Timberline Forum

Sage Timberline recently made some upgrades to  Estimaing.  The question is, are you using them to help you get the maximum juice out of your Estimating system?  If, after reading the following enhancements you find you are not using them please feel free to contact Daren.  He’s the guy in the know.  Without further adieu, here are the upgrades we want you to take advantag of!

1.  Upgrade individual estimating files on the fly.  Why spend hours upgrading all your estimates at once each time a new release comes out? That can take hours. So, now when you need to restore archived estimates from an earlier version of your software, you won’t need to upgrade all estimates and/or database files all at the same time. The system automatically identifies the files that need to be upgraded on a file-by-file basis so your estimating files get updated as you work. Now, that’s a time-saver.

2. Create new version of existing assemblies with ease.  Ready to save even more time? We’ve enhanced the “copy assembly” feature. In previous versions when copying an assembly from one location to another, the items would copy, but you would lose the assembly detail. Meaning, you wouldn’t have the variables (i.e. length, width, depth, etc). Now when you copy the assembly from one location to another, it shows up as an assembly and allows you to see the variables that were used to calculate the assembly.

3.  Streamline your RFQ and Buyout process.  In the past, you’ve always had a place to enter the subcontractor amount and name as well as material, but no place to record the material vendor name. With Version 9.6, you’ll be able to log and display both as well as pass this information to the Buyout module, so your entire RFQ, vendor assignment, and Buyout process runs more efficiently than ever.

4.  Select values from numeric columns that automatically display totals in the status bar.  The auto sum has been enhanced so you can view display totals at a glance.

The construction industry continues to hold the unhappy distinction of having THE highest unemployment rate. Last month that rate rose even higher to 18.2%, for the month of July that’s decidedly up from 17.4% in June.

According to the latest release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics the construction industry lost another 76,000 jobs in July compared to an average of 73,000 over the previous three months. So far 1.3 million construction jobs have been lost since the recession began.

The current construction unemployment rate is now double that of the country’s overall unemployment rate which stands at 9.4%.

To review all of the BLS statistic, go here.

We here at Ledgerwood Associates, Inc. are offering a Timberline Report Designer Accounts Receivable Aging by Customer and Job Report.  This report was created by DB Data Inc’s Timberline Consulting Rock Star Gary Jacobson.  He is THE BEST at what he does!

Here’s what it does…

The report shows open invoices with the open amount using the following columns: Invoice, Draw, Invoice Date, Description, Total Aged, Current Column, Over 30 Column, Over 60 Column, Over 90 Column, Over 120 Column, and Retainage. The report is sorted by Customer, Job, and Invoice Number. The aging is by invoice date. The report includes an optional prompt for an Accounting Cut Off Date, so this report can be used to balance to the General Ledger at the end of each month.

Requirements: Timberline Office version 9.0 or later, Accounts Receivable and Job Cost.

All you have to do is give us a call so we can set you up right away!

We are hearing it all the time here at DB Data Inc. Construction companies are doing more work with less people just to try and keep from collapsing financially. In some cases, employees are doing double duty and doing jobs they don’t normally do. And what happens when we do something we are unfamiliar with on top of our current job coupled with the pressure to perform? Things fall through the cracks. Unfortunately those “things” often come in the form of lost dollars, whether it’s a change order that got overlooked or an adjustment to a contract that fell through. If only there was a way to avoid those pitfalls…Oh wait!! There is!!

If you are currently using Timberline’s Service Management there is a solution for you that comes in a form that is better than a human because it does EXACTLY what you tell it to, does not talk back and NEVER calls in sick!!!

My Assistant works with all of Sage Timberline Office. It can remind you to bill for work orders, assign a purchase order, order inventory and just about ANYTHING else you can imagine.

Sometimes no matter how organized we are things fall through the cracks and with the increased pressure being felt by companies across the board why not invest in some “peace of mind”. Consider My Assistant as your personal watchdog that ensures you never forget or miss a task again.

Want to know more about My Assistant? You can call me or Daren at anytime. 

You can also see a demo by clicking here.

To read a My Assistant Timberline Service Management Success Story go here.

Make no bones about it – times are tough. This lackadaisical economy continues to drag down construction companies as many worry as to how they will make it into next year. But there are some good things happening out there as a result of the stimulus and some good old-fashioned brainstorming by business owners who have decided to revamp, diversify and take on the complicated world of Federal Contracting.The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) is collecting success stories from construction companies from across the country. To see how others like yourself are surviving click here.

Accounts Payable

The Problem:
The exempt, on-hold and join check status no longer displays in Enter Invoices or Change Invoices

What You Really Need To Know:
Sage Timberline knows about the issue and will soon issue a fix. Be assured that the issue is isolated to the display itself. The Exempt, On-Hold and Joint Options are working just as they always have.

Why’s it doing that?
The addition of distribution grid lines adjusted the items that will display in the Enter Invoices and Change Invoices screens.

Payroll

The Problem:
The format you added to the phone number field is not retained after saving the employee.

How To Fix It:
If you imported your employee phone number using ODBC and there is no formatting, retype the whole number, or use Cut and Paste, and then add the format.

Why’s it doing that?
Payroll automatically adds formatting to employee phone numbers (xxx)xxx-xxxx when setting up a new employee. However, if you import the employee information using ODBC, the employee phone number may not be formatted correctly and adding the formatting will not be recognized without changing the number.

Install

The Problem:
You’re getting an Error 1904 message.

What it means:
This means the install failed to register multiple dlls.

How To Fix It:
Uninstall and reinstall Pervasive on the server or the affected workstation.

Why’s it doing that?
Pervasive was not correctly installed on the computer.

Property Management

The Problem:
The Property Management Comparative Occupancy Analysis does not run for February.

