News

One year on we returned to see if our software had delivered the expected benefits.

Rosemargaret Esubonteng from OshDarley Consult in Ghana shares her experiences of using Masterbill software

Our representatives and customers in West Africa recently took the opportunity to share their experiences of Masterbill with others.

See how you can ensure your Bills generate/refresh at full speed

Are you using the system as efficiently as possible?

Make sure your SQL software won't let you down.

Do you have trouble with hatching? Do you get drawings without their XREFs? This update is just what you need.

If you spend some time creating a Template Component why keep it to yourself?

Earlier this year we were pleased to welcome The Ministry of National Development in the Seychelles to our growing International User Base.

During March we welcomed two new staff to the Masterbill team and we'd like you to meet them.

"It's all very well being able to price in detail but how do I print it?"

A recent visit to a longstanding Masterbill customer reminded us of the value of printed abstracts so we thought we would remind you how to produce them.

Analyse or Filter your documents any way you like.

Now you can send your coloured up drawings to anyone who has a CAD viewer.

"How can I measure the centre line of the wall when it hasn't been drawn?" QSCad has the answer!

Don't spend time looking for items when QSCad can do it for you.

This was a question posed by John Macaulay, of Al Habtoor / Murray & Roberts, when he saw yet another option for the steelwork for the roof of the Central Administration building for the new Zayed University in Abu Dhabi land on his desk.

With the RICS actively promoting their recently published New Rules of Measurement for Cost Planning and soon to publish the Procurement volume which is heralded to replace SMM7 Masterbill customers are beginning to ask how we will be incorporating these new rules into our products.

More and more users are making use of Freeform Bills for Schedules of Rates, Schedules of Descriptions, Preliminaries, Demolitions and Alterations (or Downtakings) and Provisional/PC Sums sections of their Bills. Why?

Masterbill Elite was designed with Measurement in mind - find out how this improves upon MB3

Recent developments to QSCad mean that navigating a drawing using zooming and panning is now easier than ever.

Make your own mark on your drawing using Multiple Line Text

QSCad v3 includes a number of new 'Snap' options that will enable user measure faster and more accurately.

At the recent meeting of the Scottish Local Authority Masterbill User Group we were pleased to hear how users are getting to grips with the latest software and expanding its use.

Over the last few months a number of our users have shared their experience of electronic tendering with us by completing our online survey, the results make interesting reading.

It is not often that we have the opportunity to witness our software delivering real benefits to a customer but we were able to see it first hand during a recent visit to Abu Dhabi where we met Sarah Dichoso, a young QS from the Philippines working for Al Habtoor & Murray & Roberts on the new Zayed University Project.

Following his recent adoption of Masterbill Elite and QSCad in his Muscat office, Adaan Bin Shaaban Qattan has once again led the way for Omani QS's to follow.

Two new MB Elite modules are nearing completion - find out what you can expect.

A number of new features were released in Version 3.09 and the development on the next batch is underway. Why not take a sneak preview?

Your Invitation to our Conference to be held in Scotland on 9th July 2009

"There's a man on the phone called David Windsor, says you know him, do you think it's just another Sales call?"

For as long as I can remember we have had an agent in Kenya, a recent visit has revitalised the relationship and should see an increase in the number of African users.

One of our most common support calls starts with the words "My dims don't seem to be included in my Bill!"

Ever since we formulated the first outline plans for Masterbill Elite we have been determined that it should include the ability to handle Preliminaries and Preambles too.

Doesn't it just infuriate you that you have to wait for a Bill to regenerate and then navigate to find the item you just edited?

As Template Components become more and more popular so users want to do more with them.

Have you ever wanted to print the Drainage and Siteworks Schedules from QSCad only to find that you will need a piece of paper the size of a bedsheet...

How can you measure something you can't see?

During the last month I have been surprised again by a user advising me that they were not aware of the Phrases facility.

Slice and Dice your data as never before!

“The possibilities with Freeform Bills are endless” - all you need to do is get started.

“All I want to do is click on an item and see the rates from all Tenderers” Your wish is our command...

