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I urge you to create a Support Case using this webpage: visioninfosoft.com/support/ You can copy a job like you have done, integrate the job with PlanSwift, and do additional takeoff from a plan. I believe our support department would tell you that you'll have do the the other takeoff again and recommend using the previous bid takeoff entries as a guide to help speed the process. There is currently no way for the plan to know what and where your counts and measurements are that you previously manually input into Electrical Bid Manager (EBM). I do not know how different the 3 job's plans are, but you might be able to use PlanSwift's plan comparison tool to highlight the difference and that may help speed the process.

PlanSwift integrates with Electrical Bid Manager (EBM). EBM has 1,000's of electrical items and assemblies that you use in your takeoff. You initiate the takeoff in EBM which then pops you over to PlanSwift to do the counting and measuring for the item/assembly you chose. EBM with PlanSwift harnesses the custom takeoff modules of EBM with the power of using electrical plan counting of PlanSwift. Most plans come in PDF format. Some plan takeoff software auto-converts your PDFs into TIF/BMP format for software efficiency. All plan takeoff software, including PlanSwift, will take PDF format plans. Thank you for the support! Like and subscribe! 🙂

@Visioninfosoft yep already subscribed, thanks again for the information

No. There is a newer version of PlanSwift. However, the functionality Electrical Bid Manager uses in PlanSwift is the same. Many of our users are continue to use PlanSwift version 10.x. Most of the improvements in PlanSwift 11.x are meant for users that only use PlanSwift (e.g. roofers, drywallers, painters, cement work, etc) This training video is still very relevant as of July 2024. However, we will look at updating it to cover any added functionality to Electrical Bid Manager that should be addressed. Cheers!

The network version typically functions on a physical LAN interconnecting Windows computers with ethernet cable and wifi. There is a Windows Server computer that typically runs the Windows Server operating system to maximize uptime and stability. Electrical Bid Manager (EBM) is installed as a server application on the Windows Server. EBM is installed as a Workstation application on each Windows computer you wish to use EBM. The Workstation computers all share the data housed on the Windows Server. This can also be done in the cloud using Windows Terminal Server setup by your IT company or a service like v2cloud.com.

Thank you for that. I’m trying to implement this for our office and would like to make sure I get it right. I’m also planning on using planswift and all your other bells and Whistles. Does planswift need a network version also? I’m sorry for all the questions but I need this kinda chewed up for me. Lol

You can use our software to measure wire/conduit/cable runs on your electrical plans. Or, you can use our Site, Feeders, Motor Hookups, Branch Circuits, and Cable takeoff modules that help guide you through each wire takeoff.

Electrical Bid Manager (EBM). We have more videos on our CZcams channel that cover EBM in more detail. You can also learn more here: www.visioninfosoft.com/electrical-estimating-software/ or email us direct at sales@visioninfosoft.com

You're welcome! We host a new CZcams Live once a month so be sure to subscribe to our channel to get alerts.

Samantha, there are many variables to consider when answering this question so we will provide a few thoughts. Short Answer: Yes. Many estimators get their start as an electrician in the field. That knowledge transfers well to the estimating learning process. However, we've had several new-to-estimating students take our online classroom training without any prior field or estimating experience. In these cases, it will take longer to become an expert but, if they have an experienced mentor, they can get up to speed pretty quickly. If the new estimator is without field experience, a mentor, and is "flying blind", learning electrical estimating can be difficult. GOOD LUCK!

Our estimating software is very affordable to get started and you can grow into more advanced add-ons as needed. Reach out to us at sales@visioninfosoft.com or call 760-579-0334 and dial into Sales to get all your questions answered.

Ethan, I see you have reached out to our support department yesterday and got helped. I also wanted to share the answer here. -- You need to be logged in as SUPERVISOR or a user with Admin access to EBM. For expedited support, create a support case at visioninfosoft.com/support

Thanks Luis! Let us know how we can help.

Thank you! We are glad you found it useful.

Our pleasure!

Any time!

We'll look into this. I see we link to a Prebid Evaluation Form in the video's description. We also have this Columnar Takeoff Sheet: drive.google.com/file/d/1Ca5_4ovmiGvMwSVSKa9n4StQnv2pQydS/view?usp=sharing

If you download and install our 14-day demo, you will have access to sample jobs that include takeoff examples. www.visioninfosoft.com/electrical-estimating-software/download-demo/

Yes, I did. Turned bell as well .@@Visioninfosoft

We have a few different options that meet a range of needs for companies getting started to more advanced estimating teams. Currently, a basic entry point is $890 a year to get started. Call us at 800-258-7752 or email sales@visioninfosoft.com

It's well with the averages I see; maybe a little high for the larger jobs. - Brian Hoffelder

It starts at $890. Give us a call 800-258-7752 or visit our website to learn more www.visioninfosoft.com - Or, watch more of CZcams videos on our channel: czcams.com/users/visioninfosoft

Hey Junior. Let us know if there is anything we can help you with.

"Never stop learning" is a healthy habit to maintain. We'd love to see that laminated graph if you feel like sharing it. Take a photo and email it to sales@visioninfosoft.com - I haven't heard of Estimatic but it sounds like they had a pretty good electrical estimating course if they included tool that you have held onto all these years.

@@Visioninfosoft If I can locate the graph in the future I will email you a picture. Also Estimatic Corporation is no longer in business. They also had great information pages in their 3 ring binders, ie concentration factors for wire pulling (A table) Hope this helps. Will contact you later. At 90 years old I need more time. Thank you

@@butterworthchapman6075 No hurry. It is great to have a chat with you. - Derrick @ Vision InfoSoft.

@@butterworthchapman6075 I'd be interested to learn your method.

