1.1. First-Time Users: Installing EstiMate 2011 On A Single Computer

Installing EstiMate 2011 On A Single Computer (First Time Users)

Welcome to EstiMate 2011!

To install on a single computer you will need to perform the following steps.

1. Download and run the EstiMate 2011 installer.

The download link for the EstiMate 2011 installer is:

EstiMate 2011 Installer (eSetup.exe)

Run the installer and click next through the wizard to install EstiMate 2011 on your computer.

2. When you run EstiMate 2011, you will be walked through the registration process.

During registration, fill out the fields carefully - this is how your copy of EstiMate will be licensed, and how your company information will print on your quotes.

3. EstiMate will prompt you to create your default database.

Click OK to set up your database. EstiMate will create a database with all the basic materials and info to get you started.

4. EstiMate's Welcome Wizard will appear, prompting you to set up some default values.

Do not skip this! There are only 2 pages and they are important.

5. Enter your hourly rates.

Your hourly rates are a very important part of how EstiMate determines proper pricing for your shop. If you want to take a little more time to set them up, you can click the "Hourly Rate Wizard" link to set your hourly rates properly. This is highly recommended.

6. Enter Your Sales Taxes

If you do not charge sales tax, you can click Finish now. Otherwise enter all the sales taxes you charge locally and then hit "Finish."

Now you are ready to begin using EstiMate 2011.

Enjoy the new release!

1.2. First-Time Users: Installing EstiMate 2011 On Your Network (Multi-User)

Installing EstiMate 2011 On Your Network (Multi-User)

Welcome to EstiMate 2011!

To install EstiMate 2011 on your network there are two steps to perform.

First, you will need to install the EstiMate 2011 Multi-User Server on the computer where you want to host your database. For most this will be your shop's server machine.

Second, you will install EstiMate 2011 on the client machines where you want to run it.

This article will walk you through the necessary steps.

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Installing The EstiMate 2011 Multi-User Server

1. Run the EstiMate 2011 Multi-User Server installer (eServerSetup.exe).

You can download the installer here:

EstiMate 2011 Multi-User Server Installer

Walk through the installation screens like with any other installation program.

2. Start the EstiMate 2011 Multi-User Server

You will find two shortcuts in your programs: EstiMate Multi-User Server 2011, and EstiMate Multi-User Server 2011 (Service Version). Either one is fine.

The first is a regular Windows program that provides multi-user access to the EstiMate data files. The second is very similar, but runs as a Windows service so you don't have to be logged in to your server to run EstiMate 2011 on your network. This version is the recommended one.

Once the EstiMate 2011 Multi-User Server is running, you are ready to proceed and install EstiMate 2011 on your client machines.

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Installing EstiMate 2011 On The Client Machines Across Your Network

1. Download and run the EstiMate 2011 installer.

The download link for the EstiMate 2011 installer is:

EstiMate 2011 Installer (eSetup.exe)

Run the installer and click next through the wizard to install EstiMate 2011 on your computer.

2. When you run EstiMate 2011, you will be walked through the registration process.

During registration, fill out the fields carefully - this is how your copy of EstiMate will be licensed, and how your company information will print on your quotes.

3. EstiMate will prompt you to create your default database.

Click Cancel on this screen, as you are going to connect to the Multi-User Server instead.

4. Connect to the Multi-User Server.

In the toolbar, click "Rescan Network." Your Multi-User Server will show up in the drop down box. Then click "Connect To Selected Server" to connect to it.

5. The following message will be displayed.

1.3. Upgrading EstiMate 2 To EstiMate 2011 On A Single Computer

Upgrading EstiMate 2 To EstiMate 2011 (Single User)

Welcome to EstiMate 2011!

To install on a single computer you will need to perform the following steps.

1. Download and run the EstiMate 2011 installer.

The download link for the EstiMate 2011 installer is:

EstiMate 2011 Installer (eSetup.exe)

Run the installer and click next through the wizard to install EstiMate 2011 on your computer.

2. Next, you will see the following message.

Click OK to connect to your EstiMate 2 database.

3. Next, you will be prompted to upgrade your EstiMate 2 data files.

Click "Backup Your Data Files" to perform the backup. EstiMate 2011 will zip up your EstiMate 2 data files, and place the zip file in the same folder where your data is. So, for example, if your EstiMate 2 data is located in "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\EstiMate\Data," that is where the backup ZIP file will be placed.

