L

Left Mouse button

M

Middle Mouse or Both (on laptop) Mouse buttons

cL

Control + Left Mouse button

cM

Control + Middle or Both (on laptop) Mouse buttons

sL

Shift + Left Mouse button

sM

Shift + Middle or Both (on laptop) Mouse buttons

csL

Control+Shift+Left Mouse button

csM

Control+Shift+Middle or Both (on laptop) Mouse buttons

Version 4.0t

 The About Master Estimator screen has changed to reflect the version change.

Screens

Place Wall, Screen [PW]

On the Place Wall tab, under the drop-down list box that includes Segmental, Continuous, etc, there is a new type of radius option:  Radius 3pt. When you choose Radius 3pt the program uses three digitized points to create the curve and automatically calculate the radius, Digitize the beginning, a point anywhere on the curve, and the end.  The radius is displayed in the Radius field. Also with Radius 3pt, you can create a curved wall larger than 180 degrees.

Preferences, Additional Project Detail, Screen [Y Tab:2]

The Burden Adjustment percentage is now stored for each user when on a network or machine.

Preferences, Proposal Reports, Screen [Y Tab:4]

A new entry for Text prior to Bid Price has been added.  The default text to print prior to the bid price is For the sum of:  If you want to have something different, delete the existing text and enter the desired text.

A new entry for Show Phone & Fax has been added. If you want the general contractor's phone and fax to appear under their address, select this entry so there is a check mark in the box.

A new entry for Show Job Number has been added.  If you want the job number to appear on the proposal next to the name of the project in the Re: line, select this entry so there is a check mark in the box.

Preference, Misc Machine Specific, Screen [Y Tab:6]

This is a new Preferences tab for additional preferences that only affect specific users on a network or on different machines.

Update Wall [D]: Skip warning for No Wire, Regular Anchors or Parapet wire: Click on the box to enter a check mark if you want to skip the warnings.

Reports, Crew Section: invert ratios when comparing production masons to labor categories: Click on the box to enter a check mark if you want to invert ratios.

Reports, Summary Page Show Fringe % and Burden % as percent of base:Click on the box to enter a check mark if you want to show the fringe and burden percentages as percent of base.

Walls & Reports [C] Disable Blue Print button: Click on the box to enter a check mark if you want to disable the Blue Print button on the Walls & Reports screen.

Update Wall-Wall Shape, Screen [D-17]

The Wall Shape TopBot Profile button has replaced Left Step, Right Step, Left Step Inverted, Right Step Inverted and Double Step.  For shapes such as step, slope, or radius you want to appear on the top of the wall, click on the Top Profile tab and insert shapes (old left or right step inverted).  For shapes you want to appear on the bottom of the wall, click on the Bottom Profile tab and insert shapes (old left and right step).

The Wall Shape descriptions have changed to Top Profile Left or TopL (old Left Step Inverted); Top Profile Right or TopR (old Right Step); Bottom Profile Left or BotL (old Right Step); and Bottom Profile Right or BotR (old Left Step).

On the Top and Bottom Profile tabs, there is a radio button labeled Start on the so that you can select Left or Right.  If you want the shapes to start on the left of the wall, click in the circle or radio button next to Left.  If you want the shapes to start on the right, click in the radio button next to Right.

Version 4.0s

 The About Master Estimator screen has changed to reflect the version change.

For companies running on a network with multiple users, the last project worked on and Last Touched information is now stored by user so that for each user it will appear appropriately.

Have you ever wondered what screen letter goes with a particular screen.  For a reference, open the Help file, click on Contents, and open Screen Shots.  You will see the screen letter and, next to that, the screen name.  For example, Screen A Projects.

Measure Master

 Regarding the 16 button cursor, you can use the graphic version or you can now see a text version listing the number and function.  Click with your mouse on the Text Version button at the bottom of the cursor to see the Current Meaning of Digitizer Buttons screen.  To go back to the graphic version, click with your mouse on the Graphic Version button at the bottom of the screen.

When you are on the Place Wall screen, there is an icon for the 16 button cursor in the Tool Bar at the top of the screen.  If you click on the icon, it will alternately show or hide the 16 button cursor.  If you right click on the icon, the 16 button cursor will move to the upper left corner of the screen.

Job Cost

 Standard Job Cost Codes, Screen [JCC]

A new sort tab has been added called Dynamic.  When you click on the Dynamic tab, you can sort the list by clicking on any of the headings at the top of the list such as Type, Cost Code, ID, Description, Override or Units.  For example, if you want to sort the codes by description, click on the Description heading.  You will see the codes sorted alphabetically in ascending order and see a + next to Description to indicate how the codes are sorted.  If you click on Description again, you will see codes sorted alphabetically in descending order and there will be a - next to the heading.  The program will remember each users settings so that if you go to another tab and come back to the Dynamic tab it will resort the codes using the last selection.  Currently, this ability to sort by clicking on list headings is only available on the Standard Job Cost Codes and Walls & Reports screens.

Screens

Copy Wall, Screen [CW]

Under Copy Checked Items, a Step Profiles check box has been added.  If the wall that is being copied is a step wall shape with various profile  types, then the check box will be selected.  If you do not want to copy Step Profiles, click on the check box to remove the check mark.

Graphic Options, Screen [GO]

With regard to Bonding, the wall graphic shown in Update Wall, Screen [D], Wall Shape, Screen [D-17], and Place Wall, Screen [PW], more accurately displays coursing and cuts.  Also, the texture of the outside headers, arches or circular openings, and bond beams display appropriately.

Under Include in Graphic, there is now a check box for Digitizer Cursor Adjusted Location. This is similar to the Digitizer Cursor Location used when you are in Place Wall, Screen [PW], except that it shows the point after adjusting for settings made on the various tabs.  For example, if you on the Place Walls tab and have set Round off Angle, then the bar shows the affect of that setting rather than the actual digitized point. So if you have both Digitizer Cursor Adjusted Location and Digitizer Cursor Location checked you will see two points in the graphic.

Import Project, Screen [IP]

If you put your cursor on the Import Filename entry area, Tip Help will appear indicating that if you press F5 on your keyboard it will refresh, or update, the list of files in the Import Folder.

Place Wall, Screen [PW]

With regard to Bonding, the wall graphic shown in Update Wall, Screen [D], Wall Shape, Screen [D-17], and Place Wall, Screen [PW], more accurately displays coursing and cuts.  Also, the texture of the outside headers, arches or circular openings, and bond beams display appropriately.

Within the graphic area, if you move or change the image to a specific view and want to save it, press the F5 key on your keyboard.  If you then change the view to something else and want to go back to that saved position, click on the F6 key.

On the Place Openings tab, pressing the F3 key is the equivalent of right clicking on List of Overrides to bring up the Quick Menu and F4 is the equivalent of selecting Insert Elevation--Override from the Quick Menu.

In the Graphic Options, Screen [GO], under Include in Graphic, there is now a check box for Digitizer Cursor Adjusted Location. This is similar to the Digitizer Cursor Location except that it shows the point after adjusting for settings made on the various tabs.  For example, if you on the Place Walls tab and have set Round off Angle, then the bar shows the affect of that setting rather than the actual digitized point. So if you have both Digitizer Cursor Adjusted Location and Digitizer Cursor Location checked on Graphic Options, Screen [GO],  you will see two points in the graphic area.

There is a new selection, Tagged on [C], in the Show drop-down list box.  This only works when you tag certain walls on Walls & Reports, Screen [C], click on the Change button to go to the D screen, and then click on Place Wall button.  Only those walls will appear in the graphic area of the Place Wall screen.  This is useful when working with alternate bids.  See Tags under Walls & Reports, Screen [C], below for more information.  If you get to the D screen using these screens: Assemblies, Blue Print, Opening Placements, or Project Messages, the program assumes you want to see all walls.

On Place Sheet tab, when you are working with a multi-sheet project, there is now a drop-down list box that lists the site sheet and each match line with anchor and direction information entered previously on Update Match Line, Screen [UML].   Instead of having to use the Update Match Line screen to edit the Direction, X and Y coordinates, you can now change those items under Direction X and Y on the Place Sheet tab.  As you makes changes to the Direction, X and Y coordinates, you will see the graphic change.  This is useful when you are trying to fine tune the location and rotation of the sheet to line up walls on that sheet with walls that are on another sheet.  Increasing or decreasing the Direction spins the match line sheet.  Changing the X and Y move the match line sheet.

Save Graphic, Screen [SG]

When you click on the Select File Name and Type button next to Save Graphic, the name of the graphic file is now based on the wall description rather than the project description.

Update Odd Course, Screen [D4]

Now you can have odd courses follow roof lines for not only gable and slope walls but also step walls.  There is no Follow Roof Line check box because there are two entry areas: Top of odd courses follows and Bottom of odd course follows that allow you to control the top and bottom of an odd course separately.  If you want a traditional horizontal odd course, select Fixed Elevation (Horizontal) from the drop-down list box next to Top of odd course follows. This is the same as having Follow Roof Line unchecked in previous versions.  The concept of a wall Profile is used to mean the pitch of the roof line. Click here to see examples of odd courses.

