Software and computer use

John Jr

which software do you use for heatloss and than generating a quotation report out to send to the costomer? Do you have them linked with another program to print out a contract?

Ken_8

Well,

We use either the manual I=B=R program, or Slant Fin's "freebie" CD based on the I=B=R/ASHRAE calcs. for the heat load.

Then we use MS Word to write it out with a multitude of "macros" for each paragraph for the proposal/agreement/contract we submit.

And then we get the signed proposal/agreement/contract back with a large deposit check.

And then we file permits and start the job.

I know of a few "canned" estimating packages out there and have seen a few bantied about at trade shows - but none of them work.

Since there is no linkage between the heat load calculation and the written word, what purpose would be served by some manner of "integrating" those completely independent tasks?

Or did I miss the question completely?

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John Jr

Program

Ken, The program I am using now is nice but it wont allow me to change certian things in the Quotation Report, which I dont want printed. The reason I like the program is the backend(database) is MS Access and I have built a database that will use the information from the backend of the heatloss program to print out my contracts with a click of a button. After I do the heatloss it takes me 2 minutes to put a quote package together to send to the customer. Now a new revision came out and it has changed and they still didn't fix the problem I was having before. That is why I'm looking for other software. I will be talking to the Rehau rep today to see what they have. I have brought this problem and others up with the company even sat down with three of them and all agreed that there was a problem and that's as far as it went.
Who knows maybe what I am looking for isn't even out there. I know as a small company who does just radiant and snow-melt I need every advantage to save me time! I do all the engeenering and quoting, at night, and install during the day. Comes the end of the week I'm tired!

Ken_8

John

My expertise is wet heat, and I know my way around a computer, but a "package" that suggests it is a combination dB, heat load calculator and propsal writer is alien to my area of even the remostest inkling of knowledge.

But I ask nonetheless, "Just because I can hold a baseball in one hand and an orange in the other - what could the possible connection be between those two items - other than the fact that they are both round and both are held by one of my two hands?

How could any software link a heat load with an estimate and a contract? This seems akin to builders who run around suggesting it costs 150-dollars a square foot to build a house. That may be an average, but it could never accurately reflect the nuances of the myriad of options and forms a house could take. I could build a shed with T-11 siding, rough framed, or I could build with imported cut Italian marble.

I would like to hear about whatever it is you're using. But whatever it is, if it works for you, stick with it!

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Firedragon_4

Our program prints both a

customer (base?) report and a very detailed report (installer).

http://www.firedragonent.com/Software.htm