These new features make it possible to make even more use of the Repeat Facilities

See how we created a Lookup List in a Template Component to solve a reinforcement challenge.

Powerful Printing Facilities to impress your clients!

It is not unusual for QSCad to be used for all sorts of things but this is one of the most unusual we have heard about!

Until now Standard Library items could only be used in a Traditional Sorted Bill - that's about to change.

There are now a number of tecnologies which can be employed to enable you to access your software and data from outside your office - we take a look at some.

The Page Layout facilities of MB3 look extremely basic and somewhat limited when compared with Masterbill Elite.

It doesn't matter if it's not a block we'll use the text instead.

Are you making use of this powerful and easy to use feature?

Make sure you don't get left behind as others upgrade their CAD software

Over the last two years we have produced 19 Tips and Tricks - just in case you missed one we have produced an Index.

Could we make it any easier to enter dimensions?

Are you making the most of your existing data?

Locating the library item you require is now easier than ever before.

Let QSCad do all the hard work by making the most of the Repeat facilities.

Moving your QSCad data does not have to be a painful experience!

Make sure you consider all the possible options when measuring Siteworks.

Are you making the most of the Spellcheck facilities?

There are two new faces at Masterbill ready and willing to help.

With money getting tight it is now more important than ever to produce accurate Cash Flow Projections.

eTendering is often talked about but rarely done - with your help we would like to try and find out why.

Jump between Dimsheets and Bills with this new feature.

Adding your Company Logo to your Standard Bill Layout is easy when you know how.

Find prices for the current item from Previous Projects in seconds.

These features will make finding your measured items on the drawing even easier.

Find out about the tools included in QSCad to help you carry out this important task.

QSCad can now measure those required 'extra over' items.

Find out how to work more efficiently courtesy of Windows.

This is our first newsletter to include videos, so why not find out how to get the best from them.

How do I uplift all prices by 5%? How can I incorporate the Director's Adjustment? Pricing Adjustments provide the answers.

Don't be limited to the Standard Libraries that Masterbill provide, why not create your own to suit your exact requirements?

Learn how you can set up your Project Structure in seconds.

Correctly Overlaying and Aligning a drawing can be a real problem - not when you make use of our latest features.

When users face difficulties opening a drawing it is likely one of these solutions will hold the key.

Make sure you don't lose the use of your software when you buy a new computer!

Are you making the most of your last returned tender when pricing your next Pre Tender Estimate?

Representatives from Malaysia spent a week with us to further promote, support and develop our products for the Malaysian Market.

A preview of some of the features included in the next release.

Are you making the most of the Spellcheck facilities?

Find out how MB Elite takes Calculations to a new level.

Find out about the latest additions to the Snap Toolbar

Are you making the most of QSCad QuickView?

Measuring numeric items could be a simple matter of point and click.

Masterbill have recently signed an agreement with the BCIS to enable the use of the BCIS Wessex data within Masterbill systems.

Do we add Preliminaries first or Contingencies? Are the Contingencies a percentage of the Construction Costs only, or do they include the Preliminaries costs?

Combine or merge bill items without the need to trawl through abstracts and amend each individual dimsheet.

Making the most of the variables already completed speeds up measurement and avoids errors.

It's now easier than ever before to move points in a measured item.

This Siteworks feature helps ensure that sufficient levels have been entered.

Wouldn't it be good if you could change all items measured using a component in one go?

If you want to re-use the descriptions but not the calculations then this tip is for you.

It seems that some users aren't getting the full picture on the latest Snap toolbar. This patch will soon put things right.

Recent developments make MB Elite the best place to prepare your Preliminaries.

You'll be amazed at what you can do using the enhanced on-screen Dimlist.

Entering Tendered Rates no longer needs to be a lonely job when you can get a little help from your friends using Masterbill Elite.

Clicking along a curve could become a thing of the past with this new feature.

Have you checked out the new 'breaking up' and 'defined depths' features in the Siteworks module?

Have you ever deleted something only to regret it an instant later, QSCadv3 users have no regrets they simply retrieve it from the recycle bin.