For Top of odd courses follows, you can select what you want the top of the odd course to follow: Top Wall Profile, Bottom Wall Profile, or be at a Fixed Elevation (Horizontal).  Use the drop-down list box to make your selection. Fixed Elevation (Horizontal) should be selected if you do NOT want the odd course to follow a wall profile.  You can control both the top and bottom of an odd course separately.  The top of the odd course can be a fixed elevation or horizontal or it can be a distance from the top of the wall or the bottom of the wall. Click here to see examples of odd courses

For Bottom of odd course follows, you can select what you want the bottom of the odd course to follow: Top Wall Profile, Bottom Wall Profile, be at a Fixed Elevation (Horizontal) or Same as Top.  Use the drop-down list box to make your selection.

Update Project, Additional Project Detail, Screen [B Tab:2]

There is now a Interpret Misc Cost #5 as Performance Bond check box.  This relates to the fifth line or 5 of the Miscellaneous Costs area to the left of the check box. When checked, it will fill in the fifth miscellaneous cost entry's description with the words Performance Bond Rate and change the dollar amount entry area so that you can enter a percentage.  The program will calculate a dollar amount equal to the percentage of the original bid price.  It will then add that amount to the original bid price to arrive at the new bid price.  Reports will print out the description Performance Bond and the amount and the Bid Price will reflect the addition of the Performance Bond.  For example, if the original bid price was $100,000 and you entered 10% for the Performance Bond, the program will add $10,000 Performance Bond to the $100,000 for new Bid price of $110,000.

Update Project Material, Screen [F]

With regard to Bonding, the wall graphic shown in Update Wall, Screen [D], Wall Shape, Screen [D-17], and Place Wall, Screen [PW], more accurately displays coursing and cuts.  Also, the texture of the outside headers, arches or circular openings, and bond beams display appropriately. Update Standard Material, Screen [H]

Update Standard Material, Screen [H]

With regard to Bonding, the wall graphic shown in Update Wall, Screen [D], Wall Shape, Screen [D-17], and Place Wall, Screen [PW], more accurately displays coursing and cuts.  Also, the texture of the outside headers, arches or circular openings, and bond beams display appropriately. Update Standard Material, Screen [H]

Update Wall, Screen [D]

When you make selections and enter information on Update Wall, Anchor-Veneer, Screen [D-7], some of the information now displays next to Anchors/Veneer button.

When you enter an amount for Rebar/Grout Spacing on Update Wall, Vertical Rebar/Inside Fill Detail, Screen [D-13], the amount will display next to the Rebar/Inside Fill button.

The Audit Report has been changed so that it shows all the new step type information.

Update Wall-Wall Shape, Screen [D-17]

The Wall Length and Wall Height entry areas have swapped position so Wall Height is above Wall Length as it is in Update Wall, Screen [D].

Major changes have been made to this screen to support the ability to not only create Left, Right, and Left and Right Inverted Step walls with traditional steps but now there are new Profile Types: Slope and Radius.  The Radius profile can be curved in or out.  You control the top or bottom of the wall's shape by using these step types, in combination, to create almost any wall shape needed in your project.

There is also the new Double Step button to define a wall shape with both a Top Profile and Bottom Profile (see below).  For example, you can create a Double Step wall shape that is a combination of a Left Step Inverted for the Top Profile and Right Step for the Bottom Profile.

For Double Step wall shapes, you can insert profiles on both Top Profile and Bottom Profile tabs.  The Top Profile is inserted like Left Step Inverted and the bottom is inserted like a Right Step.  A Double Step wall can be matched on both the top and bottom profiles.  It is normal to need to add more step height to the first step of the Top Profile; otherwise the top and bottom tend to occupy the same space.

On the Wall Shape screen, you will see two new tabs, Top Profile and Bottom Profile, used to display each profile's Step and Run List.  The concept of a wall Profile is used to mean the pitch of a part of the roof line. When you select Left Step, Right Step, or Double Step wall shapes and insert profile information on Update Wall Profile, Screen [D-17A], a summary of that information will appear on the Top Profile tab in the Step and Run List.  The Bottom Profile tab will show steps inserted for Left Step Inverted, Right Step Inverted, or Double Step wall shapes.  With Double Step wall shapes, if there is data in either of the tabs, the number of steps will appear after the word Profile.  A Red box will appear for Top Profile and a Blue box for Bottom Profile.

The Insert, Change, and Delete buttons have moved to the top of the Step and Run List. The Insert and Change buttons allow you to get to Update Wall Profile, Screen [D-17A],

There are now Move Up and Move Down buttons that are used to change the order of steps either up or down in the list. Once you have added steps, click on an item in the Step and Run List to select it and use the Move Up or Move Down buttons to change the order.

If you right click in the Step and Run List to bring up the Quick Menu, you can select Insert, Change, Delete, Move Up, Move Down, or Match Step which all perform like the buttons. However, there are two delete options only available on the Quick Menu, Delete from here to Start and Delete from here to end.  Select the step, right click to select either option.

The Match Step button has been moved under the Delete button.

Prior to version 4.0s, the first step had a count of zero. With version 4.0s, the base elevation of the new wall is altered as needed to match up with the wall it is matching.  When you click on Match Step and select a Double Step wall, a Please select box appears that says, "Match the Top or Bottom Profile of the Double Step Wall?"  Click on the Top Profile or Bottom Profile button as appropriate for your situation.

New columns were added to the Step and Run List to display information for new Radius-in and Radius-out Profile Types: Arch Ht (Height) and Radius. Step order # (number) is used for reference as well as repeating a series of profiles using the new Copy tab on the D17A  screen (see below).

On the graphic image there is now a dot or Bulls Eye that indicates the starting point for the next step.  When working with wall shapes with a top profile, like Left Step Inverted, Right Step Inverted, or Double Step, the Bulls Eye will be yellow; with a bottom profile, like Left Step, Right Step or Double Step, the Bulls Eye color will be blue.

Use classic style roofline odd courses (on gable and slope walls) checkbox has been added.  For all walls created before version 4.0s, it will automatically be checked.  By classic style, we mean that odd courses in gable/slope walls will follow the roofline, and remain in the triangular portion of the wall and end with a horizontal cut type.  If you want to change how the follow roof line odd courses start and end for gable/slope walls, either in a new wall or in old projects or walls copied from Assemblies, then uncheck Use Classic Style ... and specify the Cut Types for Odd Courses.

Now you can specify how you want the follow roof line Odd Courses to Start and End with Cut Types.  This will not be available if Use Classic style roofline odd courses (on gable and slope walls) is checked.  For Start, the options are Soldier, Plumb and Horizontal.  For End, the options are Same as Start, Soldier, Plumb and Horizontal. Soldier will start or end with a diagonal line perpendicular to the roof line. Plumb will start or end with a vertical line and extend to the wall edge. Horizontal will start and end an follow roofline odd course just like the classic style or it will remain in triangular portion of the wall.  Also the odd course will start and end with a horizontal.

You can also independently specify the Cut Types for how to Start and End Coping.  The options for Start are Plumb and Soldier.  The options for End are Same at Start, Plumb and Soldier.

Update Wall Profile, Screen [D-17A] (old Update Steps in Wall Shapes)

This screen's title has changed from Update Steps in Wall Shapes to Update Wall Profile to reflect the program's new capabilities of creating step, slope, and radius (curved in or out) profiles within a wall shape.

There are new Profile Type tabs. Step, which was previously the only profile available, is only one of these new tabs.  You can select Slope and Radius wall profiles.  The Radius Type selection on the Radius tab controls whether the profile with curve in or out.  All these profile types allow you to create a variety of shapes within one wall either at the top or bottom of the wall or both after selecting a Double Step wall shape.  Positive step amounts allow you to go out and negative step amounts allow you to go down.  If you enter step amounts which are above or below the wall height, the program will keep track of it but will not show it on the graphic image.

For example, for a wall with Wall Height of 20' and Wall Length 32', with a wall shape of Left Step Inverted, starting at the left side of the wall, insert the first profile by selecting the Step tab, entering a Step amount of 10' (height of the wall) and a Run amount of 0.'  Click on OK to save.  Then insert a second profile, select the Step tab and enter in a Step of 0' and a Run of 2.'   Insert a third profile, select the Step tab and enter a Step of -8" and Run of 0.'  Insert a fourth profile, select Step tab, and enter Step 0' and Run 3' 8."

The Radius Profile Type allows a profile to curve inward or outward and requires either an Arch Height or Radius.  To select an in or out Radius type from the Radius tab, click on either the radio button next to In or Out.  The program will automatically create the largest curve.  If you want to enter the Arch Height or Radius manually make sure the check box next to Flatten Arch Height (manual control) is checked.  If you enter the Arch Height, the Radius is automatically calculated or if you enter the Radius, the Arch Height is automatically calculated.  In our example shown above, insert a profile, select the Radius tab, enter a Step of 8", a Run of 8" and a Arch Height of 1.425 or Radius of 11.942" and select Radius Type of In (Rad-in on Step & Run List).  Then insert another profile, select the Step tab and enter a Step of 0' and Run 2.'

The Radius-out Profile Type allows a wall to curve outward and requires either an Arch Height or Radius. To select an out Radius type from the Radius tab, click on the radio button next to Out. Continuing with the example, insert a profile, select the Radius tab and enter a Step of 8", a Run of 8", an Arch Height of 1.425 and, for Radius Type, click in the radio button next to Out (Rad-out)

The Slope Profile Type allows a profile to slope upward with a positive step amount or slope downward with a negative step amount.  For example, a wall with Wall Height of 20' and Wall Length 40', with a wall shape of Left Step Inverted, insert a profile, select Step tab, and enter a 10' Step and 10' Run.  Click on Insert again and select the Slope tab, enter a 10' Step and 10' Run.  Click Insert again and select the Slope tab, enter a -10' Step and a 10' Run.  To finish, insert a profile, select Step tab and enter a 0' Step and 10' Run.  Insert the last profile, select the Step tab and enter a 10' Step and 0' Run.

