again to Unfreeze the column BSD CostLink AE User Manual 43 Chapter 3 About the CostLink AE Display Online Help BSD CostLink AE includes an online Help system LE BSD CostLink AE Help ee e amp amp Hide Back Print Options BSD CostLink AE Toolbar The toolbar is displayed at the top of the BSD CostLink AE program window just below the menu bar You can turn the toolbar on and off using the Toolbars command on the View menu HOTE You can change and arrange the buttons shown on the BSD CostLink AE toolbar For instructions see Customizing the Toolbar Contents Index Search Ej BSD CostLink AE Overview H About the R S Means Data Ej Estimating With Assemblies amp Using Help amp The BSD CostLink AE Display S A Toolbar and Menu Commands BSD CostLink AE Toolbar E Step By Step Instructions Projects Tools and Techniques o Create a new project Displays the New dialog box which you use to select a template for BSD CostLink AE to use as the basis of the new project For more information see Creating a New Project El Open recently used projects dialog Displays the Recently Use
69. cel workbook to a CostLink AE estimate 1 Make sure the workbook is saved 2 In Excel click on the cell that you want to link 3 In Excel choose Edit gt Copy as CosiLink Source The Enter Range Name dialog box will open 4 Enter a name for the cell The range name can be as descriptive as you like but cannot have any spaces 5 Click OK 6 Switch to CostLink AE using one of the following methods Windows Taskbar Click the CostLink AE button in the gray bar across the bottom of the screen that lists all the programs tasks that are currently running or Alt Tab On your keyboard hold down the Alt key while you press and release the tab key Continue pressing and releasing tab until the CostLink AE icon is the selected program and then release the Alt key or click on the CostLink AE window Size your Excel and CostLink AE windows so that you can see both and use your mouse to click on the window you want 7 In CostLink AE locate the folder or task that you want to link Click on its parent in the tree panel so that the folder or task that you want to link is listed in the sheet panel 8 Click in the quantity field for the folder or task in the sheet panel 9 Choose LinkMan gt Paste Link from Source The quantity field displays the current value in Excel If you update the Excel workbook the quantity field will update to the new value BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 7 Linking Tips For Linking When
70. cifications Institute Inc In a Systems estimate these same items are allocated to one of seven major group elements in the UNIFORMAT II organization of a Systems estimate Certain items that were formerly grouped into a single trade breakdown must now be allocated among two or more systems 8 BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 1 Introduction To BSD CostLink AE An example of this difference would be concrete In a Unit Price estimate all the concrete items on a job would be priced in the Concrete section of the estimate CSI Division 3 Ina Systems estimate concrete is found in a number of locations For instance concrete is used in all of these systems Division A10 Foundations Division A20 Basement Construction Division B10 Superstructure and Division B20 Exterior Closure Conversely other items that are listed in separate trade breakdowns in a Unit Price estimate are combined into one division in the Systems estimate For example interior partitions might include two CSI divisions Division 6 Wood Stud Wall and Division 9 Lath Plaster and Paint In the UNIFORMAT II Systems Estimate these items are all combined in Division C Interior Construction This re allocation of the familiar items from the CSI format may at first seem confusing but once the concept is understood the resultant increase in estimating speed is well worth the initial familiarization required When Systems or Assemblies Estimating Is Appropriate Sy
71. creating links from CostLink AE keep the following in mind You must have opened CosiLink A at one time on your computer before you can start linking to Excel You do not need to keep CostLink AE open while you are working on the spreadsheet you just need to have opened it at some point The Excel workbook needs to have a file name before you can link to it To give it a file name save the Excel workbook Your links are saved in a database called aecLMDat mdb This file will probably be located in your C CosiLink AE System folder if you installed CostLink AE in the default location However if you have installed BSD SpecLink BSD PerSpective or BSD CostLink CM aecLMDat mdb files are also located in the System folders of those programs and your links may be stored in one of those aecLMDat mdb files instead Do not delete the aecLMDat mdb file unless you want to delete all of your links You can link one CostLink AE estimate to cells on as many different worksheets in as many different workbooks as you need to Do not use duplicate range names within the same worksheet in Excel It is faster if Auto Recalculate Markups is turned off in CostLink AE while you are making and refreshing links Toggle Auto Recalculate Markups on and off by choosing it from the Tools menu When it is on the command has a checkmark next to it When editing an Excel workbook that is already linked keep the following in mind Once you have pasted links
72. d dialog box which you can use to select from recently used projects You can also click Browse to search for and open other projects that are not visible in the Recently Used dialog box For more information see Opening a Recently Used Project x E Close Closes the currently active project along with its resource views El Print selected report Opens the Print Setup dialog box and allows you to print the report s as currently selected and formatted in the Reports dialog box El Print selected report to preview window Displays a preview of the reports as currently selected and formatted on the Reports dialog box E Select and format reports Displays the Reports dialog box for selecting and formatting reports For more information see Creating Reports Es Find Displays the Find In dialog box for finding information in the current project or resource view For more information see Using Find Recalculate the current project Causes BSD CostLink AE to recalculate the estimate Not available when the current window is a resource view a E Cut Removes the currently highlighted folder or task assembly or line BSD CostLink AE Help Contents Tab Contents Tab The Contents tab is similar to the table of contents in a book Each book icon represents a subheading in the Help file Each page icon represents a topic To access the Contents tab 1 Choose Help gt Contents The
73. d Menu Text fields as follows Command Line C Windows calc exe or on a Windows NT or 2000 computer you would choose C WINNT System32 calc exe Menu Text Calculator About Updating to the Current RS Means Database Your subscription to CostLink AE includes annual updates of the RS Means database These updates are delivered in the Spring of each year The new database will be installed automatically when you install the Spring version of CostLink AE If you use the CostLink AE templates to create new projects your new projects will automatically use the newest RS Means database Any projects that you have created previously and any copies you make of those projects will continue to use the older RS Means database unless you choose to update the project to the current database To determine which database your project is using open the project then from the File menu choose Summary Info The RS Means database section will display the name of the currently referenced database When you change to the newest RS Means Database for any given project the Location Adjustment Factor will also change to the newest Location Adjustment Factor There can be only one Location Adjustment Factor applied in any individual project and it will be the one that is appropriate for the currently referenced RS Means database NOTE If your project was created using a cost model you will not be able to switch it from one year to another If you need to
74. d in file menu 121 Summary Info general tab 14 summary information dialog box 50 cost models tab 53 cost summary tab 67 model additives tab 55 project notes tab 52 Uniformat II project template with models 53 55 summary report 80 system requirements where to find vii systems estimating See assemblies T table of contents 74 tabs choosing single or multiple 39 tags on folders 57 task command on insert menu 125 tasks abbreviations list 129 adding to estimate 61 assembly members 61 buttons on item form 61 copying into projects 63 how to copy or move 88 identifying if assembly or line item 59 item forms 58 opening item forms 58 templates 49 tile horizontally command on window menu 126 tile vertically command on window menu 126 tile windows horizontally button on toolbar 120 tile windows vertically button on toolbar 120 tiling windows See windows title page 74 toolbar 118 toolbars command in view menu 123 customizing 94 tools menu 125 customizing 96 tree items form command in view menu 123 tree menu 123 tree panel command in view menu 123 controlling 41 icons 40 show folder tags 42 showing costs 42 U uniformat II 8 UniFormat II 49 unit cost BSD CostLink AE User Manual O Chapter 1 Index column on reports 75 Unit Prices resource window See resource windows UOM 57 up one level command in tree menu 123 update RS Means database command on tools
75. ded Extraordinary operating expendables with highly variable wear patterns such as diamond bits and blades are excluded These costs are included under materials Equipment rental rates are obtained from industry sources throughout North America contractors suppliers dealers manufacturers and distributors General Conditions Prices given in this software include the Installing Contractor s overhead and profit O amp P General Conditions when applicable should also be added to the Total Cost including O amp P The costs for General Conditions are listed in the Reference Section of the appropriate RS Means cost book General Conditions for the Installing Contractor may range from 0 to 10 of the Total Cost including O amp P For the General or Prime Contractor costs for General Conditions may range from 5 to 15 of the Total Cost including O amp P with a figure of 10 as the most typical allowance Overhead and Profit The costs in this software include O amp P for the Installing Contractor This figure is the arithmetic sum of Material which is the bare material cost plus 10 for profit Labor the base labor cost plus total overhead and profit and Equipment the bare equipment cost plus 10 for profit Details for the calculation of Overhead and Profit on labor are shown on the back cover of the appropriate RS Means cost book Factors Affecting Costs Costs can vary depending upon a number of variables Here is how RS Means h
76. duces the file size of your project NOTE Itis a good idea to Compact your project before using Save to Compressed To Compact a project 1 Close the project you want to Compact If you are using CostLink AE over a network with a multi user license make sure no one else has the project open 2 From the File menu choose Compact Database The Repair and Compact Database dialog box opens Repair and Compact Database y 2 xi Look in a Projects e ex ea B AE version of Fire Station Sample Project MPJ My Documents My Computer TA Files of type Project Databases MMP MPIJ J Cancel J A The Repair and Compact Database dialog box 3 Navigate to and select the project to be compacted 4 Click Open BSD CostLink AE repairs and compacts the project and opens a confirmation message when finished 92 BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 6 Tools and Techniques bsp Costink at The database was successfully checked and compacted Repair and Compact confirmation message 5 Click OK Saving and Loading Compressed Files Use Save to Compressed and Load from Compressed to archive projects in compressed format or to retrieve previously archived projects You can save projects to compressed format in order to email them to someone who has CositLink AE To save a project in compressed format 1 Open the project you wish to save to compressed format 2 From the File menu choose Save to
77. e centered Cubic Compressive Stress in Concrete Extreme Compressive Stress Front End Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene Teflon Flat Grain Federal Housing Administration Figure Finished Female Iron Pipe Size Fixture Finger jointed and primed Fluid Ounces Floor Frequency Modulation Factory Mutual Framing Factory Mutual Underwriters Labs Foundation Female National Pipe Thread Foreman Inside Foreman Outside Fountain Feet per Minute Female Pipe Thread Frame Fire Rating Foil Reinforced Kraft Foil scrim kraft Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic Forged Steel Cast Body Cast Switch Box Foot Feet Fitting Footing Foot Pound Furniture Full Voltage Non Reversing Full Voltage Reversing Female by Male Minimum Yield Stress of Steel Gram Gauss Gauge Gallon Gallon per Minute Galvanized Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer General Ground Fault Interrupter Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete Glazier Gallons per Day Gallon per flush Gallons per Hour Gallons per Minute Grade Granular Ground Gross Vehicle Weight Gypsum wall board H HC H D HD H D O HDPE Hdr Hdwe H LD HID Help HEPA lat High Henry High Capacity Heavy Duty High Density High Density Overlaid High density polyethelene plastic Header Hardware High Intensity Discharge Helper Average High Efficiency Particulate Air Filter Mercury High Interrupting Capacity Hollow Metal high molecular weight poly
78. e estimate to Excel format This way you will get a list of all the folders and tasks in your project in Excel You would then add information for the overall size of the job and enter a formula for each task that will calculate its quantity based on the overall size of the job See Chapter 5 for information on exporting BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 7 Linking About aecLinkMan Each time you open CostLink AE or an Excel workbook that is linked to a CostLink AE estimate a program called aecLinkMan launches in the background While you are running CositLink AE or an Excel workbook that is linked to a CostLink AE estimate you can press CTRL ALT Delete to open your Task Manager and you will see aecLinkMan listed This is the program that enables linking between CosiLink AE and Excel Since this program is running in the background you do not need to have both AE and Excel running in order to edit a linked workbook or a linked estimate If you edit a linked workbook the next time you open the estimate that the workbook is linked to aecLinkMan will prompt you that the workbook has been edited and ask if you want to update the links Excel Features Used in Linking Linking automatically incorporates the following Excel features e Range names In Excel you can name a cell or a group of cells called a range and then use the range name in formulas instead of remembering or looking up the cell reference B2 D4 etc e Range nam
79. e folders on multiple tabs click the Use single tab for tree button on the toolbar or choose Tree gt Use Single Tab again The Use Single Tab command and button are toggles FIRE STATION siTEWORK ES FIRE STATION H E SUBSTRUCTURE amp SHELL amp INTERIORS SERVICES Unassigned E e e CostLink AE display with data on multiple tabs Icons On the Tree and Sheet Panels BSD CostLink AE displays many icons in the Tree and Sheet panels to identify the kinds of data and its position and status in the database Tree Panel Icons Folder Indicates that the item is a folder Plus sign Indicates that the folder has folders below it in the hierarchy that are not currently displayed The view is collapsed Click the plus sign to expand the view Minus sign Indicates that the folder has folders immediately below it which are already being shown The view is expanded Click the minus sign to collapse the view Folder Task Indicates that the folder has tasks assemblies or line items directly inside it To view the tasks click on the folder and the tasks will show in the Sheet panel fA Notes Indicates that the folder has Notes attached to it To view the notes click on the folder and then click the Open the Notes form button on the toolbar lel 65 Folder with Link The green Excel icon in the upper right corner indicates that the quantity of the folder is linked to the quantity of the paren
80. e markups are calculated Construction Priced from R S Means This line displays the project size and unit of measure that is entered on the General tab the direct cost for R S Means cost items i e the cost prior to adjustments and markups and then divides the direct cost by the project size to show the project cost per unit Location Adjustment Use this area to adjust the national costs that you copy in from the resource windows for the costs where the project is located The Location Adjustment and Sales Tax apply to costs copied from resource windows only For more information on Location Adjustments see chapter 1 State City Location Adjustment Cost Columns Sales Tax Est Matl Cost Click the arrow and then type the first letter of the state abbreviation to scroll to it quickly Then click on the state abbreviation The City field updates to the cities in that state For Canadian locations select the Canadian Province and then the city Click the arrow and then type the first letter of the city to scroll to it quickly Then click on the correct city The field to the right of the city shows the percentage of the adjustment positive or negative that results from the selected city and state Negative numbers are shown in red with a minus sign The Cost and Per Unit fields for the Location Adjustment show the total dollar adjustment for the project and per unit Enter the amount of sales tax that should be ap
