Trench Estimating Program User Manual MKM Software 2812 Ingrid Lane Metairie, LA 70003 Phone (504) 885-7470 CompuServe 72704,3566 Copyright (c) 1992-93 MKM Software, All Rights Reserved _______ ____|__ | (R) --| | |------------------- | ____|__ | Association of | | |_| Shareware |__| o | Professionals -----| | |--------------------- |___|___| MEMBER This program is produced by a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' products. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442-9427 USA, FAX 616-788-2765 or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536. 1 Getting Started =============== 1.1 Introduction Trench is designed for General and Electrical Contractors for use in estimating production, labor and material costs of multi layered trenches. The program generates a complete estimate based upon the trench dimensions, contents and costs that you enter. There is no limit to the number of projects it can manage, and there is no limit to the number of trenches you can add per project. The program is very easy to use. It will save you hundreds of hours by performing routine calculations and producing detail and summary reports of project estimates based on your specifications. Two sample projects are include so you can get started right away by viewing, adding, changing data and running reports. Customize Trench as you go along by entering your own costs for labor and material. 1.2 Generally Speaking When using the Trench program, there are some simple constants. Pressing will usually take you one step forward in the program. Press the key to go one step back to where you were. Pressing several times will always take you back to the Main Menu and the option to exit. Look to the bottom of the screen for a display of available commands, options, "hotkeys" and for context sensitive help. When Trench needs to get information from you, it will display a popup box or window, hereafter, referred to as an edit window. When you enter data in an edit window, always exit the window by pressing or . This will guarantee the information you have just entered is properly saved. If you exit an edit window by pressing , your entries will not be saved. Exit the Trench program by pressing the key enough times to take you back to the Main Menu. There you can press again or you can select the option to "Quit". This is the correct way to exit the program. All your data will be saved. Please do not turn off your computer or re-boot the computer while you are in the Trench program. This 'may' cause loss of data and other problems. If this should happen or, for example, there is a power failure while you are using the program, next time you run Trench, start the program with the command: Trench - User Manual v1.08s Copyright (C) MKM Software 1992-93 - All Rights Reserved Page 1 TRENCH NEW This start switch will check all the data files to be sure they are in good condition, however, it will not recover any lost data. Next, move to the Utility Menu and select the option to 'Optimize'. This is a double check of all files. Your best guard against lost data is to back up your data often. See the section on Data Backup and Restore later in this manual. Trench - User Manual v1.08s Copyright (C) MKM Software 1992-93 - All Rights Reserved Page 2 2 Legal Notice ============ 2.1 Disclaimer of Warranty Users of Trench must accept this disclaimer of warranty: "Trench is supplied as is. The author disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of merchantability and of fitness for any purpose. The author assumes no liability for damages, direct or consequential, which may result from the use of Trench." 2.2 Definition of Shareware Trench is a "shareware program" and is provided at no charge to the user for evaluation. Feel free to share it with others, but please do not give it away altered or as part of another system. The essence of "user-supported" software is to provide personal computer users with quality software without high prices, and yet to provide incentive for programmers to continue to develop new products. 2.3 Registration If you find this program useful and find that you are using Trench and continue to use Trench after a reasonable trial period, you must make a registration payment of $65.00 to MKM Software. The $65.00 registration fee will license one copy for use on any one computer at any one time. You must treat this software just like a book. An example is that this software may be used by any number of people and may be freely moved from one computer location to another, so long as there is no possibility of it being used at one location while it's being used at another. Just as a book cannot be read by two different persons at the same time. Users of Trench must register and pay for their copies of Trench within 30 days of first use or their license is withdrawn. Site-License arrangements may be made by contacting MKM Software. 