On the Step tab, under On Odd Courses that follow this profile, the check box Leave Vertical Out has been added to control how you want odd courses to appear. It only applies to traditional Step wall profiles.

There is now a Copy tab. If the wall shape you are creating repeats several profile types, you can use the profile order numbers you see in the list on Update Wall, Wall Shape, Screen [D-17], to copy or repeat profile types.  To accomplish this, insert the profile types that you want to repeat.  This will establish the order number for these profiles.  Then insert another profile, select the Copy tab; enter the Step Count to indicate the number of times to repeat the profiles; enter the beginning order number next to Copy from Order number, and then enter the last order number next to Copy to Order number.  If you want that set of wall profiles to go in the opposite direction, click on check box next to Reverse Step.

Select Match Step, Screen [SMS]

Calculate Wall Height and Calculate Wall Length check boxes are in the same order as Wall Height and Wall Length on Update Wall-Wall Shape, Screen [D 17].

Wall & Reports, Screen [C]

There is no longer a Sheet tab.  It has been replaced by the Dynamic tab.

There is now a Dynamic tab.  When you click on the Dynamic tab, you can sort the walls by clicking on any of the headings at the top of the walls list.  For example, if you want to sort the walls by Wall Length, click on the Wall Length heading.  You will see walls sorted by the length in ascending order and see a + next to Wall Length to indicate how the walls are sorted.  If you click on Wall Length again, you will see walls sorted by length in descending order and there will be a - next to the heading.  The program will remember each users settings so that if you go to another tab and come back to the Dynamic tab it will resort the walls using the last selection.  Currently, this ability to sort by clicking on list headings is only available on the Standard Job Cost Codes and Walls & Reports screens.

You can now tag certain walls so that they will appear on Place Walls, Screen [PW].  From the Walls & Reports screen, tag the walls to be included and click on the Change button.  On the D screen, click on the Place Wall button.  From the Show drop-down list box on the PW screen, select Tagged on [C].  This in useful when working with alternate bids that need to include or exclude certain walls.  This will only work if you go from the C screen, then to D, and then to PW screen.  If you get to the D screen using these screens: Assemblies, Blue Print, Opening Placements, or Project Messages, the program assumes you want to see all walls.

Version 4.0R

The About Master Estimator screen has changed to reflect the version change. 

There are new sound files or messages associated with the program.  There is a Welcome message when you enter the program and a Thank You message when you close the program.  Also, on Friday's and randomly, a message will remind you to backup your data when you close the program.

Measure Master

There is now support in Measure Master for a 16 button cursor.  When you are in Place Wall, Screen [PW], a graphic of this cursor appears that can be used as a reference by moving your mouse cursor over the buttons and, if you click on the button, to perform the function.  In Tradesmen's Master Estimator, simply move your mouse cursor over a button on the 16 Button Cursor image and tip help will appear for that button.  If you wish to perform a function, not numbers, click on the button.  When you press that button on the actual 16 Button Cursor, it will also perform the action.

Tip help will appear that shows each button's function.  As you change tabs in the Place Wall screen, the buttons change function. The F button toggles between number and function mode-pressing it once changes it to enter numbers; pressing it again changes it to functions.

The Relocate Pads tab has changed so that rather than choose a pad from a drop-down list there is a list of pads.  On this list you can disable pads when you need space on the digitizer board for blueprints by selecting or unselecting a check box for each pad.  When a pad is unchecked, that pad's designated space can be used for digitizing take-offs.  To place a pad, select it from the list and click on the Place Pad button (replaces Restart Placing Pads).  A voice message will guide you through the process of clicking on the upper left and lower right corners of the paper pad that's attached to the digitizer.

Remember that you can use a Selection Pad to enter information into your projects.  The Selection pad is used like a keyboard to type words, space, and other characters.  You can edit the Selection Pad that comes with the program and save it for your specific needs.

If you make changes to the Selection Pad and forget to save those changes, when you exit the Edit Selection Pad screen, the program will offer to Save and Exit.

The Save icon on the Tool Bar has changed.

On the Setup tab, the WinTab Configure area has been removed.

For easy reference, the printed Selection and Keyboard pads have the Tradesmen's Web site address, email address, and telephone number.

Backup and Restore Procedures

Batch or ASCII files, control how Master Estimator does Backup or Restore procedures.  The batch files may need to be customized before these procedures are run.  The batch files assume, unless changed, that you are backing up and restoring files from an external storage device associated with E:\ .  Follow the directions under Backup or Restore procedures.  After the batch files are opened there are also directions and areas at the top of the file that state "make custom settings here."  Once changes are made, save the files.  Once edited, the batch files do not need to be changed unless, in the future, you change your backup or restore locations.

Screens

Calculator

Just a reminder that there is a Calculator built into the program.  At any entry area on the screen, click on the Calculator icon in the tool bar or press the F2 button on the keyboard to bring up a calculator.  If you are on a number, the current number will appear in the middle of the calculator and the number will automatically be put into memory.  Use it like any other calculator to perform a calculation on the current number.

The Back button and Backspace key on the keyboard will delete entered numbers for correction.

Copy Wall, Screen [CW]

A Qty (quantity) entry area has been added.  The wall you are copying may have a quantity number larger than is required.

The button text has changed and there is a new button.  The OK Copy Now button has changed to OK-Copy Checked Items meaning only those items checked will be copied.  The new button, OK-Check All and Copy will automatically check all relevant items for you and copy everything.  Cancel-Abort Copy will not copy anything.

If you have NOT changed the Base Elevation of the wall, when you click on OK-Copy Checked Items a Warning:Walls occupy same space message appears that states:  "Warning you are copying the DIGITIZER WALL PLACEMENTS and you have not changed the Base Elevation of the wall.  Unless something is changed this will result in both walls occupying the same space.  There will be no further warnings to remind you that you have walls that occupy the same space."  Click on the Continue button to copy the wall or Stay on [CW] button to change the Base Elevation before copying.

If you have NOT changed the Base Elevation enough so that walls will OVERLAP, when you click on OK-Copy Checked Items a Warning:Walls occupy same space message appears that states:  "Warning you are copying the DIGITIZER WALL PLACEMENTS and the new elevation still overlaps the original wall.  Unless something is changed this will result in both walls occupying the same space.  There will be no further warnings to remind you that you have walls that occupy the same space."  Click on the Continue button to copy the wall or Stay on [CW] button to change the Base Elevation before copying.

Graphic Options, Screen [GO]

Dedicated has been changed to Dedicated Cross Section to make clearer it's purpose.  When it is selected, the graphic image in Update Wall and Update Wall-Wall Shape will only show a side view or slice of the wall.  You will NOT see a three dimensional view.

Many cosmetic changes have been made to this screen to make it easier to select what should be included in the graphic.  Speed of the program will increase by hiding some aspects of the graphic. You can now make selections to show Pilasters, Panels, and Openings. 

Also, when on Update Wall, Screen [D], you can select what to Automatically Hide in Cross Section viewpoint: Pilasters, Panels, and/or Openings. 

When in Plan viewpoint, you can select to Automatically Hide Openings.

The label Current Digitizer Location Indicator has been changed to Digitizer Cursor Location. The Digitizer Cursor Location, a vertical bar where your digitizer pen or puck is located within the graphic image, has changed.  At the top of the vertical bar there is an inverted conical point.  This is used to pin point the location of the digitizer pen and provides a way to be more procise when placing walls and openings.

Import Project, Classification Conflict, Screen [IPCC]

When there is a conflict with a material Classification between the imported project and the current material Classification, the program will display this screen that shows information for the Importing Classification and the Existing Classification.  You are to type a new name for the classification being imported or select an existing classification that is compatible with the one being imported.

Opening Placements, Screen [OP]

There is a Type column that corresponds to the new Offset type selection entered on Place Wall, Screen [PW], Place Openings tab or Update Opening Placement, Screen [UOP].  You may need to resize this screen if you cannot see that column.  See Place Wall and Update Opening Placement sections below.

Opening Schedules, Screen [OS]

The last column is the new Favorite column.  You can indicate three openings as your "favorite" or most used openings by selecting an opening and then typing either the letter C, D, or E.  When placing your openings with the digitizer, you can use the C, D, or E buttons on a 16 button cursor to quickly select those Favorite opening schedules on the Place Openings tab in Place Wall, Screen [PW].  If you don't have a 16 button cursor , you can click on the C, D, or E buttons on the new graphic icon that appears on the Place Wall screen.

Select the Sort Favorites First check box to have the Favorites, those with letter C, D, or E in the Favorites column, or most used openings, appear at the top of the list of opening schedules.

Place Wall, Screen [PW]

When the Place Wall screen opens, a graphic of a 16 button cursor appears that can be used as a reference by moving your mouse cursor over the buttons and, if you click on the button, to perform the function.  Simply move your mouse cursor over a button on the 16 Button Cursor image and tip help will appear for that button.  If you wish to perform a function, not numbers, click on the button.  When you press that button on the actual 16 Button Cursor, it will also perform the action.  Tip help will appear that shows each button's function.  As you change tabs in the Place Wall screen, the buttons change function. The F

 button toggles between number and function mode-pressing it once changes it to enter numbers; pressing it again changes it to functions.