81. ed construction period for this project is approximately 11 months Any costs for excessive overtime to meet stringent milestone dates are not included in this estimate Prices included herein reflect current bid costs therefore no escalation allowance has been added to the costs xl OK Cancel Apply Summary Info dialog box Project Notes tab BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 4 Projects Models Tasks amp Markups NOTE If you would like to spell check your notes type them in your word processor using its spell checker Then use your word processor s Copy command to copy your notes click in the Project Notes tab and use CTRL V to paste the notes Cost Models Tab Use this tab to select an RS Means cost model to use as the basis for your project cost estimate This tab also allows you to enter critical data about your project to select an exterior closure and framing option and to make adjustments to the model building parameters that drive the formulas embedded in the cost model E Summary info for Office Building xi General Cost Summary s Model Additives Project Notes r Office Building r Select Model gt Enter Dimemsions None Building Size 92500 SF Commercial Industrial Otfice 5 10 Story x Building Perimeter 510 LF Institutional m Select Exterior Closure and Framing Precast Concrete Panel R Conc Frame aa r Model Building Parame
82. ents d Music Pictures B Videos 4 Homegroup TB BETH ti Computer File name Sample Project Save as type AE Project Database MPJ x Hide Folders Save New AE Project Database As dialog box 4 Inthe File name field type Sample Project 5 Click Save 6 Complete the General tab and the Cost Summary Tab using your own location 7 Input 18 555 as the Project Size Adding Project Notes You use the Project Notes tab of the Summary Info dialog box to add any global descriptive notes for the estimate Notes on specific folders or tasks can be added either here or within the estimate You can also update the notes at different phases of the project as you save different versions of the estimate If you choose to print them Project Notes print after the Title Page in the reports 1 Inthe Summary Info dialog box click the Project Notes tab BSD CostLink AE displays the tab 2 Click in the Notes area and enter the following Sample Project Notes NOTE In addition to typing notes directly into the Notes area you can copy text from a word processor or copy notes from the Notes tab of a different CostLink AE project CostLink AE does not have spell check so you may want to copy text to your word processor and use your word processor s spell check To copy the text drag across it with your mouse and press Ctrl C on your keyboard Then click in the Notes area and press Ctrl V on your keyboard
83. er 4 for information on opening projects Close Closes the currently active project along with its resource windows Print selected report Prints the report s as currently selected and formatted in the Reports dialog box Print selected report to preview window Displays a preview of the reports as currently selected and formatted on the Reports dialog box Select and format reports Displays the Reports dialog box for selecting and formatting reports Refer to Chapter 5 for information on Reports Find Displays the Find In dialog box for finding information in the current project or resource window Recalculate the current project Causes CostLink AE to recalculate the estimate Not available when the current window is a resource window Cut Removes the currently highlighted folder or task assembly or line item and places it in the Windows Clipboard Can also be used to remove currently highlighted text and place it in the Windows Clipboard This is used in conjunction with Paste as a way to move assemblies or line items within your project 118 BSD CostLink AE User Manual Appendix Toolbar and Menu Reference NOTE If you want to permanently remove a folder task or text use Delete selected item I Only use Cut if you want to Paste the folder task or text in a different location Copy the selected item to the clipboard Copies the currently highlighted task or text to the Windows Clipboard NOTE Cos
84. er to Chapter 6 for more information on copying projects Load from Use to load projects that have been saved in compressed format Compressed The Select Compressed File Path dialog box is displayed for you to select the compressed project Refer to Chapter 6 for information on Load from Compressed and Save to Compressed Save to Saves the current project in compressed format The Select Compressed Compressed File Path dialog box is displayed for you to choose the name and location for the compressed project Compact Use this command when BSD CostLink AE has problems opening a Database project This can occur if a project becomes very large or corrupted Make sure the project is closed then choose this option BSD CostLink AE displays a dialog box for you to select the project to be repaired and compacted Refer to Chapter 6 for information on compacting databases BSD CostLink AE User Manual 121 122 Appendix A Permissions Recently Opened Databases Exit Edit Menu Cut NOTE Copy Toolbar and Menu Reference Opens the permissions dialog box for inputting the access key and accessing system settings Available only when no projects are open Refer to the Installation document available on the Install BSD Products screen of the most recent BSD SoftLink CD for more information on Permissions This list shows the four most recently opened projects Click on any project to open it Closes all open projects
85. erts a note as indicated by the blue in the bottom left y we Working with the Tree Panel The Tree Panel shows the hierarchy of data in the project or resource window illustrated as a tree structure of folders BSD CostLink AE gives you options for configuring the display of the Tree Panel Expanding and Collapsing the Tree To expand the view of any collapsed folder e Click on the plus sign beside the folder To collapse the view of any expanded folder e Click on the minus sign beside the folder BSD CostLink AE User Manual 41 Chapter 3 About the CostLink AE Display To expand a branch to show all folders in that part of the project or resource window 1 Position the cursor in any part of the branch 2 Click the Expand Branch toolbar button el You can also right click on a folder in the branch and choose Expand Branch from the context menu To expand the tree to show all folders e Click the Expand All toolbar button Ra To show folder tags of folders in the Tree Panel e Choose Tree gt Show Folder Tags Or click the Show folder tags button on the toolbar This command acts as a toggle Click it again to turn off the folder tags To show summarized cost information In the project window you can show summarized costs for each folder in the tree panel e Choose Tree gt Show Data in Tree Or click the Show folder data in tree button on the toolbar E This command acts as a toggle Click it again t
86. es cannot include spaces or punctuation and they cannot begin with a number Instead of spaces you can use underbars _ You can use a number anywhere within a range name except as the first character e When copying a cell to link to CostLink AE you will be required to enter a range name When you paste the link into the estimate CostLink AE identifies the Excel cell by the name and location of the workbook the name of the worksheet in the workbook and the range name that you entered for the cell e Comments Comments in Excel have some similarity to notes in CostLink AE Comments can be inserted into any cell by clicking on the cell and choosing Insert gt Comment Cells that contain comments are identified by a red triangle in the upper right corner of the cell Excel cell with a comment Read the comment by holding your mouse over the cell You can edit the comment by right clicking on the cell and choosing Edit Comment from the context menu Editing the comment includes resizing the comment so that you can read the entire comment and also editing the text in the comment You can remove the comment by right clicking on the cell and choosing Delete Comment When you copy a cell to link to CostLink AE a comment is automatically inserted identifying that the cell is linked BSD CostLink AE User Manual 111 112 Chapter 7 Linking Directions for Linking to Excel In general the following steps are performed to link an Ex
87. es or Systems Estimating 8 Systems Estimates vs Unit Price Estimates cccccceeeeeeeees 8 When Systems or Assemblies Estimating Is Appropriate 9 Gathering Information For a Systems Estimate ccceee 10 Chapter 2 UMNO Cll esac ESS Re din 11 Creating an Estimate Using a Model 12 Create the Model Project File 12 Creating the Model Estimate 15 Model Additives 0 eeccccecesececeeeeseseeeseeeeeeeseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaseseeseeatanaeees 15 Applying Cost Markups and Adjustments ccsssseeees 16 Creating an Estimate Without Using a Cost Model ceecceeeeeeees 18 Create the Sample Project File 18 Adding Project Notes 19 Adding Folders 2 2cc88 cenancniteduiuiuiainaaanncananis 20 Adding COSS aiitec tiecau diated aaeded isin eines 22 Reviewing Adding Folders and Copying Assemblies 27 Adding User Defined Costs 28 Adding Line Items From the Unit Prices Resource Window 29 Copying Costs From One Project To Another cccccccceceeeeeees 30 Selecting and Printing Reports 33 BSD CostLink AE User Manual iii Contents Chapter 3 About the CostLink AE Display 37 Configuring Panels and Windows 38 Configuring Multiple Windows csccceesesieeseseeieeeteeeteeeeseneees 38 Choosing Single or Multiple Tabs
88. es to change to the new database Amessage will open asking Changing the RS Means Database for this Project will update the location index and may cause your Project costs to change accordingly Do you want to also update pricing for existing project items Click Yes to CHANGE the RS Means Database AND to UPDATE your existing costs Click No to CHANGE the RS Means Database BUT leave the existing costs UNCHANGED Click Cancel to leave the existing RS Means Database AS IS 4 Click Yes No or Cancel depending on which you want to do Once you have changed your project to the 2014 RS Means Database you cannot change it back to 2013 Note If you are trying to change a database from one year to a year more than one year later you must step through each year one by one If you have a project created with the 2012 Means database and want to change it to use the 2014 Means database you must first change it to use the 2013 database and then you can change it to use the 2014 database BSD CostLink AE User Manual 99 Chapter 6 Tools and Techniques Update to RS Means Database If you have changed to a different RS Means Database but have not updated the costs for the existing RS Means cost items by clicking No in step 4 above use Update to RS Means Database to update the existing costs To use Update to RS Means Database 1 Open the project you want to update 2 From the Tools menu choose Update to RS Means Database A confir
89. et Panel CAPS NUM INS gt 14 48 The folders in the Tree panel represent the cost breakdown The folders will print in the reports summarizing the costs at each folder Most of the folders needed for this estimate were copied from the Uniformat Il template However not all the needed folders are there In the following steps you will add two new folders to the Tree panel For more information on adding folders see chapter 4 1 Inthe Sample Project window right click on the Substructure folder in the Tree Panel From the context menu choose Expand Branch Then perform step 1 The Substructure folder expands to show all its subfolders 20 BSD CostLink AE User Manual NOTE If you do not see a Substructure folder from the Tree menu choose Use Single Tab Chapter 2 Tutorial Click on the folder Standard Foundations With Standard Foundations highlighted from the Insert menu choose Child Folder Anew folder appears below Standard Foundations You could type a name for the folder in the Tree Panel Instead use the next step to open the folder s item form 4 From the View menu choose Tree Items Form or click the button on the toolbar fel The item form opens F Folders for Sample Project General Folder Definition Tag Title New Folder Oty amp UOM 0 0 X Use Quantity Entered Y il Use MS Excel Value times a Use Parent Quantity times
90. eted Wire Truckload Track Mounted Total Threadolet Tempered Thermoplastic Polyolefin Trigger Start Trade Transformer Truck Driver Heavy Trailer Truck Driver Light Teletypewriter Television Thermoplastic Water Resistant Wire Uniform Construction Index Underground Feeder Underground Feeder Ultra High Frequency United Inch L UL Id SIRER ee ee nderwriters Laboratory unloading Unfinished Uninterruptible Power Supply Underground Residential istribution nited States S Green Building Council nited States Primed niform Traffic Manual For Control Devices Unshielded Twisted Pair Volt Volt Amperes Vinyl Composition Tile Variable Air Volume Veneer Core Volts Direct Current Ventilation Vertical Vinyl Faced Vertical Grain Very High Frequency Very High Output Vibrating Vertical Linear Foot Volitile Organic Compound Volume Vinyl Reinforced Polyester Wire Watt Wide West eC ee With Water Column Water Closet Wide Flange Water Gauge Welding Wire Mile Weldolet Water Resistant Wrecker Water Steam Petroleum Weight Welded Wire Fabric Transfer Transformer Extra Heavy Duty Cross Linked Polyethylene Wire Insulation Cross linked Polyethylene Transport Wye Yard Year Delta Percent Approximately Phase diameter At Pound Number Less Than Greater Than zone A abbreviations 46 about BSD CostLink AE command in help menu 127
91. ethylene High Output Horizontal Horsepower High Pressure High Power Factor Hour Hours per Day High Short Circuit Height Heating Heaters Heating Ventilation amp Air Conditioning Heavy Hot Water Hydraulic Hertz cycles Moment of Inertia International Building Code Interrupting Capacity Inside Diameter Inside Dimension Identification Inside Frosted Intermediate Metal Conduit Inch Incandescent Included Including Interior Installation Insulation Insulated Iron Pipe Iron Pipe Size Iron Pipe Threaded Indirect Waste Joule Joint Industrial Council Thousand Thousand Pounds Heavy Wall Copper Tubing Kelvin Thousand Amp Hours Thousand Circular Mils Knock Down Kiln Dried After Treatment Kilogram Kilogauss Kilogram Force Kilohertz 1000 Pounds Kiljoule Effective Length Factor Kips per Linear Foot Kilometer Knock Out Kips per Square Foot Kips per Square Inch Kilovolt Kilovolt Ampere Kilovar Reactance Kilowatt Kilowatt hour Labor Only Length Long Medium Wall Copper Tubing Labor Latitude Lath Lav lb LB LB L amp E Ib hr 1b L E Ibf sq in LCL LCY Ld LE LED LE LE Nose LE Rsr Lg L amp H LH L H L L LL L L D Im Im sf Im W LOA log LOL long LP LP LPE LR L S Lt Lt Ga LIL Lt Wt LV M M CA mA Mach Mag Str Maint Marb Mat Mat l MEB M MGPH MH MH MHz MIPS mj Mill Min mi
92. finite the size may change many times Instead of recalculating and re entering every quantity if you have linked the tasks and subfolders to their parents you may only need to change the quantities of a few folders at the top of the estimate This is also useful in the rapid preparation of budgets what if analyses and progress estimates Linked folders and tasks can also be copied from one estimate to another enabling you to quickly reuse work from a previous similar estimate See Also Commands For Linking at the end of this chapter for additional linking options Linking Estimates to Excel Workbooks CostLink AE includes the ability to link to data in Excel 2000 version 9 0 and higher 104 BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 7 Linking NOTE You must have version 9 0 Excel 2000 or higher of Microsoft Excel in order to use the linking feature Linking to Excel is not available using Windows 7 or later Using this ability you can maintain models within Excel spreadsheets that require only parameter changes in Excel to fill the quantity fields in a CostLink AE project Both folder and task quantities in CostLink AE can be linked to cells in an Excel workbook You can create a CostLink AE project that you will use as a template to create new projects The template would have links to an Excel model template that you maintain in parallel with the CostLink AE template You can make copies of the Excel model template to link to
93. g 100 ton project 1 story A992 steel shop fabricated incl shop primer bolted connections 41 6 TON HINT Search for Steel Projects The folder has 56 tasks in it Instead of looking through the folder task by task you can use Find to search within the folder To search within the folder in the Sheet panel click on the first task in the folder this is just so CostLink AE s focus is in the Sheet panel not the Tree Then open Find again deselect Folders and select Tasks Search for Indust rial Use Find Next not Find First Keep clicking Find Next until you locate the correct item B Open web bar joist 40 ton job lots spans up to 30 K series shop fabricated incl shop primer horizontal bridging average 4 3 TON HINT Search for web Joists Make sure you deselect Tasks and re select Folders B Metal decking steel open type wide rib galvanized under 50 Sq 1 1 2 D 20 ga 3 420 SF HINT Once you locate the Steel Decking folder notice that it contains 3 subfolders Look in the Steel Roof Decking folder for this task BSD CostLink AE User Manual 29 Chapter 2 Tutorial B Metal decking steel open type wide rib galvanized 50 to 500 Sq 1 1 2 D 22 ga 15 481 SF 9 Use Insert gt Task to add the following user added line item to the same folder Description Quantity UOM Unit Cost Misc Plates and Angles 7 TON 1300 00 Copying Costs From One Project To Another If a previously created CostLink AE estimate is si
94. h other applications like the Windows calculator from your Tools menu Refer to Chapter 6 for instructions on customizing the Tools menu Window Menu Arrange Icons Tile Horizontally Tile Vertically Cascade Windows New Window 126 BSD CostLink AE User Manual Arranges the icons of all windows you have minimized at the bottom of the CostLink AE main window Arranges all open windows horizontally Minimized windows will not be tiled Arranges all open windows vertically Minimized windows will not be tiled Arranges all open windows one atop the other with their left and top portions visible Minimized windows will not be cascaded Opens a new window containing the same data and view as the currently selected window Use this command to open two windows of your project to copy or move folders and tasks within the project Appendix Toolbar and Menu Reference Open The list shows all CostLink AE windows currently open Click on a Windows list window to make it the current window If not currently visible the window will also become visible Refer to Chapter 3 for information on controlling the display Help Menu Contents Displays the Help Contents tab The Contents tab is similar to the table of contents in a book Each book icon represents a subheading in the Help file Each page icon represents a topic Index Displays the Help Index tab The Index tab is used to search Help by keywords for each topic