2.4 Distribution Anyone distributing Trench for any kind of remuneration must first contact MKM Software for authorization. This authorization will be automatically granted to distributors recognized by the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP) as adhering to its guidelines for shareware distributors, and such distributors may begin offering Trench immediately (However MKM Software must still be advised so that the distributor can be kept up- Trench - User Manual v1.08s Copyright (C) MKM Software 1992-93 - All Rights Reserved Page 3 to-date with the latest version of Trench.). You are encouraged to pass a copy of Trench along to others for evaluation. Please encourage them to register their copy if they find that they can use it. All registered users will receive the latest version of the program without any shareware notices and free technical support. Trench - User Manual v1.08s Copyright (C) MKM Software 1992-93 - All Rights Reserved Page 4 3. Installation ============ 3.1 Installation This section explains how to install and start the Trench program. The Trench program files are stored in compressed format on a floppy diskette. They are compressed in order to save space. To install the program we will first, copy the compressed file from the floppy diskette to the hard drive, then decompress or uncrunch the installation files. If you are familiar with some DOS commands you can probably bypass these instructions, however, here is a step by step description for installing Trench on your computer hard drive: 3.1.1 Make sure you are in the 'root' directory of your hard drive, type: CD \ 3.1.2 Make a directory on your hard drive called TRENCH. MD TRENCH 3.1.3 Move to the TRENCH directory. CD TRENCH 3.1.4 Copy the Trench installation file to the Trench directory. Enter this command: COPY TREN18.EXE C:\TRENCH 3.1.5 Unpack the Trench program which is now on your hard drive in the Trench Directory. Enter these Commands: TREN18 You will notice that the Trench program now uncrunches and installs in your Trench Directory. When this is done, you can get rid on the install file on your hard drive (carefully) by entering this command: DEL TREN18.EXE Please note, the number 18 refers to the version number - 108. If you have a later version of the program, this number might be different, for example 19 or 20. 3.2 Starting Trench - Normally The installation is now complete. Start the program by Trench - User Manual v1.08s Copyright (C) MKM Software 1992-93 - All Rights Reserved Page 5 entering the command: TRENCH 3.3 Starting Trench - Monochrome Monitors If you have a monochrome monitor, you can force Trench to display in monochrome by entering the command: TRENCH M 3.4 Sign-On Screen The initial screen is the Shareware sign-on screen. This screen can be exited by pressing the keys . Please review the screen and if you choose to use Trench, register your copy and support the shareware concept. The shareware sign-on screen is not in the registered version of the program. Trench - User Manual v1.08s Copyright (C) MKM Software 1992-93 - All Rights Reserved Page 6 4 Quick Start =========== Once you complete the sign-on, the Main Menu is displayed. Trench comes with some sample data to get you started right away. But to quickly customize the program, please move to the Utility option on the Main Menu and press . There are several important options, but for now we are only concerned with the three set-up options. 4.1 Site Set-up Enter your company name and address. This information will be used on reports. For printer type, press the SpaceBar then press . You will see a pop up menu of printer selections. Select your printer type. If your printer is not on the list, refer to the section "Printer Set-up" later in this manual. Next, indicate whether your printer is attached to port 1 or 2. It's probably attached to port 1. If you are unsure, enter 1. Press to exit the edit window and save your entries. Do not exit Edit windows by pressing because your entries will not be saved. 4.2 Project Set-up Select "Project Set-Up". These are the default values for cost of labor, materials and production that will appear each time you define a new project. Each project can have its own unique set-up values for cost of labor or materials but usually these values are the same and this screen will save you from having to redefine these values for every project. Each entry is explained in detail in the section of the manual called "Project Set- up". There are other options on the Utility Menu, but more about that later. Now you are ready to begin entering and displaying results. Arrow left to the Main Menu option "Trenches", press and let's begin. Trench - User Manual v1.08s Copyright (C) MKM Software 1992-93 - All Rights Reserved Page 7 5 Entering Projects ================= There are two samples projects that come with the program. These projects are displayed in a browse