Thread: estimates and typing files with computer?

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i would like to know how to type files out and work out estimate sheets using my computer only ? to do the estimates on the computer .then copy them on my copier . at later date look up the old estimates back up on a cd? do i need to buy a cd for this like from Staples ? i want to know what is the best way to go on this i am just doing it the old way all by hand and would like to pull up some thing so i do not have so much work every time someone wants the same build up on a engine Thanks

I could rent ya my kid for a week or so Pat.... He knows how to make all them things work on the computer. He must be pretty good at it, he even made one for me that I can actually use!!!!!!!!

yes i not to hot with the computer stuff .i do not know any one that can do this stuff .think i could find someone in the yellow pages ? that can set this stuff up?????any one?

shure. should be able to do what u want w/ Excell spreadsheets. lots of people, train specificly to do this type work for company's. can work for parts invintory 2, compare things ect... calculate stuff automaticly. pretty cool.

thanks i will start by going to staples see what they have i guess

Pat,

What do you already have on your computer? There are a few routes you could go, you could use Excel for a simple spreadsheet that let you do estimates, you could use Access (both Excel and Access are part of Microsoft Office) which would give you more features and probably out there somewhere there is a database (Access is a database program) already designed to be a generic start for what you are talking about.

Alternatively you could get a software that does it for you out of the box, I have not looked into it but am sure there are a few. Somebody on here that owns a shop must have something they use. You can probably set it up in Quickbooks even, which would let you do all your billing and expenses as well. Checking and all that good stuff.

I wouldn't recommend going the cd backup route. Anymore there are so many superior options. The USB memory keys (aka thumb drive, usb key, memory stick) are very inexpensive now and have much more capacity than the cd, are smaller, easier to use etc. etc. I have an external hard drive that is about the size of a pack of cigarettes (thinner, but width and length about the same) and it is 160gb of space! Plus if you have a computer manufactured in the last five years you probably have more space than you will ever need for what you are talking about.

Let me know what you have on the computer already and I can give you a bit more information if you like.

Red
Pat, I just sent you a PM with my email address, send me yours so I can send you a file to take a look at. it is in pdf format, which you probably already have the free software to view. it is a spreadsheet template that you can download for Excel that I think fits your bill. also has a place for the client to sign off if they agree on the pricing. If you have excel I can just send you the template.

I use Excel spreadsheets for almost everything. The cost to complete used to be my favorite title but I now hide the cost total as car and trucks are such money pits.
Never the less I use spread sheets extensively to map out my projects and plan activities.

Excel comes as part of office Pro I think. What ever it was in it wasn't cheap.

It's fairlly easy to learn the basics. Just get a book at B &N or Borders.

I'm no pro at it but I use the help section a lot.

Pat, while using MS Excel for your program set up is a good idea, it can be costly if you don't already have the package. They used to sell it as a seperate item, but I have not seen it that way for a while. Lately I have only seen it as part of MS Office which will set you back about $125 for the Student Teacher Edition. Professional packages will run 2 or 3 times the price.

Another option is to download OpenOffice 2.3 from OpenOffice.org
This is an open source free business package sponsored by a number of computer based firms such as IBM and Sun. In fact IBM is introducing Open Office under their own banner as Lotus Symphony. The package consists of a word processor, a spreadsheet, presentation graphics, database, a drawing package and a math package. The software will read and write MS Office files (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc.)

Best thing is, is that it is FREE. It is a large download, about 98mb, but on a cable modem or T-1 line it is a quick download. Then all you have to do is click on the file name to execute the setup program. We have over 60 PC's in our office and most use MS Office because they came with it. But for those that did not and being on a limited budget, we installed Open Office in lieu of MS Office. The users see little diffierence, because Open Office has the "look and feel" of MS Office..

Even if you choose to use Excel, you should download Open Office and install it on your PC and then play with it and test it. If you don't like it you can easily remove it. Open Office also provides updates to it's product more frequently then MS, plus it is a lot less buggy. It is definitely worth a look, because of the price (FREE) and because of the "look and feel" and ability to read and write MS files. Despite being free, it is really very good.


You can check it out and download it at : www.openoffice.org


Another suggestion, is to check out software specifically designed for what you want to do. There may be a retail package for you, or a sharewear/freeware package available. You can check out retail stores such as Staples, Office Depot, etc. or online sites such as www.Tucows.com Cost may vary from free to several hundreds of dollars depending on whether 'freeware or retail software".

You could get a cd burner or dvd burner to save your files off line. Cd's store about 700 megabytes where as a double layered dvd will save about 9 Gigabytes (billions). DVD burners and discs are getting really cheap.

Another option that I currently use is the Flash Drive or Jump Drive which is a small USB based device to which you can read and write up to 8 gigabytes. They come in sizes from 128mb to 8gb. A lot handier and convenient than cd's or dvd's ( you can carry one on your keychain if you want). The prices for these nifty devices have come down a lot. A 128mb drive runs about $10 and an 4GB drive is about $60. Only problem with these devices is that you need to have Windows 2000, XP or higher to get full functionality of the USB device. If you hava an Apple, no problem. Apple practically invented USB.

Sorry to bore you or make your head spin, but there are a lot of options available and before settling on one thing, explore your options. You may find something you like at a very reasonable cost.

here is one source.....try Google for others

http://www.autobodyshopsoftware.com/

thanks i will read thru this and see if it will take hold ?thanks every one, robot that is ok for a body shop but i build and machine engines. i have not seen any thing for this ?

OOPS, sorry, I thought you wanted body shop software....There are packages for repair shops but I havent seen any custom engine software...... you could easily do an Excel spread sheet like everyone is suggesting. I did one for our use in quoting robot systems. I have canned components with pricing and have the ability to add custom stuff.

Do you have Microsoft Excel on your computer? If yes, the rest is easy. If no, you have to pony up the $$ to Bill and make him a bit richer.

mike in tucson

Originally Posted by robot

OOPS, sorry, I thought you wanted body shop software....There are packages for repair shops but I havent seen any custom engine software...... you could easily do an Excel spread sheet like everyone is suggesting. I did one for our use in quoting robot systems. I have canned components with pricing and have the ability to add custom stuff.

Do you have Microsoft Excel on your computer? If yes, the rest is easy. If no, you have to pony up the $$ to Bill and make him a bit richer.

mike in tucson

well i have a new used computer it new to me it has a spot in front usb port? for the stick every one said i should use other than a cd ? it runs on windows xp emachine t3265 good ? or not ?? some one told me there junk??? well it works. was my moms so the price was good

Originally Posted by DennyW

There are so many different ones. If you have a basic layout, I, or someone else could make you up a layout, and all you would have to do is scan and print them off. Just an idea.

sound s good but i would just be happy typing in and holding a file and coppy the estimates as need and can some of it to save all the price hunting on parts and labor ? how do you type out a file on the computer ? i do not know how to do this ??

First, figure out what software packages are installed on the computer. You should be able to click on "START" in the lower left hand corner of the screen. There will be a selection named "programs" that pops up a list of the programs to open..... there is probably a few, most are useless. Look for MS Excel.

The CD, thumb drive, etc are storage methods....you dont need any of these to start, they are a substitute for you hard drive. For a number of estimates, you can store these on your hard drive..... The CD, thumb drive, etc are also used to store copies of what is on the hard drive so, in the event of a hard drive failure, you have a second copy (called a backup).

Do you have Excel on your computer?

mike in tucson

the only thing i have is windows thats all i did down load that denny thanks i will play with that see what i can do with it