95. he previous dialog box It looks just like the Select Unopened File to be Copied dialog box except that it has a Save button instead of Open Enter Destination File Name Save in a Projects gt ex Fe B AE version of Fire Station Sample Project MPJ gs History Desktop My Documents AA My Computer File name I gt Save as type mpj v Enter Destination File Name dialog box 4 Inthe File name field type the new name for the copied database To save it in a different location navigate to a different folder 5 Click Save A confirmation message opens when the copy has been made File Copy Completed xi File C CostLink AE Projects 4E version of Fire Station Sample Project MPJ successfully copied to C CostLink AE Projects Fire Station mpj File Copy Completed message 6 Click OK NOTE The new copy will not be listed in the Recently Used dialog box because you have never had it open To open the new copy of the project choose File gt Open gt Open Project Database or in the Recently Used dialog box click the Browse button BSD CostLink AE User Manual 91 Chapter 6 Tools and Techniques Compacting a Database Use Compact Database if you have projects that CostLink AE cannot open or that produce unexpected errors This can happen if the file size becomes very large or if the file is corrupted by an abnormal system shutdown such as a power failure Compact also re
96. he previous page Type the number of the page you want to view and press Enter Go to the next page Go to the last page Click this button to compute and display the number of pages in the report Search text Click this button to open a Search dialog box Enter text and click Find Next Matching text on the current page will display with a red selection box around it The standard Windows Minimize and Maximize buttons can be used Use the Close button to close the preview without printing Double click on any title to create a drill down tab that includes that title and its subtitles and details The tabs are for on screen viewing only they do not affect printout To create a drill down tab 1 Preview a report 2 Double click anywhere on the report An Estimate Detail or Summary Reports tab is created 3 Double click on a title on the Estimate Detail or Summary Reports tab A tab is created that shows the title you double clicked on and its subtitles and details To create more drill down tabs click on the Estimate Detail tab and repeat step 3 Preview Summary Reports 008 B SHELL 034 B10 SUPERSTRUCTURE 18 155 SF 15 76 286 118 B20 EXTERIOR CLOSURE 13 920 SF 17 35 241 541 B30 ROOFING 18 155 SF 3 22 58 524 SUBTOTAL SHELL 18 155 SF 32 29 586 184 37 Preview window with drill down tabs BSD CostLink AE User Manual 79 Chapter 5 Reports To remove the drill down tabs click the Close Current View butt
97. he subtotal of the Cost to Contractor plus the previous markup amounts If you would like the markups compounded in a different order reenter them in the desired order Construction Click Apply to update the Cost and Per Unit columns for each Contract fee and to update the Construction Contract line Other Costs Use this area in the same way as the Contractor Fees area to enter up to three other types of markups such as Architect s Fees or Contingencies Estimated Project Click Apply to update the Cost and Per Unit columns for each Cost Other Cost and to update the Estimated Project Cost line BSD CostLink AE User Manual 69 Chapter 4 Projects Models Tasks amp Markups 70 BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 5 Reports BSD CostLink AE provides clean reports for presentation to clients The Summary report can display costs at the folder level you choose A Detailed Estimate is also available to itemize the assemblies and line items in your project This chapter describes BSD CostLink AE s reporting capabilities Reports overview Reports dialog box Report preview Report descriptions Creating electronic files from reports BSD CostLink AE User Manual 71 Chapter 5 Reports Reports Overview Once the estimate is complete and the markups have been applied you are ready to print your reports using these steps 1 If you would like your logo to print on the reports in the top right corner instead of the CostLink AE
98. hoose Paste Or right click on the folder in the Tree Panel where you want to paste the task and from the context menu choose Paste Aconfirmation message may open asking if you want to copy the task click OK to copy the task The task will be added to the folder BSD CostLink AE User Manual 63 Chapter 4 Projects Models Tasks amp Markups NOTE You can also use CTRL C to Copy and CTRL V to Paste 4 After you copy a task into your project if necessary click on the folder that contains the task so that you can see the task in the Sheet Panel Then enter the quantity in the quantity field About Assemblies In BSD CosiLink AE an assembly is a group of line items that represent all the costs required to accomplish some piece of a project The quantities for each of the component tasks in the assembly are linked to the assembly quantity When you copy an assembly into a project and then supply the assembly quantity BSD CostLink AE automatically computes the quantities and costs for all of the line items in the assembly Example of Use An assembly representing 6 inch concrete slab on grade includes all the line items required to prepare for form pour and finish the slab The assembly unit of measure is square feet The assembly contains the unit costs and quantities of each line item required to construct one square foot of slab When you copy the assembly into the project you supply the square feet of slab needed f
99. ide NOTE If you are still displaying the cost data in the project Tree Panel the numbers may overwrite the folder names in your project To change this click on the title bar of your project window click on the Tree menu and then Show Data in Tree to hide the cost data in the tree BSD CostLink AE User Manual 23 Chapter 2 Tutorial File Edit View Tree Insert LinkMan Tools Window Help DS the xi be efe Assemblies from 2011 Means AE Assemblies o le bg Equipment amp Furnishings Special Construction Building Sitework Project Title Models Assemblies Substructure Shell Interiors Services TEMP 0001 Project Title I A Substructure 5 6 1 BUILDING 10 Foundations B 3 A SUBSTRUCTURE 20 Basement Construction G4 A10 FOUNDATIONS Unassigned E 1010 Standard Foundations 1 Strip Footings e 2 Spread Footings 1020 Special Foundations 4 1030 Slab on Grade 5 6 420 BASEMENT CONSTRUCTION CF 2010 Basement Excavation C 2020 Basement Walls 3 B SHELL CF C INTERIORS 3D SERVICES 4 E EQUIPMENT AND FURNISHINGS C F SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION Source Tag Description Sourc Description 10 Foundations 20 Basement Construction y L C CostLink AE projects S ample Project MPJ CAPS NUM INS 14 19 x Assemblies resource window and Sample Project tiled side by side For more information on managing multiple windows see chapte
100. if you choose Tile Vertically or on the top if you choose Cascade or Tile Horizontally If you want a different window on the left or top make the desired window the active window by clicking its title bar and choose the Tile or Cascade command again e If you minimize a window it will not be tiled or cascaded e When you have multiple estimates open the prompt on the bottom left of the screen displays the drive path and filename of the currently active project This is true whether the project window is active or one of its resource windows e When you have multiple windows open the bottom of the Window menu lists all the open windows The currently active window is marked with a checkmark To make a different window active click on the window or choose it from the Window menu Choosing Single or Multiple Tabs By default BSD CostLink AE divides the display of each project and resource window into multiple tabs one tab for each main division as represented by the folders at Level 1 You can show all of the folders on a single tab e To display all folders on one tab click the Use single tab for tree button on the toolbar or choose Tree gt Use Single Tab Fire Station Sample Project Fire Station Sample Project H E FIRE STATION H E SITEWORK Unassigned CostLink AE display with all data on a single tab BSD CostLink AE User Manual 39 Chapter 3 About the CostLink AE Display e To display th
101. imline Solder Super Long Span Bar Joist Solid Neutral Stranded with oil resistant inside insulation Socketolet Standpipe Static Pressure Single Pole Self Propelled Sprinkler Installer Static Pressure Water Gauge Single Pole Double Throw Spruce Pine Fir Sprayed Polyurethane Foam Single Pole Single Throw Standard Pipe Thread Square 100 Square Feet Square Head Square Inch Single Strength Stainless Steel Single Strength B Grade Stainless Steel Structural Steel Worker Structural Steel Welder Steel Sound Transmission Coefficient Standard Staging Select Tight Knot Standard Temperature amp Pressure Steamfitter Pipefitter Strength Starter Straight Stranded Structural Story Subject Subcontractors Surface Switch Switchboard Square Yard Synthetic Southern Yellow Pine System Thickness Temperature Ton Tangent Terra Cotta Threaded and Coupled Temperature Difference Telecommunications Device for the Deaf Transmission Electron Microscopy Temperature Tempered Temporary Nylon Jacketed Wire Abbreviations TFE T amp G Th Thk Thn Thrded Tilf Tilh THHN THW THWN T L TL TM Tot TOL tmpd TPO TS Tr Transf Trhy Trlr Trit TTY TV TW UCI UF UGND UHF UI Tetrafluoroethylene Teflon Tongue amp Groove Tar amp Gravel Thick Thin Threaded Tile Layer Floor Tile Layer Helper Nylon Jacketed Wire Insulated Strand Wire Nylon Jack
102. in accordance with the suggested architectural fees on the Cost Models tab Click in the percent field for Contingency enter 4 0 and press Tab to change the Contingency to 4 0 Click the Apply button The project costs are recalculated and the Cost Summary tab updates Click OK to close the Summary Info dialog box The costs in the Sheet panel update to show the building costs with the adjusted markups Click on the Tree menu and then click on Show Data in Tree to add a cost breakdown view to the Tree panel Right click on the Fire Station Folder and choose Expand Branch to fully expand the folders for an overall view the building project costs You can also click on Preview to take a look at the completed cost estimate report For a more detailed look at any folder click on the folder in the tree then double click on any of the assemblies that show up in the sheet panel below For example click on Standard Foundations and double click on the Strip Footings assembly in the sheet panel to open the Tasks form for that assembly You can stretch the Tasks form to see all of the Assembly members In this case note that the single assembly includes ten separate tasks Unlike other square foot cost estimating systems based on historical data or simple relationships BSD CostLink AE provides a fully detailed model driven cost estimate that can be modified and updated all the way through the Construction Documents phase of the
103. into CostLink AE do not change the sheet name in Excel Excel workbooks that are linked to CostLink AE projects are automatically saved as you edit them Commands For Linking Linking in CostLink AE is created maintained edited and removed using the following commands in the LinkMan menu BSD CostLink AE User Manual 113 Chapter 7 Linking Paste Link After using the Copy as CostLink Source command in the Edit menu from Source in Excel and giving the cell a Range Name in the sheet panel of your estimate in CostLink AE click in the quantity field of the folder or task that you want to link and choose this command The following things will happen The field will display the value of the cell in Excel The background of the quantity field will turn gray indicating that it cannot be edited Anote will be added to the task or folder detailing which cell the quantity is linked to Agreen Excel icon will appear in the upper right of the task icon to indicate that the task or folder is linked When the item form is opened for the linked task or folder the Use MS Excel Value times option will be selected Delete Link If you no longer want a particular quantity linked click on the folder or from Source task in the sheet panel and choose this command A message will open asking if you are sure you want to delete the link If you do not want to delete the link choose Cancel Click OK to delete the link Once you click on a differe
104. isc ml M LE Mo Mobil Mog MPH MPT MRGWB MRT ms M S E Mstz MS Y Mthe Mtng Mult M VA M VAR MV MW MXM MYD N nA NA N B C NC PAPR PB PB Pc Pcs PC PCE PCM Miscellaneous Milliliter Mainline Thousand Linear Feet Month Mobilization Mogul Base Miles per Hour Male Pipe Thread Moisture Resistant Gypsum Wallboard Mile Round Trip Millisecond Thousand Square Feet Mosaic amp Terrazzo Worker Thousand Square Yards Mtd mtd mtd Mounted Mosaic amp Terrazzo Helper Mounting Multi Multiply Million Volt Amperes Million Volt Amperes Reactance Megavolt Megawatt Male by Male Thousand Yards Natural North Nanoampere Not Available Not Applicable National Building Code Normally Closed National Electrical Manufacturers Assoc Bolted Circuit Breaker to 600V National Fire Protection Association Non Load Bearing Non Metallic Cable Nanometer Number Normally Open Not Otherwise Classified Nosing National Pipe Thread Combination Plug on Bolt on Circuit Breaker to 240V Noise Reduction Coefficient Nuclear Regulator Commission Non Rising Stem Nanosecond Nanowatt Opposing Blade On Center Outside Diameter Outside Dimension Overhead Distribution System Ogee Overhead Overhead and Profit Operator Opening Ornamental Oriented Strand Board Outside Screw and Yoke Occupational Safety and Health Act Overhead Oil Water or Gas Ounce Pole
105. iting a project will be faster with this option turned off Click the option to turn it on and off BSD CostLink AE User Manual 125 Appendix A Toolbar and Menu Reference Prompt Before Completing Drag Delete Empty Folders When checked this option causes BSD CostLink AE to issue a prompt requiring you to confirm all drag and drop operations Click the option to turn it on and off Deletes all empty folders in the project BSD CostLink AE prompts you to confirm the operation Not available when a resource window is the current window NOTE Empty folders at Level 1 are not deleted If you want to delete an empty folder at the top level select it in the tree panel and choose Edit gt Delete Change RS Means Database Update RS Means Database Customize Tools Menu Select this option in order to copy costs from a different RS Means database For example if you created the project in 2005 then you are copying costs from the 2006 RS Means database Select this command to be able to copy costs from the most current RS Means database in to the current estimate Refer to Chapter 6 for more information on using different RS Means databases After you use Change RS Means Database choose this command to reprice all items copied from the original RS Means database to the corresponding costs in the newly selected RS Means database Displays the Customize Tools Menu dialog box which allows you to launc
106. ives applying 15 cost summary tab summary information dialog box 67 tips 68 cost to owner 57 cost to prime 57 CostLink AE adding costs 22 adding folders 20 applying markups 16 creating model project file 12 135 Chapter 1 Index overview 2 printing reports 33 project notes 19 tools and techniques 84 costs See also RS Means Cost Data abbreviations list 129 adding lump sum quote 67 adding to estimate 61 adjustments 67 base cost 57 change reference database 99 changing 60 copying into projects 63 cost to owner 57 cost to prime 57 fees 67 markups 67 per unit cost for folders 57 per unit cost for project 51 project cost 58 show in reports 74 show in tree panel 42 updating 98 viewing on tasks 58 costs adding 22 create a new project button on toolbar 118 creating a project 49 creating an estimate 49 CSI MasterFormat and UniFormat 49 custom reports 77 customize tools menu 96 command on tools menu 126 customizing display 38 customizing toolbars 94 cut button on toolbar 118 command in edit menu 122 D database windows 38 delete button on toolbar 119 command in edit menu 122 delete empty folders 90 command on tools menu 126 delete link from source command in LinkMan menu 125 detail estimate report 80 detailed estimate 74 direct costs 136 BSD CostLink AE User Manual adding to estimate 61 disable updating from sources command on LinkMan menu 125 d
107. ject Description Fire Station Model Designed By Architect s Name Estimated By Your Name BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 2 Tutorial Prepared By Consulting Firm Name and Location Leave the Summary Info dialog box open for the next exercise Creating the Model Estimate You use the Cost Models tab of the Summary Info dialog box to choose the model and enter key parameters about the building 1 Click the Cost Models tab BSD CostLink AE displays the tab 2 Under Cost Models click the button for Commercial Then from the drop down list select Fire Station 2 Story 3 The building size has been automatically filled in from the information you entered on the General tab although you can also enter or edit the area here For the Building Perimeter type in 310 NOTE The model building parameters are listed at the bottom of the Cost Models tab If the building being designed differs drastically from the parameters listed the cost estimate is unlikely to be highly accurate 4 Select exterior closure and framing assemblies by clicking on the arrow for the pull down list and choosing Decorative Concrete Block Steel Joists 5 Review other model building parameters at the bottom of this tab Note that several of these parameters may be adjusted but RS Means strongly suggests that these not be modified because significant alterations may invalidate the cost estimate results For example changing the number of flo
