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Estimates

Estimate Maintenance​

From the DockMaster menu, select Service Management > Maintenance Functions > Estimates

Purpose To enter a job estimate for a customer. An Estimate can be very detailed, showing itemized parts, labor, etc. or summarized to show totals for each type of charge. You have the ability to transfer detail charges (parts, labor etc.) from the Estimate to the Work Order. To transfer detail charges, check the Create Detail Charges box from the Create Work Order From or Create Work Order From window.

An Estimate can be converted to a Work Order and vice-versa. When you are in the Work Order Estimate screen, you can select F9 Create Estimate From link to select what type of work order you want to Create From and which work order you want to Create To.

An Estimate can be saved as a template and reused as often as desired. This feature is very useful when you give estimates on a large number of similar jobs.

From the menu Service, Maintenance Functions, Estimates.

Estimate Maintenance​

--Estimate Maintenance Information--​

The Estimate and Work Order programs have basically the same functionality since the two programs are so interrelated. This section will only touch on the differences between the two programs.

  • Estimate ID – Click new to start a new estimate id or select a current one to edit.

To create an Estimate from either another Work Order, Estimate or Template press the F9 Key or Create Estimate from F9 from the Command Panel.

In the From field, you can select Work Order, Estimate or Template. Enter the work order, estimate or template number to create from. If you do not know the work order, estimate or template number press the F6 Key or click on the F6 List that appears at the bottom of the window. You can also do a cross-reference search by using the backslash ‘ \’ followed by the customer’s last name, boat name etc.

In the To field, select an Estimate to copy to. Enter the letter "N" to create a new estimate. The next Estimate Id in sequential order will be used. . If you do not know the work order, estimate or template number press the F6 Key or click on the F6 List that appears at the bottom of the window

Create Detail Charges- If this box is checked, detail charges such as parts and labor will get transferred.

Flat Rate entire Estimate- If this box is checked, labor charges can be flat rated when transferred.

The remaining prompts in the Estimate Header Information section are identical to Work Order Maintenance. Please refer to Work Order Maintenance for information on each prompt.

Maintenance Tab​

--Customer Boat Information--​

  • The prompts in the Customer Boat Information section are identical to the Work Order Maintenance program. Please refer to the Work Order Maintenance topic for details on each prompt.

--Search By--​

  • The prompts in the Search By section are identical to the Work Order Maintenance program. Please refer to the Work Order Maintenance topic for details on each prompt.

--Operations Table--​

To activate the Option Links in the Command Panel for the Operations Table, click on an Operation you want to review.

  • Edit F6- Select Edit if you want to maintain an Operation by adding or deleting detail.
  • Delete F7- Select F7 if you want to delete an Operation
  • Summary sF5- Select sF5 if you want to summarize charges for the Operation.
  • An Estimate Operation Code Summary window will pop up.
  • Enter in the estimated amounts for each of the charges that will apply to the work order. If you enter in charges for detail that has already been maintained on another Operation on the Estimate, you will be asked if you want to delete the detail from the original Operation. If you answer "Yes", then the detail will update. If you answer "No", then the information in the Operation Code Summary will not be saved.
  • Press the Update button when finished entering in the Charges Summary.

Miscellaneous Info Tab​

  • The prompts in the Miscellaneous Information Tab are identical to the Work Order Maintenance program. Please refer to the Work Order Maintenance topic for details on each prompt.

Charges Summary Tab​

  • The prompts in the Charges Summary Tab are identical to the Work Order Maintenance program. Please refer to the Work Order Maintenance topic for details on each prompt.

Profit Tab​

  • The prompts in the Profit Tab are identical to the Work Order Maintenance program. Please refer to the Work Order Maintenance topic for details on each prompt.

Billing Tab​

  • The Billing Process is not available in Estimate Maintenance. All Billing is done through Work Order Maintenance.

Estimate Maintenance Command Panel​

When you are in the Estimate Maintenance form, there will be buttons in the Command Panel that will be active along with hyperlinks. The majority of the buttons are standard like Clear, Save, Cancel, Close, Delete and Print. The buttons specific to Estimates are the Save As , Add Operation and Get Project Info.

