Customer Information Panel

The Customer Information panel is used to record the basic identification information for the estimate.

Click on a row to activate it for editing. A text field will appear in which you can enter information for that particular row.

Additionally, on the Contractor row, you can click the "Select" link to open the Contractor List window and choose the contractor name from the list. The name you select in the Contractor List will be used to identify the contractor for job.

See Contractor List for details about searching, adding, and removing contractor names.

Price Adjustment Status

The status of price adjustments in the current job file is displayed for informational purposes.

When a price adjustment preset is loaded, the preset name will be displayed. If additional price adjustments are made after a preset is loaded, the preset name "Custom" will be displayed.

When price adjustments are applied to part selections, the currently active adjustment level will be displayed.

When a global price adjustment is applied, the percentage value of the adjustment will be displayed. The percentage will be a positive number for a markup and a negative number for a discount.

If either of the two price adjustment methods is not active, it will be shown as "OFF".

Stacking Preferences

The program uses these settings to determine the best combination of parts to use in the stack.

Check the 'Minimize Number of Parts' box and the program will search for a structure containing the fewest parts possible. This is the default selection for new jobs.

Check the 'Minimize Price' box and the program computes the stack with the minimum price.

Check the 'Minimize Weight' box and the program will search for the stack of parts that has the lowest weight.

If more than one preference is checked, STACK-IT searches for the solution that satisfies the greatest number of options.

Selecting the 'Use Relationship Preferences' box will deactivate these options and use the stacking preferences specified in each structure's relationship. This makes it possible to use different stacking preferences for different structures.

Part Limits

STACK-IT can limit the height and/or the weight of parts selected for a structure.

This is particularly useful for customers with equipment limitations that require the use of shorter or lighter parts.

Max Height limits the maximum height of parts to use in the stack.

Max Weight limits the maximum weight of parts to use in the stack.

The entries in these edit fields can be appended with Imperial or Metric units (",', in, ft, mm, M, kg, or LB) to designate an alternate unit of measure. The data will be automatically converted to the currently selected General Units (set on the Setup screen).

NOTE: Setting these limits too low may make it impossible to find a suitable stack.

Freight Data

The price for freight transportation and unloading can be computed and added to the estimate.

The freight charge can be calculated by the load ("Per Load") or by the load/mile ("Per Mile"). The method of calculation can be selected on the Setup screen.

Enter the typical weight for one load of freight in the "Load Weight" field. This is normally less that the maximum weight limit for a truck.

If the freight method is "Per Load," enter the rate charged for one load of freight in the "Load Rate" field.

If the freight method is "Per Mile," enter the rate charged for one mile (per load) of freight in the "Load Rate" field.

When the freight method is "Per Mile," an additional field is displayed to enter the number of miles.

Enter the charge per vertical height for unloading in the "Unload Rate" field.

Build Units

The current unit of measure, for the elevations to be entered on the Build screen, is displayed in green. Elevations entered without a unit designation (', ", M or mm) are assumed to be in the current units.

You can quickly toggle the units for elevations by clicking the Change button.

When entering elevations on the Build screen, you may also enter units other than the one selected here by including the unit letters after the elevation numbers (such as ft, in, M, mm).

Tax Rate

The tax rate entered will be used to calculate the total tax for the job and is printed on a "Tally" page layout.

Marginal Contribution

STACK-IT will calculate and display the marginal contribution (MC) for the job.

The MC, sometimes called "Profit Margin", shows what percentage of the selling price of the job is left after subtracting the cost of the job.

MC calculations depend on the accuracy of the cost data entered on the Stock screen.

Cover Page Notes

Job notes can be added to include job information and limitations.

The Cover button opens a screen that accepts information unique to the current quote, such as any comments and/or limiting conditions your firm issues with its job quotations or submittals.  This information will be printed on the estimate cover page.

The Page 2 button opens a screen used to enter a second page of notes that may be used to include directions to the job site, or other information that is not appropriate to put on the cover page.

These job notes pages are printed on a "Cover Page" layout.

Function Screens

The Name screen is the launching point for several special function screens.

The Price Adjustment Manager screen is used to apply price adjustments to the quote file. This screen also provides the capability to create, load and delete price adjustment presets.

The Bid Item Manager is used to define bid items for organizing structures into groups. Bid item groups are printed using a "Bid Item Tally" page layout.

The Line Item Manager is used to add items to a quote that are not associated directly with a structure. Line items are displayed on the View screen and on structure and part type print layouts.

More information