1. How does the update to QuickBooks 2002 Pro & Premier work?
2. How does the update to QuickBooks Prior to 2002 work?
3. Who uses LiteningFast Estimating?
4. How long will it take me to learn LiteningFast Estimating?
5. Does LiteningFast do job cost, budgeting, and accounting?
6. How long has LiteningFast been available?
7. How long has LiteningFast been working with QuickBooks?
8. What's a Browse n' Build catalog?
9. How does Browse n Build work?
9. What is an assembly?
10. What benefits do I get from a database estimating system?
11. Does LiteningFast print estimate reports with markup added?
12. What kind of computer do I need to run LiteningFast Estimating?
13. Does LiteningFast require a spreadsheet program, like Excel, to run?
14. Is there a demo version of LiteningFast Estimating?
15. What support is available for LiteningFast Estimating?
16. Does LiteningFast work with programs other than QuickBooks?
17. Does LiteningFast update each detail line to QuickBooks?
 

Q. How does the update to QuickBooks 2002 Pro & Premier Work?

A. It's very simple. When you're ready to transfer a LiteningFast Estimate to QuickBooks, start QuickBooks and, if you want the budget to go to a different company, open the appropriate company. Back in LiteningFast, select the estimate you want, if it's not already selected. Click the QuickBooks button and wait a couple of moments. LiteningFast will tell you when the update is complete. Depending on the speed of your computer and the size if the estimate, this will take from 30 seconds to 3 or 4 minutes.

Go over to QuickBooks and open the Estimate Screen. Click the previous button. Ta da! there's the estimate you created. In fact, if you click previous once more you'll see a different version of the estimate. One is an estimate you can do your billing from and the other is a bare cost estimate that you track your expenses to. Back To Top

Q. What are the steps to update a budget to QuickBooks prior to 2002?

A. When we create a budget in QuickBooks prior to 2002,

When we send an update to QuickBooks Pro, it is sent as an import file, IIF format. 

All the required items and customer/jobs are created when the estimate is imported into QuickBooks. All you have to do is to tell LiteningFast where your QuickBooks directory is. This is done in the Preferences menu selection in LiteningFast Estimating. All you have to do is set it once and it will be taken care of from there.

There's a three step procedure for setting up LiteningFast and creating budgets in QuickBooks. You can view the complete procedures here. a Back To Top b

Click Here for the detailed procedures.

Q. Who uses LiteningFast Estimating?

A. There are over 3,000 users of LiteningFast Estimating. There are many Home Builders, Remodeling Contractors, light commercial contractors, and contractors in just about any specialty you can think of. Back To Top

Q. How long will it take me to learn LiteningFast Estimating?

A. It depends on how comfortable you are with computers, and how proficient you are with the estimating process. With LiteningFast you receive "Get Started!", a step-by-step tutorial which will take you though most of the features of the program. Depending on the two factors above, it will take you between 1-2 hours up to 6-8 hours.  Back To Top

Q. Does LiteningFast do job cost, budgeting, and accounting?

A. Yes, in conjunction with QuickBooks, the accounting program most contractors use. LiteningFast prepares the budgets in QuickBooks from your estimate. You do the actual Job Cost and Accounting in QuickBooks.
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Q. How long has LiteningFast been out there?

A. LiteningFast has been serving contractors since 1994. Over 3,000 copies are in use. Currently we're selling version 6 of the program. Back To Top

Q. How long has LiteningFast been working with QuickBooks?

A. LiteningFast has been working with QuickBooks since 1994. It was upgraded in 1999 to work with QuickBooks Estimating when it became available from Intuit. We are a member of the Intuit Developer Network and work closely with Intuit (the company that owns QuickBooks) to use the latest features available in QuickBooks. Back To Top

Q. What's a Browse n' Build Catalog?

A. The Browse n' Build catalog is 20,000+ cost items of the National Construction Estimator book. You can select the items you use regularly and add them to your LiteningFast Item List. This means that you have only the items you use regularly at your fingertips. You don't have to browse through thousands of items you never use. Browse n' Build is always available to add additional items to your item list. Back To Top

Q. How does Browse n' Build work?

A. Browse n' Build shows you an alphabetic list of topics, like bay window, Louver doors, lockset installation, etc. You select the topic that your interested in and you'll see the section of the catalog that you selected, with  descriptions, prices and production rates. You click on the items that you want and they are automatically added to your Item List.  Back To Top

Q. What is an assembly?

A. An assembly is a group of items that you normally use together. For example, wall framing is composed of studs, top and bottom plate, and nails. If you wanted to create an exterior wall assembly, you could use the "wall framing" assembly and add insulation, exterior wall sheathing and drywall for the interior. LiteningFast allows you to use assemblies in other assemblies to as many levels as you wish.

