1. Customer Support: Understanding network environments

2. Wing's World: Tips for real life

3. Customer Profile: Sizing up a project

4. Buildsoft Meetings

5. Website Facelift

6. MBA Trade Shows

7. Distributor Profile: Serving Southern Africa

8. Distributor Profile: All over NSW

9. Industry Watch

When running your Buildsoft Global or Offsider Estimating System in a network environment there a few things to note to ensure smooth data processing across the network.

Same operating systems and version numbers

Ensure that all workstations have the same operating system installed and also the same edition of that operating system. For example, do not have some machines running Windows 2000 and others running Windows XP. Ideally all computers should be running Windows XP Service Pack 2, which is the best operating system for a client / server type network environment. A client / server environment means that that there is a dedicated server in your office and each workstation has a mapped drive to it, such as an H drive, for accessing the data files.

Ensure that the same version number of the Buildsoft Estimating System is installed on each workstation. To check the version number, go to the Job Manager screen, click on Help and select About. The current version of the software at the time of writing is 5.99xp5

Advantages of network systems

Network systems have some advantages over a stand-alone system. These include:

Understanding Microsoft's new .docx files

Several people have recently asked about opening and saving Microsoft Word’s new default file format extension .docx in older versions of Word. They want to know how they will be able to read and work with the new Word files.

First, I should explain that the .docx file format was introduced by Microsoft in its new Word 2007 application. Microsoft wants this new file extension to replace the commonly used .doc format. This has created a problem for many users because they are still using older versions of Word, or do not use a Microsoft product. They are therefore unable to load the .docx file because it is not supported by their application.

The story gets more complicated because Microsoft has changed the extensions in 2007 Office for Word (.docx), Excel (.xlsx) and PowerPoint (.pptx). The x part of the extension indicates that it is an Open XML-based file format specification for electronic documents developed by Microsoft and the company is fast tracking the standardisation process for this format within the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO).

What typically happens to users is that they try to open, say, an attachment to an email that has a .docx extension and they get the generic Windows unrecognised file-type dialogue. This probably indicates that the user has not been keeping his or her computer updated on a regular basis and should update via Microsoft Update or Office Update.

Here is the link to the Compatibility Pack now available from Microsoft: Compatibility Pack

There is a warning from Microsoft that users of the Microsoft Office XP and 2003 programs Word, Excel, or PowerPoint should first install all High-Priority updates from Microsoft Update before downloading the Compatibility Pack.

By installing the Compatibility Pack in addition to Microsoft Office 2000, Office XP, or Office 2003, you will be able to open, edit, and save files using the file formats new to Word, Excel and PowerPoint 2007. The Compatibility Pack can also be used in conjunction with the Microsoft Office Word Viewer 2003, Excel Viewer 2003, and PowerPoint Viewer 2003 to view files saved in these new formats. The administrative template for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint converters contained within the Compatibility Pack is also available for download.

You cannot open Word 2007 documents that were saved in .dotx or .dotm format.

Although you can open Office Word 2007 files in previous versions of Word, you may not be able to change some items that were created by using the new or enhanced features in Office Word 2007.

Installing Buildsoft on Windows Vista

At the moment, it is best just to install Buildsoft’s Offsider Estimating and Global Estimating software on Windows Vista as these are compatible with the new operating system. We are still updating the BTOS (Buildsoft Take-Off System) module to make it compatible and will let you know when that happens.

In the meantime, here is the installation procedure.

Right-click on Setup.exe (on the Buildsoft CD) and select Run as administrator.

When the Use Account Control message box pops up, click Allow.

After installation, if a message box appears stating Program Compatibility Assistant, click, This program installed correctly.

(If this message does not appear, the program most likely has not been installed correctly and may not run at all. Please contact Buildsoft for further advice.)

Assuming everything went to plan, repeat the above on the following files: Bs32.exe (on the Buildsoft CD) and BDECFG32.exe (in Buildsoft program folder C:\Esw).