108. k AE e Anoverview of the RS Means costs and e An overview of estimating using assemblies BSD CostLink AE User Manual 1 Chapter 1 Introduction To BSD CostLink AE BSD CostLink AE Overview Welcome to a cost estimating package specifically designed for architects engineers and others who are doing budgets cost plans and design development estimates CostLink AE is also useful to subcontractors preparing proposals and quotes who want to be able to reference a significant library of RS Means data BSD CostLink AE is a subscription service that includes annually updated cost data from industry leader RS Means CostLink AE combines unlimited telephone support and regular software updates with over 11 000 systems and assemblies 24 500 line items over 77 parametric cost models and cost indices for 700 U S and Canadian locations in a single subscription The RS Means data is derived from material labor and equipment components The data is formatted as a single unit cost that includes the pre computed RS Means subcontractor overhead and profit This data is described in more detail later in this chapter Building an Estimate The simplest way to create an estimate is to start with one of the parametric models provided with the software Alternatively you can construct an estimate by using drag drop or copy paste of entire building systems assemblies and line items into a project hierarchy either pre defined or constructed on
109. mation message will open saying Do you wish to UPDATE the costs for all RS Means items in this Project to the current year RS Means Database 3 Click OK to proceed or click Cancel to cancel the operation If you click OK the project will close and reopen after repricing the cost items 100 BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 7 Linking This chapter contains information and directions for linking quantities on folders and tasks to the quantities of higher level folders or to an Excel workbook so that you can easily change the cost of the estimate based on the size of the project See the following topics e Linking to parent in CostLink AE e About linking to Excel e Setting up Excel for linking e About parameter workbooks e About aecLinkMan e Excel features used in linking e Directions for linking to Excel e CostLink AE commands for linking BSD CostLink AE User Manual 101 Chapter 7 Linking Quantity Options 102 CostLink AE has three options for entering the quantity on folders and tasks plus a fourth method that is used when the estimate is based on a model C Use Quantity Entered C Use MS Excel Value Times C Use Parent Quantity Times 102 Use Formula Value Times Oty amp UOM 0 0 x Use Quantity Entered C Use MS Excel Value times a C Use Parent Quantity times Quantity options for folder Quantity options for tasks shown for models template e Use Quantity
110. menu 126 updating to new R S Means costs data 98 use formula value times 102 use MS Excel value times 102 use parent quantity times 102 use quantity entered 102 use single tab command in tree menu 124 use single tab for table button on toolbar 119 user manual chapter summary vii send suggestions and corrections viii USR 59 V view menu 123 W WBS 49 window menu 126 windows arranging 38 tiling 38 tips for using tile and cascade 39 working with multiple 38 with horizontal panels command in view menu 123 command in View menu 38 with vertical panels command in view menu 123 command in View menu 38 141 Chapter 1 Index 142 BSD CostLink AE User Manual
111. milar to a new estimate you are creating you can copy folders and tasks from the older project to the new project In the following steps you will first remove the empty folders from the Sample Project and then copy folders and tasks from the Fire Station Sample project that is installed with the software 1 Close the Unit Prices resource window by clicking the Windows close button on the Unit Prices window s title bar E 2 From the Tools menu choose Delete Empty Folders Aconfirmation message opens asking if you want to delete the folders 3 Click Yes All empty folders except those at Level One are removed Up to this point the project has been displaying Level One folders on separate tabs Building and Sitework In the next step you will display all folders on one tab 4 From the Tree menu choose Use Single Tab or click the Use single tab for table button on the toolbar El There is now only one tab Sample Project BUILDING and SITEWORK are subfolders beneath the Sample Project folder Sample Project 5 ample Project H E BUILDING H E SITEWORK Unassigned Sample Project in single tab mode NOTE Use Single Tabis a toggle Click it again to return to multi tab mode and again for single tab mode Multi tab mode can help when navigating complicated estimates For the rest of this sample remain in single tab mode 30 BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 2 Tutorial The SITEWORK folder is empt
112. n m hr M H Lather Lavatory Pound Load Bearing L Conduit Body Labor amp Equipment Pounds per Hour Pounds per Linear Foot Pound force per Square Inch Less than Carload Lot Loose Cubic Yard Load Lead Equivalent Light Emitting Diode Linear Foot Linear Foot of Stair Nosing Linear Foot of Stair Riser Long Length Large Light and Heat Long Span Bar Joist Labor Hours Live Load Lamp Lumen Depreciation Lumen Lumen per Square Foot Lumen per Watt Length Over All Logarithm Lateralolet longitude Liquefied Petroleum Low Pressure Low Power Factor Long Radius Lump Sum Light Light Gauge Less than Truckload Lot Lightweight Low Voltage Thousand Material Male Light Wall Copper Tubing Meters Squared Contact Area Man hour Milliampere Machine Magnetic Starter Maintenance Marble Setter Material Maximum Thousand Board Feet Thousand BTU s per hr Metal Clad Cable Motor Control Center Thousand Cubic Feet Thousand Cubic Feet per Minute Thousand Circular Mils Motor Circuit Protector Medium Duty Medium density fibreboard Medium Density Overlaid Medium Thousand Feet Thousand Feet Board Measure Manufacturing Manufacturers Milligram Million Gallons per Day Thousand Gallons per Hour Manhole Metal Halide Man Hour Megahertz Mile Malleable Iron Mineral Insulated Male Iron Pipe Size Mechanical Joint Meter Millimeter Millwright Minimum minute Abbreviations M
113. nces tab Setup Opens the Print Setup dialog box which you can use to choose a different default printer or change printer settings 72 BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 5 Reports Save as Saves current configuration as default Default OK Closes the Reports dialog box and saves any changes you have entered but does not print the reports Cancel Closes the Reports dialog box and cancels any changes you have entered Select Reports Tab Use this tab to select the level of the summary you want to print and whether or not to print the Detail report 4 Reports for Fire Station Sample Project x Select Reports Preferences Custom Reports Fire Station Sample Project Report Header Organization Name ETS CNET ALT _ m Project Summary Report r Other Reports Levels to show in Summary 3 JV Include Level 1 Summary m Show Summary Costs Show Detail Costs Excluding Markups Excluding Markups With Markups Included Print Title Page F Table of Contents Detailed Estimate Report With Markups Included Print Preview Setup IV Save as Default OK Cancel Reports dialog box Select Reports tab For more information on the report types see Report Descriptions later in this chapter Organization Name of your company that will appear in the header on Name reports NOTE This defaults t
114. nd information Find attach additional information to an estimate Notes and Pictures copy and move folders and tasks tips on right click copy and paste etc remove extra empty folders easily reuse existing estimates Copy Project fix technical problems with projects Compact Database save backup copies of projects or save a copy you can fit in an email Save To and Load From Compressed add commands to the Tools menu so that you can open other programs from within CostLink AE Chapter 7 Linking Contains information and directions for linking the quantities of tasks to the quantities of folders so that you can change the quantity on a folder and automatically recalculate how much of each task is needed for the new quantity You can also link an estimate to an Excel workbook Appendix A Toolbar and Menu Reference Lists all toolbar buttons and menu commands along with a short description of each Appendix B R S Means Abbreviations Lists abbreviations used in the R S Means databases Suggestions and Corrections If you have suggestions or corrections for this User Manual please email them to support bsdsoftlink com Please be sure to include the name of the manual and the page number We appreciate your feedback viii BSD CostLink AE User Manual Introduction To BSD CostLink AE This chapter introduces BSD CostLink AE and the included RS Means data In this chapter you will find e An overview of BSD CostLin
115. ndard Foundations 18 555 00 SF 1 Strip Footings tv 2 Spread Footings 1020 Special Foundations 18 555 00 3 1030 Slab on Grade 18 555 00 E C A20 BASEMENT CONSTRUCTION 18 555 00 C 2010 Basement Excavation 18 555 00 4 2020 Basement Walls 18 555 00 18 555 00 re Sourc Description Quantity UOM Unit Cost Base Cost Cost To Prime Project C Krm Sheet contains 0 Tasks CAPS NUM INS 17 27 Sample Project with two new folders added under Standard Foundations Adding Costs There are five methods of adding tasks and their associated Direct Costs to an estimate in BSD CostLink AE e Begin with a model which automatically includes multiple assemblies and line items e Copy assemblies from the Assemblies resource window e Copy individual line items from the Unit Prices resource window e Create your own line items and enter the costs directly e Copy costs from one project to another BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 2 Tutorial The Assemblies resource window contains assemblies which are groupings of line items that are defined in the estimate as individual tasks The Unit Prices resource window contains line items The assemblies and line items are from RS Means For more information on the RS Means cost data see chapter 1 NOTE The RS Means models included in CostLink AE generally include all the assemblies and line items required for the base building The quantities required
116. ndex tab of the Help dialog box in order to find the term Or you can type a term in order to find its abbreviation For more information on Help see Chapter 3 Find Dialog Box To open Find from the Edit menu choose Find or click the Find button on the toolbar El i Find in Firestation Sample Project x Find What J Find First Seach JAI T Tasks IV Folders Match any Part of Field x Close Field Description X Find dialog box Find What Enter the word s you expect to find in the task or folder description exactly as you expect it to be spelled It is not case sensitive Search Choose an option to search All searches the entire database starting at the beginning Up in conjunction with Find Next searches from your current position to the beginning Down in conjunction with Find Next searches from your current position to the end To search from your current position to the end for tasks 1 Click on a task in the sheet panel 2 Open the Find dialog box 3 Enter your search criteria 4 Change the Search option to Down 5 Click Find Next BSD CostLink AE User Manual 84 Chapter 6 Tools and Techniques Match Select the portion of the field that must match the Find What string The options are Any Part of the Field Whole Field or Start of the Field Field Select to search the Description or Source Tag field Tasks Select one or both options to search for tasks
117. nes a COM Add In as a supplemental program that extends the capabilities of a Microsoft Office program by adding custom commands and specialized features The particular COM Add In that must be added was created by BSD to add a command to the Excel Edit menu Copy As CosiLink Source that enables linking You will only need to add this once for each computer using the Excel linking feature You need to do the following two tasks Directions follow BSD CostLink AE User Manual 105 Chapter 7 Linking Add the COM Add Ins command to your Excel Tools menu so that you can install the COM Add In Install the COM Add In Adding the COM Add Ins Command To the Excel Tools menu 1 Open Excel 2000 version 9 0 or higher 2 Click on the Tools menu 3 Show all the commands in the Tools menu by clicking the arrows at the bottom of the Tools menu 4 If you see COM Add Ins in the Tools menu skip to Installing the COM Add In in this chapter NOTE The command will be listed as COM Add Ins not Add Ins In a standard installation of Excel COM Add Ins is not included on the Tools menu 5 If you do not see COM Add Ins in the Tools menu click Customize in the Tools menu The Customize dialog box opens to the Toolbars tab or to the last tab that was viewed in the Customize dialog box 6 Click the Commands tab The Commands tab opens 106 BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 7 Linking Toolbars Commands Op
118. nges gt Merge Workbooks Protection b Online Collaboration gt Goal Seek Scenarios Auditing gt Macro Add Ins FA Customize Options Tools menu showing black line where command will be listed once the mouse is released 12 Once the black line is located where you want COM Add Ins listed release the mouse button COM Add Ins is added to the Tools menu 13 Close the Customize dialog box by clicking the Close button Installing the COM Add In For Linking To Excel 1 In Excel choose Tools gt COM Add Ins BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 7 Linking The COM Add Ins dialog box opens Add Ins available Add Remove I Location Load Behavior The COM Add Ins dialog box 2 Click the Add button The Add Add In dialog box opens Add Add In k in dd 8 Click the Look In dropdown cl Addins and click on the drive that Windows is installed on This is usually the C drive 4 Double click on the folders listed below for the version of Windows that you are running NOTE If you do not know which version of Windows you are running open Windows Explorer you can do this either by holding down the Windows key on your keyboard while you type the letter E or by right clicking on the Start menu and choosing any of the Explore options and choose Help gt About Windows for Windows Vista or XP double click on the Windows folde
119. ning 48 saving and loading to compressed 93 summary information 50 BSD CostLink AE User Manual Oo Chapter 1 Index prompt before completing drag command on tools menu 126 pull down menus 120 Q qty quantity field 102 quantity options for entering or calculating 102 project folders 57 use formula value times 60 use MS Excel value times 57 60 use parent quantity times 57 use paret quantity times 60 use quantity entered 57 60 quotes adding as line item 67 R R S Means cost data abbreviations list 129 about annual updates 98 change R S Means database 99 recalculate all command on tools menu 125 recalculate the current project button on toolbar 118 recently opened databases listed in file menu 122 recently used dialog box 48 refresh all links from sources command in LinkMan menu 125 remove all links from Sources command on LinkMan menu 125 report setup command in file menu 121 reports 72 Acrobat format 81 add company logo 72 change project title 51 create pdf file from 81 creating electronic copies 81 custom 77 descriptions of 80 detail 80 detailed estimate 74 dialog box 72 drill down tabs 79 exporting 79 81 folder options 75 139 Chapter 1 Index footer 76 formatting 75 header 74 overview 72 previewing 78 print with or without markups 74 printing notes 76 87 producing 72 selecting 73 summary 74 80 table of con
120. nse Sample Project Quantity UOM Cost To Prime Project Cost Pet Sample Project 18 555 00 SF 2 723 823 3 796 123 100 3 BUILDING 18 555 00 SF 2 280 280 3 177 970 84 CF SUBSTRUCTURE 18 555 00 SF 222 745 310 434 10 S E SHELL 18 555 00 SF 851 521 1 186 743 37 SUPERSTRUCTURE 18 555 00 SF 218 146 304 024 26 amp F EXTERIOR CLOSURE 18 555 00 SF 504 263 702 779 59 C49 ROOFING 18 555 00 SF 129 112 179 941 15 CF INTERIORS 18 555 00 SF 382 595 533 213 17 C SERVICES 18555 00 SF 823 420 1 147 580 36 H E SITEWORK 5 00 ACR 443 542 618 154 16 Unassigned Sourc Description Quantity Unit Cost Base Cost Cost To Prime USR BUILDING 18 555 00 SF 903 457 48 2 430 063 2 280 280 USR SITEWORK 5 00 ACR 91 894 44 481 738 443 542 gt Press F1 for Help CAPS NUM INS 11 49 AM Sample Project showing costs in Tree Panel The Project Cost column shows a higher dollar amount than the Base Cost column since there are already some markups being applied to the project s costs by the default cost markup and adjustment settings in the Summary Info dialog box Selecting and Printing Reports The Sample Project is now complete The next step is to print reports 1 From the File menu choose Reports Setup or click the Select and format reports button on the toolbar E The Repor
121. nt folder in the tree panel and back on the parent of the item you deleted the link to the quantity field will be white in the background indicating that you can edit the quantity and the note indicator and the Excel link indicator will be removed from the icon for the folder or task The value that it was last linked to will still be in the Quantity field but it will not update if the workbook is edited Refresh All If you have chosen to Disable Updating from Sources either by Links From choosing the command from the LinkMan menu or by choosing to Sources not update links when you open an estimate that is linked to Excel choose this command to refresh the links without turning the automatic updating back on 114 BSD CostLink AE User Manual Change Excel Links Source Disable Updating from Sources Remove All Links from Sources Chapter 7 Linking This command applies to linking to Excel only Use this command to link the project to a different Excel workbook The best way to do this is to first create a copy of the workbook that the project is currently linked to This way the information will be located in the same places in the new workbook When you choose this command a Select New Excel Links Source dialog box will open Navigate to click on and open the workbook you want to link to A message will open asking you to confirm that you actually want to change the links source You can click Cancel if you have changed your