When placing your openings you can use the C, D, or E buttons on a 16 button cursor to quickly select those Favorite opening schedules on the Place Openings tab in Place Wall, Screen [PW]. 

The Current Digitizer Location Indicator, a vertical bar where your digitizer pen or puck is located within the graphic image, has changed.  At the top of the vertical bar there is an inverted conical point.  This is used to pin point the location of the digitizer pen and provides a way to be more procise when placing walls and openings.

On the Place Walls tab, there is now the option on the drop-down list box above Radius for Circular or cylindrical walls.  If you choose Circular (cylindrical), you will need to enter the length of the Radius and then, using the digitizer pen or puck, click in the middle of the of the circle on the blueprint.

On the Place Openings tab, there is an Offset Type drop-down list box that specifies how you want the opening placement saved.  Prior to this version, to place an opening you started at the left of a section and went right to the left edge of the opening.  That type of Offset is now called Left side of Opening.  Now you can also select Right side of Opening to indicate that an opening placement starts from the end of the section and goes left to the right edge of the opening.  The next type of Offset is similar to Left Side of Opening.  Center of Opening starts at the left of the section and goes to the right to the center of opening.  From Center of Section starts at the middle of the section and goes to the right to the center of the opening.  If you want an opening placement left of center, you can enter negative distances.  The Offset type and distances are displayed on Opening Placements, Screen [OP], and stored in Update Opening Placement, Screen [UOP].

On the Place Openings tab, the List of Elevations area has changed.  Where it once had a Default column with check boxes marked if the opening placement used the Opening Schedule Elevation, now it has an Override column that has a check box marked only if the opening placement uses an elevation override set on Update Opening to be Placed Detail, Screen [UOTP].  Also the column text has changed for Elevation is now Opening Elev, and Effective Elevation is now Elevation Being used.

On the Place Openings tab, Allow Openings to be Placed in drop-down list box has been removed and it has been set to the Same as Walls Shown.  You can only place openings on walls that are currently being shown and, of those, only walls that are on the current sheet. If you find that you are missing the Allow Openings to be Placed drop-down list box, please contact Tradesmen's Software support.

On the Place Openings tab, there is now an Add to Opening Elev (listed above) check box and entry areas for the amount to be added to the elevation.  This is used to enter stacked openings.  If checked, the opening placement will be set as a override on Update Opening Placement, Screen [UOP].  If you double-click on the opening schedule elevation to open Update Opening to be Placed, Screen [UOTP], you can see the Opening Schedule Elevation, the Override Opening Schedule Elevation, the Additional Elevation, and then the Effective Elevation. 

Project Crews, Screen [NN]

If you want to update the crew information from Standard Crews, Screen [N], click on the new Update All Crews from Standard button next to the Crew Report button.  The program will also update all of the Labor and Equipment ID's that are used in those crews. 

Project Materials, Screen [E]

The last column now shows the total Quantity and Unit for each material as of the last report with all walls selected.  This column was added so that users can see which materials were actually used in a project.

Save Graphic, Screen [SG]

From Graphic Options, Screen [GO], clicking on the Save Graphic button will open this new screen.  This screen sets up the graphic file name, location. and type to be saved as well as the dimensions, print resolution (tool to help set dimensions), background color and whether the digitizer locator should be included in the graphic file.

Update Opening Placement, Screen [UOP]

The Top and Bottom Elevation area, in the middle of the screen, has been rearranged so that Top Elevation and Bottom Elevation are at the right and Wall Elevation and Opening Schedule Elevation are above the displayed elevations.

The Override Schedule Elevation check box is at left of the screen, above entry areas for putting in the top and bottom elevation override amounts.

The Graphic Placement Segment and Section entry areas are now below the Top and Bottom Elevation area.

New is the Offset drop-down list box.  For those using a digitizer, this stores the Offset Type selection made on the Place Openings tab in Place Wall, Screen [PW]. Prior to this version, to place an opening you started at the left of a section and went right to the left side of the opening.  That type of Offset is now called Left side of Opening.  Now you can also select Right side of Opening to indicate that an opening placement starts from the end of the section and goes to the right edge of the opening.  The next type of Offset is similar to Left Side of Opening.  Center of Opening starts at the left of the section and goes to the right to the center of opening.  From Center of Section starts at the middle of the section and goes to the right to the center of the opening.  If you want an opening placement left of center, you can enter negative distances.  Any selection will appear in the Audit Report for Placement section of the screen.  The Offset selection will also appear in Opening Placements, Screen [OP], in the Type column.

Update Opening to be Placed, Screen [UOTP] 

The screen ID changed from [UPTPD] to UOTP-Update Opening to be Placed.

This screen now lets you select to Use Opening Schedule Elevation or allows you to alternately choose to Override Opening Schedule Elevation.  Once selected you can enter the amount,  Then it displays the existing elevation in Add to Elevation

, from Add to Elevations to be Placed on the Place Openings tab on Place Wall, Screen [PW], and then the Elev to be Used or the real elevation.

Update Project Crew, Screen [OO]

Underneath the crew list, there is an area that summarizes the Base, Fringe, Burden, Equipment and Total Cost per Day.  The line below that has been added.  That is the Cost/Man Day that takes the dollar amount for each and divides it by either the calculated or override number of Production Masons.  Then Man Hours/Crew Day is displayed for Supervisor, Layout, Sawman, Production, and Tender.  This information is also shown on the Crew Report that is generated when you click on the Crew Report button on Project Crews, Screen [NN].

Update Standard Crew, Screen [O]

Underneath the crew list, there is an area that summarizes the Base, Fringe, Burden, Equipment and Total Cost per Day.  The line below that has been added.  That is the Cost/Man Day that takes the dollar amount for each and divides it by either the calculated or override number of Production Masons.  Then Man Hours/Crew Day is displayed for Supervisor, Layout, Sawman, Production, and Tender.  This information is also shown on the Crew Report that is generated when you click on the Crew Report button on Standard Crews, Screen [N].

Update Wall, Screen [D]

An Auto Camera check box has been added in the upper left corner of the screen.  If checked, when the program redraws the graphic, it resets the graphic location to what was set in Graphic Options, Screen [GO].  If you want to zoom in to work on a particular spot of the graphic, especially with odd course projection, click on this check box to deselect it.  It can also be used to quickly reset the graphic by clicking on it to select it and then clicking on it again to deselect it.

Gable Height wording changes depending upon whether are working with a Gable or Slope wall shape. If you are working with a Slope wall shape the height wording will change to Slope Height.  If you are working with a Gable wall shape, the wording will be Gable Height.

Walls & Reports, Screen [C]

The material color has been added to the regular Outside and Inside material columns.

Version 4.0Q

The About Master Estimator screen has changed to reflect the version change.
You can now press the F11 key on the keyboard any where in the program to bring up the About Master Estimator screen.

Help File

The text for How to Generate a Proposal has been corrected and updated with steps for using the Calculated Bid Price and Bid Offset, or Use this bid price instead of Calculated Bid Price on Update Project Contact, Screen [KK].
The Help file documentation for exporting a project was on the Projects, Screen [A], page. Now it has it's own page in the Help file so that if you are on Export Project screen in Master Estimator and press the F1 key, it will open the Export Project, Screen [EP], page.

The Help file documentation for importing a project was on the Projects, Screen [A], page. Now it has it's own page in the Help file so that if you are on Import Project screen in Master Estimator and press the F1 key, it will open the Import Project, Screen [IP], page.

Measure Master

There is now support for a 16 button digitizer puck. The puck can be in two modes, 1) to perform a function, such as pressing 6 acts as the Tab key on the keyboard, or 2) to enter numbers or other characters. The F button toggles the mode-pressing it once changes it to enter numbers; press it again to change it to functions.
When you have Measure Master open, and are not on the Place Wall screen, you will see a gray box next to the icon for Measure Master in Master Estimator's tool bar. It will display, the scale set on Measure Master's Scale tab, the Measurement Mode set on the Main tab, and the value that will be sent when you either use the Send button (button 2 on digitizer pen or puck) or click on the Send key on the Selection pad. When you are on the Place Wall screen, the box next to Measure Master on the tool bar, will show the current sheet's scale set on Update Project Sheet, Screen [UPS]. The box will also change color.

Measure Master's scale setting and the current sheet's scale setting will probably not be set to the same scale. If you want to use Measure Master to work on some aspect of the current project, such a determining a length of a wall or area of the blueprint, make sure to set Measure Master's scale to match the blueprint's scale.
When you close Measure Master you will now see the following Close Measure Master? message that says, "The keyboard and selection pads are functional ONLY when: Measure Master is running and Measure Master is NOT on the RELOCATE PADS tab. TIP: Measure Master is running if you see the current scale in a gray box on the tool bar to right of the Measure Master Icon." There are three buttons: Close will deactivate or close Measure Master; Leave Open will keep Measure Master active and displayed, and Minimize will leave it active but minimized.

