Major New Features/Updates:

New Help Functionality:

HeavyBid 2017 completely redesigns the built-in F1 help system found in prior versions of the software. Pressing F1 from any screen now integrates with the online help site, launching an inquiry based on the current location within the software in order to pull up relevant information from the rapidly growing online knowledge database. This functionality allows greater flexibility for specific inquiries as well as provides a means for faster updates of information, as static documentation within the software can only be updated with a new software release.

Benefits Include:

• Live growing/evolving knowledge base. 
• Documentation can be updated faster than classic help.
• Ability to search with more powerful inquiries.
• View top trending articles within each section of the software.
• Provide feedback on article usefulness.
  • Feedback is reviewed and pertinent improvements are quickly incorporated into existing knowledge articles.

The classic help system will still be available via Menu > Help > Classic Help. However, please note; as of HeavyBid 2017, all current and future help documentation, including pressing F1 from within the program, will live on help.hcss.com. Documentation within the classic help module will no longer be updated.

Child Biditem Pricing:

Individually price child biditems from the Biditem Pricing Screen, allowing for greater control over pricing for simple or complex parent/child biditem relationships. See Overview: Child Biditem Pricing for more information on Child Biditem Pricing.

Audit Trail Filters & Reports:

Apply filters and generate reports on Audit Trail information in HeavyBid 2017. See the following articles for more information:

• How to Set Up and Apply Audit Filters.
• How to Generate the Audit Trail Report.

Export to Accounting Viewpoint Template and Template Editor:

Create custom accounting exports to Viewpoint directly within HeavyBid. The new Export to Accounting (Beta) module now extends to Viewpoint Accounting systems, enabling greater control of exports directly from the source. See: How to Export to Accounting (Beta) from HeavyBid for more details.

Safety Integration:

HCSS Safety is an innovative safety management system designed for the construction industry. HCSS Safety integrates with HeavyBid to set up pre-built or custom JHA/JSA/AHAs, Meetings, and Inspections in advance, based on the activities being bid, and attaches them directly to the corresponding activities. Used in conjunction with the bidding process, this feature displays a consideration for safety to project owners and creates a better safety budget from the start. See: How to Set Up HeavyBid Integration with HCSS Safety to get started.

Production History Search & Edit Historical Information:

New functionality has been added for searching and editing historical information within Production History. To begin leveraging these new functions, see: Overview: Production History and Overview: Production History Search Syntax.

Richardson Integration:

Integrate with the Richardson Construction Estimating Standards - structured estimating books containing labor and cost standards relevant to the location of the work being performed. For additional information on activating and utilizing the new Richardson integration, see: Overview: HeavyBid Integration with Richardson Construction Estimating Standards.

Customer Requests Added to HeavyBid:

• Estimate Entry Tree View Enhancements:
  • Alternate Cost Code field added to the Activity > Misc. tab.
  • Right-click > Add Subtotal functionality added.
  • Auto-complete functionality added for resource code field.
  • Right-click > Copy to Crew Setup option added when right-clicking in the Crew field.
  • Description added to Tree View checklist.
  • Subtotals display cost type breakdown (total labor, total material, etc.).
• Production History Improvements:
  • Production History Activity Notes now displays Units/MH or MH/Unit.
  • Select All and Clear All Options added.
  • Columns now have click to sort functionality.
  • Client# column added.
• Customize Schedule Codes Additions:
  • Activity Report Groups added.
  • Biditem Summary Groups added.
• Estimate Review Changes:
  • In an Estimate Review pop-up list, double-click on an item to build the checklist and seed straight to that item.
  • Additional information added on all resource fields under Estimate Review > Resources tab.
  • Per Diem total added beside other labor totals.
• Use Client# as Biditem in the Select Biditems Screen.
• Resource description added to the Change Material/Other Resource show all screen.
• In Bid Summary Spread Overrides, negative difference values display in red.
• Added a button to the Modify Crew screen for new Spreadsheet Calculations.
• An option for a Job Description column added to the Cost History Customize screen.
• Included a prompt to update the estimate after updating local materials from the Material Codebook.
• Option included to have Biditem Setup open on start up for new estimates.
• Option to rename a crew when it is modified, without going to Crew Setup.
• Ability to send letters from Invitation to Bid as PDFs.
• Resource colors added to Modify Crew screen.
• State field added to Estimate Management.
• Description search added to Activity/Resource Query.
• Added functionality to copy multiple biditems from one estimate to multiple biditems within the current estimate.
• Indirect star function created for Total Direct Cost.
• Rent and EOE percent added to Resource Description in Cost Report+.
• Activity quantity added to Change Material/Other Resources screen.
• Functionality included when re-coding an activity to use an Activity Codebook lookup.
• Collapse All button added to the Select Resources drop down.
• Multi-select option added to Worker's Comp column in Spreadsheet View.
• Biditem filters added to the copy biditems/activities split screen.
• Option included to change resource description when copying to the Material Codebook.
• When adding subtotals, the subtotal screen updates in real time.
• Column added to Bid Pricing to display percent of job total for each biditem.
• Option added to Cost Report+ to print/not print notes.
• Import/export functionality from Excel added for Material Factor column from the Crew database.
• Ability to copy an activity multiple times to the same biditem.
• Ability to click/drag mass change highlighted items in several new areas:
  • Operator column in equipment setup.
  • Per Diem column in labor setup.
  • Export to accounting/HeavyJob screen.
  • Non-tax checkboxes in the Material Codebook.
  • Crew column in the Activity Codebook.
• Activity Report Groups added to Estimate Entry Tree View and Activity Query filters.
• Added ability to go to Copy Biditems directly from the Setup Biditems screen.
• Additional user defined fields added to Estimate Information Setup and Estimate Management screens.
• Bid Date and Last Modified Date added to the Copy Biditems/Activities and Delete Multiple Estimates screens.
• Button added near Location field on the Estimate Information Setup screen to display location on Google Maps.
• 5 new currencies and exchange rates added to currency preferences.
• Crew notes now copied to activity notes when pulling a crew into an activity.
• Option to select/deselect all added to the Copy Activities screen.
• Option to use DOT# as HCSS Biditem when importing from DOT.
• Search by description added to Biditem Query screen.
• Cleaned up user interface for the following screens:
  • Biditem Codebook.
  • Cost History filters.
  • Currency Preferences.
  • Estimate Information Setup.
• Export to Excel performance improvement.
• Bid Proposal improvement.
• Modified crews denoted as modified within Replace Crews module.
• Various improvements for exporting to Viewpoint accounting system.

Bug Fixes:

• Several improvements to the Copy Biditems/Activities screen.
• Several improvements to DOT importing and preferences.
• Resolved formatting issues with phone numbers on the Customized Bid Proposal.
• Resolved visual issue when performing Show Calculation for labor resources with Tax on Per Diem.
• Resolved error in Crew Setup when adding equipment with an operator.
• Resolved discrepancies with user permissions.
• Chief Estimator’s Analysis Report – resolved issue with indirect dollars not totaling correctly.
• Hot keys not working in Quote Summary.
• Various issues with Modify Crew performance.
• Spreadsheet Calculations and Assemblies:
  • Resolved occasional mapping issues.
  • Assemblies correctly pull Calendar, Worker’s Comp, Summary Codes, Alt Codes, and Report Groups from the Activity Codebook.
• Biditems and subtotals now sorted correctly when generating a proposal based on Client #.
• Drag/dropping an activity to an existing biditem will auto-populate the biditem column in the copy screen.

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Related Articles:

How to Download Installation and Update Files from the Customer Portal
Overview: How to Update HeavyBid
Overview: How to Install HeavyBid