122. nual Chapter 1 Introduction To BSD CostLink AE Consistent with expanding green trends in the design and construction industry RS Means has introduced 25 new green building models Although similar to the standard models in building type and structural system the new green models meet or exceed Energy Star requirements and address many of the items necessary to obtain LEED certification Although the models do not include site specific information the design assumption is that they are located in climate zone 5 DOE s eQuest software was used to perform an energy analysis of the model buildings By reducing energy use we were able to reduce the size of the service entrances switchgear power feeds and generators Each of the following building systems was researched and analyzed building envelope HVAC plumbing fixtures lighting and electrical service These systems were targeted because of their impact on energy usage and green building Linking Within an estimate you can link the quantities of assemblies and line items to the quantities of the folders that contain them You can even link the quantities of the folders to the quantities of the folders above them For example if you are estimating a room that is 250 square feet then you need 250 square feet of flooring and 250 square feet of ceiling tile You can create a folder called room and give it a quantity of 250 square feet SF Then add line items to the folder for floo
123. o reconnect them Task Cost Data This grid shows the unit and extended costs for the task Base Cost Cost To Prime Cost to Owner Project Cost Unit and extended direct costs Type a new value in the Unit Cost column to override the cost of the assembly or line item Changing this value in a model task will permanently disconnect it from the model and will change the Source Cost To the Prime Contractor The Total Bare plus the Location Adjustment and Sales Tax as set in the Summary Info dialog box on the Cost Summary tab for this task NOTE If the task is a user added line item Cost To Prime will be the same as Base Cost Location Adjustments and Sales Tax do not get added to user added line items Cost To the Project Owner The Cost To Prime plus the Contractor Fees as set in the Summary Info dialog box on the Cost Summary tab for this task Total Cost The Cost To Owner plus any Other Costs as set in the Summary Info dialog box on the Cost Summary tab for this task BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 4 Projects Models Tasks amp Markups Assembly Members If the task is an assembly this area lists the line items in the assembly If the task is a line item this area is blank Description Description of the line item Quantity Quantity of the line item Units Unit of measure of the line item Total Cost Total direct cost of the line item Buttons on the Task Item Form The task item form has the
124. o search the Assemblies resource window for Strip Footings to add under Standard Foundations 5 Type strip footings in the Find What field Make sure the following default selections are set Search All Tasks Not selected Match Any Part of Field Folders Selected Field Description NOTE You will usually have better results if you search for Folders rather than Tasks Tasks have many more abbreviations than folders For information on the RS Means abbreviations see Appendix B 7 Click the Find First button or press Enter on your keyboard CostLink AE searches the Assemblies resource window from the beginning The first folder containing strip footings in its Description field is selected in the Tree panel This folder should be 110 Strip Footings NOTE Find searches for exactly the characters you type but it is not case sensitive If the database you are searching does not spell the word the same way as you typed it in the Find dialog box Find will not locate the item 8 Click Close to close the Find dialog box Note that there are many assemblies in the Sheet panel 9 Inthe Sheet panel of the Assemblies resource window scroll to locate the assembly with the following description ad Strip footing concrete reinforced load 11 1 KLF soil bearing capacity 6 KSF 12 deep x 24 wide BSD CostLink AE User Manual 25 26 Chapter 2 Tutorial 10 Drag the assembly to the Strip Footings folder in the Sample Projec
125. o the Company Name entered in the Permissions dialog box when the software was installed To change the default Company Name close all open projects and from the File menu choose Permissions Enter the new Company Name and click OK BSD CostLink AE User Manual 73 74 Chapter 5 Reports Report Header Enter an optional report description in this field for example Estimate at 60 It will print as the second line of the header on each page of the report Project Summary Report In this area select options for the Project Summary Report Levels to show in Summary Include Level 1 Summary Show Summary Costs Other Reports Select the number of levels of folders that you would like to print in the Project Summary Report Either click the up and down arrows or type the number directly in the field In addition to the report at the number of levels you specified above you may also print a Project Summary Report that summarizes the Level 1 folders only by selecting this option NOTE This option is not available if only one level is selected for Levels to show in Summary Select how you would like Markups shown in the Project Summary Report If you would like to print the costs before markups for each folder in the summary and then have the markups added at the end select Excluding Markups f you would like the costs for each folder to already include the markups select With Markups Included Use this a
126. o turn off the data display Working With the Sheet Panel 42 The Sheet Panel shows the folders or tasks that are one level below the folder selected in the Tree Panel Information about the folders or tasks is displayed in a spreadsheet format BSD CostLink AE lets you modify the way the information is displayed To change the width of a column 1 With the mouse point to the border between two column headings The mouse pointer turns into a double arrow 2 Click and drag to resize the column To autosize rows Autosize is a toggle that changes the height of all rows When Autosize is on the default all the information in the description field is displayed When off only the first line of the description is displayed e Point to any row in the sheet panel and click the right mouse button Choose Autosize Rows from the context menu e This command acts as a toggle Choose it again to turn Autosize back on BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 3 About the CostLink AE Display To sort data in the sheet panel You can sort the folders or tasks in ascending or descending order based on any column of information e Click on the heading for the column you want to sort by The folders and or tasks are sorted in ascending order by that column Click again to sort by descending order To freeze the display at a column As with a spreadsheet you can freeze the sheet panel so that certain columns of information remain displ
127. og box to change the buttons on the toolbars NOTE For a comprehensive list of the default toolbar buttons and menu commands see Appendix A The following directions are for customizing the existing toolbars You can create new toolbars by clicking the New button on the Toolbars tab To customize a toolbar 1 From the View menu choose Toolbars and then choose Customize The Customize dialog box opens BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 6 Tools and Techniques CI x Toolbars Tools Options Toolbars New Rename Customize dialog box Toolbars tab 2 Click the Tools tab This tab shows all of the available tool commands in each category The categories are derived from the CostLink AE menus x Toolbars i Options gt Recently Used Projects C New Project Selected tool Description Modify Selection Y Customize dialog box Tools tab 3 Select a Category of tools to change the tools listed in the Tools area To find out what a tool does click on the name of the tool and then click Description BSD CostLink AE User Manual 95 Chapter 6 Tools and Techniques 4 To add a tool to a toolbar drag the tool from the Tools area and drop it on any toolbar at the top of the BSD CostLink AE window Before you drop the tool you will see a vertical line between the two existing buttons where your new tool will be placed To remove a tool from a toolbar drag it from
128. on Le Report Descriptions BSD CostLink AE produces a detailed cost report and a presentation style summary report Project Summary The Project Summary Report summarizes cost information at each folder in an estimate and does not list the tasks Choose to include the markups in the costs for each folder or to print the direct costs for each folder with the markups listed at the end Select the level of breakdown using the Select Reports tab Detailed Estimate Report The Detailed Estimate Report provides a complete listing of all tasks in an estimate The costs are totaled at each folder in the estimate with the tasks and their totals listed below each folder Specify the formatting of this report using the Preferences tab of the Reports dialog box The Detailed Estimate Report can print the notes you attach to tasks and folders if you select the Folder Level or Task Level options in the Preferences tab of the Reports dialog box The detail report contains the following information e Quantity Unit of Measure Unit Cost and Total Cost for each task e Markups Tail at the end of the report adding the Contractor Fees and Other Costs optional e Detail costs as either Cost to Prime Excluding Markups the default or Total Project Cost Including Markups using the Show Detail Costs options on the Select Reports tab e Assemblies as a single task rather than line listing each assembly member e Folder Tags and or Source Tags
129. on of Adobe Acrobat you can choose Acrobat as your printer in the Print Setup dialog box available on the File menu Print to the Acrobat printer to generate pdf files instead of using the Export button in the Preview window e Excel XLS can be opened and edited in Microsoft Excel Formulas do not export just text and dollars e Rich Text Exact Format can be opened and edited in any word processor except WordPerfect 5 1 e Word for Windows Format can be opened and edited in Microsoft Word BSD CostLink AE User Manual 81 Chapter 5 Reports 82 BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 6 Tools and Techniques This chapter describes tools and techniques to help you work more efficiently and productively Use Find Work with notes and pictures Techniques for copying and moving folders and tasks Delete empty folders Copy projects Compact databases Save and load in compressed format Customize Tools menu Update to the current RS Means database BSD CostLink AE User Manual 83 Chapter 6 Tools and Techniques Using Find Use Find to search for folders and tasks in resource windows and in projects The tasks in the resource windows contain many abbreviations Because of this it is often easier to search for the folders that would contain the tasks rather than for the specific task A complete list of the abbreviations and their meanings is provided in Appendix B You can also type the abbreviation into the I
130. on on BSD CostLink AE Help Menus 120 BSD CostLink AE provides commands on the following menus located on the menu bar at the top of the main window 23 File Edit View Tree Insert LinkMan Tools Window Help Menu bar BSD CostLink AE User Manual Appendix Toolbar and Menu Reference File Menu New Project Creates a new project Displays the New dialog box which you use to select a template to use as the basis of the new project Open Displays a flyout menu with options for opening projects and resource windows You can select the Recently Used dialog box to choose from recently opened projects or you can select one of the resource windows if a project is open Close Closes the current project and its resource windows Summary Info Displays the Summary Info dialog box which you use to enter information relevant to the project as a whole Refer to Chapter 4 for information on the Summary Info dialog box Reports Setup Displays the Reports dialog box for selecting and formatting reports Refer to Chapter 5 for information on reports Print Setup Displays the Windows Printer Properties dialog box which you can use to change your Windows printer settings Print Preview Displays a preview of the printed reports as currently selected and formatted on the Reports dialog box Print Prints the reports as currently selected and formatted on the Reports dialog box Copy Use this command to copy a project Ref
131. or your estimate BSD CostLink AE then computes the total quantities and resulting costs of all the line items in the assembly for slab on grade construction How Assemblies Are Stored In projects and in Assemblies resource windows assemblies are tasks and can be viewed in the sheet panel The first column of an assembly in the sheet panel will show an assembly icon a1 The line items in the assembly can be viewed in the Members grid of the assembly s task item form Assembly Task Item Form The Assembly task item form shows information for the assembly currently selected in the sheet panel It is similar to the task forms in the project and is opened using the same methods as described earlier in this chapter 64 BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 4 Projects Models Tasks amp Markups 7 Assemblies for Fire Station Sample Project E xj General r C10101022910 Cone blk ptns regular weight hol 10 thick 5 8 drul 2 sides Task Conc bik ptns regular weight hol 10 thick 5 8 PET ES Description Unit Cost st 0 72 SF Assembly ASM ci 0101022910 Assembly Members Description Quantity Units Total Cost Joint Reinforcing Ladder 9 Ga Sides Ties 10 Wall Mill Galv 0 01 CLF 0 22 Control Joint Pvc 4 Wall 0 05 LF 0 10 6 99 2 17 1 23 Cmu Partition No Scaf Reinf Rglr Hollow 8 16 x 10 Thk Furing Walls 7 8 Channels 25 Ga Galv 24 O C Drywall Gyp Plasbd
132. or based on any existing project Your new project inherits the folders tasks and Summary Info from the selected template or existing project You can change this information once the project is created 1 Choose File gt New or click the Create a new project toolbar button D The New dialog box opens showing the available project templates 2 Choose a template from the list area or click the Browse button to select a different template or existing project 3 Click New The Save New Project Database As dialog box opens 4 If desired select a different folder to save your project in and type a filename for your project in the File name field Click Save BSD CostLink AE creates and opens the new project and its Summary Info dialog box See the next topic for information on the Summary Info dialog box CostLink AE comes with four templates for starting new projects The templates are located in the CostLink AE system templates folder e Uniformat II Project Template with Models e MasterFormat 2004 Project Template MPJ e MasterFormat 16 division Project Template e No WBS Project Template NOTE WBS stands for Work Breakdown Structure In projects folders represent the WBS Therefore the Uniformat Il template contains folders that match Uniformat Il the MasterFormat templates contains folders that match CS s Construction Specification Institute s MasterFormat 95 16 divisions and the MF 2004 50 divisions The
133. or the new folder To avoid any problems with this either enter the Folder Tag first enter a space as the first character when you insert the new folder turn Show Folder Tags off or enter the name in the Folder Form Show summary costs and other information with each folder in the tree panel Not available when a resource window is the current window NOTE This menu is used to add new folders and line items to your project It will not be available when a resource window is the active window The new folders and line items will be empty To enter names descriptions and other information highlight 124 the new item with the right mouse button and choose Edit Folder or Edit Item Folder NOTE Adds a new folder at the same level and before the folder currently selected in the tree panel To insert a folder at Level 1 the top level folders in your project your project folders must be displaying on a single tab The Use single tab button will appear pushed in a if you are in single tab mode Then select the top folder it says your project name and choose Insert gt Child Folder BSD CostLink AE User Manual Appendix Toolbar and Menu Reference Child Folder Adds a new folder at the level below the currently selected folder in the tree panel and after any existing subfolders Task Adds a new line item to the folder currently selected in the tree panel LinkMan Menu NOTE Options on the LinkMan men
134. ors from 2 to 3 could change the model results in unpredictable ways Model Additives Next you use the Model Additives tab of the Summary Info dialog box to select additional cost items for this Cost Model 1 Click the Model Additives tab 2 Select appropriate additives for this project by inputting a quantity in the quantity field For example you may want to add kitchen appliances clothes lockers and an elevator Note that the cost for each additive is automatically computed BSD CostLink AE User Manual 15 16 Chapter 2 Tutorial Applying Cost Markups and Adjustments Markups are the estimated costs beyond the direct costs The direct costs copied from the R S Means Assemblies and Unit Prices resource windows already include overhead and profit for the installing contractor All other markups including Location Adjustments Sales Tax and Prime Contractor markups are applied on the Cost Summary tab of the Summary Info dialog box For more information on markups see Chapter 4 In the following exercise you will apply a location adjustment and additional markups to the Model Project 1 Click the Cost Summary tab The Cost Summary displays with markup percentages that have been copied from the template and extended costs that have been computed by the model Soren nc General Cost Summary Cost Models Model Additives Project Notes Project Title COST PER UNIT Construction Priced from
