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4.193. How do I switch company data sets?

I have a signage and a screenprinting business and want to have separate letterheads, customer databases, and job numbers for the two companies but I want to use the same copy of EstiMate on one computer for both companies and simply switch between the two at will. How do I accomplish this?

Switching between data sets can be done easily and effectively in EstiMate.

Procedure summary:
1. Locate the EstiMate data folder.
2. Copy the data folder.
3. Paste the data folder in the same directory.
4. Rename the new folder.
5. In EstiMate click file > network setup and adjust the pathname to point at the new set of data or to revert back to the first.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Make sure EstiMate is closed before doing the procedures below. If you are on a network, make sure EstiMate is closed on *all* machines before proceeding.

Detailed instructions:

1. Open Windows Explorer and navigate to where the EstiMate data folder is located. Typically this is located at C:\Program Files\EstiMate\Data but if you are on a network or have moved the folder you will need to navigate to an alternate location.

2. Right-Click on the data folder and select 'Copy' from the menu.

3. Click in the blank white space of the directory to un-highlight the folder you copied. Click Edit > Paste from the Windows Explorer menu bar. This will result in two folders in the directory one called 'data' and 'copy of data'.

4. Right click on 'copy of data' and select the rename menu option. Rename 'copy of data' to 'Data2' or other name of your choice. Tip: keep the new folder name SHORT!

5. Open EstiMate and click File > Network setup. Change the data path to point to 'Data2' instead of 'Data' press OK. Press OK again on the 'EstiMate must be shut down' prompt. Reopen EstiMate and you will be in the new data set. You can then customize the data for the 2nd company (add logo etc.) as needed.

When you need to work with the data from the first company again, simply click file > network setup and point EstiMate back to 'Data' and press OK twice.

Q and A:

Q: Do I have to be on a network for this to work?
A: No, the procedure will work on a stand alone workstation.

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It has always frustrated me knowing that the computer would be far better at doing all this repetitive work if only it were properly programmed to do so. Thank goodness Mark came to the rescue with EstiMate. Prices of material are entered once and only updated when prices change. All of our overhead costs are entered only once, and are easily changed at yearend if needed. All I have to do is select the materials, tell it the size, etc., and it gives me the answer. Even better, it makes it so easy to do the "what if's". You know, the "well, what if it's only one colour?" "What if it's corrugated plastic instead of PVC?" "What if it's 18x24 instead of 24x36?" "What if I get two of them?" On and on and on. Ya gotta love it!

-- Diane Crowther, Metaline Graphics Ltd., Hubbards, Nova Scotia

EstiMate Knowledge Base / FAQ

4.193. How do I switch company data sets?

I have a signage and a screenprinting business and want to have separate letterheads, customer databases, and job numbers for the two companies but I want to use the same copy of EstiMate on one computer for both companies and simply switch between the two at will. How do I accomplish this?