01.01.00 Welcome

This User Guide provides the end user with a detailed reference for Quick Bid®.  Every effort has been made to include as much detail as possible.  These tools are intended to complement not replace the Training provided by On Center Software.

View the Release Notes for Quick Bid.

To make full use of this program’s capabilities and find answers to basic questions, please:

Read this User’s Guide

To familiarize yourself with the basic features of Quick Bid, spend about 30-60 minutes (depending on the level of detail desired) going through each chapter.  The steps in each chapter will assist you with completing your first estimating project. The Online version of this User Guide contains the most up-to-date information available. Click Help > Training Central > Online User Guide from within the application.

Review the Online Training Videos

On Center provides access to online training videos for Quick Bid. These videos are a quick resource for Quick Bid application questions. Click Help > Training Central > Training Videos to access our Web site.

Many articles include a link to the appropriate training video so you can see a real-world application of how a feature/function works!  Look for the video icon: .

Schedule Formal Training

For advanced information on particular features or elements of use, please contact On Center Software's Training Department to schedule one-on-one or group training. Our Training Department is staffed with industry professionals who know how to get the most out of Quick Bid. There may be additional costs associated with Training.

This user guide provides many ways to locate the information you need:

Contents Tab

The Contents tab provides a breakdown of the Help topics. The Contents are grouped by Chapters into a logical manner by program functionality. Open a Chapter by clicking the icon next to the Chapter name - click an article title to display that article in the right-side pane.

Search Tab

To search for a word, click the Search tab and then type the word or phrase. When the list of topics displays, double-click a topic title - the corresponding article displays in the right-hand pane.

The Search tab works by listing every topic in which the criteria appears - usually, this means a fairly large list.

• To narrow down the list of results, if you are searching for a phrase such as "Typical Areas", enclose that phrase in quotation marks - then, the Help system will weed out articles that include one or the other words and only show results that contain the full phrase.

Typographic Conventions

• Terms of importance, titles to dialog boxes, button names, Tabs and Main Menu items are CAPITALIZED and/or bolded for easy recognition when skimming through pages.
• When instructed to select different Menu choices in the application, each selection (click) is separated by the greater than (>) symbol and Italicized - for example, if instructed to select the Open command in the File menu, it appears as File > Open.
• Many topics contain links or references to other sections or topics and hyperlinks to FAQs or web links. Anything that is blue underlined text is a link to additional information. Click on a link to access additional information - links in the body of an article open in a New Window - be sure to disable any pop-up blockers if the User Guide is not working correctly.
• Words or phrases referencing a common principle or concept are Italicized for emphasis.

The Help System and User Guide make use of the following symbols and formatting to call attention to important Tips, Notes, Cautions, and Warnings:

• The light bulb indicates a Note or Tip. Notes provide important information that will help you use the program. Tips can be simple reminders or time-saving shortcuts.  Many include links to other articles or even external references.

• The orange CAUTION symbol in a topic indicates application rule warnings. They should always be reviewed and considered before proceeding with an action. The Caution symbol may direct users to another location within the Help System for additional steps or a prerequisite.

• The WARNING symbol indicates that proceeding can cause your application or database to stop responding or become inaccessible. It also warns you that a procedure or step cannot be undone and can have serious effects to your Bid, database or application. If you are unsure what to do, please re-read the steps carefully or contact On Center Software's Support Group for guidance.

At the bottom of most articles is a link to the next most logical article. This allows you to 'page' through the help system in a logical flow (these links will NOT open in a new window).

Installing Quick Bid

TERMS OF USE

The information in this site is protected by copyright by On Center Software, Inc.  You may not reproduce, adapt, or publish any content from this site in whole or in part for any purpose, without the express written consent of On Center Software, Inc.  Without obtaining prior, express, written permission from On Center Software, Inc, you may not retransmit any files from this web site, or make any modified versions thereof.

End User License Agreement

You may request an electronic copy of our End User License Agreement (EULA) by contacting your account manager at On Center Software - use of the application implies acceptance of and agreement to the EULA and any successors.

TRADEMARKS

© 2014 On Center Software, Inc. All rights reserved. On Center Software, the On Center Software logo, On Center ProfitBuilding Suite, Digital Production Control, Quick Bid, and On-Screen Takeoff are registered trademarks, trademarks or service marks of On Center Software, Inc. Windows, Excel, and Word, and other products are registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.  Adobe, the Adobe logo, and Reader are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the U.S. and/or other countries.  All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.