135. own one level command in tree menu 123 drag amp drop confirmation 126 drag and drop 89 how to 63 left mouse button vs right 89 turn off confirmation prompt 89 drill down tabs in print preview 79 E edit menu 122 effective pricing date 51 electronic copies of reports creating 81 emailing estimates 81 equipment costs about the RS Means cost data 5 escalation about the RS Means cost data 7 escalation index date 51 estimate See also projects creating 49 date of 51 opening 48 estimated construction time 51 estimates emailing 81 estimating checklist 7 Excel See linking to Excel exit command in file menu 122 expand all command in tree menu 124 expand branch button on toolbar 120 command in tree menu 124 export reports 81 exterior closure and framing 54 F fees 67 contractor 70 file menu 121 file name and path 51 file size compacting 92 find button on toolbar 118 command in edit menu 123 how to use 84 folder command on insert menu 124 folder icon 40 folder tags show in tree panel 42 folders 56 buttons on 58 how to copy or move 88 item form 57 opening item form 56 printing options 75 tags 57 folders adding 20 footer on reports 76 formatting reports 75 G general conditions about the RS Means cost data 5 general tab project folder form 57 Summary Info dialog box 14 summary information dialog box 50 go to folder command in tree menu 12
136. plied to material costs Displays the Material cost of items copied in from the R S Means resource windows BSD CostLink AE 68 User Manual Chapter 4 Projects Models Tasks amp Markups Construction The quantity and unit of measure displays from the General Priced Locally tab of the Summary Info dialog box The Cost field totals all user added line items and divides that total by the Project Size to calculate the Per Unit Cost NOTE Location Adjustments and Sales Tax do not apply to user added line items Cost to Contractor The Cost and Per Unit columns for this line show the subtotal of the Construction Priced from R S Means plus or minus the Location Adjustment plus Sales Tax plus Construction Priced Locally NOTE If you change the State City or Sales Tax click Apply to update these values Contractor Fees Use this area to enter up to three types of contractor fees If desired edit the existing description or enter a new description for the fee in the first field for each row This description will print on reports In the second field for each row enter the markup percentage These markups are compounded meaning that if the Cost to Contractor is 100 000 and the first markup is 10 the first markup will be 10 000 resulting in a subtotal of 110 000 If the second markup percentage is also 10 it will be 10 of the subtotal resulting in a markup of 11 000 The markup percentages are applied to t
137. r 4 NOTE When you have more than one window open the window with the more brightly colored title bar ERSEN EE o lolx js the active window When you choose commands from the menus or toolbars such as Show Folder Tags folder tags will toggle on or off in the active window In step 3 below make sure the Assemblies window is active before choosing the command To make a window active click anywhere in the window or on the window s title bar 3 With the Assemblies resource window active its title bar is more brightly colored than that of the Sample Project from the Tree menu choose Show Folder Tags or click the button on the toolbar The folder tags are the numbers and letters displaying between the folder icons and the folder names in the Assemblies resource window If you are familiar with Uniformat Il you may find it easier to navigate with the folder tags turned on NOTE Show Folder Tags is a toggle Click it again to turn the folder tags off and again to turn them back on For this tutorial leave the folder tags on 24 BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 2 Tutorial 4 From the Edit menu choose Find or click the button on the toolbar W The Find dialog box opens r 84 Find in R S Means Assemblies se Find What Find First Search Al DES Match Any Part of Field M Folders Close Le Ley Le Field Description Find dialog box You will use the Find dialog box t
138. r and then double click on System32 for Windows 2000 double click on the WINNT folder and then double click on System32 5 Scroll to and double click on the file BSDOfcAI d11 The COM Add Ins dialog box reopens and now lists BSD Links for MS Excel BSD CostLink AE User Manual 109 110 Chapter 7 Linking Add Ins available ok v Links For MS Excel Remove E Location C WINNT system32 BSDOFcAI dll Load Behavior Load at Startup COM Add Ins dialog box listing BSD Links for MS Excel 6 Click OK Excel is now set up for linking About Parameter Workbooks in Excel Parameter workbooks used in linking will usually have the following characteristics e Nocosts will be entered in the parameter workbook The costs will come from the assemblies and line items in CostLink AE The sole purpose of the parameter workbook is to calculate the quantities of some or all of the items in the estimate based on the overall size of the job e The parameter workbook can span multiple worksheets and even multiple workbooks e f you rename the worksheets in your workbooks from Sheet1 Sheet2 etc to something more descriptive do not use any spaces hyphens or underscores in the sheet names CostLink AE cannot link to a cell on a worksheet that has a space in its name NOTE Do not rename a worksheet if links have already been copied from it e Parameter workbooks can be created by exporting a CostLink AE report of th
139. racy e call RS Means if you have any questions about your estimate or the data you ve found in our publications Remember RS Means stands behind its publications If you have any questions about your estimate about the costs you ve used from their data or even about the technical aspects of the job that may affect your estimate feel free to call the RS Means editors at 1 800 334 3509 Assemblies Estimating BSD CostLink AE is designed for Assemblies Estimating The following information about Assemblies Estimating is provided by RS Means What Is Assemblies or Systems Estimating The grouping of several different trades into building components or broad building elements is the Systems or Assemblies method of estimating This method allows the estimator or designer to make quick comparisons of systems in various combinations within predetermined guidelines Systems which are best suited to accommodate budget code load insulation fireproofing acoustics energy considerations and the owner s special requirements can quickly be determined This method can also be used to help match existing construction Systems Estimates vs Unit Price Estimates In order to understand how a Systems estimate is assembled it is a good idea to compare a Unit Price estimate with a System estimate In a Unit Price estimate each item is normally included along the guidelines of the 50 division MasterFormat of the Construction Spe
140. rea to select any other reports you would like to print Print Title Page Table of Contents Detailed Estimate Report BSD CostLink AE When selected prints a title page that includes information entered on the General tab of the Summary Info dialog box Check this option to include a table of contents for the report The table of contents prints last After you print you can put the table of contents after the title page Choose this option to print a detail report of the estimate This report shows the costs for every task and folder in the estimate See the preferences tab for options on what to include in the costs User Manual Chapter 5 Reports Show Detail Select how you would like Markups shown in the Costs Detailed Estimate Report If you would like to print the costs before markups for each task and folder and then have the markups added at the end select Excluding Markups If you would like the costs for each task and folder to already include the markups select With Markups Included Preferences Tab Use this tab to choose options that affect how reports are formatted and printed xl Select Reports Preferences Custom Reports m Fire Station Sample Project m Detail and Summary Report Options m Print Notes and Footer IV Project Level M Print Folder Totals Tl Folder Level D Task Level M Unit Cost Column Footer TS Print Percent of Parent to Level g Print Detail
141. rent folder Click Open The project database opens Opening a Recently Used Project The bottom of the File menu lists the last four projects that were opened Click the name of the project to open it Existing projects can also be opened using the Recently Used dialog box To open a recently used project using the Recently Used dialog box 1 Choose File gt Open gt Recently Used Window or click the Open recently used project dialog toolbar button 2l The Recently Used dialog box opens showing the projects that have been opened on this computer 2 Select a project and click Open The project opens Tips on using the Recently Used dialog box e If the project you want to open is not listed click the Browse button e If you are not sure which project you edited last or if you would like to know where each project is located under View click the Details option You can scroll to the right to view additional information about each project and or resize the Recently Used window e If there is a project in this window that you no longer want listed here click once on the name of the project and then click the Remove button This does not remove the project from your computer it removes it from the list of Recently Used projects BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 4 Projects Models Tasks amp Markups Creating a New Project You can create a new project based on one of the templates supplied with BSD CostLink AE
142. rer Common maintenance laborer Hundred Linear Feet Current Limiting Fuse Cross Linked Polyethylene Centimeter Corr Metal Pipe Concrete Masonry Unit Change Notice Column Carbon Dioxide Combination Commercial Communication Compressor Concrete Continuous Continued Container Corrugated Cosine Cotangent Cover Cedar on Paneling Control Point Adjustment Coupling Critical Path Method Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride Hundred Pair Cold Rolled Channel Creosote Carpet amp Linoleum Layer Cathode ray Tube Carbon Steel Constant Shear Bar Joist Csc CIS Cu Cu Ft cw CW Cwt C WX CGY CY Hr Cyl d D Dis Disch Db Econ EIFS EDR Eq Elec Elev EMT Eng EPD EPS Eqhv Edit Eqmd Eqmm Eqol Equip ERW Cosecant Hundred Square Feet Construction Specifications Institute Current Transformer Copper Tube Size Copper Cubic Cubic Foot Continuous Wave Cool White Cold Water 100 Pounds Cool White Deluxe Cubic Yard 27 cubic feet Cubic Yard per Hour Cylinder Penny nail size Deep Depth Discharge Discharge Decibel Double Direct Current Direct Digital Control Demobilization Dry Film Thickness Drainage Fixture Units Double Hung Domestic Hot Water Ductile Iron Diagonal Diameter Distribution Division Deck Dead Load Diesel Deep Long Span Bar Joist Deluxe Ditto Dioctyl Phthalate Penetration Test Air Filters Depth Double
143. rial costs slightly On the other hand lower wage rates may be in effect Be sure to consider both of these factors when preparing an estimate particularly if the job site is located in a central city or remote rural location In addition highly specialized subcontract items may require travel and per diem expenses for mechanics For information on applying location adjustments see chapter 4 6 BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 1 Introduction To BSD CostLink AE Other factors e season of year e contractor management e weather conditions e local union restrictions e building code requirements e availability of adequate energy skilled labor building materials e owner s special requirements restrictions e safety requirements e environmental considerations Unpredictable Factors General business conditions influence in place costs of all items Substitute materials and construction methods may have to be employed These may affect the installed cost and or life cycle costs Such factors may be difficult to evaluate and cannot necessarily be predicted based on the job s location in a particular section of the country Thus where these factors apply you may find significant but unavoidable cost variations for which you will have to apply a measure of judgment to your estimate Contingencies Estimates that include an allowance for contingencies have a margin to allow for unforeseen construction difficulties
144. ring and ceiling tiles linking their quantities to the quantity of the parent folder If the size of the room changes during the design process you only need to change the quantity on the folder and the line items will change automatically CostLink AE also supports dynamic linking to Microsoft Excel Create a space program or building parameters model and link cells directly to CostLink AE quantities Once linked quantities in CostLink AE update as the space program and other parameters change Simple but Powerful Reports Simple but powerful report formatting and presentation lets you choose and format your reports in a variety of ways The report is organized by the folders you create for your estimate The costs in each report can either include markups in the individual line items or summarize markups at the end of the report your choice You can choose the level of summarization include or exclude a percent of total column unit cost column quantity column and the total cost column You can specify a report title and footer apply a company logo to the report and choose whether to include notes in the report AE lets you annotate any or every line of your cost estimate Reports can then be printed or exported to a number of formats including PDF Excel and Word Foundations of CostLink AE CostLink AE is mature AE is solidly founded on the CostLink CM framework which has been tested and improved through three generations
145. s are as follows T a and E When linked to Excel the Parent Quantity or a model the quantity field in the Sheet Panel and in the Item Form will be grayed out BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 7 Linking Linking to the Parent Quantity CositLink AE allows the quantities of folders and tasks to be linked to the quantities of the folders that contain them The folder that contains a folder or task is considered the parent and the subfolder or task is the child On the subfolder or task enter a value by which to multiply the quantity of the parent folder in order to calculate the quantity of the child When you change the quantity of the parent the quantity of the child will be changed also Example In the Fire Station Sample Project the Standard Foundations folder contains a Strip Footings folder Standard Foundations is the parent and Strip Footings is the child The indentation of Strip Footings under Standard Foundations represents the parent child relationship Standard Foundations 18 155 00 SF EB Strip Footings 54465 LF Standard Foundations and Strip Footings as example of parent and child folders The Standard Foundations folder has a quantity of 18 155 square feet SF Based on similar projects there will be about 30 linear feet LF of strip footings for every 1 000 SF of standard foundations Instead of calculating and entering the quantity of strip footings the Strip Footings folder quantity can be linked to
146. s button adds a new folder at the same level as and above the current folder It also displays a blank folder form for the new folder Lock Select this option to lock the form on the current folder You can then Click in a different window without the form disappearing Back Displays the form for the previous folder displayed in the tree or sheet panel Next Displays the form for the next folder displayed in the tree or sheet panel Close Applies any changes you have made on the form and closes the form Task Item Form The task item form shows information for the project task currently selected in the sheet panel To open a task item form for an assembly or line item use one of the following methods e Select the task in the sheet panel and then choose View gt Forms gt for Sheet Items or click the Open item form on the Sheet panel toolbar button El e Right click on the task in the sheet panel and from the context menu choose Edit Item e Double click on the task in the sheet panel The task item form shown and described below is for a task located in a project Tasks in resource windows are described later in this chapter 58 BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 4 Projects Models Tasks amp Markups T Tasks for Office Building x General m 810201122700 St jsts bms dk on col 20x25 40PSF supimp 20 d 60PSF total Task SRE Description Quantity fio 277 7778 JSF Task Type Assembly MDL 81020112
147. s will be removed from the icons of the folders and or tasks The values that they were last linked to will still be in the Quantity fields but they will not update if the link sources are edited BSD CostLink AE User Manual 115 Chapter 7 Linking 116 BSD CostLink AE User Manual Appendix A Appendix A Toolbar and Menu Reference This chapter provides brief descriptions of each command on the BSD CostLink AE toolbars and menus Where appropriate it provides references to other sections of the manual for more information e BSD CostLink AE Toolbars e Menus e Context Menus BSD CostLink AE User Manual 117 Appendix Toolbar and Menu Reference BSD CostLink AE Toolbar The toolbar is displayed at the top of the BSD CostLink AE program window just below the menu bar You can turn the toolbar on and off using the Toolbars command on the View menu NOTE You can change and arrange the buttons shown on the BSD CostLink AE toolbar See Chapter 6 for instructions Toolbar Buttons D E ee E M e Create a new project Displays the New dialog box which you use to select a template for CostLink AE to use as the basis of the new project Open recently used projects dialog Displays the Recently Used dialog box which you can use to select from recently used projects You can also click Browse to search for and open other projects that are not visible in the Recently Used dialog box Refer to Chapt