4. Next, you will be asked if you want to continue using EstiMate 2 side by side with EstiMate 2011.

Leave the button checked that says, "I want to continue to user Version 2 while using EstiMate 2011" and click Next.

When you click Next, your EstiMate 2 data files will be relocated to a subfolder called "2.0_YYYY_MM_DD." So, today being Sept. 27 2010, if your data files were originally in "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\EstiMate\Data," they would be relocated to "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\EstiMate\Data\2.0_2010_09_27."

EstiMate 2 will then be pointed at this new folder so that when you fire up EstiMate 2 it will connect to its old data in this folder, while EstiMate 2011 will be pointed to your current data folder to continue the upgrade.

5. Lastly, upgrade your EstiMate 2 data to EstiMate 2011.

When you click the "Upgrade Now" button your EstiMate 2 data files will be upgraded to EstiMate 2011's new format.

After the upgrade is complete you are ready to begin using EstiMate 2011.

Enjoy the new release!

1.4. Upgrading EstiMate 2 To EstiMate 2011 (Multi-User)

Upgrading EstiMate 2 To EstiMate 2011 (Multi-User)

Welcome to EstiMate 2011!

To Upgrade EstiMate 2 to EstiMate 2011 on your network there are two steps to perform.

First, you will need to install the EstiMate 2011 Multi-User Server on the same computer where your EstiMate 2 Multi-User Server is installed.

Second, you will install EstiMate 2011 on the client machines where you want to run it.

This article will walk you through the necessary steps.

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Installing The EstiMate 2011 Multi-User Server

1. Shut Down the EstiMate 2 Multi-User Server

If you have the EstiMate 2 Multi-User Server running, you will need to shut it down. To do so, right click on the Multi-User Server icon in your system tray, and select "Exit."

2. Run the EstiMate 2011 Multi-User Server installer (eServerSetup.exe).

You can download the installer here:

EstiMate 2011 Multi-User Server Installer

Walk through the installation screens like with any other installation program.

3. Start the EstiMate 2011 Multi-User Server

You will find two shortcuts in your programs: EstiMate Multi-User Server 2011, and EstiMate Multi-User Server 2011 (Service Version). Either one is fine.

The first is the same Multi-User Server you are familiar with, but updated for EstiMate 2011. The second is very similar, but runs as a Windows service so you don't have to be logged in to your server to run EstiMate 2011 on your network. This version is the recommended one.

Once the EstiMate 2011 Multi-User Server is running, you are ready to proceed and install EstiMate 2011 on your client machines.

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Installing EstiMate 2011 On The Client Machines Across Your Network

1. Download and run the EstiMate 2011 installer.

The download link for the EstiMate 2011 installer is:

EstiMate 2011 Installer (eSetup.exe)

Run the installer and click next through the wizard to install EstiMate 2011 on your computer.

2. When you start EstiMate 2011, you will see the following message.

(The IP Address will be different).

Click YES to connect to your EstiMate 2 database.

3. Next, you will be prompted to upgrade your EstiMate 2 data files.

Click "Backup Your Data Files" to perform the backup. EstiMate 2011 will zip up your EstiMate 2 data files, and place the zip file in the same folder where your data is. So, for example, if your EstiMate 2 data is located in "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\EstiMate\Multi-User Data," that is where the backup ZIP file will be placed.

4. Next, you will be asked if you want to continue using EstiMate 2 side by side with EstiMate 2011.

Leave the button checked that says, "I want to continue to user Version 2 while using EstiMate 2011" and click Next.

When you click Next, your EstiMate 2 data files will be relocated to a subfolder called "2.0_YYYY_MM_DD." So, today being Sept. 27 2010, if your data files were originally in "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\EstiMate\Multi-User Data," they would be relocated to "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\EstiMate\Multi-User Data\2.0_2010_09_27."

You will need to remember this folder name! If you want to use the EstiMate 2 Multi-User Server after installing EstiMate 2011, you will need to redirect it to this folder to find your EstiMate 2 data.

5. Lastly, upgrade your EstiMate 2 data to EstiMate 2011.

When you click the "Upgrade Now" button your EstiMate 2 data files will be upgraded to EstiMate 2011's new format.