Set the NET Dir on PARADOX to C:\Esw folder and save the changes.

The first time you run Buildsoft, right-click on the Buildsoft ICON on your Desktop and select Run as administrator.

From the minute he tried Buildsoft software, Peter Darling was hooked. Like many before – and many after – him, he found the product “so easy to use”. The proof in his case was immediate. Buildsoft director Jackie Fogg had given Peter about half-an-hour’s instructions about the program “and I was able to measure price and win a $38 million high-rise on the Gold Coast, an office building on Cavill Avenue in Surfers Paradise. That was in 1987 so it was a lot of money.”

A computer rookie (as just about everyone was in those days) Peter was already an experienced quantity surveyor and had the professional knowledge to find his way around what he still believes is a “well and logically structured program”.

After studying at Willesden College of Technology in London and working with construction company George Wimpey in the mid to late 1960s (“I survived the 1960s in London,” he laughs) Peter emigrated to Australia in 1970 with his Australian wife. After an initial spell in Sydney he then moved to Canberra where he worked for some 10 years as an estimator and contract administrator for Hooker Homes, Leighton Contractors and AV Jennings.

In 1982 he moved to Brisbane and started working for the quantity surveying practice Rainey Lincoln, mainly on the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, doing estimates and contract administration. Watpac was the main building company on the project and in 1986, when he had finished the administration side of the job, he joined Watpac as a senior estimator staying until 1995.

He then set up on his own for eight years. “I basically had four main clients, 3 small builders and a project management company. I did contract administration and project management. When you work for yourself though you do just about everything as well, including your books.”

He joined a private developer and construction company, the Pradella Group, as a senior cost planner in 2003 before moving to his current position as a cost planner at John Holland.

Computer eye-opener
It was at Watpac that Peter had his computer epiphany. “I was asked to computerise the estimating department and to look at options among the commercial estimating systems that were on the market. Eventually a flyer came across my desk sent up from Sydney from a firm I’d never heard of called Buildsoft. It was in their early days. A builder who was doing some contract work for them came up to show Buildsoft to me and a couple of other estimators in Watpac. It was quite obvious that that was what we needed. It was so user-friendly, so easy to use, like having a bill of quantities in front you.”

The Watpac chief estimator at the time wanted the program to be networked. Jackie wrote a special program to do this but Peter remembers that networking was very rare and after a while the company went back to using a non-networked system – the MS-DOS stand-alone, which was “absolutely bullet-proof”.

Peter says proudly, “I was the first person in Brisbane to use Buildsoft”. He is also the first to admit that Buildsoft’s Queensland representative Neale Bunyan has helped him out more than a few times. “He’s given me advice on how to use parts of the program I don’t use regularly, or if I’ve hit a key by mistake and changed the configuration or something like that, unusual things.”

Having used Buildsoft on all sizes and types of job, Peter praises its flexibility. “With trade-based small building companies, who, say, have their own carpenters, I could produce cutting lists. So you can say I want 4 by 2 timber and want 3 x 3 metres, 2 x 4.2 metres, 3 x 4.8 metres. That can be returned into the description of the item by coding the Calculation sheet correctly. With the big, major jobs it was business as usual e.g. just global quantities, cubic metres, square metres, more going with the lump sum.”

In another first, he is working on Brisbane’s first Public Private Partnership project, the South Bank Education and Training Precinct. He likes the way Buildsoft’s cost planning format brings up already selected building elements that then contain lots of trades e.g. floors with concrete reinforcement within that.

Raised in the city of Bristol in England’s south-west, Peter followed in the footsteps of a favourite uncle who was a quantity surveyor. “I’ve always been fascinated with building. My father was in the medical profession as a pharmacist and my brother was in the aircraft industry and the only other big industry in Bristol at the time was construction so I went into that.”

“Quantity surveying is a great grounding for construction generally. You can turn your mind to cost planning or to project management or contract administration.”