Check out our website for all our training options. We host monthly online classroom training that you may want to check out. www.visioninfosoft.com/training/online-classroom-training/

Do you have spanish class ?

@@chavezlife3608 Unfortunately, we do not at this time. Maybe an interpreter could be hired?

We agree but there is more to consider. It goes unsaid that nearly every contracting business is a for-profit business. Change orders, standard jobs, service work, etc, are all going to have a percentage of profit figured into the quote/costs. When managing change orders, it is important to consider the unique overhead costs that come into play when considering mobilizing a team for the change order, time ordering extra materials and getting them to the job site, material cost increases due to smaller orders or price changes, etc. A change order won't have all the economies of scale that the actual job will enjoy when it comes to spreading costs. In support of your comment - we agree that there are some contractors that will look at a job and know there will be change orders if they keep their mouth shut and don't offer advice upfront to help the project run smoothly. Unfortunately, it is often difficult to identify this until you are knee deep into the project.

@shanetempleman452, Brian Hoffelder here. Thank you very much for your input, thoughts and critique! I agree that the perspective of a field electrician is insightful and valuable for all of the mistakes/missed parts of the takeoff/job (e.g. conduit for low voltage subs comes to mind -AV-FA-Security-Data cabling). But I don't see any reason that a non-electrician can't learn to include the costs. Ditto for understanding that mechanical spaces with hard lids require conduit. All of the other issues you raise, which a non-electrician might miss or not fully comprehend, are also valid. And again, this can be learned from getting "eyes on" exposure to the job site and getting input from the field employees. My experience over the many years and literally thousands of estimators I have trained and worked with is that some of the best electricians don't necessarily make great estimators; at least not without some training and coaching. Two things are typical. Most really good electricians are very detailed, to the point where they get overly bogged down in the detail when estimating. This takes additional estimating time and often results in overcompensating labor and material requirements. But the opposite also happens. The really good electricians tend to think in terms of how long any task should take, how long it would take them or one of their best electricians to perform a task. In this case, the electrician/estimator needs to learn and be trained to think in terms of the average journeyman and/or apprentice and to also include realistic allowances for the other non-productive factors you mention. The balance between detailed analyses and realistic allowances is essential to accurate and competitive estimates. Also, if you, as the estimator, are getting blamed for going over budget when you don't include some of these non-productive factors, then it is important that all involved understand how important these issues are. Thanks for your thoughts and input!! - Brian Hoffelder

The home run calculation is just an approximation. Since the length is already rounded up (1/2 of the longest dimension rounded up to the next 10 feet), I don't know that it is necessary to adjust this further unless there are higher than normal ceilings (above 12 feet). Let us know if this helps.

You have a very good point, I have a graph that does the same but a person needs to be very careful. You are correct HGC

Great thinking and you can add these in when taking averages, Thank you for the input.

In most commercial applications, you would use an average of 20 feet per fixture and/or device. But, that does not include homeruns. Otherwise, you would use the actual measured lengths.

I can think of two locations this can be done. Saved Assemblies windows you access from all the Takeoff Modules or the main database view window. In the main Database (top-menu: Database | Edit/View/Print), you can right-click on item and choose Cut. Navigate to the Category folder, right-click and choose Paste. The Saved Assemblies window currently does now allow for cut/paste. Both of these locations have a Delete button on the right side.

We are not familiar with planHub. However, our advice is to communicate with the general contractor managing the project. Some will work with you, help you learn why you may not have won a job, and possibly discuss how else is bidding.

Glad it was helpful! We recently created an "updated" version of this video that you might want to watch when you can: czcams.com/video/7KdAKdqw2Ko/video.html We also have several other overview and getting started level electrical estimating videos here on our channel.

Hey Frankie, looks like we should update this intro video. Pricing has definitely been on the move.

Patrick, what type of jobs are you estimating? We'd love to hear more detail of your strategies. Most of our customers get their electrical plans as PDF files. No AutoCAD. However, there are situations where AutoCAD comes into play. Using AutoCAD lisp files and Python are advanced methods for creating estimates in some industries and specialized types of jobs. Our software excels at helping electrical contractors bid on commercial electrical jobs.

​@@Visioninfosoft I mainly estimate mid- high rise building installations but there were times when I needed to estimate some residential ones. I import pdf files into CAD then convert it into DWG. Using AutoCAD is still the old school way but it allows you to simply draw lines for where you run conduit going into the panels and with lisp files you can add up the total length for all the lines you drew. There are also lisp files that allow you to detect how many elements of a specific drawing there is so you can count the amount of fixtures, switches and similar things easily. I made myself an app from python with GUI that has data for market price of each electrical component and for automating addition of lengths for conduit, wire (for every outlet and switch), amount of fittings, clamps and pull boxes, etc. Residential building estimates take about an hour or two and mid-high rise buildings take about a whole day or two.

​@@The_Herniator ​ Wow, that sounds pretty resourceful! We wish our customers had access to the engineer/designer's original AutoCAD file so that we could integrate our bidding software with a meta-data-rich file. But, what you are doing is pretty interesting. Our Electrical Bid Manager software integrates directly with PlanSwift. This combination gives you a built-in database of electrical assemblies and items that you use to measure conduit/wire runs, count fixtures/switches/etc, and automatically calculate labor and pricing with a direct connection to your local supplier. PlanSwift also allows you to do basic design/build work on the plan if needed. It is a valuable tool for electrical estimators. Thank you for sharing your bidding process.

Patrick, I'm curious about your process. How are you able to convert a 2d PDF file into a 3D CAD without the architect's original files?

@@earcher0 Everything here in the Philippines is done with AutoCAD 2D making the conversion process of PDF into DWG much easier. It's just simple PDFattach and PDFimport on AutoCAD.