Q1: Why does my browser have trouble displaying my estimate when I am at www.meanscostworks.com?
A “browser” is a program that you use to visit web pages. Browsers interpret the underlying HTML code of which web pages are comprised, and translate this code into the visual representation that you see when you view that web page. There are many different browsers on the market today, like Firefox, Safari, Netscape, and Internet Explorer, and these different browsers each have subtle differences in the way that they interpret and display web pages. The MeansCostWorks.com program is optimized for use with Internet Explorer, which means that if you use Internet Explorer to view the MeansCostWorks.com program, then you should have no problems with the way your estimate is displayed, or the way that other features of the program behave. If you are experiencing peculiar behavior with the program, or if things just don’t look right, then it is likely that you are using a browser other than Internet Explorer.

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Q2: The lines in my estimate have crews like C14A, or E11. How can I tell what these crews are made up of?
In the MeansCostWorks.com program, the Unit Cost items usually have a construction crew associated with them, and these crews are each given an alpha-numeric designation to uniquely identify them. When you are working on an estimate, you will see the tree of divisions displayed on the left side of the My Estimate page, and the data lines from the selected division or subdivision displayed on the right side of the page, and below this section you will see the lines you have selected for your estimate. In the display of data lines, if you place your mouse pointer over the MasterFormat line number of a data line, you will see a white box appear to the right of your mouse pointer. This box will display the line number and description, as well as any crew, graphics, or reference links associated with the selected item. Items in black type are simply displayed data, but items in blue type are links to other reference files. If this line has a crew associated with it, you will see the crew designation in blue type. Simply click on this link and a new window will appear which lists the crews and each crew’s members. If there are other references pertaining to this item, you will see more blue links you can click on, and these too will lead to additional useful information about the selected line.

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Q3: When I create a new estimate, I am asked whether I want to do a Unit estimate or an Assembly estimate. What is the difference?
In general, the MeansCostWorks.com program allows you to create two types of estimates. The most accurate type of estimate has the most detail in it, and the most detailed way to describe a series of tasks or materials is to create a list of Unit items. Unit items are the basis of all RSMeans cost data, and each Unit item identifies a single task or material item within the RSMeans database of cost data. Assemblies, or “systems”, are actually groups of related Unit items, which are organized around a single task. For instance, you could build a Unit estimate for a Strip Footing, and you would need to include line items for various stages of excavation, concrete forms, reinforcing steel, concrete, and several other line items. Or you could build an Assembly estimate with only a single line item in it. That assembly would contain all of the components needed for that Strip Footing, and you would only need to specify which assembly and how many linear feet you needed. The Assembly estimate would get you a fairly accurate estimate in less time and with less effort, whereas the Unit estimate would take longer to create, but it would be more accurate.

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Q4: I added a line to my estimate, but it doesn’t show any costs. Why?
The MeansCostWorks.com program, as well as all RSMeans cost data books and estimating products, organize unit cost lines according to MasterFormat divisions and subdivisions. Each of these sections of data begins with one or more header lines that describe the following section of data. In the MeansCostWorks.com program, these header lines can easily be identified because they are all printed in bold type, which sets them apart visually from actual cost data lines. Although these header lines do have 12-digit MasterFormat line numbers, just like every other cost item, they are not cost items and would look out of place on an estimate. So, if you have added a line to your estimate that appears in bold type, then you might decide to remove it because it is only a header line.

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Q5: I have added all necessary line items to my Unit Cost estimate, and now I would like to group these items according to the MasterFormat organization structure. How can I do this?
After you have added lines to an estimate, you can sort those lines according to their MasterFormat line numbers by simply clicking on the column header labeled “Line Number”. This will sort the lines based on the numerical value of the MasterFormat number, and will therefore group all division 1 items together, all division 2 items together, and so on. You can also sort your estimate according to the cost values in the Extended Total O&P column by clicking on the column header labeled “Extended Total O&P”. Also, if you choose to run a report on your estimate, the Unit Cost Detail report will sort the items according to the MasterFormat division, and will show subtotals for each division.

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Q6: Sometimes in the item descriptions, I come across terms and jargon that I am not familiar with. How can I learn what these terms mean?
It might not be obvious at first, but if you are logged in to the MeansCostWorks.com program, you will see three small icons in the upper right corner of the web page. The first one is a green oval labeled “How To”, which will open an animated tutorial when clicked. The third one looks like a blue circle with a question mark in it, and will open the program’s help files when clicked. The middle one looks like an opened book. If you click on this middle icon, a separate window will appear and on this window you will find the RSMeans Construction Dictionary. Just type the word you would like to know more about into the search box with the word “Term” displayed next to it, and then press the Enter key on your keyboard. You will then see the definition of that term, plus any additional pertinent information.

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Q7: Some data lines have no dollar figures, and only show a percentage in one or more columns. How do I make use of these lines?
Within the RSMeans data, there are data lines that have percentages instead of dollar figures, and these lines are known as “Adjustment lines” or "Modifier Lines". The descriptions for these types of lines identify what their purpose or intent is. For example, line 011131100060 is an Architectural fee, and has a figure of 4.9% under the Total O&P column. This line would be used if you wanted to boost the Total O&P costs by 4.9% in one or more of the cost data line items already on your estimate. To do this, you would select and add this line to your estimate, using the same method you used to add the other lines in your estimate. In this case, however, a new window will appear asking you which lines on your estimate you would like to affect with this adjustment. You would then select which line items you wanted to boost by 4.9% in the Total O&P column. After you make your selections and click OK, you will return to the estimate screen. Just below each line you selected to receive this adjustment, you will now see an additional line, with the same line number, and a dollar figure equal to 4.9% of the above line, listed in the Total O&P column. You will also see an “A” in the column to the left of the Line Number column, and this designation means that the line in question is an Adjustment line.