When you use assemblies, you can print a material list of all the basic materials that went into making up the assemblies.  Back To Top

Q. What benefits do I get from a database estimating system?

A. Your takeoffs will be much faster for all the details, especially if you're using assemblies. You can produce a material list of everything you need for the job. Any calculations are built into database so potential errors are eliminated. And, last but not least, you can print estimates the are in a format that you can give to your customers.   Back To Top

Q. Does LiteningFast print estimate reports with markup added?

A. You can print your estimate reports in a variety of formats. Optionally, you can show each detail line, any notes, total by section, totals only and many other options. There's a great deal of flexibility in the estimate reports. You can also sent the estimate report to Microsoft Word so you can format it to perfection, and add any contract information. Back To Top

Q. What kind of computer do I need to run LiteningFast Estimating?

A. You need a Windows PC with a Pentium 233 or above, 64 megabytes of memory and 10 megabytes of disk space. Windows 95, 98, ME, NT 4.0, 2000, or XP is required for the operating system LiteningFast is a full 32 bit Windows application. Back To Top

Q. Does LiteningFast require a spreadsheet program, like Excel, to run?

A. No, LiteningFast is a fully self contained database estimating program that doesn't rely on any other program to run. If you want to perform invoicing and job cost, we do require QuickBooks Pro to interface with. Back To Top

Q. Is there a demo version of LiteningFast Estimating?

A. No, we don't have a demo version of the program. We do offer a 90 day unconditional money back guarantee. Back To Top

Q. What support is available for LiteningFast Estimating?

A. Support is available by telephone at 510-713-7090 or by Email Support@litening.com.  Back To Top

Q. Does LiteningFast work with programs other than QuickBooks?

A. Yes. LiteningFast is works directly with Microsoft Word so you can format and add contractual information to your estimates. LiteningFast also works with Microsoft Excel so you can perform any bid analysis you wish. Back To Top

Q. Some of my screens are "scrunched up" and I can't see all the printing

A. Each screen can be resized to fit your monitor. Once you stretch the display to fit your screen, the program will remember it the next time you call up that display. Also, you can click on the square box in the upper right corner of the display. This will increase it to the maximum size.

If you are using a desktop area of 640 by 480 pixels you should increase it to at least 800 by 600 pixels. If you are using a newer computer you can probably handle 1024 by 768 or higher, which is even better.  With just your windows background showing, RIGHT click on the background. A menu will pop-up, click on "Properties". Click on the "Settings" tab. Change the "Desktop Area" to larger numbers. It will test if it will work on your monitor. If it does, you are set.

If your computer doesn't have larger numbers, call the dealer you bought your computer from and have them help you change your settings. If you bought the computer in the last 2 or 3 years, you should have at least 1024 by 768. You will like it a lot!!  Back To Top

Q Does LiteningFast update each detail line to QuickBooks?

A. No it doesn't. That's done for a very specific reason. If for example, you have an estimate with 100 lines you'd have 100 different places to charge your expenses and time to.  For most people that's way too much work, and like most things in this world, if it's too difficult it doesn't get done.  And if it doesn't get done, you go from job to job wondering why you're not making any money!

Our approach is to create your budgets by sections. That way you only have a few items to charge your expenses and time to and so, it's much easier to track your costs. If it's easier to do it's more likely to get done.  This means you're not  making the same mistakes over and over.

With our approach you can see the forest for the trees. Remember, 90% or 95% of your jobs are going well. It's only the 5% or so that you have to pay attention to.

 Finally, it doesn't mean that you can't find where your problems lie. Because of the ability to drill down you can see each of the costs that went into the project and compare that to your estimate to see what went wrong.