2.06.00 Getting Started

Before diving into using Quick Bid, it is important to be familiar with the Tools, Tabs, and Options in the program. Investing a few minutes to learn about the application increases efficiency and ensures understanding of how to use the program to Bid the most projects in the least amount of time!

Chapters 3 - 5 detail the user interface and the master data tables used to create Bids.

Chapters 6 - 8 explain how to setup a database including options for backing up data, setting markups, and other default settings.

Program Overview video

Getting Started Video

Quick Tips

Using Tool Tips - If unsure what a button does, hover the mouse pointer over the button and a Tool Tip appears. A tool tip is a brief description of the icon.
Using the Status Bar - If the program seems like it is processing information try looking at the Status Bar. The Status Bar is located at the very bottom of the Program Window and displays information about what On-Screen Takeoff is doing internally. It also contains the current date, and, if the database is set to require a login and password, the current user's name.
Using Context Menus - Right-click on most objects and within most windows to view a Context (or Pop-Up) Menu (for example, right-click on the Bids Tab to see a list of common functions such as Creating New Bids, Duplicating and Deleting Bids).
Using Expand/Collapse - Expand any folder, Condition Type or other heading by clicking on the [] plus sign next to it; Collapse a heading by clicking the [ ] minus sign next to it.

Entering Values in Measurement Boxes

When entering a quantity in any Imperial measurement box, the last two digits typed are always interpreted as inches and will always convert to feet. For example: 824 is interpreted as 8 feet, 24 inches and displays 10' 0", 10 will be 10" and 1010 will be 10' 10".

When entering a quantity in any Metric measurement box, the value is ALWAYS entered as millimeters.

Imperial and Metric Bids and Master Table information cannot be 'blended'. Keep your Imperial information in one database and your Metric in another.

Confirmation Prompts

There are many confirmation dialogs that Quick Bid uses to verify an action (such as deleting something from the Master lists). If you have turned off a confirmation (or all confirmations), these dialogs are suppressed.

To turn confirmations back on, click Tools > Options and on the General tab, place a checkmark in 'Turn on All Confirmations.

If you've been using the program for some time, it's a good idea to turn back on ALL Confirmations after every upgrade. There are changes that may only be visible if Confirmations are shown. You can always turn off individual Confirmations again.

Getting Around Quick Bid