How To Fix It:
Go in and change the design formula named “Test on February” from Month-As of Date (Design Formula) = 2
to Month-As of Date (Design Formula) >= 2

Hope this helps!

As of May 1, 2009 the state of Arizona increased its withholding rates. They are as follows.

__________________________________________
Misc Tax Code           Old Rate           New Rate
            1                        10%                 11.5%
            2                        23%                 26.5%
            3                        25%                 28.8%
            4                        31%                 35.7%
            5                        37%                 42.6%
            6                        19%                 21.9%
__________________________________________

A client just called us to say she had made the changes but wanted to ensure how to double-check to ensure the changes had been accepted by Timberline Payroll. Here’s how you can do that.

In Timberline Payroll go into SETUP TAXES then TAXES, then TAX RATES then click on the drop-down menu and select AZSWH. Look at the bottom right-hand corner. There should be an Effective Date of 5.1.2009. If the date is there then you can rest assured the changes have been accepted into Payroll.

If you missed the blog on how to actually make the changes, I am including it below. Thank you for using Sage Timberline and as always Daren and I are more than willing to answer any questions you might have. Never hesitate to contact us!

Connected to the internet, use DOWNLOAD TAXES in payroll to download the newest update. (If you want, you can also view a list of the latest tax updates and future tax updates from there as well.) There is a checkbox that asks if you want to update taxes, say yes and your taxes should be updated. If your computer is not connected to the internet you can download these files from another computer that is connected and then install the tax file on the proper computer.

As to whether employees should fill out new A-4 forms our Senior DB Data Inc  Consultant Gary Jacobson says it’s not necessary. But he does think it might be worth doing so that 1)employees are aware of the changes and 2)it will allow them to make any adjustments they feel are needed.

A client just emailed me to ask “The AZ state withholding payroll tax went up effective 5/1, how does this information get into Timberline?” She also wanted to know if she should have employees fill out new A-4 Forms.   Okay…here’s the situation.

On May 1, 2009, Arizona upped the amount of payroll tax withholding. Here’s what you need to do to bring Sage Timberline Payroll up to speed.

Connected to the internet, use DOWNLOAD TAXES in payroll to download the newest update. (If you want, you can also view a list of the latest tax updates and future tax updates from there as well.)

There is a checkbox that asks if you want to update taxes, say yes and your taxes should be updated. If your computer is not connected to the internet you can download these files from another computer that is connected and then install the tax file on the proper computer.

As to whether employees should fill out new A-4 forms our Senior DB Data Inc Consultant Gary Jacobson says it’s not necessary.  But he does think it might be worth doing so that 1)employees are aware of the changes and 2)it will allow them to make any adjustments they feel are needed.

As always Daren and I are more than willing to answer any questions you might have. Never hesitate to contact us!

I spent Wednesday morning with new members as well as the President and Vice President of the Valley of the Sun Chapter of the Construction Financial Management Association. We met at a little locally-owned coffee shop in Tempe called Romancing the Bean.

One of my favorite things to do is to meet new people. Somehow fresh faces always make me feel like it’s the first day of school. The nice thing about Wednesday morning was how relaxed everyone was. We sat and chatted about our areas of expertise and how we might want to get involved with the organization. I volunteered to work with the Newsletter Committee. Shocking I know. Didn’t see that one coming did you? Ha!

I hope the biggest advantage is that I will come away with more ideas about what to blog about. I will be able to hear first-hand from industry leaders what their core concerns are, how they are coping and what their plans for the future are. I will get a front-row seat to the troubles we face. We are in a crucial economic time and I think it is more important than ever to document the many ways the construction industry is fighting for its financial future and longevity.

It’s also reassuring to know that the VOS is one of the best chapters in the country. It’s always nice to be affiliated with the leaders in any community and it’s especially nice to spend time with those who take great pride in what they do. The bagel, cream cheese and fruit were also pretty nummy!

It’s also nice to be able to commiserate with people in the construction industry about the current economic goings-on. There’s nothing like talking to others and being reassured that we are not alone. That we are in this together and that all of us are doing the best we can to read the economic tea leaves and do our best to prepare for the future.

CFMA has several upcoming events, one is a fundraising golf tournament this October 21. A good part of the money raised will go to help formal and vocational education in support of the construction industry. I will be writing much more about it as the event draws closer. Perhaps I might get to meet some of you blog readers there as well!

Conventioneers heard some pretty optimistic news about the nature of the construction economy. Those who recently attended the Institute for Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) 2009 convention in Las Vegas heard from top economists. Ken Simonson. Bill O’Neill. Brian Westbury. If you don’t their names it’s okay. What you really need to know is what they had to say.

Ken Simonson, Associated General Contractors of America’s Chief Economist, said he expects to see second quarter U.S. growth, and described the recession as a checkmark with the worst behind us. That aligns itself to what others across the country are saying. The economy is bottoming out, on that most agree. What they don’t agree on his how long it’s going to take to surge ahead. Many believe it will be a painfully slow but steady return.

Long-time commodities economist, Bill O’Neill of LOGIC Advisors, told the convention-goers, “We are in a bottoming process, but I think it is a swimming pool bottom that comes down sharply, extends along the bottom and then we’ll have a surge.”

O’Neill goes on to say there is a lot of psychology in what is happening now. People are afraid to spend. Fear has crippled many of them and adds that the current 5 percent personal spending rate is “a fear-based rate”. He also predicts the U.S. housing market will recover before the second quarter of 2010.

Chief economist at First Trust Advisors, Brian Westbury, told the crowd he has a very optimistic view of the economy. “The economy is turning the corner very quickly and we’re going to be shocked at how rapidly things pick up from here. I think in the second half we’re going to see the U.S. GDP up at a 3.5 percent annual rate.”

To read more of what the three economists had to say click here.