After the upgrade is complete you are ready to begin using EstiMate 2011. Repeat the first step above (installing EstiMate 2011) on your network machines.

1.5. Installing EstiMate 2011 As A Trial While Continuing To Use EstiMate 2

EstiMate 2011 will play nicely with EstiMate 2 on the same computer, as long as you install this way.

These instructions apply regardless of whether you are currently running EstiMate 2 on a single computer, or networked through the Multi-User Server.

Your EstiMate 2011 Trial will be on a single computer.

Step 1: Get a serial number

If you haven't already gotten a serial number, visit our free trial page and request a serial number now. It will take about 2 minutes to deliver by email.

Step 2: Download and install EstiMate 2011

Here's the download link:

EstiMate 2011 Installer

After you install EstiMate 2011, go ahead and fire it up. EstiMate 2011 will walk you through entering your serial number and some basic registration information.

During registration, fill out the fields carefully - this is how your copy of EstiMate will be licensed, and how your company information will print on your quotes.

Step 3: If you are running EstiMate 2 as a single user on the same computer

If you are not running EstiMate 2 on this computer as a single user, skip to step 4. Otherwise... you will see the following message pop up.

You want to click CANCEL to start fresh with a new EstiMate 2011 database, rather than upgrading your version 2 database.

Step 4: Create your default database

Click OK to set up your database. EstiMate will create a database with all the basic materials and info to get you started.

Step 5: EstiMate's Welcome Wizard will appear, prompting you to set up some default values.

Do not skip this! There are only 2 pages and they are important.

Step 6: Enter your hourly rates.

Your hourly rates are a very important part of how EstiMate determines proper pricing for your shop. If you want to take a little more time to set them up, you can click the "Hourly Rate Wizard" link to set your hourly rates properly. This is highly recommended.

Step 7: Enter Your Sales Taxes

If you do not charge sales tax, you can click Finish now. Otherwise enter all the sales taxes you charge locally and then hit "Finish."

If you want to use your EstiMate 2 data to test drive 2011:

That's easy! After going through the steps above, get into EstiMate 2 and do a backup of your database by clicking Configure & Manage > Backup/Restore Data Files.

Once you have the ZIP backup from EstiMate 2, you can switch over to EstiMate 2011 and restore it. EstiMate 2011 will then upgrade the data and you can use it in EstiMate 2011.

Happy pricing!

2.1. Can I import My EstiMate 1.x Data Into EstiMate 2011?

Most definitely. In EstiMate 2011, on the "Configure & Manage" tab, you will find the following button:

Click that and you will be walked through the process.

Note: you must be running EstiMate 2011 on the same machine you are running EstiMate 1 on, and you must be running EstiMate 1.98 or better.

If you are running an earlier version of EstiMate 1 than 1.98, then download EstiMate 1.99 first from our support page and upgrade your copy of EstiMate 1 to 1.99.

3.1. Could Not Convert Variant Of Type (Null) Into Type (OleStr)

In EstiMate, the "number" of a job or estimate is actually a text field that can contain any numbers or letters. This was not an issue in EstiMate 2, but in EstiMate 2011 we have adapted the "Open" list to maintain a separate, hidden numeric index on numbers - which allows the "Open" list to sort properly by number, which was a big complaint about EstiMate 2.

However, this creates a situation where EstiMate 2011 can "choke" on a job or estimate imported from EstiMate 2 that had a blank number.

If you get the error message: "Could Not Convert Variant Of Type (Null) Into Type (OleStr)" when trying to access your open list, then here is the fix for it. You need to change those "Null" job or estimate numbers into an actual value.

Please follow these instructions exactly.

1. Close all open windows in EstiMate.
2. If you are using the multi-user server, switch to single-user mode (click the blue EstiMate logo at the top left, and select "Switch To Single-User Mode."
3. Hold down the SHIFT key and click the blue EstiMate logo again. Now you will see "EstiMate Health Check" at the bottom of the menu.
4. Click on "EstiMate Health Check."
5. From the drop down box, select "Direct SQL Tool."
6. In the "SQL To Execute" box, enter the following (without the quotes): "UPDATE FinDocs SET Number='0' WHERE Number is NULL" <-- copy and paste this from here. Remember NOT to include the quotes.
7. Click the "Execute Statements" button. This will convert all "Null" job or estimate numbers into Zeroes.
8. Close the health check.

That should take care of the problem for you!