The Calculation tab defines how Quick Bid converts Condition Quantity to Item Quantity. This article (and those that follow) is a little long, but understanding "Calculations" is one of the most critical steps to getting your Item setup correct.

Example

If we consider pricing a very simple Wall. The (takeoff) quantity is probably calculated in LF (when you look at the a set of plans, you likely measure the wall from a birds-eye view). We will say the wall is 10' long and the Height of that wall is 8'.

Now, let us say you want to quantify the cost associated with applying paint to that wall (Material and the Labor required to 'install' that Material). You will probably start with a Condition Quantity in linear measurement (such as LF or meters) because that's how you'd measure the plans. But you wouldn't valuate Paint (Material) or Painting (Labor) by the LF, you'd first want to figure out the square footage (or square meters) of wall that needed Paint. In our example, 80SF. Also, that takeoff measurement does not take into account both sides of a wall or any waste factor.

The Calculation tab tells Quick Bid how to convert the Condition Quantity (usually from your takeoff program or quantity survey) into Item Quantity (on which QB can perform further calculations). You can calculate Item Quantity using any Condition Quantity (1, 2, or 3), the Height, the number of Layers, the on center measurement, even the number of vertical repeats, and how a Material is installed. You can even account for Waste, depending on how you setup your Item.

You specify the method of installation using calculation formulas embedded in the program and specify custom settings to calculate an Item's quantity. The Calculation tab offers many options that control the way Item quantities are computed.

There are five sections on the Calculation tab:

• Calculation Method - which quantity and formula to use and how much waste to apply
• Condition Detail Default Entries - when this Item is dropped into a Condition, these are the values it defaults to, they can be changed after inserting the Item into a Condition
• Formula Descriptions - information only
• Installation Method - affects how the Standard Formula is calculated
• On Center Exception Factors - overrides all calculations if the “on center” value is 16” or 24” (Imperial) or 400mm or 600mm (Metric)

We cover each section of the Calculation tab, starting with Calculation Method.

Item Details - Chained Items

The Calculations tab: Calculation Method

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