table. Before you enter your own projects, view the two samples and print out the accompanying reports. This will give you a good idea of what Trench can do and where you are going before you begin entering your own data. 5.1 Project Browse Table Browse tables are very powerful tools for organizing your work. The projects you enter are listed in the browse table one project per row. You can sort the projects in order by Estimate number or by project name. When the order is set to project name, press any letter key and you will jump to the first project with a name beginning with that letter without regard to upper or lower case. Try to use the "speed key" approach. You will find a real improvement in performance. When you have many projects in your browse table, and you want to locate a specific one, just press to search for a project name. Enter the first four letters of the project name you want to find and press . The highlighted cursor will move directly to that project. 5.2 Project Browse Table Options and Commands Cursor up and down to select the project that you wish to work with. Look to the bottom of the screen to see what options are available: F4 Trenches - Look at another browse table of Trenches defined for the currently highlighted project. The Trenches appear in a separate browse table with its own set of commands. More about that in the next section "Entering Trench Data". F8 Summary - Display/Print a Summary of the currently highlighted project. It is a good idea to view and print one of these reports now. It is a three page summary of all production, labor and material costs for all trenches defined for this project. Press to Exit from the report. A menu will appear asking if you want a printed copy of the report. Answer "Y"es or "N"o. F10 Details - Same as F8 but in addition to the three page summary, this option will print itemized reports for each Trench in the Project. The detailed reports can be used to Trench - User Manual v1.08s Copyright (C) MKM Software 1992-93 - All Rights Reserved Page 8 prove the results on the summary report. F1 Order - Change the order in which the projects appear in the browse table. Projects can be listed in order by Estimate Number, or by Project Name. Edit - Edit the Set-up information for this project - also referred to as the project header. As stated earlier, when you create a new project it receives the default values for labor, material and production costs you defined on the set-up menu. However, you can adjust these values as needed on an individual project basis. Add - Add a new project. Enter the descriptive information and the values for cost of labor and material and waste and swelling factors for each material. Delete - Delete the currently highlighted project and also all of the trenches defined for this project. Exit - Exit the browse table and return to the Main Menu. Always press to exit a browse table. Trench - User Manual v1.08s Copyright (C) MKM Software 1992-93 - All Rights Reserved Page 9 6 Entering Trench Data ==================== For each project, you can add as many trenches as you want. You access the trench data from the Projects browse table when you press the key. 6.1 Trench Browse Table A second overlapping browse table appears with trench data - one trench per row. All browse tables work the same. Move the cursor to the row or 'Trench' you want to work with and refer to the bottom of the screen for information on what options are available. 6.2 Trench Browse Table - Options and Commands At the bottom of the screen you will see a display of the available options and commands for the Trench browse table. These commands, , and will be consistent with commands you already know from the projects browse table: F9 Print Trench Data - View/Print detailed information on the highlighted Trench - only. This is a breakdown of all information entered for this one Trench. Edit - Update data for the highlighted Trench. This will display a detailed but simple edit window which we will discuss in the next section "Entering Trench Details". Add New - Add a new Trench to this project. An edit window appears requesting all details about this new trench. The content of the edit window is discussed in the next section. Delete - Delete the highlighted trench from this project. Exit - Exit the Trench Browse Table and return to the Projects browse table. Trench - User Manual v1.08s Copyright (C) MKM Software 1992-93 - All Rights Reserved Page 10 7 Entering Trench Details ======================= 7.1 Defining Trenches For each trench you create on the Trench browse table, using the key you must define that trench in detail with regard to the dimensions and the content of each ductbank. This information is inputted in a single edit window. A trench can have up to three layers or ductbanks. Ductbank three is on the top and we work down to ductbank one. Ductbanks 2 and 3 can contain conduit of various quantity and dimensions which you must describe. Also, the ductbanks can be reinforced with rebar of various sizes and spaced at intervals that you specify. 