The only problem is switching off. “You find that as a quantity surveyor with a lot of experience and who has been in the industry a long time, you’re always quantity surveying. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing, you’re always counting things.”

The latest Buildsoft quarterly meeting was held in Melbourne in early June at the Novotel in St Kilda. These meetings give management and Buildsoft distributors a chance to get together to discuss ideas. Directors Jim Cunningham and Jackie Fogg were there, and Marketing Manager Graham Martin, Sales Manager Haydon Carroll, Queensland distributor Neale Bunyon, Victorian distributor Bernie Meehan and the new NSW distributor, Michael Said (see also Distributor profile: All over NSW).

Everyone decided to invite Global Estimating System users to seminars in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane to discuss and demonstrate some features of one of Buildsoft’s newer products BTOS (Buildsoft Take-Off System). Haydon and the distributors agreed that not all users were even aware that the product was available, never mind how powerful a tool it is to add to their Global Estimating System.

The first seminar was at the Lexus Centre in Melbourne on 27 July. Around 80 users attended and despite being interrupted by a fire alarm 10 minutes into the presentation that meant the building had to be evacuated and everyone was left out in the cold for a good half hour, the Buildsoft team was still able to demonstrate a fair percentage of what they had intended to do. Congratulations to Tony Roberts of Baulderstone Hornibrook for winning the $100 Bunnings Gift Voucher Door Prize.

Sydney’s seminar was on 2 August at the Citigate Hotel in the Haymarket. Buildsoft was overwhelmed by the roll-up on the day with around 180 people turning up for what was a very informative session with lots of feedback from users about the product – as well information from the presenters Congratulations this time to Stephen Brown of Hutchinson Builders for winning the $100 Bunnings Gift Voucher Door Prize.

The final seminar was held in Brisbane on 10 August at Christie Corporate's offices on Adelaide St. Over 120 people attended. Congratulations to Frank Moes from FKP Limited for winning the $100 gift voucher. Thank you to both Bernie Meehan (VIC Distributor) and Neale Bunyon (QLD Distributor) for their assistance in making these seminars happen.

We will be looking at doing a similar seminar in Perth and Canberra later in the year or early 2008. We will keep you informed.

The next newsletter will also bring you news of any developments affecting customers that may arise from the management / distributors meeting, which is scheduled to be held in Sydney, 24 September.

Technical watch: Exporting quantities

A stand-alone version of BTOS (Buildsoft Take-Off System) will be available soon. Called BTOS-X, this version will allow you to directly link the quantities calculated in BTOS-X to your favourite spreadsheets such as Microsoft Excel. You can also dump the quantities into alternative estimating systems.

The X in BTOS-X is almost like an X factor, a value-added component with lots of different meanings.

Keeping up with the times the Buildsoft website is being re-designed both in appearance and functionality. The modern, more streamlined look has a new corporate design with logo and the hard-hat Buildsoft character. The website will also have a new content management system and an e-commerce section, as well as the ongoing product and support sections. There will now be sections for company announcements.

The developer, Netstarter, is government endorsed, which means it is on a short list of business suppliers allowed to tender on major government jobs.

Events

Buildsoft has been out and about at a number of Master Builders Association (MBA) trade shows, participating as a sponsor. Sales Manager Haydon Carroll visited Newcastle, Forster and Port Macquarie at the end of April and early May; NSW distributor Michael Said visited Penrith and Liverpool on 20 and 21 June; and Haydon went to Wollongong on 26 June, Central Coast on 25th July, Maitland on 26th July and Tamworth on the 23rd August.

Says Haydon: “We have a chance at these shows to mingle with local builders and subcontractors to show them our products and also chat with existing clients to ensure they are getting the most out of our software. Our software generated a lot of interest at these shows from the locals.”

Buildsoft is pleased to announce the appointment of SilverSpring Technologies as the exclusive distributor for Buildsoft software for Southern Africa, a territory that includes South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland.

