Introduction

The following instructions walk you through the steps to export information from B2W Estimate into the AMSI StarBuilder accounting package.

Table of contents:

• Overview
• Setting up default B2W Estimate export options
• Configuring an estimate for export
• Examples of common coding scenarios
• Creating the export file

Overview

In a nutshell, the process of sending B2W Estimate information to your accounting package consists of creating an "export file" which contains information about your estimate. This file is saved in a format that will be imported and interpreted by your accounting system.

Of course, before you can successfully create this export file, you'll need to do some coding within certain fields at the item and/or component levels in your estimate. If you're thinking ahead (and if your codes are consistent) you can even do some "pre-emptive coding" within the Item Database area!

However, before we go into the details about cost codes, let's preview some basics:

• Default settings that tell B2W Estimate how to speak to your accounting package are entered in the Options dialog. This topic is discussed in the next section.
• The export file that B2W Estimate generates contains information about the items and/or components in a specific estimate.
• This export uses the top-down approach. This means that once the export finds the accounting codes its looking for, it doesn't go any deeper.

AMSI StarBuilder File Specification

• This export uses a Microsoft Excel file.
• Numeric values use two decimal places.

Cost record layout:

Setting up default B2W Estimate export options

Before you can successfully export to AMSI StarBuilder, you must first configure some basic export settings in the Options dialog. This is part of the initial setup; once these settings are properly entered, you should not have to perform these steps again.

1. Launch B2W Estimate, and log in.

2. Click Options in the Administration section on the Home Page or on the ribbon bar in an open estimate and select Tools Options.

3. In the Options dialog, click the Imports/Exports folder, then click the Export Settings page.

4. In the Select Export Format box, select AMSI StarBuilder.

   
   
   

5. Specify an optional Company Code.

6. Choose whether to Output a Phase Record. If set to Yes, a phase record consisting of a JobID, PhaseID, and Description will be created for each pay item exported. If set to No, only cost type records are exported.

7. Choose whether to Output Column Header Row. If set to Yes, a header record displaying the AMSI StarBuilder column names will be output at the top of the export file.

8. Choose the source for an Account ID. If Job Number is selected, the Estimate's job number will be exported to the accountID field.

9. Specify cost type values for the cost categories, using the pre-defined cost types listed in the drop-down list. If the same cost type code is used repeatedly, the cost category values are summed together before being exported.

Configuring an estimate for export

1. Open the estimate that you wish to export to AMSI StarBuilder.

2. On the Estimate Information tab, specify a StarBuilder Account Number in the Job Number field.

3. On the Estimate Detail tab, verify that your pay items and/or cost components are coded as follows:

   A few words about "combination Job Cost IDs"

   The combination Job Cost ID can be used to encode two pieces of information within a single Job Cost ID field in B2W Estimate. As shown below, the different elements within a combination Job Cost ID are separated by a tilde ("~").

   
   
   

   In this case, "001" is the "first part" of the combination Job Cost ID, and "3500" is the "second part."

Coding at the item level

The table below summarizes how to code at the item level.

Coding at the component level

Exporting at the component level allows you to have multiple StarBuilder Phase Codes and/or Cost Codes within a single detailed B2W Estimate pay item.

The table below summarizes how to code at the component level.

Examples of common coding scenarios

Below are a few examples of different ways to code an estimate.

Example 1: Coding at the item level

A Phase Code (001) and a Cost Code (AAA) are specified using a combination job cost ID in the item's Task JCID field. Records are written for the item, and the export proceeds to the next item in the estimate.

Note: If Cost Codes were specified in the child cost component's Job Cost ID fields they would get ignored; once both Phase and Cost Codes are found, the export doesn't go any "deeper".

Example 2: Coding at the component level

Phase Codes and Cost codes listed at the component level, but not at the item level. Records are exported for the task (using Phase Code "002" and Cost Code "BBB") and for the miscellaneous component (using Phase Code "002" and Cost Code "CCC").

Example 3: Coding at the item and component level

Since only a Phase Code is specified at the item level, the export searches for Cost Codes below the item. Records are written for the task (using Phase Code "003" and Cost Code "DDD") only. A warning is generated for the miscellaneous component since its costs won't get exported.

Example 4: Coding at two different component levels

We have a Phase Code in the task's Job Cost ID field, and a Cost Code in the material component's Job Cost ID field. Records are written for the material component only.

Creating the export file

Your final step is to create the export file for the items and/or cost components in your estimate. This file may then be imported into your accounting package.

1. Open the estimate that you wish to export to AMSI StarBuilder.

2. Click the Tools menu, point to Import/Export, and then select Export Estimate Detail.

3. The Export Estimate Detail wizard appears. Click Next.

4. On the Select Export Format page, verify that AMSI StarBuilder is the selected export format, and then click Next.

5. On the Enter File Name page, click Browse, and navigate to the folder where you wish the export file to be created. The default filename will be the job title of your estimate, with a ".txt" extension.

6. Click Save, then click Next, and then click Finish.

7. Once the export program finishes, review any warnings about missing codes. This does not mean the export failed. Review this information, and then click Close.

8. Import the text file into AMSI StarBuilder.