7.2 Trench Details For each trench you need to enter the following information: Trench No. Descriptive information of your own choosing. You may want to assign a number sequence to the trenches. Length Ft. Enter the total length of the trench in feet. Width In. Enter the trench width in inches. We do not need to know the depth because we will calculate this from the dimensions of each ductbank. From Free text description of the trench starting point. To. Free text description of the trench ending point. DW Prod. Ditch Witch Production measured in feet per day. This may differ from trench to trench based on factors that only you may know. BH Prod. Back Hoe Production measured in feet per day. You can enter either Ditch Witch or Back Hoe Production, but not both. Wk Prod. Wacker Production measured in feet per day. DB 3...: Ductbank 3 - the top layer. We need to Trench - User Manual v1.08s Copyright (C) MKM Software 1992-93 - All Rights Reserved Page 11 know: Dpth: Depth in inches of ductbank 3. Mat: Material that will be used. There are some codes we use: CO - Concrete; NA - Native Soil; SA - Sand; SL - Slurry. If you cannot remember the codes, just press for a picklist. DB 2...: Ductbank 2 - the second layer. We need to know the depth in inches and the material used. Also, as an option you can define the quantity of conduit running through this layer per the diameter of the conduit. For example, how many 6 inch, 4 inch or 2 inch conduit are contained in this layer. Optionally, you can define the rebar used for this ductbank. Be sure the Size you use is defined in your rebar table. Trench will calculate the amount of rebar needed to wrap the perimeter of the ductbank at intervals defined by the number of inches you enter under Space. The entry for Rods is the number of rods that run the length of the trench. DB 1...: Ductbank 1 - Same as ductbank 2. 7.3 Modifying Trench Details Once you have entered details for a trench, you can return at any time to the edit window to make whatever adjustments are needed. 7.4 Viewing Trench Details It is a good idea when learning the program to enter some individual trench data. Press the key to save the data and return to the trench browse table. Now press to display the calculations based on the data you just entered. This is an excellent way to learn the program and how Trench calculates results. The detailed trench data is the building block of the program. Notice how the report only contains relevant information. If you do not enter rebar values, none are printed on the report. Notice too that these detailed calculations and reports are produced in a matter of seconds. Now we are ready to customize Trench and make it work for you. Trench - User Manual v1.08s Copyright (C) MKM Software 1992-93 - All Rights Reserved Page 12 8 Project Set-Up ============== When you define a new project you need to enter the following information: Estimate No Enter a unique estimate identification number. Project Name Free text description of the project name. Location Free text description of Project Location Bid Date Bid Date Digging Diff Not Now in use. Estimator Estimators Name or Initials Labor Rate Cost of Labor rate per hour Supervisor Rt Cost of Supervisor rate per hour Percent A percentage of total labor hours calculated by Trench will be added to labor costs and billed at the supervisor rate. Tax Rate Enter the applicable tax rate. Backhoe Ft/Day Back Hoe production in feet per day. Cost/Day Back Hoe rental/cost per day. DitchWt Ft/Day Ditch Witch production in feet per day. Cost/Day Ditch Witch rental/cost per day Wacker Ft/Day Wacker production in feet per day. Cost/Day Wacker rental/cost per day. Conc. Hrs/CYd Labor hours per cubic yard of concrete. Cost/CYd Concrete cost per cubic yard. Wst. Concrete waste factor as a percentage of total concrete used. Sand Hrs/CYd Labor hours per cubic yard of sand. Cost/CYd Sand cost per cubic yard. Wst. Sand waste factor as a percentage of total sand used. Slurry Hrs/CYd Labor hours per cubic yard of slurry. Cost/CYd Slurry cost per cubic yard. Wst. Slurry waste factor as a percentage of total slurry used. NS Hrs/CYd Labor hours per cubic yard of native soil. Cost/CYd Native soil cost per cubic yard. Swl. Native soil swelling factor as a percentage of total native soil used. Trench - User Manual v1.08s Copyright (C) MKM Software 1992-93 - All Rights Reserved Page 13 9 Rebar Data ========== As part of the set-up, you have to fill in the rebar table with the data you need. Define the rebar by size or gauge. Next enter the Pounds per Foot, Cost per Ton, and the average Hours to Install per Ton for each rebar size you enter. Trench - User Manual v1.08s Copyright (C) MKM Software 1992-93 - All Rights Reserved Page 14 10 Utilities ========= The utility menu has some important additional options that we have not covered. 