Tip: If you have a large blue print and need more space, you can close Measure Master to gain back space normally used by the Keyboard and Selection pad. The Place Wall, Update Project Sheet, and Update Match Line screens do not depend upon Measure Master but use the WinTab driver for digitizer work.
On Measure Master's Setup tab, there is now a check box for Automatically start Measure Master when starting Master Estimator. If you do not work with a digitizer and start Master Estimator, there is now an Wintab error message that says, "The digitizer doesn't appear to be working properly. It is probably disconnected. Closing Measure Master. Next time would you like to Auto Open or No Auto Open." Because you do NOT want to work with a digitizer, click on the No Auto Open button. By choosing No Auto Open, the program automatically takes the check mark out of the Automatically start Measure Master when starting Master Estimator check box on Measure Master's Setup Tab. .

Screens

Assemblies, Screen [L]

If you have a check next to Hide Project on Projects [A] and Assemblies [L] on Update Project, Additional Project Detail, Screen [B Tab:2], and Show Hidden Projects is selected on this screen, then the text in the list of projects will appear bold blue.
When you click and drag a wall or opening to copy it to Walls and Reports, Screen [C], Copy Wall, Screen [CW], will open so that you can enter information regarding the new wall and select what should be copied.

Copy Wall, Screen [CW]

When you click on the Copy button on Walls& Reports, Screen [C], or click and drag a wall or opening from Assemblies, Screen [L] this screen opens so that you can enter information regarding the new wall's Wall Area, Description, and/or Base Elevation and select what should be copied.
When you copy a wall and alter the Base Elevation, then that wall's opening placements are automatically set to Override Schedule Elevation on Update Opening Placement, Screen [UOP], and the effective elevation is changed by the same amount that the base elevation was changed.

Edit Color, Screen [EC]

The color selected on Update Material Classification, Screen [X], is referred to as the Inherited Color on Update Project Material, Screen [F], and Update Standard Material, Screen [H]. If you want to change the Inherited Color when on either of these screens, you will uncheck Inherit Color and click on the Edit Color button to open the Edit Color screen. Now the inherited color is automatically added to the last box of the Custom Color area. Click on that color, press the left arrow key on the keyboard to move to an empty color box, and use the triangle button to move up and down the color bar. When you have moved it to the color you want, click on the Add Custom Color button.

Export Project, Screen [EP]

The Export Project screen has been given its own screen ID of EP.
The Help file documentation for exporting a project was on the Projects, Screen [A], page. Now it has it's own page in the Help file so that if you are on Export Project screen in Master Estimator and press the F1 key, it will open the Export Project, Screen [EP] page.

Import Project, Screen [IP]

The Import Project screen has been given its own screen ID of IP.
The Help file documentation for importing a project was on the Projects, Screen [A], page. Now it has it's own page in the Help file so that if you are on Import Project screen in Master Estimator and press the F1 key, it will open the Import Project, Screen [IP] page.
The Import Filename entry area now shows only the filename and there is a separate Import Folder entry area to select the filename's drive and folder location. Import Folder stores past locations of successful imports that you can select from using a drop-down list box. If you need to select another drive and folder, use the Browse button. There is also a drop-down list box of filenames to choose from that are sorted by date, with the most recent imported filename at the top. If the file isn't listed, use the Browse button to select it.

When a project is exported, the entire Material Classifications, Screen [W], list is exported with it. If, in the import file, there is a classification that is not in current Material Classifications list, then it will always be added. Use the check boxes Replace the Color for classifications used by this project and Replace the Cost Codes for classifications used by this project to indicate how the current Material Classification list should be updated.

However, there may be times when you want to bring in all of the exported Material Classifications. To do that select, Also Import Classifications that are NOT USED in the project. You can then select if you want to Replace the Color for all Classifications and Replace the Cost Codes in all Classifications.

Import Project Classification Conflict, Screen [IP-CC]

When you are importing a file, the program looks for conflicts between the imported project's Material Classifications Units and the Units in the existing Material Classifications file. If there is a problem, the Import Project Classification Conflict screen will open so that you can enter a new Classification name for the imported project. Any reference in the imported project to that Classification will be changed to the new name.

Main Screen

An icon for Update Project has been added next to Preferences on the Tool Bar. When you click on the Update Project icon, the Update Project, Screen [B], will open for the currently selected project.

Opening Placement, Screen [OP]

There is now a check box in the Shape/Out column indicating that the last time a report was generated for that wall there was a opening placement warning. The warning says, "Opening is not fully visible due to Elevation or Graphical Placement, but Opening will affect calculations."

Normally when you digitize an opening, the Offset is automatically entered. However, if you have a panel on the inside wythe and it is on the inside corner of a wall, then you will have to enter manually a negative number. As you digitize this opening, the easiest way to enter the negative offset is on Place Wall, Screen [PW], on the Place Openings tab. Right click on the opening placement and select Change Last Placement-Highlighted Line from the Quick Menu.

Opening Schedule, Screen [OS]

There are two new sort tabs: Length, Height and Height, Length.
There is a drop-down list box that controls how panels should be sorted: Sort Panels First, Sort Panels Last or Sort Panels Mixed.

Place Wall, Screen [PW]

On the Place Walls tab, instead of radio button to select Segmental or Continuous, there is now a drop-down list box of options to select. Radius-in (curves inside) and Radius-out (curves outside) have been added to create curved walls.
For curved (radius) walls, you enter the radius length in the new Radius entry area. You then use the digitizer pen or puck to indicate just the start and end point of the curved wall. If you digitize two points and the distance between them is greater than twice the radius, there will be a message box that says, "The points are too far apart for the current radius." and has two buttons: Start Over or 180 degrees. Clicking on the Start Over button lets you digitize the two points again. Clicking on the 180 Degrees button pretends the second point is twice the radius and forms a semi-circle (180 degree circle). The program is creating many sections for that curved wall segment which can be seen in the list of segments and sections. An opening on a curved wall that crosses a section will not show correctly on the graphic but will calculate correctly. Bonding, which has no affect on calculation at any time, will also not show correctly.

Within the list of segments and sections, the Turn column now puts section 1 items in bold print making it easier to distinguish between them and turns. The check box that was in SegSect has been removed.
Between the tab area of the screen and the segment section list, there is now a Last Wall Moved Through area that displays information regarding walls as you move the cursor bar around using the digitizer pen. As you look at the graphic, you may notice that there is a section of a wall that needs to be changed. To get information about that wall, move the digitizer pen to that wall and look in the Last Wall Moved Through area to find the wall's Area, Description, Segment Section, Base Elevation, Wall Height, and Section Length that are displayed.

If you have made changes and then click on the Cancel button, a message box appears that says, "Are you sure you want to Cancel? There are unsaved changes to Wall Placements and/or Opening Placements." If you click on the Close [PW] button, all changes made will NOT be saved. If you click on the Stay Here button, you are left on the Place Wall screen so that you can either click on the Save or OK buttons to save your changes.

When Auto Move Camera is not checked, the program will save the way you are looking at the graphic when you leave the screen so that if you need to shortly go back and work in that same area again, you won't have to move back to that position. In fact, it will save this camera position until you exit the Master Estimator program. Note: If you go to the Place Wall screen for another wall and Auto Move Camera is unchecked, the camera will move to the last saved position. The graphic may not show what you expected. Click Auto Move Camera check box so there is a check mark and the graphic will change to the Viewpoint setting.

In the tool bar next to the Measure Master icon, there is a box that shows the scale used by the current sheet.

Projects, Screen [A]

If you have a check next to Hide Project on Projects [A] and Assemblies [L] on Update Project, Additional Project Detail, Screen [B Tab:2], and Show Hidden Projects is selected on this screen, then the text in the list of projects will appear bold blue.
An Import Folder drop-down list box has been added to Import Project screen. It stores the location and folder names of successful past imports. The Import Filename is also a drop-down list box that stores past imported filenames sorted in date order with newest at the top. Replace Colors in Classification, Replace Cost Codes in Classification, and Replace All Classifications vs only those used by the project being imported have also been added.

Project Messages, Screen [PM]

The Pause button has been added so that, during the generation of a report for a large project, you can temporarily stop the process to deal with a warning message. The process will be: 1) you see that there is a warning message, 2) click on the Pause button, 3) select the warning message and click on the Change button or double-click on the specific warning message you want to change, this opens the appropriate screen, 4) make the change, 5) click on the OK button to save the change. Now that you are back to the Project Messages screen and you click on the Pause button again to continue the processing.

Warning: You will need to run the report again to have the changes you made affect calculations.
You can click on the Send to Notepad or Cancel button at any point during the process.

Update Odd Course, Screen [D4]

There is now the ability to put an odd course on three additional wythes: Parging, Air Space, and Cavity (Insulation).
Regarding Wythe, the order the wythes appear in the drop-down list box is the order, from outside to inside the wall, they appear in the wall graphic.
Now you can control overlapping odd courses! They will calculate appropriately and show graphically. You indicate the position of the odd course or how far left or right it goes, from a cross section point of view, use entry areas on the new Recess or Project tab. You can also do this on Update Wall, Screen [D], by clicking on an odd course and using the Control Left or Right arrow keys. This moves the odd course in 1/2 inch increments either left or right. Continue holding down the Control key while pressing the Left or Right arrow key repeatedly until the odd course is placed appropriately.

On the new Recess or Project tab, there is a check box for Center on Wall. If it is selected, the odd course will be centered left and right over the whole wall. If the odd course wythe is set to Center, and Center on Wall is selected, then this odd course will not affect the width of the center wythe. The program will use the width of the odd course and its projection to find the right-most and left-most odd courses and from those, establish the width of the center wythe. The whole wall is a combination of inside and outside material plus the widths of all the wythes. The center wythe is positioned in the center of the wall but it can additionally be projected left or right from center. This may affect all other wall materials and you will need to deal with those affects.