Buildsoft considers that South Africa is an exciting market in which to be involved with our new distributor. The growth rate for domestic construction is projected to remain at 13 per cent for the next several years. This is due to South Africa’s transformation, which has had a positive impact on its people who, in turn, have fueled the growing demand for houses.

The growth rate for commercial building is projected to maintain its 7 per cent for the next several years. Further reason for optimism is that South Africa will be hosting the 2010 Soccer World Cup!

Client liaison

Founded in 2004, SilverSpring Technologies is located in Johannesburg, South Africa. For over three years, SilverSpring Technologies has provided specially designed software to the building and construction industry, allowing customer companies to better track their costs and manage projects.

Today, SilverSpring Technologies markets Buildsoft’s estimating software and a third-party fully integrated project control and accounting software product that is geared for construction or construction-related companies. The company’s software expertise is helping major companies around the world to control costs on projects ranging from a few thousand dollars to several billion.

SilverSpring Technologies’ business philosophy is to provide a high level of service to its clients as strategic partners. The clients benefit from a close relationship with the company, giving them access to qualified professionals who know the specifics of their business and of their software implementation.

SilverSpring Technologies is not a commodity software vendor. Rather, it focuses on construction or construction-related companies that want to maximise their use of Buildsoft software technology through close interaction with SilverSpring Technologies. Essentially, it serves as an outside resource to customers' in-house IT staff to help them get the most out of their investment in computer technologies.

SilverSpring Technologies’ approach toward working with clients as strategic business partners ensures that involvement does not end on completion of the conversion. Instead, it continues by providing on-going support and services, such as recurrent training (on an as-needed basis), enhancement programming, problem resolution, statutory changes and new releases of Buildsoft software.

Contact details

Contact: Kiran Narsai or Afrika Tau
Company: SilverSpring Technologies
Address: 25 Turkana
Eldorate Road
Sunninghill 2157
Phone: +2711 319 9184
Cell: +27 82 900 3393 or +27 83 264 3797
Fax: +27 86 642 2437
Website: www.silverspring.co.za
Email: info@silverspring.co.za ; sales@silverspring.co.za ; kiran@silverspring.co.za ; afrika@silverspring.co.za

When choosing a distributor for your product you want to be sure they know it inside out. Michael Said, Buildsoft’s new New South Wales distributor, not only has used the software himself for seven years but has also trained many builders in its finer points.

A licensed builder and trainer for the Housing Industry Association, Michael began distributing the Offsider Estimating System at the beginning of the year.

Offsider is designed for builders and subcontractors working in the housing industry. Not surprisingly, the target group for Michael’s CAD Systems company is small to medium sized builders, initially covering “pretty much the Sydney metropolitan area, down to Sutherland and up to the Central Coast”. As time goes on Michael’s reach will expand into all regional areas as well.

The users’ work is varied, he says. “They are doing renovations and additions to new homes, and even working on medium-density construction, duplexes, some townhouses and dual occupancy. You’re looking at anything from $100,000 up to half a million dollars.”

With people who are starting on the program and who want to use if more efficiently, Michael often has to point out “a few of the bells and whistles. I’m mainly reinforcing that what they are doing is right, but then I’ll say to them, ‘have you seen this yet, have you looked at that, and they go, Oh, OK’. It can all make their life easier than just using a spreadsheet.”

He has noticed that Buildsoft users sometimes do not explore the reporting features – the printing options – enough. “I show them the flexibility of the program. For example, you can put in a square area, a floor area, and the program will automatically calculate the cost per square metre. This gives an indicative cost or idea to users and they can go back and change the figures and recalculate costs.”

A career for life

Building is in Michael’s blood. He was on site as a boy giving his building industry father a hand with things. After leaving school (“a long time ago”) he went on to become a carpenter and joiner and studied for further post-trade and building industry training qualifications.