10.1 Re-Index This option will recondition the search tables Trench uses to speed up processing. It is very important that these tables are correct. Should trench produce inaccurate results, run this option or the next option - Optimize. 10.2 Site Set-up Enter basic address and telephone information for your site. Trench will use this information when printing reports. Additional items of information needed to complete this screen are as follows: Printer Type..: Select the printer type that you are using. Enter spaces if you do not know and press the key. A picklist will appear with different printer to select. If your printer type is not on this list, you can add it to the list on the next menu option 'Printer Set-up'. The printer selection is important because it will send printer codes that control the format of reports. If your printed results are not correct, call technical support for information. We probably have the correct codes for your printer, or we can find them. Printer Port...: Enter the printer port you are using. This is probably port 1. If you do not know which port, enter number 1. 10.3 Printer Set-up Trench comes with a list of printers from which you can choose to match the printer that you have. We include Epson and HP LaserJet, two of the most popular printers. If you have another kind of printer, you need to add it to the list. Adding a printer to the printer browse table is done as always by pressing the key. Printer set-up requires that you enter the following information for your printer: 10.3.1 Printer ID....: Enter a unique identification code to distinguish this printer from other printers on the list. 10.3.2 Description...: Enter a free text description of Trench - User Manual v1.08s Copyright (C) MKM Software 1992-93 - All Rights Reserved Page 15 your printer type. 10.3.3 Printer Codes The next three entries are printer codes or ESCape sequences that you can find in your printer manual. If you do not have these codes, please call our technical support number and we can probably find them for you. Please have your printer name and model number available. Here is some quasi technical stuff about printer codes. For Trench to make your printer print in condensed type, it must send a special code to the printer, sometimes called an Escape Sequence. These printer codes can consist of printable and non-printable characters. Printable characters like a-z and 0-9 can be typed in directly as printer codes. Non-printable characters like ESCape (which produces an arrow pointing left) cannot be entered directly. We have to enter the ASCII code for ESCape as a three-digit number preceded by a "\". The result is \027. Refer to the sample printer set-ups to see how this works. For example, the reset command for HP printers is ESCape 'E'. Since ESCape is a non- printable character, we enter this reset command as \027E - substituting the ASCII code '27' for ESCape. 10.3.4 Reset.........: Enter the code or 'ESCape Sequence' that resets your printer to normal print settings. For Epson printers, this code is ESCape and '@'. Since ESCape is a non-printable character, enter this printer code as \027@. 10.3.5 Condensed.....: Enter the code or 'ESCape Sequence' that places your printer in condensed print. This print style is used often to permit MotelMAX to print more columns of information on reports. 10.3.6 Landscape.....: This code is optional since MotelMAX does not currently print reports in landscape mode. The next entries are for page formatting. You can designate the top left corner of the page to begin, page length and page width depending upon the print format, normal or condensed. You should find the default settings acceptable. However, as always you can modify program output needed. If you want to experiment with these options, do not use the original printer set-up, make a new one, for example, EPSN2. Make EPSN2 your selection on the 'Site Set-up' screen. Change the EPSN2 set-up as many times as you want to experiment with different page formats. If you find that you have improved your set-up, leave EPSN2 as your printer on the 'Site Set-up' screen. Otherwise, Trench - User Manual v1.08s Copyright (C) MKM Software 1992-93 - All Rights Reserved Page 16 return to 'Site Set-up' and re-select EPSON as your printer. You will be back to where you started without having to make numerous changes. 10.4 Project Set-up Enter the default set-up values to use on all new projects. 10.5 Backup/Restore Use this option to backup data to floppy diskettes. If necessary you can also use this option to restore from the floppy diskettes to the hard drive. Remember that when you restore data, it overwrites all data on the hard drive. Refer to the section below 'Backup Data' for a complete description of this option. Refer to the next section of this manual for more details on backing up and restoring data. 10.6 Optimize Recondition all file structures and indexes. Run this option if your machine has a power spike or abrupt loss of electricity. This option will ensure that all files are in order. You should run this option once a week or anytime after you delete several projects from the projects browse table. 