Two odd courses that occupy the same space, by overlapping elevation and left and right, is considered an error and one of them will either be reduced or eliminated. A warning will be generated when you run a report. If there is an odd course that occupies the same space as another odd course, the program first uses the following to determine which one reduces the other: 1) a center on wall wythe beats a non-center on wall wythe; and 2) a wythe crosser beats a non-wythe crosser. Then, if there are two center on wall wythes, two wythe crossers or two non-wythe crossers, then the odd course with the smaller band height beats the larger one. If the band height for both odd courses is the same, then the odd course with the lower band top will beat the one with the higher. Be aware that if you project an odd course so that it no longer occupies its original wythe space, the program still deducts the material from the original wythe.

Warning: If you want to work on projects that were taken off prior to version 4.0q, and they have multiple center wythe odd courses that occupy the same space, then you can use the Allow center wythe odd courses to occupy the same space check box on Update Project, Additional Project Detail, Screen [B Tab:2] to get the program to ignor overlapping center wythe odd courses.
You can now indicate the Quantity of odd courses and Space Between Bands and the program will automatically insert odd courses. With 3D graphics, you can see multiple odd courses.

When filling in grout information for multiple odd courses, you can now save your selections on the Grout/Rebar tab by clicking on the Remember Settings button. The next time you add an odd course and want that same grout information filled in, click on the Use Auto Grout settings now button. If you have the Prompt to use Auto Grout for Bondbeams check box selected, when you select an odd course material with Side Bonding set to Bond Beam, a message appears that says, "Would you like to automatically set Grout and Rebar for your Bondbeam?" If you click on the Set button, the Auto Grout settings will be filled into the Grout/Rebar tab.

Update Project, Screen [B]

An icon for Update Project has been added next to Preferences on the Tool Bar on the Main screen. When you click on the Update Project icon, the Update Project, Screen [B], will open for the currently selected project.

Update Project, Additional Project Detail, Screen [B Tab:2]

Prior to version 4.0q, there was no specific feature to deal with odd courses that overlapped. When odd courses overlapped, material would be reduced or parts of the odd course would be eliminated depending upon how much they overlapped. Therefore, calculations were affected when running a report.
With version 4.0q, the program can now calculate and show graphically overlapping odd courses, using Update Odd Course, Recess or Project, Screen [D-4 Tab:4], or on Update Wall, Screen [D], (see section Graphic Image of Wall) by selecting the odd course and using the control left or right arrow keys.

The check box Allow center wythe odd courses to occupy the same space has been added. Select this check box if you are working with projects created prior to 4.0q and want the program to ignor overlapping odd courses when running a report. It will not automatically select it for you and, therefore, the program will recalculate odd courses based on the new ability to correctly calculate and show overlapping odd courses.

Update Project Material, Screen [F]

New option of Stone has been added to the Bonding drop-down list box.

New options for Square and Round were added to the drop-down list box for Side Bonding and use the width and length to determine how the cells are shown graphically . If the material is wider than the height, then the cells run horizontally. If the material is higher than the width, then the cells run vertically.

Update Standard Material, Screen [H]

New option of Stone has been added to the Bonding drop-down list box.

New options for Square and Round were added to the drop-down list box for Side Bonding and use the width and length to determine how the cells are shown graphically . If the material is wider than the height, then the cells run horizontally. If the material is higher than the width, then the cells run vertically.

Update Wall, Screen [D]

When you are working with a pier, you can now see the cross section both sides of the pier. To do this, you must click on the Camera button and click on the Dedicated check box on Graphic Options, Screen [OP]. Remember, in order to see the cross section of a pier on the Update Wall screen, your cursor must be in either the Pier Height entry area or either Odd Course list.
On the uld status bar in the lower right corner of the program, after Screen D will be the words Insert, Change, or Copy. This was done as a reference tool to help you distinguish between a change and working with a copy.

When you add an odd course, a list of odd courrrses apppears showing the Material, Qty, Wytheb0 , Elevation, and Clr (Color). If the band quantity is 0, the entry under Qty will be red 0, if 1 then gray 1, and if 2 or more, bold green 2.
Wire is now shown in 3D graphic cross section.
If the wall does not contain wire, anchors, or parapet wire, when you click on the OK button you will see this error message: "
Warning: This wall has no Wire, Regular Anchors, or Parapet wire. Note: If the spacing is set to Zero, then the material is ignored.0 0 "" Wire, anchor or parapet must have some spacing amount to be coonsidereed present.

Update Wall-Cavity/Insulation & Parging Detail, Screen [D5]

The Deduct Flashing for Cells that have Rebar entry when checked tells the program to deduct the flashing materials for block cells that have rebar .
When you select a flashing material, the program assumes one course of flashing material is needed. The Relief Angle Flashing Count entry area has been added so that you indicate how many courses of additional flashing are needed.
The list box of odd courses at the bottom of this screen now includes Qty or Quantity of odd course. The text to right of the list box shows that only Center, No Deduct, Parging, Air Space, and Cavity wythe odd courses display.

Update Wall-Control Joints and Caulking (Flues), Screen [D14]

Under Height Deductions for Control Joints, the Quantity entry areas have been moved to the left. You must fill-in a Quantity in order to fill-in the Height and Elevation entry areas.

Update Wall Placement, Screen [UPW]

New screen that allows you to edit the wall's segment and section Rotation or Turn degrees, direction (left/right) and Length information as well as select Close this Segment to ensure the segment ends where it began.
To do so, click on the segment section to be edited and then right click on the SegSect list on Place Walls, Screen [PW], select Precision Editing of Wall Placement from the Quick Menu . You can also double-click on a segment section within the list to edit it.

Walls & Reports, Screen [C]

The Copy, Insert, and Change buttons have been moved to the left of the bottom of the screen. The Delete and Close buttons aare on the right of the screen. Now there is distance between the Change and Delete button so that users do not accidentally click on the Delete button when they meant to click on Change.

Sheet and Elevation tabs have been added so that you can sort walls by sheet or elevation.

A # column, that shows the row number for each wall, has been added to the llist of walls.

When the Wall & Reports screen is the only open screen, you will see, in the lower left corner, the current version information for Master Estimator.

If you have a check next to Hide Projeect on Projects [A] and Assemblies [L] on Update Project, Additional Project Detail, Screen [B Tab:2], then the text next to the Select Project button will appear blue.
On a normal Quantity Bid report, the Classification heading will say, for example "CMU Continued," if the materials listed for that classifiication continue to another page.
On a Field Report By Wall, all tthe iinformation that is under the heading Area Description on the Quantity Bid By Wall report has now been added.

On all varieties of Quantity Bid and Summary reports, in the Crew section on the next to the last page, the total of the base, fringe, and burden are printed in a Total column.
On the Quantity Bid Totals Only report, both by wall andd not by wall, the material's Waste Factor is printed.

On the Summary page, In-house cleaning is clearly shown and crew detail is broken out as In-House cleaning versus Laying.

If you have tagged only certain walls, and click on the Opening Placements icon on this screen (not on the tool bar), you will see a message that says, "Only some wall are tagged. Would you like tto work with opening placements for" and two buttons, All Walls or Tagged Walls. If you want to work with all walls click on the All Walls button. If you want to work with just the selected walls, click on the Tagged Walls button. If you click on the Tagged Walls button, when the Opening Placement screen opens, click on the Wall radio button at the top of the screen to see the opening placements for the seelected walls.

When you click on the Copy button, Copy Wall, Screen [CW], will open so you can enter information regarding the new wall and select what should be copied.

Version 4.0p

Projects, Screen [A]

You can change the Contact column to Estimator or the City column to Keywords. The Keywords entry area has been added to the Update Project, Additional Project Detail, Screen [B Tab:2], so that you can enter any 15 characters text or numbers that describe the project.

Project Materials, Screen [E]

The speed of copying has been drastically improved when using the Copying all Materials from another Project button.

Place Wall, Screen [PW]

On the Placing Openings tab, the words Right Click List for Menu have been added next to the List of Elevation Overrides to remind users that when you right click on the list you can insert elevation overrides, change or delete a highlighted line, delete all the entries, change last placement, etc.
There is now a Cross Sections tab. This tab lets you look at the cross section of the graphic. It is trying to duplicate what you see when you look at a cross section drawing on a set of blueprints. When you first click on the tab, the Master Estimator 3-D program automatically depresses the Place Cross Section Now button so that you can set, with the digitizer pen, a point in an overall project blueprint where you want the cross section to begin and then the direction you want to look. You will see the cross section on the Place Wall screen because a check mark is automatically put in the box next to Show Cross Section Only so that you only see part of the graphic. If you later want to see the whole graphic, click on the box to remove the check mark. If you want to see the opposite part of the graphic (rotate 180 degrees), click oon the View Opposite Direction button. Once you feel comfortable with these features, you can advance to using the Crosss Section follows Digitizer Pen button. This lets you move the cross section on the graphic image by moving the digitizer pen on the blue print. You can also click on the Show Manipulator check box so that you see the cross section manipulttor. By clicking and dragging the different parts on the manipuulator, using the arrow or Select/Pick tool within the graphic image, you can change the location and position of the cross sectiion. Once you have changed the location of manipulator, click on Move Camera button to change the way you're looking at the graphic.