Michael has taught building apprentices and post-trades students part-time within the TAFE system for over 20 years. He is now primarily at Nirimba TAFE, Quakers Hill, part of the Western Sydney Institute. With his building company CAD Industries he also does a range of commercial and residential work, mainly on new homes for private investors.

“Buildsoft is a very easy program to use. It’s designed by a builder and straightforward. It also fits in with the quantities and estimating that we teach at TAFE. (Buildsoft’s starting point was the manual estimating method taught at TAFEs and universities – see How we Began, BEN 2, May 2007). “Buildsoft are also very shrewd and put a copy of the program on the computers at TAFE. I suppose that’s what got me started on it.”

Michael also recently set himself up as a business coach. He is one of the speakers at HIA seminars as part of the association’s Business Partners Network. “Unfortunately a lot of people in the building industry don’t realise they are running a business. I talk to people about cash flows and help businesses with their paperwork. The building industry is a real shocker with all the regulatory requirements.”

He hopes the seminars will attract the people at the computer interface looking after the day-to-day finances as well as directors who are more likely to be concentrating on the big picture.

Irrepressible, Michael will also be talking about Buildsoft and estimating in general at trade nights throughout the state in his efforts to let as many people as possible know about the product.

NB: Offsider includes Offsider Estimating Lite, Offsider Estimating (with scheduling features), Offsider Estimating with Ordering (creating purchase orders automatically from the estimating module), and Offsider Estimating Plus (allowing users to electronically trace in a plan to quickly generate bills of materials in preferred formats, and also containing the Estimating System, Ordering module and Buildsoft Take-Off System (BTOS).

Contact details

Contact: Michael Said
Phone: 0431 472 243
Email: cadsystems@optusnet.com.au
(Michael is moving offices and street address details will be provided when finalised)

We welcome your contributions about networking events, useful websites and other sources of information, construction activity, highs and lows, companies and anything that helps to make your job easier.

The redevelopment of Melbourne’s former Spencer Street Station, renamed Southern Cross Station, was named Australia’s most outstanding example of construction excellence at the 2007 Australian Construction Achievement Award in May. The $420 million facility by Leighton Contractors took place over and around a fully operational transport interchange servicing up to 60,000 commuters every weekday.

A Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) survey into innovation in the construction industry found almost half of the 459 managers and directors questioned would develop green technology and techniques. The research showed that sustainability is at the top of the agenda for the construction industry, said deputy chief executive Michael Brown. Innovative green ideas expressed by green-friendly respondents “ranged from carbon neutral construction materials, renewable energy systems, energy efficient heating systems through to solar powered equipment and better water management products.”

Good Environmental Choice Australia released its latest standard, the Building Insulation Materials Standard, in July and certifications have already commenced. Go to www.geca.org.au/standardsregister.htm

Skills shortages have helped trade contractor price rises by 20.9 per cent in the June quarter and 6.4 per cent in financial year 2006-2007, according to the Housing Industry Association-Austral Bricks Trade Report. The most pronounced increases were among bricklayers (16.7 per cent over the past 12 months), painting (15 per cent) and plastering (11.7 per cent).

Australian Building Codes Board national conference, Marriott Resort, Surfers Paradise, 23-26 September; www.abcb.gov.au

Australian Window Association national conference and exhibition, looking at compliance and energy efficient windows, Royal Pines Resort, Gold Coast, 27 September; www.awa.org.au

Australian Institute of Project Management national conference, Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart, 7-10 October, www.aipm.com.au; phone: 03 6234 7844

Designbuild, Perth Convention Centre, 12-14 October; www.divexhibitions.com.au

Concrete 07, Convention Centre, Adelaide, 18-20 October, technology, application design and construction; email: events@plevin.com.au; phone: 08 8379 8222

Civil Contractors Federation national conference, Alice Springs, 24-28 October; phone: 1300 760 815

Which Way? - Directions in Indigenous Housing conference, Royal Australian Institute of Architects, Alice Springs, 26-27 October; www.architecture.com.au