10.7 Colors Use this option to re-define screen colors for all menus, edit windows and browse tables. 10.8 Manual Access this user manual on screen while you are in the program. Refer to the bottom of the screen. If you are searching for a keyword, for example, 'restore', type and enter the keyword. You will move to the first instance of that word in the User Manual. Press to find the same word again. Trench - User Manual v1.08s Copyright (C) MKM Software 1992-93 - All Rights Reserved Page 17 11 BackUp/Restore ============== Always backup your data. The information you enter into the Trench program for projects and for individual trenches is kept in files ending in the extension ".dbf". Trench comes with a backup/restore option on the Utility Menu. You might choose to use the Trench backup utility or you may choose to work from DOS. If you are using the Network version of TRENCH, be sure no one else is using the program when you backup and restore data. Otherwise, these commands will not work. The Trench backup utility uses the DOS BACKUP and RESTORE commands. You have to tell Trench how to use these commands by entering the correct DOS command in the 'Configure...' option of the Backup Menu. It is probably a good idea to refer to your DOS manual for a quick look at the use of the DOS commands BACKUP and RESTORE. The DOS BACKUP and RESTORE files are most likely located in your DOS directory on the hard drive and \DOS is probably part of your system path. There are three Options on the BackUp/Restore Menu: 11.1 BackUp Data The first step is to place a backup diskette in the A: or B: drive. Next, select the option for 'Backup Data'. Here's how the Trench Backup Utility works. First, it takes all the .dbf files and compresses them to reduce their size prior to the backup. This will reduce the number of floppy diskettes needed to complete the backup. As an example, the "Trench.dbf" file is compressed into another file called "Trench.cmp". You might notice that the Trench.cmp file is much smaller than the Trench.dbf file. Only the *.cmp files will be backed up. A typical backup command on your 'Configure...' option might read: BACKUP *.CM? A: /S or, if DOS is not defined as part of your system path you should enter: C:\DOS\BACKUP *.CM? A: /S Very important: include the file specification *.CM? as part of your backup command. We only want to backup the 'Compressed' data files, those ending in '.CMP' or '.CMT'. We are telling DOS to backup the *.CM? files in the current directory onto the floppy diskette in the A: drive. Trench - User Manual v1.08s Copyright (C) MKM Software 1992-93 - All Rights Reserved Page 18 11.2 Restore Data You only need to restore data if your files have become damaged or if you are transporting data to another PC running a registered copy of TRENCH. Place Backup Diskette 1 in the floppy drive. Select the option to 'Restore Data'. Trench will first restore the compressed data files from the floppy drive into the Trench directory using the restore command that you set- up under the 'Configure...' option. A typical restore command might read: RESTORE A: C: /S or if DOS is not part of your system path, you should enter: C:\DOS\RESTORE A: C: /S Once the compressed files are restored to the hard drive, Trench will prompt you to confirm that you wish to decompress the data files. If you agree, the *.cm? files are decompressed and written over your current '.dbf' data files. If you say No, the *.cm? files are deleted and the Restore is not completed. If you complete the restore, all index files are rebuilt to match the newly installed data. Very Important: Be careful NOT to restore old data over new data. All the changes you have made since the last backup will be lost. You will rarely restore data to the same machine unless your data files become damaged. A more common use for 'Restore Data' is when you backup data from computer A and restore that data to computer B so that both machines have the same data set. 11.3 Configure... We already covered the Backup and Restore commands that you enter here. You only need to enter these commands once. Your entries are saved and reused until you choose to change them. Trench - User Manual v1.08s Copyright (C) MKM Software 1992-93 - All Rights Reserved Page 19 12 Network Version If you would like to run Trench on a Network, so that multiple users can access and share the same project and trench data, contact us. A network version is available to registered users. Trench - User Manual v1.08s Copyright (C) MKM Software 1992-93 - All Rights Reserved Page 20