Update Project, Additional Project Detail, Screen [B Tab:2]

The Keywords entry area has been added to the Update Project, Additional Project Detail, Screen [B Tab:2]. It allows you to enter 15 characters, letter or numbers, that hhave something to do with the project. You can now change the City column to display those Keywords on Projects, Screen [A], by click on the circle, at the top of the screen, next to Keywords.

Update Wall-Vertical Rebar/Inside Fill Detail, Screen [D-13]

There are new entry areas, and some have moved, on the Pier Center tab. If you enter a Pier Center Material that has a void or voids, then Void Fill/Grout (which has been moved right below) is available to select that material. Then, you can now indicate whether there are only a certain number of Vertical Cells to Grout or to Grout all cells (this replaces Grout Solid).
If you have selected a material for Void Fill/Grout, Pier Center Rebar is available to select a material. You can now indicate how many Bars per grouted cell there should be as welll as if you want some number of Additional Bars. In past versions, it was assumed that there was just one bar per cell, now you be very specific.

There is now a Lift Count entry area above Pier Center Rebar Lap and below it the Calculated Rebar Length is displayed. These are the same as on the Grout / Rebar - Fill Cells tab.

Walls & Reports, Screen [C]

When you show or print a Quantity Bid Price by Wall (Totals Only) report, any Notes added to a wall will appear at the bottom of that wall's page.

Version 4.0n

Assemblies, Screen [L]

You can now control how projects are sorted using a drop-down list box. You can sort by Order Created, Bid Date, Description, Job Number, or Last Touched.

Place Wall, Screen [PW]

With Current Digitizer Location Indicator selected on Graphic Options, Screen [GO], when you are either the Intelliplace wall or Place Openings tab, and move the locator through a wall, you will hear a sound indicating when the locator is in the appropriate wall and when it has moved outside the wall. This works the same way as the locator changing color as you move it through a wall except that you are hearing it instead of seeing it.

If you delete sections in the middle of a segment, the remaining sections' positions will stay the same. In the past, when sections were deleted, the graphic did not display the way you'd expect.
When digitizing a project, if you digitize an angle that is greater than 175 degrees, then a message will appear asking you whether you want to Ignore what you've just done or Start a New Segment. For example, you digitize three points so that it looks like an "L." If you were to point to left of the bottom of the "L" so that it looked like an upside-down "T," you would be creating an angle that is more than 175 degrees and the message window appears. In most cases, this is not what was desired so you select Ignore.

In the List of segments area of the screen, the Rotation column has been changed to Turns. Turns are where the rotation is relative to the last section so you will see a lot of 90 or -90 degree turns.

Project Messages, Screen [PM]

If you have a warning message which relates to an Opening Schedule but appears for an Opening Placement, you can now double-click on the message and it will take you to Update Opening Schedule, Screen [UOS], not the Update Opening Placement screen.

Update Opening Schedule, Adjustments, Screen [UOS Tab:7]

A new Adjustments tab has been added to this screen that shows each adjustment's Material, Mortar, Crew, Qty (Quantity), whether it Adds to or Takes Away From the take-off, Units , and the Description. This tab will look like Adjustments, Screen [D-15], which deals with wall adjustments. Information is entered or modified by clicking on the Insert or Change buttons which opens Update Opening Schedule Adjustment Detail, Screen [UOSAD]. The take-off will be affected by the adjustments in this screen everywhere an opening is placed using this schedule.

Update Opening Schedule Adjustment, Screen [UOSA]

A new screen has been added to enter opening schedule adjustment information. It will look the same as Update Adjustment, Screen [D-16], which deals with wall adjustments. Select a Material ID, if necessary, add Mortar or Crew overrides to that ID, enter a Description or leave it blank and let the program create a description for you, enter the number of Units, choose whether it Adds to or Takes Away From the take-off, and enter a Quantity.

Update Project Sheet, Screen [UPS]

After digitizing the second point, the prompt will read Done, or Anchor Again to clarify what is happening.

Update Wall-Vertical Rebar/Inside Fill Detail, Screen [D-13]

There is one new feature called Fill Cells on Following Wythes. In the past you could only specify vertical reinforcement for the inside wythe. Now you can do the same for outside or center wythes. You can specify just one wythe or any combination. For example, Outside and Inside; Center and Inside; or Outside, Center and Inside.
Tabs have been moved to the top of the screen. The areas that deal with Cell Height Deduction and Add Height to Rebar Only as well as Stirrups have been moved to the bottom of the screen.

Many entry areas on the first tab have different names and have been moved to different locations. Their function has not changed. The changes are as follows:
Tab name Rebar/Inside Fill has changed to Grout/Rebar-Fill Cells and is at the top of the screen.
Rebar Grout is now just Grout right under Fill Cells on the following wythes. A Grout material must be selected in order to select a Rebar material.
Rebar Cell Spacing is now Rebar/Grout Spacing and is below Grout.

Inside Material Void Fill is now Void Fill (for remaining cells) and is below Rebar/Grout Spacing.
Rebar per cell is now Rebar per celll (from spacing).
Rebar per extra Cell is Rebar per cell (on extras).
Entries on the Pier Center tab have the same names and remain in the same order.

Walls & Reports, Screen [C]

In the area where walls are listed, there is a new Elevation column that shows each wall's base elevation. The wall base elevation is entered in the Wall Elevation entry area at the bottom of Update Wall, Screen [D]. You may need to widen the Walls & Reports screen to see the last column.
If after running a report, you immediately make changes to your project that will affect calculations, right click on the Show Report button so that the program will recalculate the data and show the report with those changes.

Version 4.0m

Measure Master

This applies only if you have the 3D Graphics Module. If you accidentally click on the X button (close) in the upper right of the screen, the following message appears: "The keyboard and selection pads are functional ONLY when: Measure Master is running and Measure Master in NOT on the RELOCATE PADS tab. TIP: Measure Master is running if you see the current scale on the tool bar to right of the Measure Master Icon." There are three buttons: Close, Leave Open, and Minimize. Normally, you will NOT want to close Measure Master, so click on the Leave Open or Minimize buttons. If you do not want to use Measure Master, click on the Close button.

When placing Pads, after the pad has been placed, the message "Next point will be ignored" has been replaced with "Done, please save."

Main Screen

If you want to see Standard Crews, Standard Labor, etc., hold down the Control key on the keyboard and click on the icon.

Screens

Adjustments, Screen [D-15]

If you want to delete all the adjustments in this list, click on the Delete All button. You will see an Are you Sure? message that says, "Are you sure you want to DELETE ALL Adjustments for this wall?" Delete All and Cancel. Clicking on the Delete All button will delete all the adjustments whereas clicking on the Cancel button will leave them in place.

Copy Marked Standard Materials, Screen [GG]

An Update Standard from Current Project button allows you to now update standard materials data stored in Standard Materials, Screen [G], with the data in the current project's Project Materials, Screen [E]. Because this can make a major change to your program, when you click on this button, an Are you Sure? message screen will appear explaining what will happen if you complete this update. It says, "Mass update Standard Materials from current project (current project name). Every material in the project (current project name) will now appear in Standard Materials, Screen [G]. Entries that have the red circle with a line through it will be UPDATED from the project. Project materials that do not already appear in Standard Materials will by ADDED to Standard Materials. Consider making a backup prior to updating Standard Materials." If you wish to update, click on the Update Now button, if not, click on the Cancel button.

A Direction Double Arrow now controls the entry area, Search by or Show Only Descriptions that contain, that will have text in it when you start typing in this screen: If it is pointing to the left, when you type, text will be entered in Search by; pointing to the right, text will be entered in Show Only.
Copying marked materials and Update Standard Material from Current Project now run MUCH faster.

Edit Color, Screen [EC]

When you click on the Edit Color button, the screen now shows both the Basic Colors and Custom Colors areas. You do not need to click on Define Custom Colors button in order to open the Custom color area. Click in an empty box below Custom colors. Make selections in the color area until you see the color you want in the Color/Solid box. Then click on the Add Custom Color button. To select the custom color, click on it to make sure there is a box outlining the color and click on the OK button. Your custom colors are saved and will be available for use in other Master Estimator screens.

Graphic Options, Screen [GO]

The Save Graphic button has been added that allows you to create a graphic file of the image displayed on the current screen. For example, if you want to print out the graphic image, just like you see it, on Place Wall, Screen [PW], you will click on the Camera button in the Place Wall screen. This will open Save Image As screen. The location of the file and File name entry area will automatically be fillled in with the location and description of the project. You can change the save location or enter a different name for the file. Next to Save as Type notice the name Bitmap. If you click on the Save button, the graphic image filename will be project name.bmp. If you want a different type of graphic file, click on the arrow button next to Save as type entry area. A drop-down list of graphic file types will appear for your selection that contains BMP, JPG, TIFF, and EPS. When all your selections are made, click on the Save button. You will hear a sound that is like a picture being taken indicating the graphic has been saved. To open the file into another graphics program, or otherwise work with the file, open Windows Explorer, go to the directory where the file was saved. From Explorer, double-click on the file name to open the file in the graphics program, such as Windows Paint, associated with the graphic's file type. Once it is in the graphics program, you can print the graphic or do whatever else you'd like to do to it. Because it is saved as a graphic file, you can also bring it into other programs or attach it to an email message. If your project description has special characters, the file name entry will have FNERR_INVALIDFILENAME. Change the project description to remove special characters such as /.

