Getting Around Estimator

Getting around Estimator requires basic knowledge of the Windows operating environment. If you are unfamiliar with any of the following terminology (i.e., ‘clicking’ and ‘drop down list box’) refer to your Windows manual for more details. Many functions in Estimator are used in several windows and are fairly identical. As such, these functions are discussed in this section. When these functions are identified later in this Estimator User Guide, you are referenced to this section for more information.

Selecting Items and Moving Around Windows

Menus, menu items, and functions in Estimator can be selected in three different ways.

1. Hot Keys – Each menu, menu selection, function, and most fields contain a hot letter (a letter in the word that is underlined). To access menus, functions, and fields, press and hold the Alt key and then press the Hot Key. To access menu items simply press the Hot Key.
2. Mouse – Single clicking on any menu, menu selection, or function will give you access to that item. In addition, single clicking in any window field will select that field for editing.
3. Keyboard – To select a menu, press F10 and use the left and right arrow keys to highlight menus and press Enter, or the down arrow key, to open menus. Use the up and down arrow keys to highlight menu selections and press Enter to select.

Once inside a function window, the Tab key can be used to move forward between fields and Shift+Tab to move backwards through the fields. (Press and hold the Shift key and then press the Tab key while still holding the Shift key down.) NOTE: Pressing Enter inside a function window will save any changes and exit the function.

Window Tabs

Several windows in Estimator have tab sections. These tabs look similar to manila file folder tabs (found in most filing cabinets). These tabs represent different sections for entering information and can be accessed by the same methods mentioned above: Hot Keys, mouse, and keyboard (Tab/Shift+Tab).

Drop Down List Boxes

All drop down list boxes within Estimator are selection lists.

There are three methods for accessing drop down list box information.

1. Click on the down arrow to the right of the field. Once the drop down list box is open, single click on the item you want, or highlight the item you want, and press Enter. Use the up and down arrow keys to scroll for more items if necessary.
2. Press down arrow key when the cursor is in the field. This displays the next item on the list. Repeat this until you locate the item you want.
3. Type a letter. First item begins with the letter typed is highlighted. Continue typing till you reach the required item.

NOTE: When drop down list boxes are open they are in search mode. As you type in information the list box scrolls to the closest match. As such, if the drop down list box is one that will store your text, anything typed while in search mode WILL NOT be saved or added to the list.

Check Boxes

Estimator uses check boxes to indicate true or false. A check box looks like þ when true and o when false. To toggle between true and false, use the Tab key to highlight the check box, and then press the Space bar. You can also click a check box with the mouse to either select or deselect it.

Radio Boxes

Estimator uses radio boxes to indicate either/or instances. A radio box is a group of diamond or circular shaped boxes (radio buttons) in which only one of the groups can be selected. When a radio button is selected, it has a lin it. When it is not selected, it is empty. To change the status of a radio button use the Tab key to highlight the radio button field, and then press the arrow keys as needed. You can also click on a radio button with the mouse to select it.

Pop Up Menu

All the grids in Estimator have popup menus. Pop up menus may provide access to the functions on the screen from which the pop up menu is opened, as well as access to functions that are not available from the window menus and buttons.

There are two ways to access pop up menus.

1. Click on the grid using the mouse.
2. Press the Hot key on the keyboard.

TIP: Certain windows have functions on the pop up menu that are line item specific. The line item that is highlighted when the pop up menu is accessed is the item that can be changed using these functions. If you want to edit a different item, close the pop up menu and click that item to access the pop up menu again.

Saving and Cancelling

Once inside any function window you can save the work you have done by pressing Enter at anytime, by tabbing over to Save and pressing Enter, or by clicking Save. (In some instances, pressing Enter does not work and you have to use one of the other two options.)

If you want to exit any function without saving the information press the Esc key or click Exit. In some instances a Confirmation window appears to confirm that you want to cancel the function; press Enter to cancel and return to the Main menu.

Editing

To edit fields inside a function window simply select the field you want to change. This can be done by tabbing to the desired field, clicking on it with the mouse, highlighting the input field by dragging the mouse, or using the arrow keys.

If the data inside the field is highlighted, simply type over the information and the old data will automatically be deleted and replaced. If the cursor is in the field, but the data is not highlighted, first delete the old information (using the Delete key) and then input the new.

Printing Reports

All the reportsare displayed on the monitor. At the top and bottom of the window there are several icons. These icons can be used to scroll through the pages of multiple page reports, print or export the output, and shrink or enlarge the output. To close the window press Alt+F4 or double- click on the control box in the upper left hand corner of the window with the mouse.

Printer – Top left button directs the output to the printer. Select the printer to which you want to print. (Estimator displays all printers setup under Windows. As such, there is no need to setup printers from inside Estimator. If the printer you want to use is not displayed, simply install it through Windows. Refer to your Windows manual for instructions on installing printers.)

Copies – Enter the number of copies you want printed.

All Pages/Pages – Indicates whether all pages or the selected pages are printed.

When all the information is correct, press Enter to begin printing or press Esc to cancel the print job.

Exiting Estimator

There are three ways to exit Estimator. The first is by clicking the control bar in the upper left hand corner. The second is by pressing Alt+F4. You must be at the Main menu for these first two methods to work. The third is by selecting Exit from the menu.