Home → EstiMate Version 1 → General FAQ → Why are job and estimate numbers different?

1.59. Why are job and estimate numbers different?

After an estimate is approved by a customer we convert to a job, no problems, for some reason the job is allocated a different # than the estimate, this means that if someone on our production floor has a problem with the job and wants to look at the original estimate the #s are out of kilter, is there a reason for this?
Would it not be better for all paperwork generated by your program to have the same id?

The job may have a different number than the original estimate due to the simple fact that not all estimates turn into jobs, hence if you do estimate # 101, 102, and 103 and only the person on estimate 103 requests that the sign work be done then EstiMate may use Job # 101 because the jobs database works sequentially and has not yet caught up to the number on the estimate database.

There are essentially two ways of addressing this to minimize confusion in your shop.

1. Before converting the estimate to a job, in the non-printing production notes on the estimate screen type in a sentence like 'derived from estimate # 122' then convert the estimate to a job and if there is ever any question as to which estimate the job was created from the shop simply has to look at the production notes to see the original estimate number.

2. Click Management > Configure EstiMate > Preferences. The jobs and estimates can be re-numbered by adjusting the arrow keys accordingly in the Job and Estimate Numbers section of the preferences. NOTE: Raising the number of the estimate/job will re-number future estimates/jobs but will not renumber those that have already been done.

Note: The system is being reworked so in EstiMate version 2 you will have the option to make the estimate and job numbers the same.