table of contents - oregon• proceed to open a project or skeleton file . current version at odot:...

Estimator Frequently Asked Questions

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Table of Contents

Current Version at ODOT: Estimator 2.16b Patch 3 (check the date!) ........................................... 1

Configurations ................................................................................................................................. 2

ODOT Users ................................................................................................................................. 2

Non-Agency Users ....................................................................................................................... 2

General ........................................................................................................................................ 3

Numbers ...................................................................................................................................... 4

Skeleton files ................................................................................................................................... 5

Non-ODOT users ......................................................................................................................... 5

ODOT users ................................................................................................................................. 5

Issue: “Cannot open catalog” ......................................................................................................... 6

Any newly issued catalog causes “Cannot open catalog” error.................................................. 6

Common Error: Failure to set “Exclude Item from Reference Price Calculations” ........................ 8

Warning: Many users report start-up problems, e.g. shut-downs due to MFC errors.

Solution: Before opening any project, users must first:

• Click “Catalog Tools” > “Open A Catalog” > select catalog > “OK” • Minimize or “Red X” the catalog • Proceed to open a project or skeleton file

Current Version at ODOT: Estimator 2.16b Patch 3 (check the date!)

Confirm your current version of Estimator:

1. On your PC, navigate to “C:\Program Files (x86)\Estimator”

a. Estimator.exe should have Date Modified of “3/8/2019”.


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2. If you have any earlier version” get it updated.

a. ODOT Agency User: contact ODOT Help Desk to have latest version installed.

b. Non-Agency User: contact your local Estimator system administrator or Info Tech, Inc. representative for an update.

Configurations ODOT Users

1. Click this <link> a. If the link fails to open the Catalog directory, you need your permissions

upgraded before you can access any catalog. b. Email Mike Lippsmeyer for permission.

2. Open Estimator > Other Tools > Global Options > URLs tab 3. Confirm these values; update if necessary:

a. Catalog path: \\awproject\Data\Estimator\Catalogs\ b. Interface File Folder: C:\ProgramData\Estimator\Interface

If either of these paths are incorrect, please refer to the new guides:

• \Estimator-PreCon_interface_Setup.docx • \Region_Role_User_Guide.docx

Non-Agency Users Consult your local Estimator system administrator for your localized settings.

mailto:[email protected]


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General 1. Other Tools > Global Options > General tab 2. Match the values below


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Numbers 1. Other Tools > Global Options > Numeric/Rounding tab 2. Match the values below


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Skeleton files Non-ODOT users Beginning in January 2019, we discontinued issuing project specific skeleton files. All users will start with a skeleton file template, “Estimator_Skeleton.est” or “Estimator_Skeleton.xml”, available at:

ftp://ftp.odot.state.or.us/techserv/estimating/Skeleton/

Users will obtain project specific details, e.g. Key #, Description, from the project’s Regional Spec Writer.

ODOT users ODOT users have the choice of using either:

• a skeleton file template, “Estimator_Skeleton.est”

• using a direct import, using the “File” > “Import Estimate from …” detailed in Region_Role_User_Guide.docx

ftp://ftp.odot.state.or.us/techserv/estimating/Skeleton/


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Issue: “Cannot open catalog” Any newly issued catalog causes “Cannot open catalog” error

When system administrators issue a new catalog, the first time you open any project that used an older catalog, you will see the “Cannot open catalog” error:

This error means you need to link your project to the current catalog.

1. Hit “OK” to close the error window.

2. In Estimator, and make sure all project windows are closed.

3. Confirm your Estimator is looking in the right catalog directory

a. "Tools" > "Global Options" > "URLs"

b. For ODOT users

i. In "Catalog Path" confirm it says "\\awproject\Data\Estimator\Catalogs\"

ii. If not, paste in “\\awproject\Data\Estimator\Catalogs\” > "OK"

iii. Never use a locally saved, e.g. c:\ or f:\ drive, catalog.

c. For non-ODOT users, contact your Estimator system administrator for the correct path.

4. Select a catalog


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a. "Tools" > "Open Catalog" (or "Switch Catalog")

i. Never use "New Catalog"

1. This can corrupt, or “blank-out”, an existing catalog for you and everyone else!

b. Highlight a current catalog > "OK"

5. Re-point your project to the new current catalog

a. Open a project

b. Edit > Estimate Options > Catalog > highlight the current catalog > "OK"

c. Save project to lock in this catalog.


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Common Error: Failure to set “Exclude Item from Reference Price Calculations”

A common error that overstates PS&E estimates by up to 3% is user’s failure to set “Exclude Item from Reference Price Calculations”. Users must check this box on all Anticipated Items and Engineering.

1. For Anticipated Items, or any item with a fixed unit price, just check the box:

2. For item 9800-0000150A, ENGINEERING, or any item with a “Percent of Estimate” price, the process is a bit more complicated because of the iterative nature of the estimating.

a. For the ENGINEERING item, check the “Exclude Item from Reference Price Calculations” box.


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b. Add two Reference Price entries under ENGINEERING, e.g. Fixed and Percent

i. Percent uses the “Percent of Estimate” estimate method

1. Set to 15%, unless you have more precise data

2. Deactivate this price.

ii. Fixed used a set unit price estimate method

1. Set to any reasonable value.

a. A reasonable value will provide a good estimate with only one pass.

b. You can even enter $1, but will need to repeat steps c & d, below, to converge on an answer.

2. Activate this price

c. Copy the Percent Reference Unit Price into Fixed

i. Open the Percent based price

ii. Highlight the Unit Price

iii. Copy it, (right click > Copy)


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d. Paste the value into the Fixed Reference Unit Price

i. Open the Fixed based price

ii. Highlight the Unit Price, red arrow

iii. Paste it, (right click > Paste)

iv. If the two values, blue and red arrows, below, are close, you are done.

1. If your initial guess was too far off, e.g. $1, repeat steps c & d to converge on a closer estimate.


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table of contents - oregon• proceed to open a project or skeleton file . current version at odot:...

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