148. se the dialog box to select the executable file for the program you want to start from the Tools menu 4 Inthe Menu Text field type the name you want the command to have in the Tools menu For example if you were adding a command for opening your timesheet you might make the Menu Text Open Timesheet 5 If you want the program in the Command Line to open a particular file also fill in the Arguments and Initial Directory fields otherwise leave them blank For example if you were adding a command for opening your timesheet you would fill in the Arguments field with the filename of the timesheet i e timesheet xis and the Initial Directory field with the location of the timesheet i e X Administrative Files Click Add Item Click OK BSD CostLink AE adds the command to the Tools Menu Choose the command from the Tools Menu to launch the executable program To delete a command from the Tools menu 1 From the Tools menu choose Customize Tools Menu BSD CostLink AE User Manual 97 Chapter 6 Tools and Techniques The Customize Tools Menu dialog box opens 2 Inthe Menu Text area click on the command you want to delete 3 Click the Delete Item button Then click OK Example You might want to create a command called Calculator to launch the Windows calculator Since no other file needs to be opened when you open the calculator you would leave the Arguments and Initial directory fields blank and fill in the Command Line an
149. sition where you are allowed to drop it BSD CostLink AE changes the mouse pointer to a hand with a page Effects of Dragging and Dropping The default effect of dragging and dropping with the left mouse button depends on the situation as follows When You Drag and Drop Then BSD CostLink AE from a resource window to a project copies the item s within the same window moves the item s Example You copy an assembly Example You move tasks from one from the Assembly Resource window folder to another in the estimate into your estimate Left Click and Right Click for Drag and Drop When you drag and drop using the left mouse button BSD CostLink AE performs the default operations as listed in the table above In most cases BSD CostLink AE allows other options besides the default You can access these options by dragging with the right mouse button instead of the left In this case when you release the right mouse button to drop the item s BSD CostLink AE opens a context menu with the available options The default option the one that would happen if you dragged with the left is shown in bold Tip While learning to use BSD CositLink AE drag and drop using the right mouse button This helps you learn the effects of drag and drop in different situations Turning off the Confirmation Prompt By default BSD CostLink AE prompts you to confirm before completing any drag and drop operation You may turn
150. ss the Index tab from the Help menu choose Use Index for Help On or click the Index tab on any Help window To Search by Keyword follow the instructions BSD CostLink AE User Manual 45 Chapter 3 About the CostLink AE Display RS Means Abbreviations and Symbols For a printable list of the abbreviations used in the Assemblies and Unit Prices resource windows download Appendix B of the CostLink AE User Manual from Building Systems Design Inc s website Click on Support and then User Manuals The R S Means abbreviation list is also available as appb abbreviations doc on the BSD SoftLink CD in the AE_Doc folder Search Tab The Search tab is used to conduct a full text search of all Help topics Use the Search tab if you cannot find the Help you need using the Contents or Index tabs To access the Search tab choose Help gt Search for Keyword in Help To Search follow the instructions on the tab Peso Costink actdy ox M amp Hide Back Print Options Contents Index Search Type in the keyword to find Jabbreviations List Topics Cost Summary Tab Summary Information Di R S Means Abbreviations Symbols in A S Means To search using the Find dialog box Using Find Symbols in RS Means Percent Approximately Phase At Pound Number Select Topic to display lt Less Than gt Greater Than For a printable list of all M MEMUS used in the Assemblies and
151. stems or Assemblies estimating is not a substitute for Unit Price estimating It is normally done during the earlier conceptual stage before plans have been completed or when preparing a budget This enables the designer to bring in the project within the owner s budget During the actual initial design process the designer will be forced to make important decisions and trade offs for each of the various systems Some of the trade offs can include a Price of each system b Appearance quality and compatibility c Story height d Clear span e Complications and restrictions f Thermal characteristics g Life cycle costs h Acoustical characteristics i Fireproofing characteristics j Special owner s requirements in excess of code requirements k Code LL Load BSD CostLink AE User Manual 9 Chapter 1 Introduction To BSD CostLink AE 10 Gathering Information for a Systems Estimate Before starting a Systems Estimate gather all the information possible pertaining to the project Information can be gathered from 1 Code Requirements 2 Owner s Requirements 3 Preliminary Assumptions 4 Site Inspection and Investigation Since the Foundation and Substructure design and price is a function of the Superstructure and the site it is advisable to start the estimate with the Superstructure Follow this with the Foundation and Substructure and then the other Systems in the sequence as applicable to your project BSD CostLink
152. stimate for Fire Station Sample Project E l0 x x amp amp fioox w 2 of 11 gt Preview al Building Systems Design Inc 15 Aug 2002 Fire Station Sample Project Level 3 Direct Cost Summary al Quantity Unit Cost Total Cost FS 2002 09 Fire Station Sample Project 1 FIRE STATION A SUBSTRUCTURE 410 FOUNDATIONS 18 155 SF 7 01 127 296 SUBTOTAL SUBSTRUCTURE 18 155 SF 7 01 127 296 B SHEL B10 SUPERSTRUCTURE 18 155 SF 7 29 132 317 B20 EXTERIOR CLOSURE 13 920 SF 23 30 324 308 B30 ROOFING 18 901 SF 4 22 79 693 SUBTOTAL SHELL 18 155 SF 29 54 536 318 C INTERIORS C10 INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION 18 155 SF 8 93 162 210 C30 INTERIOR FINISHES 18 155 SF 4 72 85 661 SUBTOTAL INTERIORS 18 155 SF 13 65 247 870 D SERVICES D20 PLUMBING 18 155 SF 7 54 136 852 D30 HYAC 18 155 SF 14 05 255 065 Preview of summary report with logo added as described later in this chapter Actions The report window has a toolbar with the following buttons x Close current view Available for drill down only See below 3 Prints the report to the default Windows printer BSD CostLink AE User Manual E 100 1 of2 y E ge x Drill Down Tabs Chapter 5 Reports Opens the Export dialog box which allows you to export the report in different formats See Creating Electronic Copies of Reports later in this chapter Click the down arrow to zoom in or out Go to the first page of the report Go to t
153. t NOTE To drag the assembly hold your mouse pointer over any part of the assembly in the Sheet panel Click and hold the left mouse button while you move your mouse to the Strip Footings folder in your project Between the Sheet panel and the folder the mouse pointer becomes a circle bar symbol When the Strip Footings folder is highlighted the mouse pointer becomes a hand with a sheet of paper symbol Release the mouse button to drop the task on the folder Click OK if BSD CostLink AE prompts you to confirm copying the task 11 Inthe Sample Project click on the Strip Footings folder The copied assembly is in the Sheet panel 12 In the Quantity field for the copied assembly in the Sheet Panel type 580 and then press Tab NOTE If necessary scroll the Sheet panel to the right to see the Quantity field You can also make the Description column smaller by holding your mouse over the line between the Description and Quantity column headings so that your mouse pointer becomes a double headed arrow Then click and hold while you drag the line to the left Scroll to the right in the Sheet panel to see that the cost fields updated 13 Click the title bar of the Assemblies resource window to make it the active window NOTE If you do not make the Assemblies resource window active then in the next step when you open the Find dialog box Find will be searching the Sample Project window instead of the Assemblies resource window
154. t Quantity times r Cost Summary Unit Cost Extended Base Cost 3 Cost To Prime 7 26 131 717 Cost To Owner 9 22 167 346 Project Cost 10 31 187 1 34 Insert Lock Back Next Close A project folder item form BSD CostLink AE User Manual General Tab Chapter 4 Projects Models Tasks amp Markups Folder Definition Tag Optional ID for the folder The tag is sometimes used to specify the folder s position or sequence in the group of folders at this database level although the Folder Tag does not affect the position or sequence of the folder Can be displayed in the Tree panel by choosing Tree gt Show Folder Tags Title Description you assign to the section of the project represented by this folder Qty Quantity associated with this element of the project Entering a quantity value here enables BSD CostLink AE to compute a unit cost for this project element If a Quantity is not entered then the unit and extended costs shown in the cost grid below are the same UOM Unit of measure associated with the Quantity Use Select this option the default to enter a quantity in the Qty field to Quantity calculate the Unit Cost Entered Use MS Select this option to link the quantity to a value in an MS Excel Excel Value spreadsheet When selected the grayed out times field becomes times available and turns white The default value is 1 For more inform
155. t folder or to Excel Linking to Excel automatically inserts a note as indicated by the blue in the bottom left See Chapter 7 for information on linking 40 BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 3 About the CostLink AE Display Sheet Panel Icons Folder Indicates that the item is a folder Ce Folder Task The item is a folder with tasks directly inside it To view the tasks click on the folder in the Tree panel and the tasks will display in the Sheet panel 65 Folder with Link The green Excel icon in the upper right corner indicates that the quantity of the folder is linked to the quantity of the parent folder or to Excel Linking to Excel automatically inserts a note as indicated by the blue in the bottom left Assembly The item is an assembly Assembly Note The assembly has a note as indicated by the blue in the bottom left REE Assembly with Link The green Excel icon in the upper right corner indicates that the quantity of the assembly is linked to the quantity of the parent folder or to Excel Linking to Excel automatically inserts a note as indicated by the blue in the bottom left Line Item The item is a line item Line Item Note The line item has a note as indicated by the blue in the bottom left Line Item with Link The green Excel icon in the upper right corner indicates that the quantity of the line item is linked to the quantity of the parent folder or to Excel Linking to Excel automatically ins
156. tLink AE permits you to Copy but not Cut in some cases For example you can Copy but not Cut tasks or folders from the Assemblies resource window Al Paste Places the current contents of the Windows Clipboard text or tasks into the location of the cursor Delete selected item Deletes the selected task or folder CostLink AE prompts you to confirm the deletion Ei NOTE When you delete a folder with subordinate folders or tasks CostLink AE prompts you to specify whether to move the subordinate tasks to the Unassigned folder This allows you to assign the tasks to another folder rather than deleting them Open the Summary Info dialog Displays the Summary Info dialog box for the current project Refer to Chapter 4 for information on the Summary Info dialog box Open item form on the Tree panel Opens an item form for the folder that is currently selected in the Tree panel fiy Open item form on the Sheet panel Opens an item form for the folder or task that is currently selected in the Sheet panel Open the Notes form Opens a Notes and Pictures form for the currently selected folder or task D E Refer to Chapter 6 for information on adding notes and pictures Use single tab for tree Displays all folders in the project or resource window on a single tab rather than one tab for each top level folder E BSD CostLink AE User Manual 119 Appendix Toolbar and Menu Reference Show folder tags Sho
157. tents 74 title page 74 unit cost column 75 reports selecting and printing 33 resource windows 62 abbreviations on tasks 129 opening 62 right click menus 127 RS Means abbreviations 46 RS Means cost data contacting RS Means 8 factors affecting costs 5 RS Means Cost Data explanation of costs 3 RSM 59 S sales tax how to enter 69 save as copy project instead 90 save to compressed command in file menu 121 command on file menu 93 search tab 127 help dialog box 46 searching using find 84 select all tasks command in edit menu 123 select and format reports button on toolbar 118 select model commercial 54 industrial 54 institutional 54 none 54 sheet items form command in view menu 123 sheet panel command in view menu 123 140 BSD CostLink AE User Manual controlling display 42 icons 41 sorting data 43 show all folders button on toolbar 120 show data in tree command in tree menu 124 show folder data in tree button on toolbar 120 show folder tags 42 button on toolbar 120 command in tree menu 124 show hierarchy command in tree menu 124 single tab mode 39 software requirements for linking to Excel 104 sorting data in sheet panel 43 source tag 59 spell check project notes 53 stack windows in cascade button on toolbar 120 standard toolbar 118 status bar command in view menu 123 subscription includes annual updates of cost data 98 summary info comman
158. ters Default Baseline Building Area GSF 80000 Default Baseline Building Perimeter Number of Floors 8 Number of Floors Average Floor to Floor Height Partition Density GSF per SF of Partition Average Partition Height 10 LF Door Density GSF per Door 400 SF EA Suggested Architectural Fees of Construction 6 PCT Reset Parameters OK Cancel Apply Summary Info dialog box Cost Models tab NOTE This tab is available only if you started your project by using the Uniformat Il Project Template with Models BSD CostLink AE User Manual 53 54 Chapter 4 Projects Models Tasks amp Markups Select Model None Commercial Industrial Institutional Enter Dimensions Building Size Building Perimeter Selecting this option nullifies the modeling template Selecting this option changes the models available in the adjacent pull down to all available commercial models Click on arrow to pull down list and click on list to choose model Selecting this option changes the models available in the adjacent pull down to all available industrial models Click on arrow to pull down list and click on list to choose model Selecting this option changes the models available in the adjacent pull down to all available institutional models Click on arrow to pull down list and click on list to choose model Enter total gross square footage of project Note
159. the parent folder times 0 03 To do this open the folder item form for Strip Footings either by double clicking on it or by right clicking and choosing Edit Folder Then select the option Use Parent Quantity times The field to the right of that option turns white and has a default value of 1 Enter 03 in the field The Quantity is calculated and shown in the Quantity field BSD CostLink AE User Manual 103 Chapter 7 Linking Folders for Fire Station Sample Project xi General r Folder Definition Tag Oo Title i Footings Qty amp UOM 544 65 LF C Use Quantity Entered c Use MS Excel Value times 003 Use Parent Quantity times m Cost Summary Unit Cost BaseCost 28 07 15 288 Cost To Prime 25 94 14 127 Cost To Owner 32 95 17 948 Project Cost 36 85 20 071 Insert T Lock Back Next Close Strip Footings folder set to Use Parent Quantity times 0 03 Now if the quantity of Standard Foundations needed for this estimate changes the linear feet of strip footings will change accordingly You would also link the quantities of the tasks under the strip footings folder to their parent Strip Footings so that their quantities would change changing the cost of the estimate This is useful over the life cycle of a single estimate Early in the design the plans may be for a certain size building As the plans become more de
160. the toolbar and drop it on the Tools tab NOTE You can also add these tools to the menus Instead of dragging the tool to a toolbar drag the tool to the menu you would like to place it in hold your mouse over the menu and the menu will open Then move the tool to where you would like it listed 5 If you want to change other display options for the toolbars for example displaying larger icons click the Options tab and make your selections 6 Click Close to close the Customize dialog box NOTE Reinstalling the current version or installing a new version of CostLink AE will remove your customization You will need to customize again after installing Customizing the Tools Menu Use Customize Tools Menu to add new commands to the Tools menu The commands you add must be executable programs recognized by the Windows operating system To add a command to the Tools menu 1 From the Tools menu choose Customize Tools Menu The Customize Tools Menu dialog box opens 96 BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 6 Tools and Techniques w Customize Tools Menu xj Click to choose an item from the Menu Text list Use the Tab key to move between the text entry fields below Command Line El Arguments D Menu Text D Initial Directoy Add Item OK Cancel Customize Tools Menu dialog box 2 To add the first item click the Command Line browse button al The Select Command Line dialog box opens 3 U
161. tions Categories Commands Window and Help Drawing AutoShapes x Save as gt Selected command Description Modify Selection The Customize dialog box Commands tab 7 Inthe Categories list click Tools The Commands list updates to show all the commands in the Tools category 8 Scroll through the Commands list to find COM Add Ins Show All Scripts COM Add Ins Web Options The COM Add Ins command in the Commands list NOTE In the following steps you will click and hold the left button on your mouse Do not release it until the directions say release the mouse button 9 Click and hold on COM Add Ins and drag it to the Tools menu Continue holding down the left mouse button BSD CostLink AE User Manual 107 108 Chapter 7 Linking Your mouse pointer will look like this Ka Mouse pointer when dragging a command to a menu or toolbar 10 As you hold the mouse button down over the Tools menu the Tools menu will open 11 Continue holding the mouse button down as you drag the command to where you would like it listed in the Tools menu A black line will appear where the command will go Continue dragging the mouse until the black line is located where you want the COM Add Ins command You may want to put it near the bottom of the menu since you will probably only use it this one time Tools Y Spelling F7 AutoCorrect Share Workbook Track Cha
