Introduction

The following instructions start with an overview of the export, and then walks you through setting up default export options, configuring an estimate for export, and creating the export file that you may then import into Shaker COINS.

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 pay item level 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 more details, 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 pay items in a specific estimate.

• Cost codes, which are entered in the Job Cost ID field, "drive" this export, meaning only pay items with cost codes are exported.

• Pay items are grouped by their B2W Estimate phase assignments when exported to Shaker COINS. The phases appear in the order defined in B2W Estimate. Pay items that have no phase assignments are exported under an unnamed phase.

Setting up default export options

Before you can successfully export to Shaker COINS, 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.

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

4. In the Select Export Format box, select Shaker COINS. This is what the dialog looks like:

   

5. Enter your Shaker COINS Cost Category codes.

Configuring an estimate for export

1. Open the estimate that you wish to export to Shaker COINS.

2. On the Estimate Detail tab, enter a cost code for each pay item you want to export in the pay item's Job Cost ID field.

Note Warnings will be generated for any pay items with missing cost codes.

Creating the export file

Your final step is to create the export file for the pay items in your estimate. This file may then be imported into your accounting package.

1. Open the estimate that you wish to export to Shaker COINS.

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 Shaker COINS 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, a dialog may appear to show you any warnings about missing codes. This does not mean the export failed. Review this information, and then click Close.