Place Wall, Screen [PW]

If you add opening placements on walls other than the current wall, when you click on the Cancel button, those placements will be deleted. If your computer locks up or the program was not exited properly, the opening placements are saved.
There are now color changes associated with Current Digitizer Location Indicator bar that will help when digitizing points. When in the Place Sheet tab, the bar for the first digitizer location is blue. The bar will turn aqua for the second point. If you cannot place the point, the bar will turn green. When in the Place Wall tab, the bar fforr the first segment is white. Other points are blue. If Intelliplace is set and the bar is inside an existing, it will turn orange. When in the Place Openings tab, the bar will be purple if an opening placement will fail and yellow if it will succeed. In the very rare case that the selected opening schedule is accidentally deleted, the bar will be white.

Project Materials, Screen [E]

A Direction Double Arrow now controls the entry area, Search by or Show Only Descriptions that contain, that will have text in it when you start typing in this screen. If it is pointing to the left, when you type, text will be entered in Search by; pointing to the right, text will be entered in Show Only.

Project Sheets, Screen [PS]

Information about a scale will be displayed above the Close button so that, when you scroll through the list of scales, you cann see the detail without going to Update Project Sheet, Screen [UPS]. This is very useful if you working with custom scales.

Select Match Step, Screen [SMS],

This is a new screen that is a list of step walls for the current project. It is opened when you click on the Match Step button on Update Wall-Wall Shape, Screen [D-17]. There is a list of previous created step walls for the project in order by the Last Wall Touched. You select the step wall that you want to match and the program automatically calculates a new step wall. See the help entry bellow for Update Wall-Wall Shape screen as well as the Select Match Step and Update Wall-Wall Shape help pages to get more information on the new Match Step feature.

Standard Job Cost Codes, Screen [JCC]

For those who have the Job Cost module, there is a new import/export job cost codes feature that allows you to export the project cost codes from a selected project into an ASCII file and then import those project codes into another selected project. This uses the Current Project Only selection on the Import/Export Job Cost Codes screen.

Standard Materials, Screen [G]

A Direction Double Arrow now controls the entry area, Search by or Show Only Descriptions that contain, that will have text in it when you start typing in this screen. If it is pointing to the left, when you type, text will be entered in Search by; pointing to the right, text will be entered in Show Only.

Update Opening Schedule, Panel/Pilaster, Screen [UOS Tab:5]

720 Pilasters can now be added to a project and displaayed graphically the same way openings or panels are added and shown. The Panel tab has been changed to Panel/Pilaster. Fill in the Opening (making sure that the shape of thee opening is rectangular), Sills and Caulking, Jamb Material Override, Notes, and Frame/Rebar tabs . On the Panel/Pilaster tab, enter either an Inside or Outside panel material depending on the location of the pilaster. Then enter a number next to Project By to indicate how far the pilaster sticks out from the wall. Make sure to allso enter, if applicable, the Pilaster Backup material that fills in the pilaster. On Opening Schedule, Screen [OS], a pilaster will appear a filled in rectangle in the Shape column. Currently, the program does NOT support corner or end of wall pilasters.

Update Project, Screen [B]

The Description entry area has been enlarged to hold 60 characters instead of 30. If you have a project description that is quite long, the Description column width in screens like Projects, Screen [A], and Assemblies, Screen [L], may not show the entire description. Columns can be widened by pointing the mouse cursor on the line after the description and clicking and dragging the line to the right.

Update Project Material, Screen [F]

There is now an Arrow button that shows which entry aarea will be calculated, Price/Unit or Price/Piece, when the Unit Factor changes. When the word Auto appears on the buttonn, then the arrow will automatically switch between left and right as the Unit Type (Pieces, Show as), or Override Unit Factor are changed. Auto works the way that Tradesmen's Master Estimattor has worked in the past. When you click on the Arrow button so that it points to the left, the Price/Unit will recalculate aas the Unit Factor changes. When you click on the Arrow button so that it points to the right, the Price/Piece will recalculate as the Unit Factor changes. Tip Help will appear to explain these choices when you move your mouse pointer to the Arrow button.

Update Slab/Footing, Screen [DS]

The Audit Report button has been changed to function like the Report button on Update Wall, Screen [D]. There is now an arrow button next to the Report button that allows you to select the type of report: Audit, Quantity Bid Price, and Field. After selecting the type, click on the Report button to print the report.

Update Standard Material, Screen [H]

There is now an Arrow button that shows which entry area will be calculated, Price/Unit or Price/Piece, when the Unit Factor changes. When the word Auto appears on the button, then the arrow will automatically switch between left and right as the Unit Type (Pieces, Show as), or Override Unit Factor are changed. Auto works the way that Tradesmen's Master Estimator has worked in the past. When you click on the Arrow button so that it points to the left, the Price/Unit will recalculate as the Unit Factor changes. When you click on the Arrow button so that it points to the right, the Price/Piece will recalculate as the Unit Factor changes. Tip Help will appear to explain these choices when you move your mouse pointer to the Arrow button.

Update Wall, Screen [D]

Now when you print an Audit report, any Opening Schedule description will print once and all the Opening Placements for that schedule will be printed below it. This greatly reduces the size of the Audit report because in the past the schedule information was repeated for each placement.
Under the drop down list for Wall Shape, there are now options for Left Step, Right Step, Left Step Inverted, and Right Step Inverted.

Update Wall-Anchor/Veneer, Screen [D-7]

This screen displays an Regular Outside Height Deduction only if it was set in older versions of the program. Currently, there is no way to set this because it is handled in a different way.
If you have the 3D Graphics Module, Veneer Height is now shown in wall graphics. It starts at the base elevation and goes down the amount entered.

Update Odd Course, Screen [D-4]

Regarding the Special Pieces tab, this is a reminder that in order for corner, jamb, and control joint pieces to calcullate properly, the quantity of these items must be entered by you in either Update Wall-Regular Material, Screen [D-2] or Update Wall-Control Joints & Caulking (Flues), Screen [D14].
If you enter a material ID that does not exist, when you click on another entry area, Project Materials, Screen [E], will open for you to select an existing material. If you close the Project Materials screen without selecting a material, and click in another entry area, you will not get another warning message unnntil you click on the OK button. You have to select a existing material before leaving the screen.

Update Wall-Regular Material,, Screen [D-2]

The Quantity entry areas for Corners, Left Jamb, and Right Jamb are now always available. In the past, those entries were disabled if there was no regular material selected or there was no selected material for the corner, left jamb or right jamb. This change was made because even though you have nothing selected for regular, corner, or jamb material on this screen, these numbers are used to calculate odd course corner or jamb special pieces that are entered on the Special Pieces tab on Update Odd Course, Screen [D-4]. Note: The numbers entered here have NO affect on the graphic. Also, characteristics of the graphic, such as corners, do NOT enter numbers into this entry area. Corners, wall jambs, and control joints are not graphically shown at this time.

Update Wall-Wall Shape, Scrreenn [D-17]

If there is a number next to Remaining under Run or Step, when you click on the OK button, a Warning steps need to be altered message appears that says, "Total run (length) does not match wall length. This should be corrected before saving the Wall." There are three buttons: Continue, Change, and Fix It. Selecting Continue will ignore the warning and let you close the screen to continue working. Selecting Change will leave you in the Update Wall-Wall Shape screen. Selecting Fix It will create a new step with run and step amounts that were remaining.

In previous versions of the program there were two buttons for step walls: Step and Inverted Step. When you created a step wall, the program assumed that you wanted to create a right step wall unless you selected the checkbox for Step Walls: Left. There are now four buttons with graphics for each type of step wall: Left Step, Right Step, Left Step Inverted, and Right Step Inverted.
A Match Step feature has been added that automatically creates a step wall which mirrors or complements a previously created step wall. This feature was designed to be used when you have a rectangular wall but some of that wall is under grade. The part that is above grade is a step wall with one material and the part under grade is the Match Step walll with another material. First, for example, you create a step wall that meets the above grade requirements. Then create another wall for the under grade portion on Update Wall, Screen [D], select a regular material, and click on the Wall Shape button. On Update Wall-Wall Shape, Screen [D-17], click on the Match Step button. From Select Match Step, Screen [SMS], a list of step walls for this project, seleect the above grade step wall you first creaated. The program then automatically fills in the appropriate step wall shape, calculates the wall height, length, and elevation based on the first wall, and creates the steps that complement the first step wall. You will notice that the first step has a count of zero. This step can be changed if you need to modify the run, step, and count for the bottom of the wall.

Update Steps in Wall Shape, Screen [D-17A]

There is now a graphic showing the step shape with arrows showing the step and run. Also, the type of step you chose will determine the order that the Steep or Run entry areas appear. If you chose a Left or Right Step, Run will be the first entry area; if you chose Left or Right Step Inverted, Step will be the first entry area.

Walls & Reports, Screen [C]

When you click on the Close button, an About to Close Walls & Reports message box appears that says, "Are you sure you wish to close the Walls & Reports, Screen [C]? To open a new Walls & Reports, Screen [C]: Use the toolbar icon that looks the same as the one on this screen or select Edit, Walls & Reports from the pull down menus." The buttons Leave Open, Close [C], and Exit Estimator let you choose what you intended to do.
When not all walls are selected and you run either a Quantity Bid or Summary report,, on the last page, next to the Bid Price, it will say, "Note: Not all walls are included in this report."