162. to them 1 Click on the Slab on Grade folder in the Tree panel 2 Add the following folders as subfolders of Slab on Grade make sure you click on the Slab on Grade folder before choosing Insert gt Child Folder for each folder Tag Title a 1 4 Slab Ep 2 8 Slab When done your Tree Panel should look similar to the following picture BUILDING SUBSTRUCTURE 3 6 FOUNDATIONS B E Standard Foundations EB Strip Footings Spread Footings Special Foundations 8 6 Slab on Grade 4 Slab 8 Slab 3 BASEMENT CONSTRUCTION Basement Excavation Sample Project with new folders under Slab on Grade NOTE If you add a folder in the wrong location move the folder to the correct location by dragging it with your right mouse button not the left to the folder that it should be before Then choose Move Above Folder from the context menu BSD CostLink AE User Manual 27 28 Chapter 2 Tutorial 3 Locate the following assembly in the Assemblies resource window drag it to the 4 slab folder and enter the quantity aa Slab on grade 4 thick industrial reinforced 14 755 SF 4 Locate the following assembly in the Assemblies resource window drag it to the 8 slab folder and enter the quantity st Slab on grade 8 thick heavy industrial reinforced 3 400 SF Adding User Defined Costs If cost items you need are not included in the resource windows add your o
163. ts and Markups 67 Using the Cost Summary Tab 67 About the Cost Summary Tab 68 Chapter 5 REDONS SES a ns 71 Reports OVEr vien een 72 Reports Didid BOX ananena ee ste 72 Select Reports Tab 73 Preferences TaD aannaaien 75 Guston REPONS 1 fran ina tan daadaa taa adaha 77 R port FVW naano AA RA 78 Displaying the Window 78 ACTIONS 22222008 dura de eee Anan Ana An aaa anna 79 Report Descriptions ss 80 Project Summary 80 Detailed Estimate Report 80 Inserting Your Company Logo ss 81 Creating Electronic Copies of Reports s cceccseeseeeseeeeeieeeteeeteeeeeens 81 Chapter 6 Tools and TECHNIQUES vicitsiavaaacctenesrecsdeecstvinbixtanacaeties 83 SIG FING ss cesses estes nn AE edad seas decent 84 Find Dialog BOX AR eee 84 Working with Notes and Pictures 86 Attaching Notes or Pictures to a Folder or Task 86 Supported Graphics File Types 87 Viewing Notes and Pictures on Tasks or Folders 87 Printing Notes with Reports 87 Techniques for Copying and MOVING s seecceseseseseeeseeeeeeeseetseeseaeeeseeeees 88 Using the Standard Cut Copy and Paste Commands 88 Shift Click and Ctrl CliCk ss 88 Dragging and Dropping sspspocasopnsnnapipn unnan 89 Deleting Empty Folders n et Merle trees 90 Copying a Project sine 90 BSD CostLink AE User Manual v Contents Compacting a Database ss 92 Saving and Loading Compressed Files 93
164. ts dialog box opens to the Select Reports tab 2 Leaving the Organization Name the same this defaults to the Company Name that was filled in by the person who installed the software change the Report Header to say 65 Submittal Change Levels to show in Summary to 3 if not already set to 3 Leave both Show Summary Costs and Show Detail Costs as Excluding Markups BSD CostLink AE User Manual 33 34 Chapter 2 Tutorial This will display the Direct Costs in the body of the report with the Contractor and Other Markups added at the end of the report Click to select Print Title Page and Detailed Estimate if they are not already selected and Deselect Table Of Contents The Select Reports tab should now look like the following picture except for the Organization Name r amp Reports for Project Title Select Reports Preferences Custom Reports Project Title Organization Name Building Systems Design Report Header 65 Submittal Project Summary Report Other Reports M Print Title Page PF Table of Contents V Detailed Estimate Report Levels to show in Summary 3 7 Include Level 1 Summary Show Summary Costs Show Detail Costs Excluding Markups Excluding Markups With Markups Included With Markups Included Print Preview Setup M Save as Default Reports dialog box with reports selected for tutorial Click the Preferences Tab Make sure that all options are checked under Detail
165. ttery operated Lead battery 0 00 EA 233 30 0 Nickel cadmium 0 00 EA 667 80 0 Intercom System 25 station capacity OK Cancel Apply Summary Info dialog box Model Additives tab NOTE This tab is available only if you started your project by using the Uniformat Il Project Template with Models The tab will be blank until you have chosen a model from the Cost Models tab BSD CostLink AE User Manual 55 Chapter 4 Projects Models Tasks amp Markups Folder Item Form 56 The folder item form shows information for the folder currently selected in the Tree or Sheet panel Use any of the following methods to open a folder item form Select a folder in the tree panel and then choose View gt Tree Items Form or click the Open item form on the Tree panel toolbar button El Select a folder in the sheet panel and then choose View gt Sheet Items Form or click the Open item form on the Sheet panel toolbar button Right click on a folder in the tree panel and from the context menu choose Edit Folder Right click on a folder in the sheet panel and from the context menu choose Edit Item e Double click on a folder in the tree panel e Double click on a folder in the sheet panel Folders for Fire Station Sample Project x General Folder Definition Tag a Title Es Qty amp UOM 181455 0 sF 7 Use Quantity Entered C Use MS Excel Value times FT C Use Paren
166. u are only available when a project is the current window Paste Link Pastes a link from a copied value in Excel to the quantity of the from Source currently selected folder or task assembly or line item Refer to Chapter 7 for more information on linking NOTE You must have Excel 2000 version 9 0 or higher to create links between CostLink AE and Excel Delete Link Removes the link between either a parent folder or a value in Excel from Source and the quantity of the currently selected folder or task Refresh Alll Updates the quantities of all linked folders and tasks Links From Sources Change Opens a dialog box for selecting a different Excel workbook as the Excel Links source for linked quantities in the project Source Disable This command is a toggle for disabling and enabling automatic Updating updating of linked quantities Editing a linked project will be faster with from Sources automatic updating disabled Remove All Removes all links in the current project so that if the link source is Links from edited the quantities in the project do not change Sources Tools Menu Recalculate All Causes BSD CostLink AE to recalculate the current project Not available when a resource window is the current window Auto When checked this option causes BSD CostLink AE to recalculate Recalculate the Markups in the project automatically as you make changes You Markups are able to see the changes in the Tree Data immediately Ed
167. u drag with the right mouse button you get additional options as described later Be aware that when you cut an item it may not disappear immediately from view This is because BSD CostLink AE does not automatically refresh the display when you Cut If you close the window and reopen it the cut item will be gone Be sure to Paste the Cut item before you close the window Shift Click and Citrl Click Select folders and tasks in the Tree Panel or Sheet Panel by clicking the left or primary mouse button In the Sheet Panel hold down the Shift and Ctrl keys in combination with clicking to select multiple tasks e Click on the selector box to the left of the first task with the left mouse button and then hold down Shift while you left click on the selector box for the last task to select a continuous range of tasks e Click on the selector box to the left of the first task with the left mouse button and then hold down Ctrl while you left click on additional tasks to select multiple tasks not in a continuous range or to remove the selection from a group of selected tasks BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 6 Tools and Techniques These commands work the same as in standard Windows programs such as Windows Explorer Dragging and Dropping Drag and drop is a powerful tool for copying folders and tasks in BSD CostLink AE You can drag and drop items between the Tree or Sheet Panels of different windows When you drag an item to a po
168. update the costs in a project that was started with a model you can copy the project folders from the model project into a non model project and then update the costs in the non model project 98 BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 6 Tools and Techniques Updating Options There are two separate functions related to changing from one RS Means database to another One is switching the database for the addition of future cost items in the database The second is repricing the existing cost items to the new RS Means database You can change to the newest RS Means database for the addition of future cost items and leave the existing cost items with the older pricing Or you can switch to the newest RS Means database for the addition of future cost items and reprice your existing costs to the newest RS Means database NOTE If you want to keep an archive copy of your project before it is changed make a backup of your project either using Windows Explorer or by using the Copy command in the File menu You can also use the Save to Compressed function in the File menu Change RS Means Database To switch an existing project to the newest RS Means database so that you can copy items from the newest database do the following 1 Open the project 2 From the Tools menu choose Change RS Means Database Amessage opens asking Do you wish to change the RS Means database from the Year old year to the Year new year 3 Click Y
169. ustments to costs may be required for your specific application or location Material costs do not include sales tax but can be adjusted in the Cost Tab of the Summary Info in CostLink AE as described in chapter 4 4 BSD CostLink AE User Manual Chapter 1 Introduction To BSD CostLink AE Labor Costs Labor costs are based on the average of wage rates from 30 major U S cities Rates are determined from labor union agreements or prevailing wages for construction trades for the current year Rates along with overhead and profit markups are listed on the inside back cover of the appropriate RS Means cost book If rate increases are expected within a given year costs should be adjusted accordingly Labor costs reflect productivity based on actual working conditions These figures include time spent during a normal workday on tasks other than actual installation such as material receiving and handling mobilization at site site movement breaks and cleanup Productivity data is developed over an extended period so as not to be influenced by abnormal variations and reflects a typical average Equipment Costs Equipment costs include not only rental but also operating costs for equipment under normal use The operating costs include parts and labor for routine servicing such as repair and replacement of pumps filters and worn lines Normal operating expendables such as fuel lubricants tires and electricity where applicable are also inclu
170. ving the software and system requirements information see the Installation document available from our Download Center Chapter Summary While the Table of Contents and the Index contain detailed information to aid you in finding information in this manual in general the following is what you will find in each chapter Chapter 1 Introduction Contains an overview of CostLink AE and the R S Means data Chapter 2 Tutorial Follow the instructions in this chapter to learn CostLink AE by creating a small estimate Chapter 3 About the CostLink AE Display If you are not familiar with arranging multiple windows on your computer read this chapter for information on tiling windows This is an essential skill when working with CostLink AE The chapter also contains information on arranging panels a list of the icons in the software and their meanings how to customize the toolbars and how to use the online help Chapter 4 Projects Models Tasks amp Markups Provides detailed information on how to create and open estimates use models add tasks assemblies and line items and apply markups Chapter 5 Reports Describes the process of creating reports and the options available when printing reports BSD CostLink AE User Manual vii Preface Chapter 6 Tools and Techniques Provides detailed information on using most of the features of the software that were not covered in the previous chapters These include ways to fi
171. wn To create user defined tasks in the Tree Panel of your project click on the folder that the task belongs in Then from the Insert menu choose Task Enter the description quantity unit of measure and unit cost in the sheet panel or in the item form In the following exercise you will add an additional cost to the 8 Slab folder 1 With 8 Slab highlighted in the Tree panel from the Insert menu choose Task A task called New Item appears in the Sheet panel 2 Click once on the Description New Item so that the words are highlighted and then type the new description below Click in each of the following fields in the same manner to enter the following information The Unit Cost field will display 70 00 after you enter the 10 and press Tab Description Quantity UOM Unit Cost B Add for Turndown 240 LF 10 NOTE You can also open the item form for the new task by double clicking on it to enter the information there The difference is that you can use the Tab key to move from field to field in the item form instead of having to click in each field before typing For more information on user defined tasks see chapter 4 Adding Line Items from the Unit Prices Resource Window If you do not find an assembly to suit your needs you can search the Line Items in the Unit Prices resource window The Line Items are from RS Means and are categorized in the 50 Division CSI 2004 12 MasterFormat For more information on the supplied RS Me
172. ws the tags of each folder in the tree panel Caution If you insert a new folder with Show Folder Tags turned on and if you type the name in the Tree panel rather than the Folder Form the first characters you enter up to the first space character become the Source Tag for the new folder To avoid problems with this either enter the Folder Tag first enter a space as the first character when you insert the new folder turn Show Folder Tags off or enter the name in the Folder Form Show folder data in Tree Shows summary costs and other information for each folder in the Tree Panel Not available when a resource window is the current window Expand Branch Expands the display in the tree panel to show all items below the current folder Show all folders Expands the Tree Panel to display all folders Open Assemblies resource window Displays the Assemblies resource window for the current project la e Refer to Chapter 4 for information on the Assemblies resource window Open Unit Prices resource window Displays the Unit Prices resource window for the current project Tile windows horizontally Arranges all open windows horizontally Tile windows vertically Arranges all open windows vertically Stack windows in cascade Arranges all open windows one atop the other with their left and top portions visible e ME e Open Help to Contents Displays the CostLink AE Help contents tab Refer to Chapter 3 for informati
173. y Average Partition Height and Door Density may be adjusted here by entering alternative numbers for the default values used in the model However caution is advised in making significant changes to model building parameters Model Additives Tab After you have selected a model use this tab to enter quantities for special items not included in the base building cost estimate The items that appear on this tab will vary with the model chosen Entering a quantity adjacent to any item automatically adds the cost of the item to your model cost estimate summary nfoforProject Tle General Cost Summary Cost Models Model Additives Project Notes r Project Title Model Ofice 5 10 Story Description Quantity Units Cot Total Cost Clock System 20 room 0 00 EA 13 466 50 0 50 room 0 00 EA 32 800 00 0 Closed Circuit Surveillance One station Camera and monitor 0 00 E4 1 407 04 0 For additional camera stations add 0 00 E4 760 37 0 Directory Boards Plastic glass covered 30 x 20 0 00 EA 517 03 0 36 x 48 0 00 EA 1 081 90 0 Aluminum 24 x 18 0 00 EA 476 60 0 36 x 24 0 00 EA 539 97 0 48 x 32 0 00 EA 702 93 0 48 x 60 0 00 E4 1 597 30 0 Elevators Electric passenger 5 stops 2000 capacity 0 00 E4 102 023 33 0 3500 capacity EU EA 108 210 83 432 844 5000 capacity 0 00 EA 112 638 33 0 Additional stop add 0 00 FLR 5 839 25 0 Emergency Lighting 25 watt ba
174. y It was not deleted by the Delete Empty Folder command because it is a Level One folder Click on the SITEWORK folder and then click the Delete Selected Item button on the toolbar x Amessage opens asking you to confirm deleting the folder NOTE Read confirmation messages when deleting to make sure CostLink AE is deleting the correct item You cannot Undo to restore an accidentally deleted folder or task Click Yes The SITEWORK folder is deleted From the File menu choose Open and then choose Open Project Database The Open Database dialog box opens Select and Open the Fire Station Sample Project The Fire Station Sample project opens in its own database window If necessary click the Tile Windows Vertically button on the toolbar fa In your project the title bar says Sample Project or Project Title if you have not yet closed and reopened your project click the plus sign next to BUILDING The subfolders SUBSTRUCTURE and SHELL display Click the plus sign next to SHELL The subfolder SUPERSTRUCTURE completed in the previous exercises displays Inthe Fire Station Sample Project click the plus sign next to FIRE STATION The subfolders display Click the plus sign next to SHELL The subfolders display From the Fire Station Sample project with your right mouse button drag the EXTERIOR CLOSURE folder to the SHELL folder in your project Sample Project When you release the mouse button

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