  • Save as– Allows you to save the current estimate as a work order, template or estimate. This will be useful when you want to mimic a work order that will be used often. i.e. Winterization of a boat.
  • Save as Work Order- Use the Save as Work Order if you want to create a work order from the current work order.
  • Save as Template- Use the Save as Template when you want to mimic a work order that will be used often. For example, the winterization of a boat.
  • Save as Estimate– Allows you to create an Estimate from the work order. This will be useful if you want to turn the information provided in the work order into an estimate. i.e. Insurance repairs.
  • Delete – The Delete button will delete the current estimate. All operations must be deleted first before the estimate can be deleted.
  • Print – Press the Print button to print the current estimate using the Service Printing screen.
  • Add Operation – Allows the user to add a new operation to the Estimate.
  • Change Est. Location – This is a link at the bottom of the Command Panel that enables the user to change the location of where the estimate is written. This is used by customers with multiple service locations.

Estimate Printing​

  • When you are ready to print out your Estimate, select the Print button from the Command Panel.
  • Almost all the prompts in the Estimate Printing form are the same as Service Printing. The prompts that are going to be different for Estimates are pointed out below under Service Printing.

Main​

--Service Printing--​

  • Work Order/Estimate – Estimate is the default print type.
  • Estimate Number – Enter a Work Order Estimate Number or leave the prompt blank to print ALL Estimates. If you don’t know the estimate number, type in the customer’s last name preceded by a backslash "" to access a cross-reference list.
  • Estimate List Name – Enter a List Name that has been created using the Report Generator. Optional field.
  • Estimate Print Layout – Select the Layout for your estimate to print to. The default layout is the Estimate layout specified in the Service Parameters.

Operations​

  • This are no changes in prompts when printing an Estimate.

Estimate Operations Maintenance Command Panel​

  • Clear – The Clear button clears/removes data from the screen and the cursor is appears at the first prompt.
  • Save Estimate - Allows you to save the current operation/charges made to the estimate without having to return to the main Estimate Maintenance screen.
  • Cancel – The Cancel button clears/removes data from screen.
  • Close- This button will close just the Estimate Operations Maintenance window and take you back to the Estimate Maintenance Window.
  • Attach Photos- Select a Bit Map image from your server or client system. This can be a picture of the Boat, Motor or Trailer you are working on for possible Insurance repairs. The directory/path should be maintained in the Service Parameters. It is recommended that the images are stored on your Server to save space on the client machines and to verify that all users are accessing the same path to the images.
  • Manager Comments- Manager comments can be printed on reports or Estimates. If this button is password protected, you will have to enter the correct password before you can view this information.
  • Update - The Update button becomes available in Estimate Operations Maintenance. When adding charges to your Operation, the Update Button will take the data and display it on the screen or grid associated with that detail. For example, after a part is added, press the Update button to see the detail part information displayed in the grid at the bottom of the screen.

Note: The Update button updates in memory only. To save the charges to the work order, use the "Save Estimate" button.

  • Remove Charge – The Remove Charge button will only be active in the detail menus (Labor, Parts, etc) when there are charges present on the form. To remove a charge, highlight the detail line and press the Remove Charge button.
  • Delete – The Delete key is inactive while maintaining the Estimate. It will only be active in the main Estimate Maintenance window.
  • Save As Op Code Link –The Save As function is available in the Opcode Overrides Tab. It allows the user to save the current operation. For Example, if you are using a Misc. Opcode and want to save it in your opcode file to be used again.
  • Op Code Maint. Link –The Opcode Maintenance link is available in the Opcode Overrides Tab. This link takes you to the Opcode Maintenance screen where you can add or maintain an operation.
  • Print Pick List Link – The Print Pick List link is available while in the Parts Tab. When parts are added to the Estimate, the user can print out a listing of the parts added to the estimate.
  • Move Detail Link – The Move Detail link is available in the detail screens and allows the user to move selected detail charges to another estimate.
  • Update Prices Link – The Update Prices link is available in the Labor Tab. The Update Prices function allows the user to update the labor price on a work order that was created from the estimate. The work order has to be the same number as the estimate for this to work.
  • Vendor Maint – The Vendor Maint link found in the Sublet Tab, allows the user to create/maintain a vendor in the Vendor Maintenance screen.